Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Echo systems – Distance or direction finding
Patent
1994-09-02
1996-10-22
Pihulic, Daniel T.
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Echo systems
Distance or direction finding
367908, 367902, 73290V, 73 405A, G01S 1542
Patent
active
055684491
ABSTRACT:
An ultrasonic probe utilized in an ultrasonic ranging system for determining fluid volume and/or fluid leakage in an underground storage tank, as well as monitoring fluid inventory, is provided which is characterized by (i) having its calibration reflectors positioned whereby each of the secondary echo packets formed by the calibration reflectors of the ultrasonic probe becomes imbedded into the trailing edge of a primary echo packet of another calibration reflector or to cause its secondary echo packet to be detected by the transducer after the transducer has detected a primary echo packet associated with the fluid surface, (ii) each of the calibration reflectors being positioned perpendicular to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the probe body, (iii) an ultrasonic sound wave dampening member fixedly positioned in the probe body between the transducer assembly and the tank bottom, the wave dampening member having a surface facing toward the transducer assembly wherein the surface is configured to dampen sound waves striking the surface before the sound waves are reflected from the surface, or (iv) the transducer assembly comprising a transducer body in which is housed a piezoelectric crystal oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the prove body, wherein the transducer body is structured to dampen selected ultrasonic sound waves which emanate from the crystal.
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Lynnworth L. C., and Patch, D. R., "New Sensors for Ultrasound: Measuring Temperature Profiles," Materials Research and Standards, Aug. 1970, 6-11. Figure 4 on p. 10 discloses propagating ultrasonic waves across multiple reflectors in a fluid media.
Barone, A., "Generation, Detection and Measurement of Ultrasound," In Encyclopedia of Physics, edited by S. Flugge, 150-51. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1962. Discloses propagating an ultrasonic pulse from a transducer through a liquid media to a reflector (see figure 98 on p. 150).
McSkimin, H. J., "Ultrasonic Methods for Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Liquids and Solids," In Physical Acoustics Principles and Methods, edited by Warren P. Mason, 272-321. New York: Academic Press, 1964. This reference is substantially cumulative to the above Barone reference.
Lynnworth, Lawrence A., "Industrial Applications of Ultrasound--A Review, II. Measurements, Tests, and Process Control Using Low-Intensity Ultrasound," IEE Transactions on Sonics and Ultrasonics SU-22 (1), (Mar. 1975): 71-101.
Josef Krautkramer and Herbert Krautkramer, Ultrasonic Testing of Materials, (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1977) These two references are substantially cumulative to the above cited Russian Patent No. 149,640.
Vista Research, Inc., Evaluation of Volumetric Leak Detection Methods for Underground Fuel Storage Tanks, vol. 2. Technical Appendices (U.S. Department of Commerce, Nov. 1988) Part 1 of 2.
Lynnworth, L. C., Papadakis, E. P., Patch, D. R., Fowler, K. A., and Shepard, R. L., "Nuclear Reactor Applications of New Ultrasonic Transducers," IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science NS-18 (1), (Feb. 1971): 351-62. P. 10 discloses a temperature compensated level gage in a tank of liquid. A transducer is positioned at the bottom of the tank and multiple reflectors are positioned along the one side of the tank (see figure 13(k)). Figures 13(i) and 13(j) also disclose stepped reflectors.
Julian R. Frederick, Ultrasonic Engineering, (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1965), 210-13. Figure 6.7 on p. 213 discloses a liquid container with two stillwells positioned therein. One stillwell has a plurality of reflectors positioned therein and both stillwells have transducers positioned below them.
Ellis M. Zacharias, Jr., NUSonics, Inc. and Donald. W. Franz, HBH Associates, Inc., "Sound Velocimeters Monitor Process Streams," (reprinted from Chemical Engineering, Jan. 22, 1973, McGraw-Hill, Inc., vol. 80, No. 2) 101-108. Figure 3 on p. 104 discloses a transducer positioned on a plate a reflector positioned a given distance from the transducer. A resistance thermometer is positioned on the plate adjacent to the transducer/reflector assembly. The plate will be positioned such that the transducer/reflector and thermometer are in a liquid.
Ellis M. Zacharias, Jr., NUSonics, Inc., "Sonic detectors see gasoline interfaces," (Oil & Gas Journal, reprinted from the Aug. 21, 1972 edition).
E. M. Zacharias, Jr. and R. Ord, Jr., "Developments broaden use of sonic pipeline interface detectors," (Technology, Oil & Gas Journal, Nov. 30, 1981) 80-82, 87-89.
Ellis M. Zacharias, Jr., NUS Corporation, "Process Measurements by Sound Velocimetry," (Sep. 1970--Instruments and Control Systems, vol. 43, No. 9).
Mary M. Hoyt, "Development in Sonic Interface Detection," (ISA Transactions, vol. 18, No. 1, 1979) 15-21. These four references are substantially cumulative to the above cited article in Chemical Engineering, Jan. 22, 1973, vol. 80, No. 2, pp. 101-108.
O. I. Babikov, Ultrasonics and its Industrial Applications, (Consultants Bureau, New York, 1960) translated from Russian. Figures 96 and 97 on p. 150 disclose a transducer probe assembly. Figure 96 is a cross sectional view showing a piezoelectric crystal positioned in the probe assembly.
L. C. Lynnworth and E. H. Carnevale, Panametrics, Inc., Ultrasonic Thermometry Using Pulse Techniques, (Presented at the Fifth Symposium on Temperature, Washinton, D.C., Jun. 21-24, 1971, Copyright 1972, Instrument Society of America). Figure 8 on p. 723 illustrates a transducer positioned at the top of a tank of liquid and directing an ultrasonic pulse toward a stepped reflector position at the bottom of the tank.
Advertising brochure produced by Red Jacket Electronics, one page of which illustrates a probe with a transducer and reflector rings. The probe is shown position in a tank with the transducer below the liquid surface.
Advertising brochure produced by Buffalo Environmental Products of Baltimore, Maryland.
Adverstising brochure produced by Tidel Engineering, Inc. of Carrolton, Texas. Both the Buffalo Environmental and the Tidel Engineering brochures are substantially cumulative to the Red Jacket Electronics brochure.
Berjaoui Samir W.
Rountree Steven P.
Pihulic Daniel T.
U.S. Test, Inc.
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