CA2071424A1 - Tilt sensor and a bin level sensor using the tilt sensor - Google Patents
Tilt sensor and a bin level sensor using the tilt sensorInfo
- Publication number
- CA2071424A1 CA2071424A1 CA 2071424 CA2071424A CA2071424A1 CA 2071424 A1 CA2071424 A1 CA 2071424A1 CA 2071424 CA2071424 CA 2071424 CA 2071424 A CA2071424 A CA 2071424A CA 2071424 A1 CA2071424 A1 CA 2071424A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- cable
- bin
- conductor
- sensor according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
- G01F23/40—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using bands or wires as transmission elements
- G01F23/44—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using bands or wires as transmission elements using electrically actuated indicating means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/10—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/0023—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm with a probe suspended by a wire or thread
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
- G01F23/32—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
- G01F23/36—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements using electrically actuated indicating means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/02—Details
- G01C9/06—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
- G01C2009/068—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means resistive
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/10—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets
- G01C2009/107—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets spheres
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
TILT SENSOR AND A BIN LEVEL SENSOR USING THE TILT SENSOR
A device for detecting the filling of a storage bin with grain or similar materials comprises a tilt switch in the form of an elongate tubular body with an electrical switch as an upper part of the body. The electrical switch includes a lower dish shaped conductor on which a ball rolls so that it is normally centred when the axis of the body is vertical. An upper conductor is of inverted dish shape so that as the ball rolls toward the side of the body when the body is tilted, the ball engages both conductors to provide electrical connection for actuating a warning device. Mounting brackets are shown one of which uses a magnetic engagement with the bin wall and both of which provide vertical adjustment of a cable on which the tilt switch is suspended.
TILT SENSOR AND A BIN LEVEL SENSOR USING THE TILT SENSOR
A device for detecting the filling of a storage bin with grain or similar materials comprises a tilt switch in the form of an elongate tubular body with an electrical switch as an upper part of the body. The electrical switch includes a lower dish shaped conductor on which a ball rolls so that it is normally centred when the axis of the body is vertical. An upper conductor is of inverted dish shape so that as the ball rolls toward the side of the body when the body is tilted, the ball engages both conductors to provide electrical connection for actuating a warning device. Mounting brackets are shown one of which uses a magnetic engagement with the bin wall and both of which provide vertical adjustment of a cable on which the tilt switch is suspended.
Description
2~7~2 ~
TILT SENSOR AND A BIN LEVEL SENSOR USING THE TILT SENSOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tilt sensor and more particularly to a bin filling level sensor which includes a tilt sensor for detecting the filling of a bin to a predetermined required filled level.
It is generally necessary for farmers of grain or other similar particulate crops to provide storage for the crop in a storage bin. Necessarily the storage bins stand at a significant height above the ground and is filled by a delivery tube which transmits the material to the top of the bin to be poured into the bin. In order to achieve maximum storage within the bin it is desirable to fill the bin to the upper most possible level. It is necessary for the farmer therefore while filling the bin to carefully watch the filling position so that when the maximum position is attained the filling system can be halted without overfilling the bin or causing spillage.
One dangerous and undesirable activity which the farmer often has to carry out therefore is to climb the bin to visually observe the filling level and then to estimate when the filling should be halted. Often this requires the farmer to rapidly climb up and down which can lead to serious accidents.
2071~2~
Various bin level sensor devices have been provided and some of these are currently available on the market. One device includes a float element which is mounted upon the wall of the bin at the required maximum filling position. The float element is intended to float on top of the upper most level of the crop so that as the crop rises it pushes the float element upwardly and actuates a mechanical indicator mounted upon the bin. Such a device is relatively inexpensive but is prone to failure in that the float device often does not properly float up in the crop and accordingly does not actuate the mechanical indicator.
An alternative arrangement relies upon the pressure of the grain or other crop to push a piston longitudinally of a sleeve with a fluid indicator being provided between the piston and the sleeve which changes its visual appearance as the piston is pushed forwardly.
Both of these devices have the limitations that they must be located at a particular height on the bin and that they are necessarily visual at a position spaced some distance away from the farmer so that the farmer has to remain continuously alert watching for the indication when the level is reached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, ~7~42~
therefore, to provide a tilt sensor.
According to the invention therefore, there is provided a tilt sensor comprising a housing, a flexible cable for supporting the housing such that the housing is suspended on the cable for tilting movement of the housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis generally vertical and longitudinal of the cable such that the axis tilts in response to movement of the housing, and a switch mounted in the housing and responsive to tilting of the axis beyond a predetermined angle from the vertical, the switch comprising a lower conductor in the form of a concave dish transverse to the axis with a central area of the dish lower than an annular area surrounding the central area, an upper conductor in the form of a plate transverse to the axis and generally overlying the lower conductor, insulator means separating the upper and lower conductors, means for connecting a voltage across the conductors and a conductor element mounted on the dish so as to be free to move across the dish from the central area to a point on the surrounding area in response to tilting of the dish in any direction around the axis, the conductor element being dimensioned and arranged relative to the upper conductor such that it is spaced from the upper conductor when resting on the central area and is brought into contact with the upper conductor when resting on the surrounding area whereby a 2~71~L2~
current is conducted between the upper and lower conductors when the housing axis is tilted beyond said predetermined angle.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an improved bin filling level sensor.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bin filling level sensor comprising a tilt sensor comprising a housing, a flexible cable for supporting the housing such that the housing is suspended on the cable for tilting movement of the housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis generally vertical and longitudinal of the cable such that the axis tilts in response to movement of the housing, and a switch mounted in the housing and responsive to tilting of the axis beyond a predetermined angle from the vertical, the switch comprising a lower conductor in the form of a concave dish transverse to the axis with a central area of the dish lower than an annular area surrounding the central area, an upper conductor in the form of a plate transverse to the axis and generally overlying the lower conductor, insulator means separating the upper and lower conductors, means for connecting a voltage across the conductors and a conductor element mounted on the dish so as to be free to move across the dish from the central area to a point on the surrounding area in response to tilting of the dish in any direction around the 2Q7 i ~2~
axis, the conductor element being dimensioned and arranged relative to the upper conductor such that it is spaced from the upper conductor when resting on the central area and is brought into contact with the upper conductor when resting on the surrounding area whereby a current is conducted between the upper and lower conductors when the housing axis is tilted beyond said predetermined angle, means for attaching the cable to the bin at an upper part of the bin such that the housing is suspended by the cable into the bin, means outside the bin for supplying said voltage to the conductors and warning means actuated by said current to provide indication to a user of the tilting of the housing, the housing being shaped such that the engagement with the housing of an upper level of particulate material filling the bin causes tilting of the housing beyond said predetermined angle.
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~ . _ Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through a part of a storage bin showing a bin filling level sensing device mounted within the binO
Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the sensing device of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along the ~ ~ 7 ~
lines 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of filling level sensing device incorporating the sensor of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 4.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~
A bin for storage of crops such as grain or other particulate materials is generally indicated at 10 and is of a conventional nature including a bin wall 11, a floor surface 12 and a roof or cover 13. The bin shown is of the conventional type with a flat floor 12 but the filling level sensor can also be used with bins of the hopper bottom type.
One particular usage oE the filling level sensor of the present invention is in an arrangement in which the bin is provided as a hopper bottom bin for measuring a predetermined weight of the crop to be transported. In this situation it is necessary to fill a transportation container such as a rail car with a predetermined weight of grain. If the weight is exceeded, fines can be levied as a deterrent to overloading which can of course cause damage to the rail car or the rail system. At the same time underloading is highly 2~7~d~2~
inefficient and uneconomic.
The level sensor of the present invention can be adjusted within the bin so as to provide an indication of the filling to predetermined different locations within the bin dependant upon the density of the crop concerned.
The filling sensor as shown in Figure 1 comprises a tilt sensor generally indicated at 15, a cable 16 arranged to support the sensor 15 within the bin, a support member 17 for the cable, the support member 17 being attached to the bin in fixed position while allowing the cable to be moved vertically to locate the sensor at a predetermined height within the bin.
The system further includes a battery 18 for supplying a voltage to the cable and a warning device 19 which is responsive to a current passing through the cable from the battery in dependance upon the operation of the tilt sensor 15.
The warning device 19 can be an audible type sensor such as a buzzer or it can be a visual type sensor such as a lamp or it can include both such indicators.
The sensor 15 is shown in more detail in Fiyure 2 and comprises an elongate housing 20 in the form of a tubular sleeve. The tubular sleeve includes a domed lower end cap 21 mounted on the end of the sleeve that is across the sleeve in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis 22 of the sleeve. At an upper end the sleeve is closed by an end cap 23 2~7~2i~
again fastened to the sleeve 20 and including a central gromet 24 through which the cable 16 passes. The cable 16 is thus held in place on the end cap 23 so that the housing can be suspended from the cable without applying longitudinal forces on the internal conductors of the cable as indicated at 25 and 26.
Within the housing is mounted a switch element generally indicated at 27 including a lower conductor 28 and an upper conductor 29. The lower conductor 28 is formed as a metal dish with a circular outer periphery of a dimension just to be received within the tubular sleeve 20. The dish has a smoothly concave upper surface. In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the dish can be substantially conical in shape converging toward a lower most apex. In a preferred arrangement however the dish is smoothly concave. The upper conductor 29 forms a plate substantially coextensive with the dish 28 and overlying the dish 28 and shaped such that it converges toward the dish at an area surrounding a central area of the dish. Thus the spacing between the conductors at the central area is increased and that spacing decreases toward the side wall of the tubùlar sleeve at all positions around the 360 angle of the tubular sleeve. Preferably the upper conductor 29 is similarly dished to the dish 28 and is inverted relative thereto so as to provide the most rapid approach of 2-~
the conductors with the minimum amount of dishing of the lowermost conductor.
On top of the lower conductor is mounted a conductor element preferably in the form of a ball 30 which simply can roll across the concave upper surface of the dish 28. Normally with the axis 22 vertical the bowl 30 will take a central position. However if the axis 22 is tilted from the vertical the bowl will move to one side to a position shown in dotted line at 30A at which the bowl will contact both the upper and lower conductors.
Both conductors are mounted on the tubular wall 20 and are supported thereon by an insulating gasket or spacer member 31 which holds the conductors normally separated. The cable conductor 26 extends to the upper conductor plate 29.
The cable conductor 25 extends past the spacer 31 to the lower conductor dish 28 thus connecting the voltage supplied by the cable 16 across the conductors.
Tilting of the axis 22 of the tubular body through an angle preferably less than 45 and preferably less than 20 causes the conductor element or bowl 30 to move from its central position toward one side wall of the tubular sleeve to a position sufficient to engage the upper conductor, provide electrical connection therebetween to actuate the warning indicator 19.
2~7~2~
The lower end 21 of the tubular body 20 is rounded or slightly domed and is closed so that if it engages the particulate material such as grain filling the bin as that material pours into the bin, the body is slightly tilted to an angle sufficient to cause the electrical connection. This angle can be as small as 20 and is certainly less than 45 so that the amount of tilt necessary is very small. It will be appreciated that the particulate material does not act simply to float the body but instead the body can become buried and thus fixed if it is engaged by the materlal in a particular way. It is necessary therefore that the amount of tilt required to actuate the switch is relatively small and the type of tilt switch set forth above provides this relatively small detection angle.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cable 16 is attached to the bracket 17 so that it is substantially fixed to the end of the bracket and includes a portion thereof and suspended downwardly from the bracket 17. The bracket 17 includes a tubular slide member 40 able to slide longitudinally along a vertical strut 41 mounted within the bin upon a horizontal bracket 42 and extending downwardly from an upper end attached adjacent an access opening 43. In this way the tubular sleeve can be moved vertically along the strut 41 to take up different positions depending upon the amount of ~7~2~
filling of the bin that is required.
Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative arrangement for mounting the cable 16. This mounting arrangement comprises a mounting bracket generally indicated at 50 including a tubular support strut 51 extending at right angles from a base plate 52. The base plate 52 carries a magnet 53 which can be attached to the wall of the bin at any suitable location so as to support the s~rut 51 projecting outwardly therefrom preferably in a horizontal orientation. The use of the magnet enables the device to be readily attachable and removable from the bin so that it does not need to be a permanent installation as is intended with the device as shown in Figure 1. The farmer can therefore when intending to fill a bin climb to the access opening, insert the tilt sensor 15 and mount the support for the cable 16 at a suitable location at the bin. From the ground the farmer can then detect the filling of the bin to the predetermined level set by the position of the sensor 15.
At the end of the strut 51 is provided a vertical tube 54 through which the cable 16 passes. The cable 16 includes a sheath 55 at the area passing through the tube 54.
The sheat 55 can be pinched by a pin 56 which is spring biased into engagement with the sheat 5S to hold the sheath 55 and therefore the cable at a required longitudinal position ~7~2l~
relative to the support tube 54. The cable carries indicating tags 57, 58, 59 which are spaced longitudinally of the cable so that the farmer can have a simple indication of the required position of the sensor 15 for the particulate materials of predetermined density.
The pin 56 is mounted upon a lever 60 which is biased by a spring 61 into the clamping or pinching position.
The lever includes a handle 62 which allows the pin to be retracted from its location within the tube 54 to release the cable 16 for longitudinal sliding movement.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
TILT SENSOR AND A BIN LEVEL SENSOR USING THE TILT SENSOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tilt sensor and more particularly to a bin filling level sensor which includes a tilt sensor for detecting the filling of a bin to a predetermined required filled level.
It is generally necessary for farmers of grain or other similar particulate crops to provide storage for the crop in a storage bin. Necessarily the storage bins stand at a significant height above the ground and is filled by a delivery tube which transmits the material to the top of the bin to be poured into the bin. In order to achieve maximum storage within the bin it is desirable to fill the bin to the upper most possible level. It is necessary for the farmer therefore while filling the bin to carefully watch the filling position so that when the maximum position is attained the filling system can be halted without overfilling the bin or causing spillage.
One dangerous and undesirable activity which the farmer often has to carry out therefore is to climb the bin to visually observe the filling level and then to estimate when the filling should be halted. Often this requires the farmer to rapidly climb up and down which can lead to serious accidents.
2071~2~
Various bin level sensor devices have been provided and some of these are currently available on the market. One device includes a float element which is mounted upon the wall of the bin at the required maximum filling position. The float element is intended to float on top of the upper most level of the crop so that as the crop rises it pushes the float element upwardly and actuates a mechanical indicator mounted upon the bin. Such a device is relatively inexpensive but is prone to failure in that the float device often does not properly float up in the crop and accordingly does not actuate the mechanical indicator.
An alternative arrangement relies upon the pressure of the grain or other crop to push a piston longitudinally of a sleeve with a fluid indicator being provided between the piston and the sleeve which changes its visual appearance as the piston is pushed forwardly.
Both of these devices have the limitations that they must be located at a particular height on the bin and that they are necessarily visual at a position spaced some distance away from the farmer so that the farmer has to remain continuously alert watching for the indication when the level is reached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, ~7~42~
therefore, to provide a tilt sensor.
