Method for Measuring the Level at the Container Outlet and a Rotatable Sensor for Carrying out the Method

Abstract

A method for measuring the liquid level at a container outlet connection located on the outlet side of a container includes orienting an incident beam through a container connection located on the upper head of the container on the side opposite to the outlet side of the container such that the incident beam line forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection. An apparatus for implementing this method is configured such that the incident beam line pivots ±30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the container connection and the incident beam line rotates about the longitudinal axis of the container connection.

Description

Background Art

[0001] (Cross - References and Priority) This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 634,351, filed May 9, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 497,828, filed Apr. 24, 2023, the teachings of both applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Many manufacturing processes, such as the manufacture of beverages, pharmaceuticals, and other liquid products, are carried out within a container having a container connection attached to the upper head of the container and a container outlet connection at a low position on the bottom head of the container. The container outlet connection is located at or near the bottom of the container, and the container has a conical, concave, or other angled bottom wall that orients the liquid product within the container towards the container outlet, allowing for complete drainage from the container.

[0003] When monitoring a manufacturing process, it is important to measure the liquid level within the container. The measurement is often performed using a radar level measurement device. The radar level measurement device bounces a microwave electromagnetic signal off the liquid surface and measures the time required for the signal to travel to the liquid surface and back to the radar level measurement device. If the shape of the container is known, the liquid level within the container can be accurately calculated.

[0004] Typically, a radar level measurement device is attached to the container connection at or near the upper part of the container. In many cases where it is necessary to measure the minimum residual liquid level above the container outlet connection, it is not possible to attach the radar level measurement device directly above the container outlet connection. This can lead to inaccurate measurement of the liquid level at the container outlet, especially when the container has a conical, concave, or other angled bottom wall.

[0005] Furthermore, additional complexity arises from the need to maintain the integrity of the container (including aseptic sealing), maintain pressure and temperature during the manufacturing process, and isolate and protect the radar sensor from the process material. These factors may be resolved by using an appropriate process flow sight glass, such that the connection of the container intended for mounting the radar level measuring device may be covered by the process flow sight glass during operation. An example of such a process flow sight glass (forming a container connection and aseptic seal) is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In such an apparatus, the radar level measuring device is connected to the process flow sight glass to maintain the integrity (such as aseptic integrity) between the container connection and the process flow sight glass, enable liquid level measurement while maintaining pressure and temperature during the manufacturing process, and protect the sensor.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method for maintaining the integrity of the container connection at the upper part of the container, measuring the liquid level above the outlet at the lower position of the container, and more accurately measuring the liquid level above the outlet connection at the lower position of the container.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This specification describes a method for measuring the liquid level above a container outlet connection located on the outlet side of a container having a longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection, using a sensor that emits an incident beam forming an incident beam line. The method includes orienting the incident beam through a container connection having a longitudinal axis of the container connection, located on the side of the container opposite the outlet side, such that the incident beam line and the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection form an acute angle having a degree within a range from one degree to the degree at which the incident beam line intersects the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection at the container outlet connection.

[0008] The present specification also describes an apparatus for implementing the method. The apparatus is configured to allow the incident beam line to pivot by ±30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion and form a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion. The apparatus is configured to allow the incident beam line to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion.

[0009] In a first embodiment of the device, the device has a device base portion, a rotating member, and a pivoting member. The device base portion is configured to be connected to a container connection portion. The rotating member includes an incident beam hole, at least one rotating member mounting hole, and at least one rotating member curved slot. The pivoting member includes a pivoting member housing and a sensor housing. The pivoting member housing includes a first hemispherical outer shape, a pivoting member housing through hole around the longitudinal axis of the pivoting member housing, at least one pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole, at least one pivoting member housing radial mounting hole, and at least one pivoting member housing curved slot. The sensor housing includes a second hemispherical outer shape, a sensor housing through hole around the longitudinal axis of the sensor housing, at least one first sensor housing mounting hole, and a second sensor housing mounting hole. The rotating member is configured to be connected to the device base portion by inserting a first fastener through at least one rotating member mounting hole into at least one device base portion mounting hole. The pivoting member housing is configured to be connected to the rotating member by passing a second fastener through at least one pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole and at least one rotating member curved slot. The pivoting member housing is configured to be connected to the sensor housing by inserting a third fastener through the pivoting member housing radial mounting hole into the first sensor housing mounting hole and inserting a fourth fastener through the pivoting member housing curved slot into the second sensor housing mounting hole. The hemispherical inner shape of the pivoting member housing is configured to interact with the second hemispherical outer shape. The sensor is configured to be at least partially received within a pivoting member longitudinal hole formed by the pivoting member housing through hole and the sensor housing through hole.

[0010] In the first embodiment, the rotating member may be configured to be connected to the device base portion by inserting a first fastener through at least one rotating member mounting hole and into at least one device base portion mounting hole. The pivoting member housing may be configured to be connected to the rotating member by passing a second fastener through at least one pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole and at least one rotating member curved slot. The pivoting member housing may be configured to be connected to the sensor housing by inserting a third fastener through the pivoting member housing radial mounting hole into the sensor housing first mounting hole and inserting a fourth fastener through the pivoting member housing curved slot into the sensor housing second mounting hole. The hemispherical internal shape of the pivoting member housing may be configured to interact with the second hemispherical external shape. The sensor may be configured to at least partially fit within a pivoting member longitudinal hole formed by the pivoting member housing through hole and the sensor housing through hole.

[0011] In some embodiments within the first embodiment, the device base portion is configured to be connected to the container connection portion by a clamp. In a particular embodiment, the first gasket is configured to be located at the boundary between the device base portion and the container connection portion. In an embodiment, the device base portion is a process flow sight glass.

[0012] In an embodiment within the first embodiment, the device further comprises a second gasket configured to be located at the boundary between the rotating member and the device base portion. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a third gasket located at the boundary between the pivoting member and the rotating member.

[0013] In a second embodiment of the present device, the device includes a device base portion and a pivoting member. The device base portion is configured to be connected to a container connection portion. The pivoting member includes a pivoting member casing and a sensor casing. The pivoting member casing includes a bottom wall, a first side wall extending upward from a first edge of the bottom wall and having a first concave inner surface, a second side wall extending upward from a second edge of the bottom wall opposite to the first edge of the bottom wall and having a second concave inner surface, a pivoting member casing mounting hole parallel to the first edge of the bottom wall and the second edge of the bottom wall, and a pivoting member casing through hole around the longitudinal axis of the pivoting member casing. The sensor casing includes a sensor casing planar member having at least a first edge and a second edge, a sensor casing extension portion, a sensor casing mounting hole penetrating the tip of the sensor casing extension portion, and a sensor casing through hole around the longitudinal axis of the sensor casing.

[0014] In the second embodiment, the device base portion includes a clamp having at least one stud extending from the upper surface of the clamp. The pivoting member casing is configured to be connected to the device base portion by passing a third fastener through the stud and the sensor casing mounting hole. The sensor casing is configured to be connected to the pivoting member casing by passing a third fastener through the pivoting member casing mounting hole and the sensor casing mounting hole. The first concave inner surface is configured to interact with the first edge. The second concave inner surface is configured to interact with the second edge. The sensor is configured to be at least partially received within a pivoting member longitudinal hole formed by the pivoting member casing through hole and the sensor casing through hole.

[0015] In some embodiments of the second embodiment, the device base portion is configured to be connected to the container connection portion by a clamp. In a particular embodiment, the first gasket may be configured to be located at the boundary between the device base portion and the container connection portion. In an embodiment, the device base portion is a process flow sight glass.

[0016] In a specific embodiment of the second embodiment, the device further includes a fourth gasket configured to be located at the boundary between the pivot member casing and the device base portion. In some embodiments, the sensor casing extension may have a substantially triangular shape.

[0017] In a third embodiment of the present device, the device includes a device base portion and a shaft adjustment member. The device base portion may be configured to be connected to the container connection portion. The shaft adjustment member includes a ball and a mounting clamp. The ball has an axially through hole. The mounting clamp has a first mounting clamp portion and a second mounting clamp portion. The first mounting clamp portion has a first concave surface, a first mounting clamp portion mounting surface, and a first mounting clamp portion through hole around the longitudinal axis of the first mounting clamp portion. The second mounting clamp portion has a second concave surface and a second mounting clamp portion through hole around the longitudinal axis of the second mounting clamp portion.

[0018] In the third embodiment, the shaft adjustment member is configured to be connected to the device base portion with the first mounting clamp portion mounting surface in contact with the plane of the device base portion. The ball is configured to fit inside the mounting clamp formed by the first concave surface and the second concave surface. The sensor is configured to at least partially fit inside the axially through hole.

[0019] In some embodiments of the third embodiment, the device base portion may be configured to be connected to the container connection portion by a clamp. In a specific embodiment, the first gasket may be configured to be located at the boundary between the device base portion and the container connection portion. In an embodiment, the device base portion may be a process flow sight glass.

[0020] In a specific embodiment of the third embodiment, the device may further include a fourth gasket configured to be located at the boundary between the first mounting clamp portion mounting surface and the device base portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] This specification is about an apparatus and method for measuring the liquid level above a container outlet connection. It discloses the apparatus and method. With reference to the figures, the apparatus and method will be described below. As described in this specification and the claims, the following numbers refer to the following structures shown in the figures.

[0023] 100 refers to a container.

[0024] 110 refers to a container connection.

[0025] 112 refers to a first flange.

[0026] 114 refers to a pivot axis.

[0027] 116 refers to the longitudinal axis of the container connection.

[0028] 120 refers to a container outlet connection.

[0029] 125 refers to the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection.

[0030] 200 refers to an apparatus base part.

[0031] 210 refers to a first fastener.

[0032] 220 refers to an apparatus base part mounting hole.

[0033] 230 refers to a clamp.

[0034] 240 refers to a first gasket.

[0035] 250 refers to a stud.

[0036] 300 refers to a rotating member.

[0037] 310 refers to an incident beam hole.

[0038] 320 refers to the rotating member mounting hole.

[0039] 330 refers to the rotating member curved slot.

[0040] 340 refers to the second fastener.

[0041] 350 refers to the second gasket.

[0042] 400 refers to the pivoting member.

[0043] 410 refers to the pivoting member housing.

[0044] 411 refers to the first hemispherical external shape.

[0045] 412 refers to the pivoting member housing through hole.

[0046] 413 refers to the longitudinal axis of the pivoting member housing.

[0047] 414 refers to the longitudinal mounting hole of the pivoting member housing.

[0048] 415 refers to the radial mounting hole of the pivoting member housing.

[0049] 416 refers to the curved slot of the pivoting member housing.

[0050] 420 refers to the sensor housing.

[0051] 421 refers to the second hemispherical external shape.

[0052] 422 refers to the sensor housing through hole.

[0053] 423 refers to the longitudinal axis of the sensor housing.

[0054] 424 refers to the first mounting hole of the sensor housing.

[0055] 425 refers to the second mounting hole of the sensor housing.

[0056] 430 refers to the third fastener.

[0057] 440 refers to the fourth fastener.

[0058] 450 refers to the longitudinal hole of the pivoting member.

[0059] 460 refers to the third gasket.

[0060] 470 refers to the pivoting member casing.

[0061] 471 refers to the bottom wall.

[0062] 472 refers to the first side wall.

[0063] 473 refers to the first edge of the bottom wall.

[0064] 474A refers to the first concave inner surface.

[0065] 474B refers to the second concave inner surface.

[0066] 475 refers to the second side wall.

[0067] 476 refers to the second edge of the bottom wall.

[0068] 477 refers to the mounting hole of the pivoting member casing.

[0069] 478 refers to the through hole of the pivoting member casing.

[0070] 479 refers to the longitudinal axis of the pivoting member casing.

[0071] 480 refers to the sensor casing.

[0072] 481 refers to the planar member of the sensor casing.

[0073] 482 refers to the first edge (of the sensor casing planar member).

[0074] 483 refers to the second edge (of the sensor casing planar member).

[0075] 484 refers to the sensor casing extension.

[0076] 485 refers to the sensor casing mounting hole.

[0077] 486 refers to the tip (of the sensor casing extension).

[0078] 487 refers to the sensor casing through hole.

[0079] 488 refers to the longitudinal axis of the sensor casing.

[0080] 500 refers to the sensor.

[0081] 510 refers to the incident beam.

[0082] 520 refers to the incident beam line.

[0083] 600 refers to the shaft adjustment member.

[0084] 610 refers to the ball.

[0085] 615 refers to the axial through hole.

[0086] 620 refers to the mounting clamp.

[0087] 621 refers to the first mounting clamp part.

[0088] 622 refers to the second mounting clamp part.

[0089] 623 refers to the first concave surface.

[0090] 624 refers to the mounting surface of the first mounting clamp part.

[0091] 625 refers to the through-hole of the first mounting clamp part.

[0092] 626 refers to the longitudinal axis of the first mounting clamp part.

[0093] 627 refers to the second concave surface.

[0094] 628 refers to the through-hole of the second mounting clamp part.

[0095] 629 refers to the longitudinal axis of the second mounting clamp part.

[0096] θ refers to the acute angle formed by the incident beam line and the longitudinal axis of the container connection part.

[0097] Figure 1 shows the operating principle of a method and an apparatus for measuring the liquid level in a container (100) according to the prior art. As shown in Figure 1, in the prior art, a sensor (500) (sometimes referred to as a radar level measuring device) is attached to the container connection part (110) of the upper head of the container. The sensor emits a microwave electromagnetic signal (referred to as the incident beam (510) in this specification) into the container. When the incident beam reaches the liquid surface, it is reflected from the liquid surface and returns to the sensor. The sensor can determine the liquid level by measuring the time it takes for the incident beam to travel from the sensor to the liquid surface and back to the sensor. An example of such a sensor is the VEGAPULS® 64 radar level sensor available from VEGA Americas, Inc. located in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 1, the incident beam (510) travels along the incident beam line (520). In many examples such as those shown in FIG. 1, the incident beam line does not intersect the longitudinal axis (125) of the container outlet connection. When the container outlet connection is located at or near the bottom of the container and the container has a conical, concave, or other angled bottom wall, at a position within the container that is not aligned with the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection, the incident beam contacts the liquid surface, so there is a risk that the measurement of the liquid level at the container outlet connection will be inaccurate.

[0099] The wavelength of the microwave electromagnetic signal is preferably in the range of 0.03 cm to 30 cm, and more preferably in the range of 0.8 cm to 10.0 cm corresponding to the range of the radar electromagnetic signal.

[0100] FIG. 2 shows the operating principle of a method and apparatus for measuring the liquid level in a container (100) according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor (500) is adjustably attached to the container connection (110) located at the upper part of the container. The sensor rotates about the longitudinal axis (116) of the container connection and / or pivots about a pivot axis (114) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the container connection, so that the incident beam line (520) passes through the container connection and the incident beam (510) is oriented such that it intersects the longitudinal axis of the container connection and the longitudinal axis (125) of the container outlet connection at the container outlet connection (120).

[0101] As shown in FIG. 2, the incident beam line and the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection form an acute angle (θ). This acute angle has a value in the range from 1 degree to the angle at which the incident beam line intersects the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection at the container outlet connection. The maximum angle varies depending on the dimensions of the container, as described above.

[0102] As described herein and as shown in FIG. 2, guiding the incident beam (510) through the container connection part (110) can be achieved by connecting the device to the container connection part such that, as shown in FIG. 2, the incident beam line (520) can rotate by ±30 degrees about the longitudinal axis (116) of the container connection part. Thereby, a first angle of the incident beam line with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container connection is formed.

[0103] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the device can be configured such that the incident beam line (520) can pivot about a pivot axis (114) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (116) of the container connection part. Thereby, when the incident beam line pivots, the incident beam (510) is more accurately oriented to intersect the longitudinal axis (125) of the container outlet connection part.

[0104] The present device has many different embodiments and configurations. One embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and will be described herein. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device including a device base part (200 shown in FIG. 4), a rotating member (300), and a pivoting member (400).

[0105] Generally, the device base part (200) is configured to be connected to the container connection part (110). The connection between the container connection part and the device base part can take various forms. In some embodiments, the connection between the container connection part and the device base part includes a screw-in connection in which the device base part is screwed into the container connection part or into the container connection part. In other embodiments, the connection between the container connection part and the device base part includes the use of at least one fastener such as a clamp, screw, bolt, and combinations thereof. To improve the sealing between the device base part and the container connection part, a first gasket (240) is disposed at the boundary between the device base part and the container connection part.

[0106] In some embodiments, the device base portion (200) may be a process flow sight glass. An example of such a process flow sight glass (which forms a sterile seal with the vessel connection) is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the process flow sight glass can be connected to the vessel connection using a clamp (230) of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2. The optically transparent portion of the sight glass is also transmissive to radar waves. Fused glass is preferred, and borosilicate is particularly preferred over soda lime.

[0107] Also, the process flow sight glass is designed to use a plastic such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) instead of glass. Operationally important is to select a plastic that has at least 50% transmissivity for microwave electromagnetic wave wavelengths in the range of 0.03 cm to 30 cm, more preferably 0.8 cm to 10 cm.

[0108] Figure 3 shows the rotating member (300) of the first embodiment of the device. As shown in Figure 3, the rotating member has an incident beam hole (310 shown in Figure 4). Due to the incident beam hole, when the device is connected to the vessel connection portion (110), the incident beam (510 shown in Figure 5) passes through the rotating member and enters the vessel (100 shown in Figure 2). The rotating member also has at least one rotating member mounting hole (320 shown in Figure 4) and at least one rotating member curved slot (330 shown in Figure 3). In practice, the number of rotating member mounting holes (plural available) and rotating member curved slots (plural available) is not emphasized. Generally, the number of rotating member mounting holes (plural available) can be an integer in the range of 1 to 10. Similarly, the number of rotating member curved slots can be an integer in the range of 1 to 10.

[0109] FIG. 3 further shows the pivoting member (400) of the first embodiment of the device. As shown in FIG. 3, the pivoting member has a pivoting member housing (410) and a sensor housing (420). Usually, the pivoting member housing is configured to enclose the sensor housing with the sensor housing housed in the hollow interior of the pivoting member housing.

[0110] The pivoting member housing (410) may have a substantially hemispherical external shape (referred to as the first hemispherical external shape (411) in this embodiment). The pivoting member housing through-hole (412 shown in FIG. 4) may penetrate the longitudinal axis (413 shown in FIG. 4) of the pivoting member housing, whereby at least a part of the sensor (500) is housed within the pivoting member housing. This pivoting member housing through-hole (412) may have a generally circular internal shape.

[0111] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the pivoting member housing (410) may have at least one pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole (414 shown in FIG. 4), at least one pivoting member housing radial mounting hole (415 shown in FIG. 4), and at least one pivoting member housing curved slot (416). The pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole(s) may be substantially aligned with or aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pivoting member, whereby, as described herein, the pivoting member housing can be connected to the rotating member (300). The radial mounting hole(s) of the pivoting member housing may be substantially aligned with or aligned with the radial axis of the pivoting member, whereby, as described herein, the pivoting member housing can be connected to the sensor housing. When the pivoting member housing is connected to the sensor housing, the pivoting member housing radial mounting hole(s) function as a pivoting point for the incident beam (510 shown in FIG. 5) to pivot from the container connection longitudinal axis (116 shown in FIG. 4) together with the first mounting hole(s) (424 shown in FIG. 4) of the sensor housing described herein. The pivoting member housing curved slot(s) may also be substantially aligned with or aligned with the radial axis of the pivoting member and function to further connect the pivoting member housing to the sensor housing as described herein.

[0112] In fact, the number of the pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole(s) (414), the pivoting member housing radial mounting hole(s) (415), and the pivoting member housing curved slot(s) (416) is not emphasized. Usually, the number of the pivoting member longitudinal mounting hole(s) can be an integer in the range of 1 to 10. Similarly, the number of the pivoting member housing radial mounting holes can be an integer in the range of 1 to 2. When the number of the pivoting member housing radial mounting holes is 2, the longitudinal axes of each of the pivoting member radial mounting holes are preferably aligned with each other. Also, the number of the pivoting member housing curved slots can be an integer in the range of 1 to 2. When the number of the pivoting member housing curved slots is 2, the longitudinal axes of each of the pivoting member curved slots are preferably aligned with each other.

[0113] Figure 3 shows the sensor housing (420). As shown in Figure 3, the sensor housing may have a generally hemispherical outer shape (referred to as the second hemispherical outer shape (421) in this embodiment). This second hemispherical outer shape (421) may be configured to interact with the hemispherical inner shape of the pivot member housing (410). In some embodiments, an O-ring, gasket, or other sealing member may be disposed at least partially along or around the boundary between the sensor housing and the pivot member housing. The sensor housing through-hole (422 shown in Figure 4) extends through around the sensor housing longitudinal axis (423 shown in Figure 4), and a part of the sensor (500) is received within the sensor housing.

[0114] Also, as shown in Figure 4, the sensor housing (420) may have at least a sensor housing first mounting hole (424) and a sensor housing second mounting hole (425). Each of the sensor housing first mounting hole(s) and the sensor housing second mounting hole(s) is substantially aligned or aligned with the radial axis of the sensor housing, whereby, as described herein, the pivot member housing is connected to the sensor housing.

[0115] In practice, the number of the sensor housing first mounting hole(s) (424) and the number of the sensor housing second mounting hole(s) (425) are not critically important. Usually, the number of the sensor housing first mounting hole(s) is an integer in the range of 1 to 2. Similarly, the number of the sensor housing second mounting hole(s) may be an integer in the range of 1 to 2. Preferably, the number of the sensor housing first mounting holes is equal to the number of the pivot member housing radial mounting holes (415). When the number of the sensor housing first mounting holes is 2, the longitudinal axes of each of the sensor housing first mounting holes are preferably arranged in alignment with each other. Preferably, the number of the sensor housing second mounting hole(s) is equal to the number of the pivot member housing curved slot(s) (416). When the number of the sensor housing second mounting holes is 2, the longitudinal axes of each of the sensor housing second mounting holes are preferably arranged in alignment with each other.

[0116] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the rotating member (300) may be configured to be connected to the device base portion (200) by passing at least one first fastener (210) through at least one rotating member longitudinal mounting hole (320) and inserting it into at least one device base portion mounting hole (220). In embodiments including one or more rotating member longitudinal mounting holes and one or more device base portion mounting holes, a plurality of first fasteners may be used, and each individual first fastener is passed through one of the rotating member longitudinal mounting holes and inserted into the corresponding device base portion mounting hole. Each of the first fasteners may be selected from a group of fasteners including bolts, screws, rivets, etc. In some embodiments, each of the first fasteners may include an O-ring, gasket, or other sealing member. Preferably, when the rotating member is connected to the device base portion, a second gasket (350) is disposed at the boundary between the rotating member and the device base portion.

[0117] FIGS. 3 to 5 show a pivoting member housing (410), and this pivoting member housing (410) may be configured to be connected to the rotating member by passing a second fastener (340) through at least one pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting hole (414) and at least one rotating member curved slot (330). In embodiments including one or more pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting holes and one or more rotating member curved slots, a plurality of second fasteners may be used, and each individual second fastener passes through one of the pivoting member housing longitudinal mounting holes and is inserted into the corresponding rotating member curved slot. Each of the second fasteners may be selected from a group of fasteners including bolts, screws, rivets, etc. In some embodiments, each of the second fasteners may include an O-ring, gasket, or other sealing member. Preferably, when the pivoting member is connected to the rotating member, a third gasket (460) is disposed at the boundary between the pivoting member and the rotating member.

