Ultrasonic liquid level sensing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207153-A1
Application number	US-201615079708-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2013
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an ultrasonic probe having an increased number (e.g., twelve) of ultrasonic sensors for measuring the level of liquid within a sealed container. The ultrasonic probe includes a neck tube that enables the ultrasonic probe to be used with existing, standardized container fittings despite having an enlarged barrel to accommodate the increased number of ultrasonic sensors. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system and method in which ultrasonic sensors within an ultrasonic probe are activated one at a time to reduce crosstalk between the ultrasonic sensors and their wiring.

First claim

1 - 47 . (canceled)

48 . A method of assembling a probe, the method comprising:
(a) providing a probe barrel assembly comprising an inner tube; (b) coupling a neck tube to the probe barrel assembly; (c) installing a plurality of ultrasonic sensors into the probe barrel assembly; and (d) coupling an outer tube to the probe barrel assembly, wherein step (d) is performed only after steps (a) through (c) have been performed.

49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the probe barrel assembly further comprises a collar welded to the inner tube.

50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein coupling the outer tube to the probe barrel assembly comprises welding the outer tube to the collar.

51 . The method of claim 48 , further comprising:
(e) prior to coupling the outer tube to the probe barrel assembly, providing electrical current to one or more ultrasonic sensors of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors via one or more wires extending from each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors.

52 . The method of claim 48 , wherein step (c) comprises:
coupling the plurality of ultrasonic sensors to a sidewall of the inner tube; and connecting all ultrasonic sensors of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors to a controller by a multi conductor shielded cable.

53 . The method of claim 48 , wherein step (c) comprises:
coupling the plurality of ultrasonic sensors to a sidewall of the inner tube; connecting a separate signal line that is not individually shielded to each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and connecting each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors to a common return line.

54 . The method of claim 53 , wherein each separate signal line is an internal conductor of a multi conductor shielded cable.

55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the common return line is an outer shield of the multi conductor shielded cable.

56 - 59 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Air Prod & Chem

Inventors

• Birtcher Charles Michael
• Steidl Thomas Andrew

Classifications

• B23P19/04 Primary

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• G01F23/2961 Primary

  for discrete levels (G01F23/2962 - G01F23/2968 take precedence) · CPC title

• B01J2/00

  Processes or devices for granulating materials {, e.g. fertilisers} in general; Rendering particulate materials free flowing in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic · CPC title

• G01F23/2965

  Measuring attenuation of transmitted waves · CPC title