According to the invention therefore, there is provided a tilt sensor comprising a housing, a flexible cable for supporting the housing such that the housing is suspended on the cable for tilting movement of the housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis generally vertical and longitudinal of the cable such that the axis tilts in response to movement of the housing, and a switch mounted in the housing and responsive to tilting of the axis beyond a predetermined angle from the vertical, the switch comprising a lower conductor in the form of a concave dish transverse to the axis with a central area of the dish lower than an annular area surrounding the central area, an upper conductor in the form of a plate transverse to the axis and generally overlying the lower conductor, insulator means separating the upper and lower conductors, means for connecting a voltage across the conductors and a conductor element mounted on the dish so as to be free to move across the dish from the central area to a point on the surrounding area in response to tilting of the dish in any direction around the axis, the conductor element being dimensioned and arranged relative to the upper conductor such that it is spaced from the upper conductor when resting on the central area and is brought into contact with the upper conductor when resting on the surrounding area whereby a 2~71~L2~
current is conducted between the upper and lower conductors when the housing axis is tilted beyond said predetermined angle.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an improved bin filling level sensor.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bin filling level sensor comprising a tilt sensor comprising a housing, a flexible cable for supporting the housing such that the housing is suspended on the cable for tilting movement of the housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis generally vertical and longitudinal of the cable such that the axis tilts in response to movement of the housing, and a switch mounted in the housing and responsive to tilting of the axis beyond a predetermined angle from the vertical, the switch comprising a lower conductor in the form of a concave dish transverse to the axis with a central area of the dish lower than an annular area surrounding the central area, an upper conductor in the form of a plate transverse to the axis and generally overlying the lower conductor, insulator means separating the upper and lower conductors, means for connecting a voltage across the conductors and a conductor element mounted on the dish so as to be free to move across the dish from the central area to a point on the surrounding area in response to tilting of the dish in any direction around the 2Q7 i ~2~
axis, the conductor element being dimensioned and arranged relative to the upper conductor such that it is spaced from the upper conductor when resting on the central area and is brought into contact with the upper conductor when resting on the surrounding area whereby a current is conducted between the upper and lower conductors when the housing axis is tilted beyond said predetermined angle, means for attaching the cable to the bin at an upper part of the bin such that the housing is suspended by the cable into the bin, means outside the bin for supplying said voltage to the conductors and warning means actuated by said current to provide indication to a user of the tilting of the housing, the housing being shaped such that the engagement with the housing of an upper level of particulate material filling the bin causes tilting of the housing beyond said predetermined angle.
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~ . _ Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through a part of a storage bin showing a bin filling level sensing device mounted within the binO
Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the sensing device of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along the ~ ~ 7 ~
lines 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of filling level sensing device incorporating the sensor of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 4.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~
A bin for storage of crops such as grain or other particulate materials is generally indicated at 10 and is of a conventional nature including a bin wall 11, a floor surface 12 and a roof or cover 13. The bin shown is of the conventional type with a flat floor 12 but the filling level sensor can also be used with bins of the hopper bottom type.
One particular usage oE the filling level sensor of the present invention is in an arrangement in which the bin is provided as a hopper bottom bin for measuring a predetermined weight of the crop to be transported. In this situation it is necessary to fill a transportation container such as a rail car with a predetermined weight of grain. If the weight is exceeded, fines can be levied as a deterrent to overloading which can of course cause damage to the rail car or the rail system. At the same time underloading is highly 2~7~d~2~
inefficient and uneconomic.
The level sensor of the present invention can be adjusted within the bin so as to provide an indication of the filling to predetermined different locations within the bin dependant upon the density of the crop concerned.
The filling sensor as shown in Figure 1 comprises a tilt sensor generally indicated at 15, a cable 16 arranged to support the sensor 15 within the bin, a support member 17 for the cable, the support member 17 being attached to the bin in fixed position while allowing the cable to be moved vertically to locate the sensor at a predetermined height within the bin.
The system further includes a battery 18 for supplying a voltage to the cable and a warning device 19 which is responsive to a current passing through the cable from the battery in dependance upon the operation of the tilt sensor 15.
The warning device 19 can be an audible type sensor such as a buzzer or it can be a visual type sensor such as a lamp or it can include both such indicators.
The sensor 15 is shown in more detail in Fiyure 2 and comprises an elongate housing 20 in the form of a tubular sleeve. The tubular sleeve includes a domed lower end cap 21 mounted on the end of the sleeve that is across the sleeve in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis 22 of the sleeve. At an upper end the sleeve is closed by an end cap 23 2~7~2i~
again fastened to the sleeve 20 and including a central gromet 24 through which the cable 16 passes. The cable 16 is thus held in place on the end cap 23 so that the housing can be suspended from the cable without applying longitudinal forces on the internal conductors of the cable as indicated at 25 and 26.
Within the housing is mounted a switch element generally indicated at 27 including a lower conductor 28 and an upper conductor 29. The lower conductor 28 is formed as a metal dish with a circular outer periphery of a dimension just to be received within the tubular sleeve 20. The dish has a smoothly concave upper surface. In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the dish can be substantially conical in shape converging toward a lower most apex. In a preferred arrangement however the dish is smoothly concave. The upper conductor 29 forms a plate substantially coextensive with the dish 28 and overlying the dish 28 and shaped such that it converges toward the dish at an area surrounding a central area of the dish. Thus the spacing between the conductors at the central area is increased and that spacing decreases toward the side wall of the tubùlar sleeve at all positions around the 360 angle of the tubular sleeve. Preferably the upper conductor 29 is similarly dished to the dish 28 and is inverted relative thereto so as to provide the most rapid approach of 2-~
the conductors with the minimum amount of dishing of the lowermost conductor.
On top of the lower conductor is mounted a conductor element preferably in the form of a ball 30 which simply can roll across the concave upper surface of the dish 28. Normally with the axis 22 vertical the bowl 30 will take a central position. However if the axis 22 is tilted from the vertical the bowl will move to one side to a position shown in dotted line at 30A at which the bowl will contact both the upper and lower conductors.
Both conductors are mounted on the tubular wall 20 and are supported thereon by an insulating gasket or spacer member 31 which holds the conductors normally separated. The cable conductor 26 extends to the upper conductor plate 29.
The cable conductor 25 extends past the spacer 31 to the lower conductor dish 28 thus connecting the voltage supplied by the cable 16 across the conductors.
Tilting of the axis 22 of the tubular body through an angle preferably less than 45 and preferably less than 20 causes the conductor element or bowl 30 to move from its central position toward one side wall of the tubular sleeve to a position sufficient to engage the upper conductor, provide electrical connection therebetween to actuate the warning indicator 19.
2~7~2~
The lower end 21 of the tubular body 20 is rounded or slightly domed and is closed so that if it engages the particulate material such as grain filling the bin as that material pours into the bin, the body is slightly tilted to an angle sufficient to cause the electrical connection. This angle can be as small as 20 and is certainly less than 45 so that the amount of tilt necessary is very small. It will be appreciated that the particulate material does not act simply to float the body but instead the body can become buried and thus fixed if it is engaged by the materlal in a particular way. It is necessary therefore that the amount of tilt required to actuate the switch is relatively small and the type of tilt switch set forth above provides this relatively small detection angle.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cable 16 is attached to the bracket 17 so that it is substantially fixed to the end of the bracket and includes a portion thereof and suspended downwardly from the bracket 17. The bracket 17 includes a tubular slide member 40 able to slide longitudinally along a vertical strut 41 mounted within the bin upon a horizontal bracket 42 and extending downwardly from an upper end attached adjacent an access opening 43. In this way the tubular sleeve can be moved vertically along the strut 41 to take up different positions depending upon the amount of ~7~2~
filling of the bin that is required.
Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative arrangement for mounting the cable 16. This mounting arrangement comprises a mounting bracket generally indicated at 50 including a tubular support strut 51 extending at right angles from a base plate 52. The base plate 52 carries a magnet 53 which can be attached to the wall of the bin at any suitable location so as to support the s~rut 51 projecting outwardly therefrom preferably in a horizontal orientation. The use of the magnet enables the device to be readily attachable and removable from the bin so that it does not need to be a permanent installation as is intended with the device as shown in Figure 1. The farmer can therefore when intending to fill a bin climb to the access opening, insert the tilt sensor 15 and mount the support for the cable 16 at a suitable location at the bin. From the ground the farmer can then detect the filling of the bin to the predetermined level set by the position of the sensor 15.
