Adaptable suppression tank level sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11986686-B2
Application number	US-201917254578-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2019
Priority date	Nov 30, 2018
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

Abstract

A fire suppressant storage device ( 20 ) comprises: a tank ( 22 ) having a first port ( 40 ), a second port ( 70 ), and an interior ( 32 ) for storing fire suppressant. A discharge assembly ( 46 ) is mounted to the first port and comprises: a discharge valve ( 48 ); and a discharge conduit ( 50 ). The discharge conduit is at least partially within the interior and has an interior and an exterior. A liquid level measurement assembly is mounted to the second port and comprises: a tube ( 100 ) at least partially within the interior and having: an exterior and an interior sealed relative to the surrounding tank interior. A float ( 120 ) surrounds the tube and has one or more magnets ( 130 ) and having a range of motion. A plurality of magnetic field sensors ( 152, 154 ) are along a carrier ( 150 ) within the tube interior. The carrier extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The plurality of magnetic field sensors ( 152, 154 ) comprise: a first plurality of one-dimensional sensors ( 152 ); and at least two three-dimensional sensors ( 154 ) distally of the first plurality.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fire suppressant storage device ( 20 ) comprising:
a tank ( 22 ) having a first port ( 40 ), a second port ( 70 ), and an interior ( 32 ) for storing fire suppressant;
a discharge assembly ( 46 ) mounted to the first port and comprising:
a discharge valve ( 48 ); and
a discharge conduit ( 50 ) at least partially within the tank interior and having:
an interior; and
an exterior; and

a liquid level measurement assembly mounted to the second port and comprising:
a tube ( 100 ) at least partially within the tank interior and having:
an interior sealed relative to the tank interior; and
an exterior;

a float ( 120 ) surrounding the tube and having one or more magnets ( 130 ) and having a range of motion; and
a plurality of magnetic field sensors ( 152 , 154 ) along a carrier ( 150 ) within the tube interior, the carrier extending from a proximal end to a distal end,

wherein the plurality of magnetic field sensors ( 152 , 154 ) comprise:
a first plurality of one-dimensional sensors ( 152 ); and
at least two three-dimensional sensors ( 154 ) distally of the first plurality of one-dimensional sensors.

2. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 1 wherein:
said first plurality of one-dimensional sensors are analog interface sensors; and
said at least two three-dimensional sensors are digital interface sensors.

3. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 1 wherein:
said at least two three-dimensional sensors are lowermost sensors of the plurality of magnetic field sensors.

4. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 3 wherein:
said at least two three-dimensional sensors are only two three-dimensional sensors.

5. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 3 wherein:
the first plurality of one-dimensional sensors are an array of sensors at a single on-center spacing of 40.0 to 50.0 mm over a total span of at least 25% of a height of the tank interior.

6. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 1 wherein:
said first plurality of one-dimensional sensors are at a first longitudinal spacing (S 1 ); and
said at least two three-dimensional sensors are at a second longitudinal spacing (S 2 ) shorter than the first longitudinal spacing.

7. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 1 wherein:
said at least two three-dimensional sensors are only two three-dimensional sensors.

8. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 1 further comprising:
said fire suppressant within the tank interior, the discharge conduit at least partially immersed in the fire suppressant.

9. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 8 wherein:
said fire suppressant comprises a clean agent.

10. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 8 further comprising:
a compressed gas propellant in a headspace of the tank.

11. The fire suppressant storage device of claim 1 further comprising an electronics module ( 166 ) coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensors and programmed for:
characterizing a float magnet configuration.

12. A method for remanufacturing a fire suppressant storage device ( 20 ) from a first configuration to a second configuration, the fire suppressant storage device having in the first configuration:
a tank ( 22 ) having a first port ( 40 ), a second port ( 70 ), and an interior ( 32 ) for storing fire suppressant;
a discharge assembly ( 46 ) mounted to the first port and comprising:
a discharge valve ( 48 ); and
a discharge conduit ( 50 ) at least partially within the tank interior and having:
an interior; and
an exterior; and

a liquid level measurement assembly mounted to the second port and comprising:
a tube ( 100 ) at least partially within the interior and having:
an interior sealed relative to the tank interior; and
an exterior;

a float ( 120 ) surrounding the tube; and
a magnetic member ( 122 ) axially moveable within the tube interior, the method comprising:

removing the magnetic member;
inserting into the tube a carrier ( 150 ) bearing a plurality of magnetic field sensors ( 152 , 154 ), the carrier extending from a proximal end ( 156 ) to a distal end ( 158 ) and electronically coupling the plurality of magnetic field sensors to an electronics module ( 166 ), during the inserting one or more of the magnetic field sensors passing through the float,
wherein:
the plurality of magnetic field sensors ( 152 , 154 ) comprise:
a first plurality of one-dimensional sensors ( 152 ); and
at least two three-dimensional sensors ( 154 ) distally of the first plurality of one-dimensional sensors; and

using said passing to calibrate sensor response.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the magnetic member is a permanent magnet or a ferromagnetic steel and the removing comprises removing a measuring tape with the magnetic member.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the carrier comprises a printed circuit board.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the tank has a fitting;
the carrier comprises a cap or a plug; and
the inserting comprises mating the cap or plug to the fitting.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the method is performed while leaving suppressant in the tank.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the using said passing to calibrate the sensor response comprises:
using the magnetic field sensors to characterize the float; and
based on the characterization of the float, selecting a predefined sensing algorithm from a stored plurality of predefined sensing algorithms.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the using the magnetic field sensors to characterize the float comprises using the at least two three-dimensional sensors; and
the predefined sensing algorithm is an algorithm for use of the first plurality of one-dimensional sensors.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:
the at least two three-dimensional sensors are exactly two.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein:
said at least two three-dimensional sensors are lowermost sensors of the plurality of magnetic field sensors.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Piech Marcin
• Witczak Tadeusz Pawel
• Wawrzyniak Beata I
• Majchrzak Lukasz
• Milcarek Dawid
• Jedryczka Cezary

Classifications

• G01F23/62

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• A62C37/50

  Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment · CPC title

• A62C13/64 Primary

  the extinguishing material being released by means of a valve · CPC title

• G01F23/74

  for sensing changes in level only at discrete points · CPC title

• G01F25/24

  Testing proper functioning of electronic circuits · CPC title