AN APPARATUS FOR LEVEL MEASUREMENTS

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring acoustic transmission characteristics of at least one medium to be measured, e.g. for measuring levels of said medium to be measured, said medium surrounding an elongated hollow profile. A guiding profile (19) is filled with an acoustic connecting liquid (18) and in said profile at least two movable transducers (2, 4) are provided surrounded by said connecting liquid (18), said guiding profile having such a shape that a directed acoustic path between opposite transducers will pass through said medium without it being in direct contact with said transducers. Said transducers are mounted on a common mounting support (1) that is adapted to said guiding profile, one transducer on one side of said support operating as an emitter of an acoustic wave that is emitted towards a collector transducer (4) on the other side of said profile (19), a primary acoustic path proceeding from said emitter to said transducer via the actual surrounding connecting liquid, adjacent guiding profile wall and said medium to be measured. A secondary acoustic path may proceed from said emitter to said collector via the support body and possible profile (19). A temperature feeler (8) is provided on said support (1) for recording the temperature profile of the same level as that where the acoustic transmission characteristics are recorded. In an alternative embodiment where the medium to be measured is in a container, said transducers (2, 4) are provided in contact with the outside of said container. Said support (1) may be moved along the height dimension of said container. In another alternative embodiment transducers are provided in separate tubes being respectively differently spaced from said tube wall, which permits self testing of the function of the level meter, especially of level meters intended for height level alarm. Utilization for level measuring with selective setting at a fixed position in the guiding profile and/or accompanying the movement of one or several interfaces within the medium to be measured, and/or tracing along the entire length of the profile.

Description: AN APPARATUS FOR LEVEL MEASUREMENTS The present invention relates to an apparatus for level mea¬ surements of acoustic transmission characteristics of at least one medium to be measured, e.g. for measuring levels of said medium, as stated in the introductory part of the following claims. From the Norwegian Patent 141 967 an apparatus for level measurements of freely flowing substances, solids or combi¬ nations of these in tanks, containers, basins or the like by measuring the acoustic transmission characteristics is known, wherein two separate elongated tubes ' are arranged, both being closed at their bottom ends, and both tubes being filled with a suitable liquid forming a means of communication between an emitter transducer and a collector transducer which are adjustably provided in their respective tubes. The tubes primarily serve to separate -the transducers from the medium to be measured. The transducers are separately connected to a conveyer means for position control and they comprise electrical connections to a signal processing device. As will appear from said patent the transducers will necess¬ arily have a non-directional radiation pattern, which causes increased power demand, a poor signal/noise ratio and reduced resolution. The shown solution among others have the con¬ structive disadvantages that synchronous moving of the separate transducers necessitates complicated and relatively expensive equipment and that the general construction of the apparatus in other respects is mechanically complicated and vulnerable. German Patent 1 648 997 shows a solution, wherein two trans¬ ducers are secured inside the respective branches of a hollow profile having a C-chaped cross section. The thickness of the profile wall is designed to be an integer of λ/2, λ corresponding to the wave length of the utilized transducers. Between each transducer and the wall of the C-profile there is an insert securing the transducer to the profile wall. A disadvantage of said known solution is among others the necessity of precise operational frequencies for both trans¬ ducers, and that this requires a complicated installation, especially in profiles of great lengths. Furthermore, every measuring point consists of mutually tuned pairs of trans¬ ducers which only form one fixed measuring point, so that in case several measuring points are needed this will necessi¬ tate a corresponding number of transducer pairs as well as an increased amount of electronics. Also, it is impossible to move the transducer. The present invention, thus, has the object of providing an apparatus that is less expensive and more simple in product¬ ion, more reliable in operation, has a high resolution as compared with the known art, and enables control measurements of the function of the apparatus. The features characterizing the invention will appear from the following claims as well as from the following descript- ion with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of the operation of the apparatus according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows the apparatus according to the invention provid¬ ed in a hollow profile. Fig. 3 shows the apparatus according to the invention mounted on top of a container or the like. Fig. 4 illustrates section A-A in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 illustrates the arrangement of the transducers in the apparatus according to Fig. 3. Figures 6 - 10 illustrate various kinds of hollow profiles of an apparatus as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 12 shows a modification of the apparatus according to the invention, designed for measurement of media to be mea¬ sured provided in a closed container. Fig. 13 shows a modification of the level meter according to Figs. 3-5, especially for use as a high level alarm de¬ vice, partly shown in section. Figs. 14a_ and b illustrate the principle of the embodiment according to Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a time diagram for a closer illustration of the operation of the level meter according to Figures 13 and 14. In Fig. 1 a mounting support 1 is shown connected with a . combined control and detection means 11. To one free branch of the mounting support one or several first acoustic trans¬ ducers (emitters) 2,2' are secured, and at least one second acoustic transducer (collector) 4 is secured to the opposite free branch of said mounting support. A switching unit 5 with optional adapting equipment is connected between said trans¬ ducers and a signal lead 10. Said transducers are connected with said switching unit via leads 6 and 7 resp. For regist¬ ration of temperature at the same position it may, further¬ more, be suitable to provide a temperature feeler 8 on the same mounting support 1. Said feeler 8 is connected to switching unit 5 via lead 9. Means 11 may be a micro proces¬ sor with associated suitable control and signal means. The mounting support 1 is displaceable e.g. by a wire 14 connect¬ ed to a suitable point 15 on said support. Wire 14 is arrang¬ ed over a pulley 13 for displacement of mounting support 5 in the longitudinal direction of the profile. Wire 14 can be guided by a position determinating means 12 in the shown embodiment. When directed acoustic waves are transmitted from emitters 2 and 2' resp. said waves will be received by collector 4 ra¬ ther in the shape of rays 3,3'. If the transition zone is present between emitters 2 and 2 ' collector 4 will receive O-vt said wave signals 3, 3' with a different character (e.g. as regards phase, amplitude, time) , which may form the signal basis for controlling the vertical position of the mounting support when the apparatus is to follow the change of level og the transition zone. In this manner it is, thus possible to detect an interface effectively with high resolution ant to let the mounting support follow said interface if desired. Mounting support 1 is constructed always to provide the 10 transducers in fixed mutual positions and to have the acoustic path fixed in one direction, the position of the support in the profile simultaneously bringing about the most advantageous acoustic path in relation to the profile and the medium to be measured. 15 The secondary acoustic signal path that will arise between the transducers via the mounting support itself and possibly the profile, may be utilized as a control function of the fact that the system performs satisfactorily, especially in 20 those cases where the medium to be measured has no or low acoustic transmission og the primary signal. In Fig. 2 the mounting support 1 with said transducers and switching unit is shown mounted in one single guiding pro¬ 25 file 19, the bottom of which is closed. Profile 19 is filled with an acoustic connecting liquid which is preferably elect¬ rically insulating. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 wire 14 passes over pulley 13 from a reel 16 and the position of the support is recorded by means 12 via the wire and the pulley 30 13. Means 12 communicates with control and recording means 11. Mounting support 1 may be moved by the aid of an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive, e.g. a step motor. Alterna¬ 35 tively movement may be provided by replacing wire 14 e.g. by a metal ribbon, e.g. provided with perforations for engage¬ ment with a so called guide wheel. A further alternative manner of moving said support is to connect its upper port¬ ion with a buoyancy body, so that said support can be moved along said profile in a controlled manner by the aid of va¬ riations of the connecting liquid level in said profile. In Fig. 3 the apparatus according to the invention is encas- ed with a top cover comprising a hat 20 and a securing flan¬ ge 21. The securing flange may be screwed or welded onto a container top 22. In Figs. 4 and 5 several groups of mounting supports are shown on a common securing means 23. The respective supports can be separately and infinitely variably moved along secur¬ ing means 23 and be secured to said means, e.g. by a screw joint 24 to the desired position. Means 23 with supports can be inserted freely into profile 19 from above without any necessity of releasing said profile with its associated flange from the tank. In this manner installation, mainten¬ ance and adjustment of all kinds may be carried out with the tank being hermetically closed to the atmosphere to avoid any explosion hazard when the medium to be measured is of an explosive kind. In Figs. 6 - 11 various embodiments of profile 19 are shown. As shown in Fig. 2, profile 19 may have a generally U-shaped cross section, as indicated in Figs. 8-11 as well. In Fig. 6 the profile comprises an outside tube portion 25 and an in¬ side tube portion 26, which gives the profile a generally O-shaped cross section. The medium to be measured is then to be found within tube portion 26, whereas a suitably de¬ signed mounting support and the connecting liquid are arrang¬ ed between tube portions 26 and 25. In Fig. 27 a slot 27 is shown in the profile shape of Fig. 6, which gives the pro¬ file a generally C-shaped or key hole shaped cross section. The primary acoustic path here will be between walls 28 and 29, said walls being parallel. As indicated in Fig. 9 as well as 10, the profile may be constructed of welded parts, e.g. parts 31 and 32, welding flanges 30 being formed in the welding process. In Fig. 11 the profile 33 has an approximate U- or C-shape, said profile e.g. being formed by rolling a tube which has a generally circular cross section originally. - UR £ ^ The profiles shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 11 may be extruded profiles. A profile shape like that of Figs. 9 and 10 may naturally also be achieved by extrusion, in which case flan¬ ges 30 are omitted. The control and recording means 11 comprises means for cont¬ rolling the movements of mounting support 1 in at least one of the following operational modi: a) selective setting on a firm position in the guiding profile 19, b) accompanying the movement of one or several interfaces in the medium to be measured, and c) scanning along the entire length of the guiding profile for recording the acoustic transmission characteristics of the medium to be measured along the length of the guiding profile. With the present invention an apparatus is, thus, provided which with its single guiding profile shows great mechanical strength, is less expensive and simpler in production, has low power consumption due to high directivity and high in- trinsic safety, especially in explosive surroundings. Due to the fact that the transducers are connected with a common support, movement of said transducers is possible in an easily controllable manner. To ensure a smoothest possible movement of said support in the guiding profile, said support may comprise means, e.g. springs or rollers which form a light contact with the interior wall of the guiding profile. In Fig. 12 emitter 2 and collector 4 are mounted on a common support 1 which is adjustable by the aid of a screw 36, a groove 37 and a bracket 38. The transducers 2 and 4 are made to form a good acoustic contact with the container 34 con¬ taining the medium to be measured. In this manner e.g. the level 35 of the medium in container 34 may be measured without said transducers having direct contact wi h the me¬ dium to be measured. Transducers 2 and 4 are only in contact with container 34, the outside wall of it serving as a guiding profile for the transducers. to 5, this embodiment being designed as a high level alarm that is triggered when the level reaches one or several fixed levels in a container 39 (tank) . This meter is also part¬ ly based on the technology appearing from the same principle as Norwegian Patent 141 967. In the present embodiment emitter 40 and receiver 41 trans¬ ducers are firmly mounted in separate tubes 42 and 43 resp. The tubes surrounding the transducers are filled with a suitable connecting liquid and are closed at their bottoms. A requirement of a high level alarm having an alarm function is that its functioning must be possible to test in a dry state as well. In the present case this problem is solved by a manual or automatic function which means that both trans¬ ducers 40, 41 serve as emitter and receiver in a test func¬ tion. Each transducer sends an acoustic wave 44; 45 towards the inside of the respective tube wall 42, 43 and said wave is reflected back to the transducer 40; 41, which transforms it to an electrical signal at times T. and T« regarding transducer 41 and 40 respectively. Due to the fact that the transducers are mounted at a differ¬ ent distance d, and d- resp. from the tube wall, as seen in the transmission direction, this time difference will be somewhat variable for the respective transducers. A precision timer circuit (not shown) controls the sequence of emission of the respective transducers. The times of the emitted signal and the received signal are compared time synchroneously. In the test function the time interval betw¬ een the emitted signal and the received signal from both transducers will be relatively short, but with a small rela¬ tive difference in time (short pass time between transducer and tube wall being mutually somewhat different) . When both received signals are within a time window 46 and 47 resp., the test is accepted and is simultaneously a confirmation of the fact that each transducer 40, 41 fxinr.- tions both as an emitter and as a receiver. If there is a medium to be measured present as indicated at 48 in Fig. 13, between the tubes level with the positions of the transducers, an acoustic signal 49 will additionally be received at time T-, as a consequence of the fact that a lar¬ ge portion of the acoustic signal passes through tube wall 42 and the medium between tubes and that the sound wave 49 pene¬ trates the tube wall 43 on the receiving side and is there transformed to an electrical signal which differs in time from that of the test function because of a far longer pass time, and which will appear within a certain time window 50. Signals appearing within said time window are a measure of the fact that an acoustically conductive medium level covers the meter at transducer level. Even though only two transducers are shown in the chosen embodiment, it will be obvious that two or more transducers may be arranged in each tube, dependent on the number of levels to be measured. As appears from Fig. 13, transducers 40, 41 are mounted on respective rails or the like 51, 52. Undermost said rails may comprise a fixing block 53 and 54 resp. , which preferably has a rectangular shafe. Like the solutions described above, the present embodiment may be made gas tight, the tubes end¬ ing in a collar 55 on top, the exterior portion of which is extended upwards by a cylindrical wall, on which a cover 56 may be secured. Inside said cylindrical portion an interme¬ diate cover 59 may advantageously be provided, on which e.g. electronic equipment 57, leads 58 or the like may be arranged with ducts to the transducers. Said rails should be kept in . place by a fixing block 60.