Patent ID: 6178817
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A system for measuring level of material in a vessel that comprises:a transmission line probe adapted to be mounted to a wall of the vessel so as to extend within the vessel for contact with material in the vessel, andelectronic means for operative coupling to one end of said probe, including means for launching microwave energy along said probe and means responsive to energy reflected from said probe employing time domain reflectometry for obtaining a measurement of level of the material in the vessel,said transmission line probe comprising:coaxial connection means having a center conductor connected to said electronic means, an outer conductor and a characteristic impedance between said center and outer conductors,a cylindrical shell of electrically conductive composition separate from said coaxial connection means, including means coupling said coaxial connection means to one end of said shell and electrically connecting said shell to said outer conductor of said coaxial connection means, and means for mounting said transmission line probe to a vessel wall,an electrically conductive rod extending through said shell coaxially with said shell, said rod being separate from said coaxial connection means, and being electrically connected at a first end to said center conductor of said coaxial connection means and having a second end spaced from said first end,insulating means disposed between said shell and said rod entirely through said shell electrically insulating said shell from said rod such that said shell, said rod and said electrical insulating means have a characteristic impedance that matches that of said coaxial connection means,means on said second end of said electrically conductive rod extending from said shell and said insulation means for detachable electrical and mechanical coupling to a probe rod for extending into said vessel, anda probe rod removably attached to said second end of said electrically conductive rod for contact with material in the vessel.