LN2 fill gauge level indicating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11635318-B2
Application number	US-202016841382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2020
Priority date	Apr 6, 2020
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

Method, system, apparatus, and/or device for determining when the dewar is filled with a medium. The fill gauge level apparatus includes a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a base on one end, a flange on an opposite open end and a cavity. The fill gauge level apparatus includes a fill gauge level device. The fill gauge level device is coupled to the cylindrical body and is positioned within the cavity. The fill gauge level devices includes a sensor for measuring a medium within a shipper. The fill gauge level devices includes an indicator. The indicator provides an indication when the medium has been filled to a threshold level within the shipper.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fill gauge level apparatus, comprising:
a cylindrical body having a base on one end, a flange on an opposite open end and a cavity;
a fill gauge level device coupled to the cylindrical body and positioned within the cavity, the fill gauge level device including:
a sensor for measuring a medium within a shipper, and
an indicator that provides an indication when the medium has been filled to a threshold level within the shipper; and

one or more height adjusting bands coupled to the cylindrical body or the fill gauge level device and configured to adjust a position of the cylindrical body or the fill gauge level device relative to a sidewall of the shipper.

2. The fill gauge level apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base of the cylindrical body is a perforated base, wherein the perforated base is configured to allow a user to see through the perforated base and visually gauge when the medium has been filled to the threshold level even when the fill gauge level device has failed.

3. The fill gauge level apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flange is a flanged ring that surrounds an outer periphery of the opposite open end of the cylindrical body, wherein a bottom surface of the flanged ring is lined with a material to protect the shipper and the flanged ring when the flanged ring is inserted and interfaces with the shipper.

4. The fill gauge level apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fill gauge level device includes:
a processor coupled to the sensor and the indicator and configured to:
determine, using the sensor, that the medium has been filled to the threshold level, and
activate the indicator to indicate to a user that the shipper has been filled with the medium.

5. The fill gauge level apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect when the shipper has been filled with the medium to the threshold level and contacts the sensor.

6. The fill gauge level apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a visual indicator that signals that the medium is at the threshold level.

7. The fill gauge level apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fill gauge level device includes:
an elongated member inserted within the cavity of the cylindrical body and having a distal end that extends through an opening within the base of the cylindrical body, wherein the sensor is positioned at the distal end of the elongated member and configured to detect when the medium is at or above the threshold level; and
a sensor cover positioned around a length of the elongated member and configured to limit contact of the medium to the distal end and prevent the medium from contacting a remainder of the length of the elongated member when the fill gauge level device is inserted within the shipper.

8. A fill gauge level device, comprising:
an elongated member having a distal end portion and configured to extend through an opening within a cylindrical body positioned over a payload area of a shipper;
a sensor positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated member and configured to detect when a medium is at or above a threshold level within the payload area of the shipper;
an indicator configured to indicate to a user when the medium is at the threshold level; and
a processor coupled to the sensor and the indicator and configured to:
determine, using the sensor, that the medium is at the threshold level;
provide, using the indicator, an indication to the user that indicates that the medium is at the threshold level; and
adjust or move one or more height adjusting bands in contact with a sidewall of the shipper to change or move the fill gauge level device relative to the sidewall of the shipper and adjust the threshold level necessary to trigger the indicator.

9. A fill gauge level device, comprising:
an elongated member having a distal end portion and configured to extend through an opening within a cylindrical body positioned over a payload area of a shipper;
a sensor positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated member and configured to detect when a medium is at or above a threshold level within the payload area of the shipper;
an indicator configured to indicate to a user when the medium is at the threshold level; and
a processor coupled to the sensor and the indicator and configured to:
determine, using the sensor, that the medium is at the threshold level,
provide, using the indicator, an indication to the user that indicates that the medium is at the threshold level;
shut, close, or turn off a flow of the medium from a medium source when the medium is within a threshold amount of the threshold level; and
estimate an amount of medium that has flowed from the medium source but has not reached the payload area of the shipper,
wherein the threshold amount is greater than 0 and is equivalent to the estimated amount.

10. The fill gauge level device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a sensor cover positioned around a length of the elongated member and configured to limit contact of the medium to the distal end portion and prevent the medium from contacting a remainder of the length of the elongated member.

11. The fill gauge level device of claim 9 , wherein the indicator is a visual indicator that signals that the medium is at the threshold level.

12. The fill gauge level device of claim 9 , wherein to detect when the medium is at the threshold level the sensor is configured to detect when the medium contacts the sensor.

13. The fill gauge level device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a housing configured to enclose or surround the processor; and
a switch coupled to the housing and configured to activate or deactivate the fill gauge level device.

14. A fill gauge level system, comprising:
a liquid nitrogen source that is configured to supply liquid nitrogen;
a dewar having a payload area and configured to receive the liquid nitrogen within the payload area;
a fill gauge level apparatus configured to be inserted within the dewar and including:
a cylindrical body having a base configured to be placed within the dewar on one end and a flange configured to limit a depth that the base is placed within the dewar on an opposite open end; and
a fill gauge level device coupled to the cylindrical body and including:
an indicator configured to provide an indication when a shipper has been filled with a medium to a threshold level,

wherein the fill gauge level apparatus includes one or more height adjusting bands coupled to the cylindrical body or the fill gauge level device and configured to move the cylindrical body or the fill gauge level device vertically along a sidewall of the dewar.

15. The fill gauge level system of claim 14 , wherein the fill gauge level device includes a processor and a sensor, wherein the processor is coupled to the sensor and the indicator and configured to:
determine, using the sensor, that the liquid nitrogen is at or above the threshold level, and
provide, using the indicator, an indication to a user that indicates that the liquid nitrogen is at or above the threshold level.

16. The fill gauge level system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to:
shut, close, or turn off a flow of the liquid nitrogen from the liquid nitrogen source when the liquid nitrogen is within at or above the threshold level.

Assignees

• Cryoport Inc

Inventors

• Sanchez Eden
• Bollinger Bret
• Lee Ben

Classifications

• G01F23/0007

  for discrete indicating and measuring (G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01F23/0015

  with a whistle or other sonorous signal · CPC title

• G01F23/02

  by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid · CPC title

• G01F23/242 Primary

  Mounting arrangements for electrodes · CPC title