US4653322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote level measurement in a solid-liquid system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1985-07-05
•
Granted: 1987-03-31
•
Expires: 2005-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for remotely measuring the level of a bulk material in a vessel, wherein the bulk material comprises loose particles, with adjoining particles defining interstices therebetween. Liquid is added to the vessel at a constant flow rate through a liquid inlet of the vessel, wherein the liquid progressively fills the interstices of the bulk material from the bottom of the vessel to the surface level of the bulk material. The liquid level indications of a level measuring device are monitored as a function of time. The level at which the rate of change of liquid level in the vessel decreases is determined. Such level represents the surface level of bulk material in the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 John Locante
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:02
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/06; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F17/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for remotely measuring the surface level a bulk material which is flushed via a flushing liquid into a storage vessel, wherein the bulk material comprises loose particles, with adjoining particles defining interstices therebetween, the vessel has a liquid inlet, and a liquid level measuring device is operatively associated with the vessel for producing an indication of the level of a liquid in the vessel, said method comprising: substantially removing any flushing liquid that may be present in the vessel; adding liquid to the vessel at a constant flow rate through the liquid inlet, the liquid progressively filling the interstices from the bottom of the vessel toward the surface level of the bulk material; monitoring the rate of change of liquid level indications of the level measuring device over time; and determining the level at which the rate of change of liquid level in the vesssel decreases, such determined level representing the level of bulk material in the vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for remotely measuring the surface level a bulk material which is flushed via a flushing liquid into a storage vessel, wherein the bulk material comprises loose particles, with adjoining particles defining interstices therebetween, the vessel has a liquid inlet, and a liquid level measuring device is operatively associated with the vessel for producing an indication of the level of a liquid in the vessel, said method comprising: substantially removing any flushing liquid that may be present in the vessel; adding liquid to the vessel at a constant flow rate through the liquid inlet, the liquid progressively filling the interstices from the bottom of the vessel toward the surface level of the bulk material; monitoring the rate of change of liquid level indications of the level measuring device over time; and determining the level at which the rate of change of liquid level in the vesssel decreases, such determined level representing the level of bulk material in the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, including providing a recording means for automatically recording the rate of change of level indications of the liquid level measuring device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
A method according to claim 1, and for additionally determining the volume of the bulk material in the vessel, the vessel enclosing a known volume of space and each level of the vessel corresponding to a predeterminable partial vessel volume below such level, and further comprising: monitoring the elapsed time between the commencement of said adding step and the time at which the rate of change of liquid level in the vessel decreases, the product of the constant flow rate of liquid and the elapsed time representing the volume of liquid added to the vessel; obtaining the partial vessel volume occupied by the liquid and bulk material at the determined level of said determining step; and calculating the volume of the solid portion of the bulk material in the vessel by subtracting the volume of liquid added in the vessel from the partial vessel volume occupied by liquid and bulk material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2664747A
Cited
US2696606A
Cited
SU148957A1
Cited
US3487682A
Cited
US3744306A
Cited
US4241606A
Cited
US4394346A
Cited
US4461327A
Cited
US4433577A
Cited
US4567761A
Cited
US4527714A
Cited
US4598742A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-30 | 1990-09-29 | 1991-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-30 | 1994-09-29 | 1995-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-30 | 1998-09-29 | 1999-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |