US4258422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid gaging system
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1979-05-04
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Granted: 1981-03-24
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Expires: 1999-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A liquid gaging system including a probe for mounting in a tank. A probe for a particular tank produces a length signal dependent upon the length of the probe being immersed in liquid. The system also includes a storage apparatus for storing characterization parameters and a determining apparatus for determining liquid volume in the particular tank based on the length signal and the characterization parameters. In addition, the system includes an apparatus for connecting the storage apparatus to the determining apparatus and an apparatus for connecting the probe to the determining apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Dougherty
- 👤 Martin J. van Dyke
- 👤 Dwight D. Colby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F17/00; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/26; G01F23/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A liquid gaging system, comprising: a probe for mounting in a tank, the probe having a length, the probe for a particular tank producing a length signal dependent upon the portion of the probe being immersed in liquid; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to probe location; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the particular tank based on the length signal, the attitude signal, and the data, the determining means being connected to the probe, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A liquid gaging system, comprising: a probe for mounting in a tank, the probe having a length, the probe for a particular tank producing a length signal dependent upon the portion of the probe being immersed in liquid; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to probe location; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the particular tank based on the length signal, the attitude signal, and the data, the determining means being connected to the probe, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A liquid gaging system, comprising: more than one probe for mounting in a tank, each probe having a length, each probe producing a length signal dependent upon the portion of the probe being immersed in liquid; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to location of the probes; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the particular tank based on the summed value of the length signals and the data, the determining means being connected to the probes, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
A liquid gaging system, comprising: more than one probe for mounting in a tank, each probe having a length, each probe producing a length signal dependent upon the portion of the probe being immersed in liquid; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to location of the probes; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the particular tank based on the summed value of the length signals and the data, the determining means being connected to the probes, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the probe comprises a capacitive probe having essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 3, 4, or 5 wherein: the probe produces a length signal which is also dependent upon the dielectric constant of the liquid; the apparatus further comprises a dielectric sensor for providing a capacitive signal related to the dielectric constant of the liquid; and the determining means comprises means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity wherein the value is also based on the capacitive signal, the determining means also being connected to the dielectric sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the probe produces a length signal which is also dependent upon the dielectric constant of the liquid; the apparatus further comprises a dielectric sensor for providing a capacitive signal related to the dielectric constant of the liquid; and the determining means comprises means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity wherein the value is also based on the capacitive signal, the determining means also being connected to the dielectric sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the probe comprises a capacitive probe having essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 7 or 8 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: the probe produces a length signal which is also dependent upon the dielectric constant of the liquid; the apparatus further comprises a dielectric sensor for providing a capacitive signal related to the dielectric constant of the liquid; and the determining means comprises means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity wherein the value is also based on the capacitive signal, the determining means also being connected to the dielectric sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11, 12, or 13 wherein the probe comprises a capacitive probe having essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each probe comprises a capacitive probe having essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 15, 16, or 17 wherein: each probe produces a length signal which is also dependent upon the dielectric constant of the liquid; the apparatus further comprises a dielectric sensor for providing a capacitive signal related to the dielectric constant of the liquid; and the determining means comprises means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity wherein the value is also based on the capacitive signal, the determining means also being connected to the dielectric sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: each probe produces a length signal which is also dependent upon the dielectric constant of the liquid; the apparatus further comprises a dielectric sensor for providing a capacitive signal related to the dielectric constant of the liquid; and the determining means comprises means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity wherein the value is also based on the capacitive signal, the determining means also being connected to the dielectric sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one of the probes comprises a capacitive probe having essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 19 or 20 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein: each probe produces a length signal which is also dependent upon the dielectric constant of the liquid; the apparatus further comprises a dielectric sensor for providing a capacitive signal related to the dielectric constant of the liquid; and the determining means comprises means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity wherein the value is also based on the capacitive signal, the determining means also being connected to the dielectric sensor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 23, 24, or 25 wherein at least one of the probes comprises a capacitive probe having essentially uniform capacitance per unit length.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
97 words
A liquid gaging system comprising: a sensor for providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid depth at a particular location in a tank; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to sensor location; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the tank based on the liquid measurement signal, the attitude signal, and the data, the determining means being connected to the sensor, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
A liquid gaging system comprising: a sensor for providing a liquid measurement signal related to a liquid depth at a particular location in a tank; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to sensor location; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the tank based on the liquid measurement signal, the attitude signal, and the data, the determining means being connected to the sensor, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
A liquid gaging system comprising: a plurality of sensors, each sensor providing a liquid measurement signal relating to a liquid depth at a particular location in a tank; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to location of sensors; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the particular tank based on the summed value of liquid measurement signals and the data, the determining means being connected to the sensors, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
102 words
A liquid gaging system comprising: a plurality of sensors, each sensor providing a liquid measurement signal relating to a liquid depth at a particular location in a tank; means for receiving an attitude signal related to an attitude of the tank; storage means for storing data related to tank shape, volume, and attitude and to location of sensors; and determining means for determining a value related to a liquid quantity in the particular tank based on the summed value of liquid measurement signals and the data, the determining means being connected to the sensors, the means for receiving, and the storage means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein: the storage means comprises a plurality of addressable memory locations, each location storing a predetermined portion of the data; and the determining means comprises means for using the attitude signal in locating a relevant storage means memory location address.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein for each of a predetermined number of attitudes covered by the system, the storage means further comprises means for storing data comprising: a set of flight wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of ground wetted sensing length data corresponding to the tank; a set of flight volume data; and a set of ground volume data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-09-22 | 1985-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-23 | 1988-09-22 | 1989-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-23 | 1992-09-22 | 1993-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |