Patent US3910116A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3910116A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Transducer positioning means for fluid level monitoring
Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Holding Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-07
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1993-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Positioning means for positioning the transmitting and receiving transducer means of a fluid level monitoring system above the fluid, such as in monitoring the liquid level in a conduit. The positioning means comprises an elongated frame, a reflecting surface at one end of the frame, and a housing at the opposite end of the frame into which the transducer is fitted. The frame is positioned in the space containing the fluid with the longitudinal axis thereof generally parallel to the surface of the fluid. Mechanical wave energy signals from the transducer travel in a direction parallel to the axis of the frame toward the reflecting surface which directs the signals toward the fluid level in a direction perpendicular thereto. Signals reflected from the fluid level incident upon the reflecting surface of the positioning means are directed to the transducer. The distance between the transducer and the reflecting surface is made at least equal to the electrical dead band characteristic of the transducer.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert T Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/296; G01F23/2962; G01F23/2968; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
In a system for monitoring the level of a fluid in an enclosure wherein a transmitting and receiving transducer means produces energy pulses and detects pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid, means for positioning the transmitting and receiving transducer means above the fluid comprising: a. an elongated frame means having a longitudinal axis; b. means for mounting said frame means to said enclosure and above the fluid in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of said frame means is disposed generally parallel to the surface of of the fluid; c. means defining a reflecting surface at one end of said frame means, said reflecting surface being disposed such that energy pulses traveling in a direction from the opposite end of said frame means toward said reflecting surface are directed by said surface toward the surface of the fluid and pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid toward said reflecting surface are directed by said surface toward the opposite end of said frame means; d. means for holding said transmitting and receiving transducer means at the opposite end of said frame means so as to direct transmitted energy pulses toward said reflecting surface and to receive pulses reflected from said reflecting surface; and e. said reflecting surface being spaced from said transmitting and receiving transducer means by a distance at least equal to the electrical dead band characteristic of said transmitting and receiving transducer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
In a system for monitoring the level of a fluid in an enclosure wherein a transmitting and receiving transducer means produces energy pulses and detects pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid, means for positioning the transmitting and receiving transducer means above the fluid comprising: a. an elongated frame means having a longitudinal axis; b. means for mounting said frame means to said enclosure and above the fluid in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of said frame means is disposed generally parallel to the surface of of the fluid; c. means defining a reflecting surface at one end of said frame means, said reflecting surface being disposed such that energy pulses traveling in a direction from the opposite end of said frame means toward said reflecting surface are directed by said surface toward the surface of the fluid and pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid toward said reflecting surface are directed by said surface toward the opposite end of said frame means; d. means for holding said transmitting and receiving transducer means at the opposite end of said frame means so as to direct transmitted energy pulses toward said reflecting surface and to receive pulses reflected from said reflecting surface; and e. said reflecting surface being spaced from said transmitting and receiving transducer means by a distance at least equal to the electrical dead band characteristic of said transmitting and receiving transducer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface is disposed at an angle of 45* with respect to the axis of the transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding said transducer means comprises a hollow housing adapted to receive said transducer means therein and provided with stop means therein for locating said transducer means axially therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 further including means defining a drainage space in the region between said stop means in said housing and said frame means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame means is semi-cylindrical in cross section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprises an elongated frame, a hollow housing provided at one end of said frame and adapted to receive said transducer means in a manner positioning the face of said transducer means toward the other end of said frame, and a reflector member provided at said other end of said frame and disposed at an angle of about 45* with respect to the axis of said transducer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a system for monitoring the level of a fluid in an enclosure wherein a transmitting and receiving transducer means produces energy pulses and detects pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid, means for positioning the transmitting and receiving transducer means above the fluid comprising: a. an elongated frame means having a longitudinal axis; b. means for positioning said frame means in said enclosure in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of said frame means is disposed at an angle less than 90* with respect to the surface of the fluid; c. means for holding said transmitting and receiving transducer means at one end of said frame means; and d. means defining a deflecting surface at the other end of said frame means, said deflecting surface being spaced from said transducer means at least equal to the electrical dead band characteristic of said transducer means; e. whereby energy pulses produced by said transducer means travel in a direction toward said deflecting surface and are deflected by said surface toward the surface of the fluid and pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid are deflected by said deflecting surface toward said transducer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a system for monitoring the level of a fluid in an enclosure wherein a transmitting and receiving transducer means produces energy pulses and detects pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid, means for positioning the transmitting and receiving transducer means above the fluid comprising: a. an elongated frame means having a longitudinal axis; b. means for positioning said frame means in said enclosure in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of said frame means is disposed at an angle less than 90* with respect to the surface of the fluid; c. means for holding said transmitting and receiving transducer means at one end of said frame means; and d. means defining a deflecting surface at the other end of said frame means, said deflecting surface being spaced from said transducer means at least equal to the electrical dead band characteristic of said transducer means; e. whereby energy pulses produced by said transducer means travel in a direction toward said deflecting surface and are deflected by said surface toward the surface of the fluid and pulses reflected from the surface of the fluid are deflected by said deflecting surface toward said transducer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said deflecting surface is disposed at an angle equal to one-half the complementary angle of said longitudinal axis of said frame means with respect to the surface of the fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said elongated frame means is semi-cylindrical in cross-section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said positioning means comprises an elongated frame, a hollow housing provided at one end of said frame and adapted to receive said transducer means in a manner positioning the face of said transducer means toward the other end of said frame, and a deflector member provided at said other end of said frame and disposed at an angle equal to one-half the complementary angle of said longitudinal axis of said frame means with respect to the surface of the fluid.
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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |