Patent US4991433A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4991433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase track system for monitoring fluid material within a container
Assignee: APPLIED ACOUSTIC RESEARCH STATE COLLEGE PA A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1989-09-21
•
Granted: 1991-02-12
•
Expires: 2009-09-21
Abstract
Abstract Acoustical energy is directed into a vessel containing an unknown volume of fluid at a frequency at or near the Helmholtz resonance of the vessel. The signal generated within the vessel is analyzed to compare its phase relationship to an electrical reference input signal. The volume of fluid in the vessel may then be determined from said phase relationship, such as by previous empirical calibration of the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn E. Warnaka
- 👤 Mark E. Warnaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/296; G01F23/2966; G01F17/00; G01F22/00; G01F22/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of monitoring an unknown volume of a fluent material within a container, having a specific resonance frequency at a given volume, which comprises directing acoustical energy at an excitation frequency at or near the Helmholtz resonance frequency of the container into the container, sensing acoustical vibrations emitted therefrom having phase characteristics, and measuring the phase relationship of the acoustical vibrations relative to a reference electrical input, and determining the unknown volume of the fluent material within the container based on the thus measured phase relationship for the excitation frequency utilized.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of monitoring an unknown volume of a fluent material within a container, having a specific resonance frequency at a given volume, which comprises directing acoustical energy at an excitation frequency at or near the Helmholtz resonance frequency of the container into the container, sensing acoustical vibrations emitted therefrom having phase characteristics, and measuring the phase relationship of the acoustical vibrations relative to a reference electrical input, and determining the unknown volume of the fluent material within the container based on the thus measured phase relationship for the excitation frequency utilized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the container includes a resonator cavity within which the fluent material is confined and a throat passage through which the acoustical energy enters into the cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of differentiating the calculated volume of the fluent material with respect to time to determine the flow rate of the fluent material with respect to said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the specific excitation frequency directed into the container will be chosen depending on the volume of fluent material within the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the container is divided into a number of fluent material volume ranges for which the excitation frequency utilized will differ.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the container is attached to a vehicle capable of moving.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the container is situated to receive liquid flow from and discharge said liquid flow into a pipeline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the rate of flow of the liquid in the pipeline is calculated from the volume of liquid within the container.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for monitoring the quantity of fluid material within a container having a specified resonance frequency for a given volume, said system comprising means for directing acoustical energy into the container at an excitation frequency at or near the resonance frequency of the container, means operatively mounted on the container for detecting acoustical vibrations having phase characteristics, said acoustical vibrations being emitted from said container while said acoustical energy is directed into said container, comparison means operatively connected to the detecting means for determining the phase relationship of the acoustical vibrations to a reference signal, and data processing means operatively connected to said comparison means for calculating the volume of said fluid material as a function of the registered phase relationship for the excitation frequency utilized.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
127 words
A system for monitoring the quantity of fluid material within a container having a specified resonance frequency for a given volume, said system comprising means for directing acoustical energy into the container at an excitation frequency at or near the resonance frequency of the container, means operatively mounted on the container for detecting acoustical vibrations having phase characteristics, said acoustical vibrations being emitted from said container while said acoustical energy is directed into said container, comparison means operatively connected to the detecting means for determining the phase relationship of the acoustical vibrations to a reference signal, and data processing means operatively connected to said comparison means for calculating the volume of said fluid material as a function of the registered phase relationship for the excitation frequency utilized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the means for directing said acoustical energy into the container comprises a speaker device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the means operatively mounted on the container for detecting acoustical vibrations therein comprises a microphone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said container includes a resonator cavity within which the fluent material is confined and a throat passage portion through which the acoustical energy is directed into the cavity at the excitation frequency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising auxiliary cavity means connected in spaced relation to the resonator cavity by the throat passage portion for mounting both the source of acoustical energy and the sensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said speaker device is operatively connected to the ,data processing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the specific excitation frequency directed into the container will be chosen depending on the volume of fluent material within the container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the container is divided into a number of fluent material volume ranges for which the excitation frequency utilized will differ.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising means for differentiating the calculated volume of the fluid material with respect to time to determine flow rate of the fluid material with respect to said container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the comparison means is a digital logic device known as an Exclusive OR gate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the container is attached to a vehicle capable of moving.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the container is situated to receive liquid flow from and discharge said liquid flow into a pipeline.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the rate of flow of the liquid in the pipeline is calculated from the volume of liquid within the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2666326A
Cited
US3075382A
Cited
US3118890A
Cited
US3324716A
Cited
US4189722A
Cited
US4145914A
Cited
US4433577A
Cited
US4535627A
Cited
US4811601A
Cited
US4599892A
Cited
US4811595A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-11 | 1994-08-13 | 1995-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-11 | 1998-08-13 | 1999-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-11 | 2002-08-13 | 2003-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |