US3703829A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid quantity gaging system
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-19
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1991-04-19
Abstract
Abstract Pulses are applied to the upper end of an electrical transmission line sensor mounted in a fluid container or tank. Each pulse is reflected at the surface of the fluid, because of the change in dielectric constant which changes the characteristic impedance of the transmission line, and again at the lower end of the transmission line which is not terminated in its characteristic impedance. The volume of fluid in the tank is a function of time delay, t1, associated with the surfacereflected pulse. The density of the fluid is a function of time delay t1 and another time delay, t2-t1, associated with the pulse reflected from the lower end of the transmission line and with respect to the surface-reflected pulse. The weight of fluid in the tank is the product of the volume and density functions.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Dougherty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/284; B; B64; B64D; B64D37/00; B64D37/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for measuring the weight of fluid in a tank, comprising: an electrical transmission line of predetermined length adapted to be mounted in the tank and open to the fluid; means for applying electrical pulses to one end of the line, an applied pulse being reflected at the surface of the fluid and at the other end of the line; means for measuring the time between an applied pulse and the corresponding surface-reflected pulse and the time between the surface-reflected pulse and the corresponding end-of-the-linereflected pulse; means responsive to the two measured times for computing each of the volume, density, and mass of the fluid, the volume of the fluid being a function of the first time, the density of the fluid being a function of both the first and second times, and the mass of the fluid being a function of the volume and density.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for measuring the weight of fluid in a tank, comprising: an electrical transmission line of predetermined length adapted to be mounted in the tank and open to the fluid; means for applying electrical pulses to one end of the line, an applied pulse being reflected at the surface of the fluid and at the other end of the line; means for measuring the time between an applied pulse and the corresponding surface-reflected pulse and the time between the surface-reflected pulse and the corresponding end-of-the-linereflected pulse; means responsive to the two measured times for computing each of the volume, density, and mass of the fluid, the volume of the fluid being a function of the first time, the density of the fluid being a function of both the first and second times, and the mass of the fluid being a function of the volume and density.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a helical conductor with the number of turns per unit length varying in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used; a cylindrical conductor; and, means for mounting the helical conductor concentrically within the cylindrical conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a helical conductor with the number of turns per unit length varying in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used; a cylindrical conductor; and, means for mounting the helical conductor concentrically within the cylindrical conductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of dielectric material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a dielectric constant which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of dielectric material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a dielectric constant which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a thickness and permeability which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a thickness and permeability which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a permeability which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a permeability which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of dielectric and ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a thickness and electrical properties which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of dielectric and ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having a thickness and electrical properties which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of dielectric and ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having an electrical property which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
An open electrical transmission line for use in measuring the quantity of fluid in a tank, comprising: a cylindrical outer conductor; a center conductor mounted concentrically within the outer conductor; a sleeve of dielectric and ferromagnetic material mounted coaxially with the conductors, the sleeve having an electrical property which varies along the length of the sensor in accordance with a characteristic of the tank in which the transmission line is to be used.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A pulse reflectometry fluid quantity gaging system, comprising: a plurality of transmission line sensors; a single means for generating electrical pulses; a separate delay means to provide time separation of the outputs from each of said probes and connecting each sensor to the means for generating electrical pulses; means for detecting the pulses reflected from the sensors; and, means for processing the reflected detected pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A pulse reflectometry fluid quantity gaging system, comprising: a plurality of transmission line sensors; a single means for generating electrical pulses; a separate delay means to provide time separation of the outputs from each of said probes and connecting each sensor to the means for generating electrical pulses; means for detecting the pulses reflected from the sensors; and, means for processing the reflected detected pulses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a line interconnects each sensor with its associated delay means and is deliberately mismatched to the sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
A pulse reflectometry fluid quantity gaging system, comprising: a plurality of transmission line sensors; a single means for generating electrical pulses; a separate delay means to provide time separation of the outputs from each of said probes and connecting each sensor except one to the means for generating electrical pulses, the one sensor being connected directly to the means for generating electrical pulses; means for detecting the pulses reflected from the sensors; and, means for processing the reflected detected pulses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A pulse reflectometry fluid quantity gaging system, comprising: a plurality of transmission line sensors; a single means for generating electrical pulses; a separate delay means to provide time separation of the outputs from each of said probes and connecting each sensor except one to the means for generating electrical pulses, the one sensor being connected directly to the means for generating electrical pulses; means for detecting the pulses reflected from the sensors; and, means for processing the reflected detected pulses.
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) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |