Optical impedance modulation for fuel quantity measurement

A fuel and optical fiber technology, applied in the measurement capacity, measurement device, measurement inclination, etc., can solve the problems of complex installation and protection measurement, and achieve the effect of avoiding the accumulation of pollutants, reducing costs, and maintaining accuracy

Active Publication Date: 2016-05-25
THE BOEING CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Problems solved by technology

For example, existing capacitive sensors require wires inside the box, which in turn requires complex ins

Method used

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  • Optical impedance modulation for fuel quantity measurement
  • Optical impedance modulation for fuel quantity measurement
  • Optical impedance modulation for fuel quantity measurement

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0028] Various embodiments of systems and methods for measuring a liquid level in a reservoir will now be described in detail for purposes of illustration. At least some of the details disclosed below relate to optional features or aspects, which in some applications may be omitted without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0029] figure 1 A liquid level sensor 50 is shown comprising an aluminum inner tube 54 and an aluminum outer tube 52 surrounding and concentric with the aluminum inner tube 54 . A generally horizontal non-linear line across fluid level sensor 50 represents the fuel level, ie, the interface between fuel and air. Some fuel takes up the space between the aluminum tubes. The overall capacitance of the fluid level sensor 50 varies with fuel level in a well known manner (air and fuel have different dielectric constants). The arrows represent the charge flow from the aluminum inner tube 54 towards the aluminum outer tube 52 under the influence o...

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Abstract

The invention relates to optical impedance modulation for fuel quantity measurement. Provided are an optical impedance fluid level sensor that eliminates electricity for measuring fuel quantity in fuel tanks, as well as a system and method using the sensor. The optical impedance sensor comprises two optical fibers spaced apart inside a meniscus tube, one to transmit light along its length and the other to receive light along its length. The meniscus tube minimizes the sloshing of fuel level. The fuel level in the tank modulates the optical impedance between the two optical fibers, resulting in changes in the total light received by an optical detector. Depending on fuel tank height, the optical impedance sensor may comprise different embodiments in which the detection apparatus shapes the light to be unidirectional, with light emitted and collected only on one side of the fibers, or omnidirectional, comprising all directions around the optical fibers.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for measuring the level of liquid in a reservoir, such as a storage tank or other container. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for liquid level measurement using optical sensors. Background technique [0002] Continuous measurement of liquid levels is required in many commercial and military applications. For example, liquid level sensors are commonly used in fuel tanks of aircraft, cars and trucks. Liquid level sensors are also used to monitor liquid levels in storage tanks used in fuel distribution, sewage treatment, chemical storage, food processing, etc. [0003] Many transducers used to measure liquid levels use electricity. The electrical output of such transducers changes in response to changes in the level of the liquid being measured, and typically takes the form of changing resistance, capacitance, current, magnetic field, frequency, and ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G01C5/00G01C9/00G01C9/02
CPCG01C5/00G01C9/00G01C9/005G01C9/02G01F22/00B64D37/005G01F23/292Y02T50/40
Inventor T·K·特隆D·G·克施恩茨E·Y·陈T·C·托马斯J·E·格洛特S·J·瓦林J·L·文托S·S·哈利瑞姆R·J·内丝廷
Owner THE BOEING CO
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