Tank sensors
A method of measuring a level of fluid in a tank can include transmitting an energy pulse from an emitter mounted to a wall of the tank and detecting a plurality of return pulses at a detector mounted to the wall of the tank. A plurality of periods between the pulses can be calculated or timed. In at least one embodiment, at least two of the periods can be scored or weighted. A distance between the fluid and a top of the tank can be calculated or determined according to the scoring utilizing at least two of the periods. A signal indicative of the level in the tank can be provided.
1 . A method of measuring a level of a liquid/air interface of a fluid in a tank, the method comprising:
transmitting an energy pulse from an emitter mounted to a wall of the tank;
detecting a plurality of return pulses at a detector mounted to the wall of the tank, each of the return pulses being reflections of the energy pulse from the liquid/air interface;
timing a plurality of periods between the return pulses, including at least a first period, a second period subsequent to the first period, and a third period subsequent to the second period;
scoring at least the first, second and third periods, including scoring the first period higher than the second period and scoring the second period higher than the third period;
determining a distance between the level of the fluid and the wall of the tank according to the scoring of the periods;
calculating the level of the fluid in the tank based at least in part on the distance; and
providing a signal indicative of the level of the fluid in the tank.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first, second and third periods are scored differently than any other one of the plurality of periods.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selected ones of the return pulses are ignored, such that the periods associated with the selected ones of the return pulses are not utilized in the determining.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first period is a period between the energy pulse and a first return pulse.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first period is more influential than any subsequent period in the determining.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first period is scored higher than all subsequent periods.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the emitter and the detector are embodied in a single transducer which performs both the transmitting and the detecting.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the transducer is mounted flush with an inner surface of the wall of the tank.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the transducer detects the return pulses utilizing the wall of the tank.