Fluid level sensing device

Claim 1

A fluid height measuring system comprising in combination: an elongated support means adapted for floating in the fluid the height of which is to be measured, with one end thereof extending out of said fluid, and with the other end thereof submerged therein; means mounted on that end of said elongaged support means extending out of said fluid for broadcasting radio frequency energy comprising a plurality of radio frequency signals toward the surface of said fluid; a plurality of receiving means for receiving the radio frequency energy broadcast by the aforesaid broadcasting means mounted on said elongated support means at predetermined locations along the length thereof that is submerged within said fluid, respectively, each of said receiving means being tuned to receive a different one of said plurality of radio frequency signals; and means effectively connected to the outputs of said plurality of receiving means for indicating when each receiving means of said plurality of rceceiving means receives the radio frequency energy broadcast by said broadcasting means and the received strengths thereof at any given instant simultaneously.

Claim 11

A system for sensing water height and wave conditions at the surface of a body of water having determinable attenuation characteristics for radio frequency electromagnetic energy signals, said system comprising: an elongated, substantially vertical staff extending above and below said surface and having a medial zone subjected to varying coverage by said water in accordance with said wave conditions; radio transmitter means, including a transmitting antenna mounted on said staff at a location above said medial zone, for directing radio frequency energy having a plurality of different signal frequencies downwardly into said body of water; radio receiving means, including a plurality of receiving antennas, each tuned to a different one of said signal frequencies and spaced at different elevations along said medial zone so as to be sequentially and progressively covered and uncovered as water height increases and decreases relative to said staff, for sensing variations in attenuation of said radio frequency signals as a function of said wave conditions and due to the distances said signals travel through said water to reach said receiving antennas; and read out means, connected to said receiver means, for providing electrical analog output signals representative of said wave conditions.

Claim 12

A system for sensing water height and wave conditions at the surface of a body of water having determinable attenuation characteristics for radio frequency electromagnetic energy signals, said system comprising: an elongated, substantially vertical staff extending above and below said surface and having a medial zone subjected to varying coverage by said water in accordance with said wave conditions; radio transmitter means, including a transmitting antenna mounted on said staff at a location above said medial zone, for directing radio frequency energy having a plurality of different signal frequencies downwardly into said body of water; radio receiving means, including a plurality of receiving antennas, each tuned to a different one of said signal frequencies and spaced at different elevations along said medial zone so as to be sequentially and progressively covered and uncovered as water height increases and decreases relative to said staff, for sensing variations in attenuation of said radio frequency signals as a function of said wave conditions and due to the distances said signals travel through said water to reach said receiving antennas; and read out means, connected to said receiver means, for providing electrical analog output signals representative of said wave conditions.