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS (Received by the International Bureau on 04 October 1982 (04.10.82)) 1. An apparatus for measuring acoustic transmission charac¬ teristics of at least one medium to be measured, which sur¬ rounds at least one elongated hollow profile, e.g. for mea¬ suring levels of the medium, said hollow profile comprising a guiding profile filled with an acoustic connection liquid, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least two separate movable transducers (2,4) surrounded by said connecting liquid (18) are provided in a common guiding profile (19) , said guiding profile (19) having such a shape that a direct¬ ional acoustic path between opposite transducers passes through said medium to be measured, but in such a manner that said medium is not in direct contact with said transducers, and that said transducers (2) in a manner known per se are mounted on a mounting support (1) adapted to said guiding profile, one transducer arranged on one side of said support serving as an emitter of an acoustic wave (3) that is emitted toward a collector transducer (4) on the other side of said support (1) , the primary acoustic path proceeding from said emitter, through said connecting liquid surrounding it, through the wall of the adjacent guiding profile, through the medium to be measured, through the guiding profile wall near the collector, through said connecting liquid near said col¬ lector and to the collector itself. 2. An apparatus as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the directional acoustic path from said emitter to said collector forms an angle with the horizontal. 3. An apparatus as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that it comprises a secondary acoustic path proceeding from said emitter to said collector via the body of the mounting support and possible said profile for forming a reference and test signal path. 4. An apparatus as stated in one of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n a temperature feeler (8) O PI mounted on said support (1) , the total effect of the trans¬ mission characteristics being obtained by recording a tem¬ perature profile and an acoustic connection on the same level. 5. An apparatus as stated in one of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said transducers (2,4, 8) are connected via a coupling link (5) to a control and recording means (11) , which means comprises members to control the movement of said mounting support in at least one of the following operational modi: a) a selective setting on a fixed position in said profile, b) accompanying the movements of one or -several interfaces in the medium to be measured, and c) tracing along the entire length of said profile. 6. An apparatus as stated in one or several of the pre¬ ceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said guiding tube has a 0-, C-, U-, V-, or key hole shaped cross section, 7. (Original claim 9.) An apparatus for measuring acoustic transmission charac¬ teristics of at least one medium to be measured which surround two elongated hollow profiles, e.g. for measuring levels of said medium, each hollow profile being closed at its bottom and filled with an acoustic connection liquid, and at least one transducer being provided in each hollow profile, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said transducers (40, 41) are mounted stationary in the respective hollow profile tubes (42, 43) in such a manner that the respective distance (d-,,d_) between transducer and tube wall, as seen in the connection line between transducers, is different. 8. (Original claim 10.) An apparatus as stated in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that said distance (d-,) is larger on the emitter transducer side (40) . 9. (Original claim 11.) An apparatus as stated in claim 7 or 8, used for self function control, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that both transducers are triggered to emit a sound pulse, after which they are triggered to receive a reflected pulse from the respective adjacent tube wall. 10. (Original claim 12.) An apparatus as stated in claim 9 , where a medium to be measured is present between said tubes, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d i n that one of the transducers (41) is triggered also to receive part (49) of the sound wave transmitted by the other transducer (40) within a time window. 11. (Original claim 13.) An apparatus as stated in one of claims 7-10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said transducers are attached to a rail (51; 52) , said rail at its lower portion being provided with a fixing block (53; 54), which preferably forms a point shaped contact with the inside of said tube. Original claims 7. and 8. (cancelled) OMPI

Inventors: HOPE BJORN REINHARDT
Applicants: HOPE BJORN REINHARDT, TS TANKSYSTEM AG
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G01F23
IPC codes: G01F23