US3695107A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of measuring the level of a material in a tank, and an apparatus for practicing this method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of measuring the level of a material filled into a tank by using a substantially vertical electromagnetic delay line partly submerged in the material so that the submerged part of the line has another characteristic impedance than the line part above the level of the material, sending an electric pulse down the delay line and measuring the time it takes the pulse to reach the level of the material and the time it takes the pulse reflection generated at the level of the material to return to the input end of the line as a measure of the level of the material in the tank. An apparatus for this method has an electronic oscillating system connected to the input end of the delay line and comprising a triggered pulse generator and a pulse reflection detecting means for triggering the pulse generator each time a pulse reflection appears at the input end of the delay line, and a pulse repetition frequency meter connected to the electronic oscillating system for indicating the oscillating frequency thereof as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl Hellmuth Hertz
- 👤 Kjell O T Lindstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for measuring the level of a material filled into a tank, comprising an electromagnetic delay line substantially vertically arranged in the tank so as to have an input end section above the maximum level of the material in the tank and an end section submerged in the material in the tank, said delay line comprising two elongate conduit means forming an open space therebetween into which the material in the tank will penetrate for changing the characteristic impedance of said line within the end section submerged in the material in the tank, an electronic oscillating system comprising a triggered pulse generator having a triggering input and a pulse output connected to the input end of said line for supplying, upon triggering of said generator, an electric pulse to said line, and pulse reflection detecting means connected to the input end of said line and to said triggering input of said pulse generator for detecting a pulse reflection appearing at the input end of said line and generated by a pulse travelling down said line from said pulse generator upon passing into the material in the tank due to the change in characteristic impedance of said line at the level of the material in the tank, and for triggering said pulse generator in response to such detected pulse reflection for causing said system to oscillate with a pulse repetition frequency which is dependent on the length of said delay line above the level of the material in the tank, and pulse repetition frequency meter means connected to said system for indicating the oscillation frequency as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for measuring the level of a material filled into a tank, comprising an electromagnetic delay line substantially vertically arranged in the tank so as to have an input end section above the maximum level of the material in the tank and an end section submerged in the material in the tank, said delay line comprising two elongate conduit means forming an open space therebetween into which the material in the tank will penetrate for changing the characteristic impedance of said line within the end section submerged in the material in the tank, an electronic oscillating system comprising a triggered pulse generator having a triggering input and a pulse output connected to the input end of said line for supplying, upon triggering of said generator, an electric pulse to said line, and pulse reflection detecting means connected to the input end of said line and to said triggering input of said pulse generator for detecting a pulse reflection appearing at the input end of said line and generated by a pulse travelling down said line from said pulse generator upon passing into the material in the tank due to the change in characteristic impedance of said line at the level of the material in the tank, and for triggering said pulse generator in response to such detected pulse reflection for causing said system to oscillate with a pulse repetition frequency which is dependent on the length of said delay line above the level of the material in the tank, and pulse repetition frequency meter means connected to said system for indicating the oscillation frequency as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said oscillating system further comprises delay means connected in series with said pulse generator for decreasing the pulse repetition frequency of said system by a factor independent of the length of said delay line above the level of the material in the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said delay means is connected in series between said triggering input of said pulse generator and said pulse reflection detecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising termination means connected to the lower eNd of said delay line and having an impedance substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of said delay line when the space between said conduit means of said delay line is filled with the material in the tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said conduits of said delay line comprise a tubular outer conduit open at its ends and an inner conduit extending along the central axis of said tubular conduit and spaced therefrom, the annular space between said conduits being free and communicating with the interior of the tank through the open lower end of said tubular outer conduit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
311 words
An apparatus for measuring the level of a material filled into a tank, comprising an electromagnetic delay line substantially vertically arranged in the tank so as to have an input end section above the level of the material in the tank and an end section submerged in the material in the tank, said delay line comprising two elongate conduit means forming an open space therebetween into which the material in the tank will penetrate for changing the characteristic impedance of said line within the end section submerged in the material in the tank, an electronic oscillating system comprising a triggered pulse generator having a triggering input and a pulse output connected to the input end of said line for supplying, upon triggering of said generator, an electric pulse to said line, which pulse has a duration of less than twice the time it takes a step voltage to be propagated through said input end section of said delay line when said level is at its maximum and pulse reflection detecting means connected to the input end of said line and to said triggering input of said pulse generator for detecting a pulse reflection appearing at the input end of said line and generated by a pulse travelling down said line from said pulse generator upon passing into the material in the tank due to the change in characteristic impedance of said line at the level of the material in the tank, and for triggering said pulse generator in response to such detected pulse reflection for causing said system to oscillate with a pulse repetition frequency which is dependent on the length of said delay line above the level of the material in the tank, and pulse repetition frequency meter means connected to said system for indicating the oscillation frequency as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
311 words
An apparatus for measuring the level of a material filled into a tank, comprising an electromagnetic delay line substantially vertically arranged in the tank so as to have an input end section above the level of the material in the tank and an end section submerged in the material in the tank, said delay line comprising two elongate conduit means forming an open space therebetween into which the material in the tank will penetrate for changing the characteristic impedance of said line within the end section submerged in the material in the tank, an electronic oscillating system comprising a triggered pulse generator having a triggering input and a pulse output connected to the input end of said line for supplying, upon triggering of said generator, an electric pulse to said line, which pulse has a duration of less than twice the time it takes a step voltage to be propagated through said input end section of said delay line when said level is at its maximum and pulse reflection detecting means connected to the input end of said line and to said triggering input of said pulse generator for detecting a pulse reflection appearing at the input end of said line and generated by a pulse travelling down said line from said pulse generator upon passing into the material in the tank due to the change in characteristic impedance of said line at the level of the material in the tank, and for triggering said pulse generator in response to such detected pulse reflection for causing said system to oscillate with a pulse repetition frequency which is dependent on the length of said delay line above the level of the material in the tank, and pulse repetition frequency meter means connected to said system for indicating the oscillation frequency as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of measuring the level of a material filled into a tank, comprising the steps of sending an electric pulse down through an electromagnetic delay line substantially vertically arranged in the tank so as to be partially submerged in the material in the tank, said material causing a change of the characteristic impedance of said line at the level of the material in the tank, receiving and detecting a pulse reflection appearing at the upper end of the delay line and generated by the pulse travelling down the delay line upon passing into the material in the tank due to the change in characteristic impedance of the delay line at the level of the material in the tank, sending a new pulse down through the delay line for each received and detected pulse reflection appearing at the upper end of the delay line and measuring the pulse repetition frequency which serves as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of measuring the level of a material filled into a tank, comprising the steps of sending an electric pulse down through an electromagnetic delay line substantially vertically arranged in the tank so as to be partially submerged in the material in the tank, said material causing a change of the characteristic impedance of said line at the level of the material in the tank, receiving and detecting a pulse reflection appearing at the upper end of the delay line and generated by the pulse travelling down the delay line upon passing into the material in the tank due to the change in characteristic impedance of the delay line at the level of the material in the tank, sending a new pulse down through the delay line for each received and detected pulse reflection appearing at the upper end of the delay line and measuring the pulse repetition frequency which serves as a measure of the level of the material in the tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |