WO1998015884A1 - Appareil permettant de controler a distance le niveau d'un liquide dans un reservoir au moins - Google Patents
Appareil permettant de controler a distance le niveau d'un liquide dans un reservoir au moins Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998015884A1 WO1998015884A1 PCT/SE1997/001677 SE9701677W WO9815884A1 WO 1998015884 A1 WO1998015884 A1 WO 1998015884A1 SE 9701677 W SE9701677 W SE 9701677W WO 9815884 A1 WO9815884 A1 WO 9815884A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- tank
- control unit
- central unit
- level
- unit
- Prior art date
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
- G01F23/80—Arrangements for signal processing
- G01F23/802—Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment
Definitions
- the present invention relates to apparatus for remote monitoring of the level of liquid medium in at least one tank.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a level monitoring system which continuously delivers information relating to the level of liquid in the tanks monitored thereby, and which can be readily adapted to meet changed consumption conditions.
- This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of a system for remotely monitoring the level of liquid in at least one tank, said system being characterized in that each tank is provided with a level sensor which is connected to a control unit, in that the control unit includes a transceiver unit for communication with a central unit and is adapted to communicate with the central unit at specified times and to send an alarm signal when the level of liquid in the tank falls beneath a specified value, and in that the operating parameters of the control unit, such as said specified times, can be adjusted from the central unit.
- the central unit and the control unit each include a telephone modem that is connected to the public telephone network.
- the control unit is designed to call the central unit at specified times and to recall the central unit when an attempt to call the unit fails.
- the control unit is also designed to calculate the volume of liquid medium remaining in the tank on the basis of the values measured by the level sensor and on the basis of the tank dimensions.
- the illustrated level sensor 1 is intended to be attached to the underside of a tank (not shown), e.g. glued thereto.
- the level sensor 1 is connected to a control unit 3 via a coaxial cable 2.
- the level sensor 1 includes a transmitter and a receiver of ultrasound pulses and the control unit 3 measures the time delay of the pulses reflected in the transition between liquid medium and gas/air in the tank. This time delay is proportional to the distance from the underside of the tank and the surface level of the liquid medium.
- the measuring principle used is well known to the person skilled in this art and need not be described in detail here.
- the central unit includes a computer unit, e.g. a personal computer, and a telephone modem connected to the public telephone network.
- the control unit 3 also includes a computer unit, for instance a microprocessor, and a telephone modem which can be connected to the public telephone network via an electric contact 4.
- the control unit can also be connected to the public electricity supply via a standard network transformer 5, preferably a so-called network adapter (plug with built-in transformer).
- the network transformer may, of course, be incorporated in the control unit and connected to the network through the medium of an electric contact or connected permanently by means of a cable.
- the control unit also includes a service contact 6 for connection to a series port on a personal computer, for instance. This input port enables a mounted control unit to be programmed on site or pre-programmed prior to being mounted.
- the level sensor 1 is glued to a horizontal surface on the underside of the tank with the aid of an appropriate glue, for instance a superepoxy glue, so that the ultrasound pulses will be delivered generally vertically to the surface of the liquid medium in the tank.
- the control unit and the transformer are then affixed to a wall or like structure in some suitable manner, and the telephone modem is connected to the public telephone network and the transformer is connected to the public electricity supply network or mains. Mounting of these system components is now complete.
- the control unit Shortly after connecting the control unit to the electricity supply network, or mains, the control unit calls the central unit on a pre-programmed telephone number. This is indicated on the front of the control unit by a flashing light-emitting diode 7. When contact is established with the central unit, a further light-emitting diode 8 begins to flash.
- the control unit is programmed to recall the central unit after a given period of time has lapsed, when failing to contact the central unit. When contact with the central unit has been established, the control unit delivers its unique identity number that has earlier been allocated to the central unit. No further communication takes place between the control and central units until a preset time interval has lapsed.
- a third light-emitting diode 9 and the light-emitting diodes 7 and 8 begin to shine with a fixed light.
- the light-emitting diodes provide a rough indication of the level of liquid in the tank to which the level sensor 1 is affixed.
- the light-emitting diodes are controlled by the control unit so that the diode 9 will emit light when the tank is more than three-quarters full, the diode 8 will emit light when the tank is more than half full, and the diode 7 will emit light when the tank is less than one-quarter full. If the dimensions of the tank concerned are not programmed in the control unit, the control unit will operate on the basis of a parallelepipedic tank having a height of 3 m.
- control unit and level sensor are fitted in position very easily and can be mounted by untrained personnel, provided that a telephone jack and electric contact have earlier been installed.
- the fitter is able to leave the installation site, as soon as he/she has checked that the light-emitting diodes function in the aforedescribed manner.
- pre-programmed is meant in the aforegoing that the control unit has been loaded with the program required for its operation and with data required for initiating operation, i.e. the relevant telephone number of the central unit, recall interval, and the time when the central unit shall next be called. If this pre-programming has not been implemented prior to fitting the aforesaid components, preprogramming can be implemented on site with the aid of a suitable computer, by connecting the computer to the service contact 4 and pre-programming the control unit via the computer .
- the control unit In conjunction with the first occasion of establishing contact with the central unit subsequent to fitting the aforesaid system components, the control unit is supplied with the dimensions of the tank and the type of tank concerned if this data was not available prior to preprogramming.
- the control unit calculates the volume of liquid medium remaining in the tank on the basis of this data and on the current measuring value of the level sensor 1, and sends this calculated value to the central unit. It may be appropriate to adjust the alarm level on this occasion, i.e. the liquid level at which the control unit shall call the central unit irrespective of when the alarm level is sensed, particularly when the tank dimensions were not known prior to fitting the aforesaid system components.
- the control unit In subsequent contacts with the central unit, the control unit thus sends to the central unit the current value of the volume of liquid medium remaining in the tank.
- a plurality of control units are connected to a plurality of tanks installed in different geographical locations and connected to the central unit via the telephone network. Because each control unit sends a status report to the central unit at regular intervals, the tank filling procedure can be optimised so as to achieve maximum use of tanker capacity, for instance. Furthermore, this regular monitoring of the tanks provides a clear indication of any change in the consumption of liquid medium in the tanks and provides a good time margin in planning the refilling of such tanks. A change in the consumption of the liquid medium in a tank may mean that the alarm level in respect of this tank should be changed.
- New software can also be loaded into the control unit via the central unit.
- a volume calculating program for a new type of tank can be programmed in the control unit when the level sensor is connected to a tank that has a configuration that is different to those types of tanks that have already been taken into account in the pre-programming process .
- the described monitoring system is thus highly flexible and can be readily adapted to changes in both consumption patterns and tank types.
- level sensors may be used, such as internally mounted level sensors, rows of photocells, etc., and the level sensor may be affixed to a tank by means other than glue.
- Other communications means than the telephone network may also be used, such as radio communication or data communications networks, and it is also conceivable to use mobile telephony technology when the tank concerned is placed far from the telephone line network. The invention is therefore restricted solely by the contents of the following Claims.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
- Level Indicators Using A Float (AREA)
Abstract
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP97944270A EP0941506A1 (fr) | 1996-10-08 | 1997-10-07 | Appareil permettant de controler a distance le niveau d'un liquide dans un reservoir au moins |
NO991491A NO991491D0 (no) | 1996-10-08 | 1999-03-26 | Apparat for fjernovervÕkning av vµskenivÕet i minst Ún tank |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE9603671-0 | 1996-10-08 | ||
SE9603671A SE9603671L (sv) | 1996-10-08 | 1996-10-08 | Anordning för att fjärrövervaka nivån i åtminstone en tank |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998015884A1 true WO1998015884A1 (fr) | 1998-04-16 |
Family
ID=20404168
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/SE1997/001677 WO1998015884A1 (fr) | 1996-10-08 | 1997-10-07 | Appareil permettant de controler a distance le niveau d'un liquide dans un reservoir au moins |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0941506A1 (fr) |
NO (1) | NO991491D0 (fr) |
SE (1) | SE9603671L (fr) |
WO (1) | WO1998015884A1 (fr) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2388663A (en) * | 2002-05-17 | 2003-11-19 | Peter Smith | A remote liquid level alarm system for a bath |
CN113405630A (zh) * | 2021-03-29 | 2021-09-17 | 国网上海市电力公司 | 一种基于无线通讯的变压器油位运行安全的监测装置 |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105892384A (zh) * | 2016-01-15 | 2016-08-24 | 贵港市嘉特电子科技有限公司 | 油罐车作业状态监控系统 |
CN105549512A (zh) * | 2016-01-15 | 2016-05-04 | 贵港市嘉特电子科技有限公司 | 油罐车作业状态监控系统及方法 |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4416153A (en) * | 1982-03-15 | 1983-11-22 | Innovative Medical Systems, Corp. | Method of compensating a thermistor |
US5119412A (en) * | 1990-08-06 | 1992-06-02 | Arnaldo Attallah | Method and a system for remotely switching and/or regulating and monitoring and electrically operated device or an environment by the use of signals generated by a telephone or a modem |
-
1996
- 1996-10-08 SE SE9603671A patent/SE9603671L/ not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1997
- 1997-10-07 WO PCT/SE1997/001677 patent/WO1998015884A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-10-07 EP EP97944270A patent/EP0941506A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
-
1999
- 1999-03-26 NO NO991491A patent/NO991491D0/no not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4416153A (en) * | 1982-03-15 | 1983-11-22 | Innovative Medical Systems, Corp. | Method of compensating a thermistor |
US5119412A (en) * | 1990-08-06 | 1992-06-02 | Arnaldo Attallah | Method and a system for remotely switching and/or regulating and monitoring and electrically operated device or an environment by the use of signals generated by a telephone or a modem |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2388663A (en) * | 2002-05-17 | 2003-11-19 | Peter Smith | A remote liquid level alarm system for a bath |
CN113405630A (zh) * | 2021-03-29 | 2021-09-17 | 国网上海市电力公司 | 一种基于无线通讯的变压器油位运行安全的监测装置 |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
SE9603671L (sv) | 1998-04-09 |
NO991491L (no) | 1999-03-26 |
SE9603671D0 (sv) | 1996-10-08 |
EP0941506A1 (fr) | 1999-09-15 |
NO991491D0 (no) | 1999-03-26 |
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