Patent ID: 8061196
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A contact type ultrasonic bottom up liquid level sensor for measuring the level of a liquid in a vessel, comprising: a member to be located at a point above the liquid in the vessel: an elongated linear tubular probe having a top end mounted to said member to suspend said probe downwardly into the liquid in the vessel and a bottom end into which liquid in the vessel can enter said probe; an elongated linear tube within said probe that extends substantially the entire length of said probe and has a sealed bottom end; a transducer that converts electrical energy to ultrasonic energy mounted at or near said bottom end of said tube to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy though liquid in the probe in a direction generally transverse to the probe longitudinal axis; a reflector element on said probe bottom end having a surface that is reflective to ultrasonic energy mounted at an angle to the probe longitudinal axis opposite to an ultrasonic energy emitting and receiving part of said transducer to receive ultrasonic energy transmitted from said transducer part across the interior of said probe and reflect said received energy upwardly within said probe to an air-liquid interface within said probe and to receive energy reflected from the interface and reflect said energy received from the interface across the interior of said probe back to said transducer part for conversion to an electrical signal; and wires within said tube to supply electrical energy to said transducer and to convey the electrical signal produced by said transducer outwardly of the vessel.