At the end of the strut 51 is provided a vertical tube 54 through which the cable 16 passes. The cable 16 includes a sheath 55 at the area passing through the tube 54.
The sheat 55 can be pinched by a pin 56 which is spring biased into engagement with the sheat 5S to hold the sheath 55 and therefore the cable at a required longitudinal position ~7~2l~
relative to the support tube 54. The cable carries indicating tags 57, 58, 59 which are spaced longitudinally of the cable so that the farmer can have a simple indication of the required position of the sensor 15 for the particulate materials of predetermined density.
The pin 56 is mounted upon a lever 60 which is biased by a spring 61 into the clamping or pinching position.
The lever includes a handle 62 which allows the pin to be retracted from its location within the tube 54 to release the cable 16 for longitudinal sliding movement.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Claims (19)
1. A tilt sensor comprising a housing, a flexible cable for supporting the housing such that the housing is suspended on the cable for tilting movement of the housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis generally vertical and longitudinal of the cable such that the axis tilts in response to movement of the housing, and a switch mounted in the housing and responsive to tilting of the axis beyond a predetermined angle from the vertical, the switch comprising a lower conductor in the form of a concave dish transverse to the axis with a central area of the dish lower than an annular area surrounding the central area, an upper conductor in the form of a plate transverse to the axis and generally overlying the lower conductor, insulator means separating the upper and lower conductors, means for connecting a voltage across the conductors and a conductor element mounted on the dish so as to be free to move across the dish from the central area to a point on the surrounding area in response to tilting of the dish in any direction around the axis, the conductor element being dimensioned and arranged relative to the upper conductor such that it is spaced from the upper conductor when resting on the central area and is brought into contact with the upper conductor when resting on the surrounding area whereby a current is conducted between the upper and lower conductors when the housing axis is tilted beyond said predetermined angle.
2. The sensor according to Claim 1 wherein the dish is a smoothly concave surface.
3. The sensor according to Claim 1 wherein the upper conductor includes a lower surface facing the lower conductor which is concave.
4. The sensor according to Claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an elongate tubular body having the cable attached thereto at one axial end of the tubular body such that an opposed axial end of the tubular body is suspended downwardly.
5. The sensor according to Claim 4 wherein the upper and lower conductors are mounted in the tubular body adjacent an upper end thereof.
6. A bin filling level sensor comprising a tilt sensor comprising tilt sensor comprising a housing, a flexible cable for supporting the housing such that the housing is suspended on the cable for tilting movement of the housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis generally vertical and longitudinal of the cable such that the axis tilts in response to movement of the housing, and a switch mounted in the housing and responsive to tilting of the axis beyond a predetermined angle from the vertical, the switch comprising a lower conductor in the form of a concave dish transverse to the axis with a central area of the dish lower than an annular area surrounding the central area, an upper conductor in the form of a plate transverse to the axis and generally overlying the lower conductor, insulator means separating the upper and lower conductors, means for connecting a voltage across the conductors and a conductor element mounted on the dish so as to be free to move across the dish from the central area to a point on the surrounding area in response to tilting of the dish in any direction around the axis, the conductor element being dimensioned and arranged relative to the upper conductor such that it is spaced from the upper conductor when resting on the central area and is brought into contact with the upper conductor when resting on the surrounding area whereby a current is conducted between the upper and lower conductors when the housing axis is tilted beyond said predetermined angle, means for attaching the cable to the bin at an upper part of the bin such that the housing is suspended by the cable into the bin, means outside the bin for supplying said voltage to the conductors and warning means actuated by said current to provide indication to a user of the tilting of the housing, the housing being shaped such that the engagement with the housing of an upper level of particulate material filling the bin causes tilting of the housing beyond said predetermined angle.
7. The level sensor according to Claim 6 wherein the dish is a smoothly concave surface.
8. The level sensor according to Claim 6 wherein the upper conductor includes a lower surface facing the lower conductor which is concave.
9. The level sensor according to Claim 6 wherein the housing comprises an elongate tubular body having the cable attached thereto at one axial end of the tubular body such that an opposed axial end of the tubular body is suspended downwardly.
10. The level sensor according to Claim 9 wherein the upper and lower conductors are mounted in the tubular body adjacent an upper end thereof.
11. The level sensor according to Claim 6 wherein the predetermined angle is less than 45°.
12. The level sensor according to Claim 6 wherein the predetermined angle is less than 20°.
13. The level sensor according to Claim 6 including means for adjusting a length of the cable extending from the bin to the housing so as to vary the position of the housing within the bin.
14. The level sensor according to Claim 13 including means indicating a plurality of different levels of the housing within the bin.
15. The level sensor according to Claim 14 wherein the means for indicating different positions includes means indicating different densities of material to provide a particular weight of the material within the bin.
16. The level sensor according to Claim 13 wherein the adjusting means comprises an elongate vertical support member for mounting in the bin in vertical orientation and slide means mounted on the vertical support member for sliding longitudinally thereof, the slide means including means for engaging the cable.
17. The level sensor according to Claim 6 wherein the means for attaching the cable to the bin includes a magnetic member for magnetically engaging the bin and a support portion mounted on said magnet member for engaging the cable.
18. The level sensor according to Claim 17 wherein said means for engaging the cable includes a cable guide tube through which the guide passes and means for clamping the cable to the cable guide tube at predetermined positions along the length of the cable.
19. The level sensor according to Claim 17 wherein the support member comprises an elongate support strut extending from said magnet member generally at right angles thereto and a cable guide tube mounted on an end of said strut remote from the magnet member and generally at right angles thereto, said cable passing through said cable guide tube and manually actuable clamp means including a pin projecting into said cable guide tube through a wall thereof and spring actuable latch means for biasing said pin into engagement with the cable within said cable guide tube.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2071424 CA2071424A1 (en) | 1992-06-17 | 1992-06-17 | Tilt sensor and a bin level sensor using the tilt sensor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2071424 CA2071424A1 (en) | 1992-06-17 | 1992-06-17 | Tilt sensor and a bin level sensor using the tilt sensor |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2071424A1 true CA2071424A1 (en) | 1993-12-18 |
Family
ID=4150034
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2071424 Abandoned CA2071424A1 (en) | 1992-06-17 | 1992-06-17 | Tilt sensor and a bin level sensor using the tilt sensor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2071424A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0857954A1 (en) * | 1997-02-05 | 1998-08-12 | Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. | Cord level detector |
| GB2371865A (en) * | 2001-01-11 | 2002-08-07 | Gantry Licencing Ltd | An apparatus for detecting a change in liquid level |
| US8261624B2 (en) | 2008-12-04 | 2012-09-11 | Cnh Canada, Ltd. | External sensor adjustment system and method |
| CN112781560A (en) * | 2021-01-26 | 2021-05-11 | 太原理工大学 | Automatic and manual combined leveling device and method |
-
1992
- 1992-06-17 CA CA 2071424 patent/CA2071424A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0857954A1 (en) * | 1997-02-05 | 1998-08-12 | Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. | Cord level detector |
| US6080934A (en) * | 1997-02-05 | 2000-06-27 | Endress + Hauser Gmbh + Co. | Cable probe |
| GB2371865A (en) * | 2001-01-11 | 2002-08-07 | Gantry Licencing Ltd | An apparatus for detecting a change in liquid level |
| US8261624B2 (en) | 2008-12-04 | 2012-09-11 | Cnh Canada, Ltd. | External sensor adjustment system and method |
| CN112781560A (en) * | 2021-01-26 | 2021-05-11 | 太原理工大学 | Automatic and manual combined leveling device and method |
| CN112781560B (en) * | 2021-01-26 | 2022-09-16 | 太原理工大学 | Automatic and manual combined leveling device and method |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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