[0118] Furthermore, FIGS. 3-5 show the pivot member housing (410). This pivot member housing (410) is configured to be connected to the sensor housing (420) by inserting at least one third fastener (430) through at least one pivot member housing radial mounting hole (415) into at least one sensor housing first mounting hole (424), and inserting at least one fourth fastener (440) through at least one pivot member housing curved slot (416) into at least one sensor housing second mounting hole (425). In embodiments including one or more pivot member housing radial mounting holes and one or more sensor housing first mounting holes, a plurality of third fasteners may be used, with each third fastener passing through one of the pivot member housing radial mounting holes and being inserted into the corresponding sensor housing first mounting hole. Similarly, in embodiments including one or more pivot member housing curved slots and one or more sensor housing second mounting holes, a plurality of fourth fasteners may be used, with each fourth fastener passing through one of the pivot member housing curved slots and being inserted into the corresponding sensor housing second mounting hole. Each third fastener may be selected respectively from a group of fasteners including bolts, screws, rivets, etc. In some embodiments, each third fastener may include an O-ring, gasket or other sealing member. Similarly, each fourth fastener may be selected respectively from a group of fasteners including bolts, screws, rivets, etc. In some embodiments, each fourth fastener may include an O-ring, gasket or other sealing member.

[0119] When assembled, the sensor (500) is connected to the device as shown in FIG. 5. The sensor is connected to the device by passing a portion of the sensor through a pivot member longitudinal hole (450 shown in FIG. 4), which is formed by a pivot member housing through hole (412 shown in FIG. 4) and a sensor housing through hole (422 shown in FIG. 4).

[0120] Another embodiment of the present device is shown in FIGS. 6-8. The device of this second embodiment includes a device base portion (200 shown in FIG. 7) and a pivot member (400).

[0121] Similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the device base portion (200 shown in FIG. 7) is also configured to be connected to the container connection portion (110). The connection between the container connection portion and the device base portion can take many forms. In some embodiments, the connection between the container connection portion and the device base portion includes the use of at least one fastener such as a clamp, screw, bolt, and combinations thereof. The first gasket is disposed at the boundary between the device base portion and the container connection portion to improve the sealing between the container connection portion and the device base portion.

[0122] In some embodiments, the device base portion (200) may be a process flow sight glass. An example of such a process flow sight glass (forming a container connection portion and a sterile seal) is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As described in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the process flow sight glass can be connected to the container connection portion using a clamp (230) of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2.

[0123] It should be noted that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may not include a separate rotating member as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. However, the sensor (500) in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may still be rotated by some means. In some embodiments, the sensor may be rotated within the sensor casing (480) to adjust the incident beam line (520 shown in FIG. 8). In other embodiments, the connection between the device base portion (200 shown in FIG. 7) and the container connection portion (110) may be loosened and the entire device including the sensor may be rotated to adjust the incident beam line.

[0124] FIG. 6 shows the pivoting member (400). As shown in FIG. 6, the pivoting member includes a pivoting member casing (470) and a sensor casing (480). Usually, the pivoting member casing is configured to enclose the sensor casing with the sensor casing housed in the hollow interior of the pivoting member casing.

[0125] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the pivoting member casing (470) has a bottom wall (471), and the bottom wall has a bottom wall first edge (473) and a bottom wall second edge (476). A first side wall (472) extends upward from the bottom wall first edge. Preferably, the first side wall has a first concave inner surface (474A), and when this inner surface is assembled with the casing housing (480), as described herein, it interacts with the first edge (482) of the sensor casing planar member (481). Similarly, a second side wall (475) extends upward from the bottom wall second edge. Preferably, the second side wall has a second concave inner surface (474B), and when this second concave inner surface (474B) is assembled with the casing housing, as described herein, it interacts with the second edge (483) of the sensor casing planar member (481). The pivoting member casing through hole (478 shown in FIG. 7) passes through the longitudinal axis (479 shown in FIG. 7) of the pivoting member casing, whereby at least a part of the sensor (500) is housed within the pivoting member casing.

[0126] The pivoting member casing (470) also has a pivoting member casing mounting hole (477 shown in FIG. 7). Preferably, the pivoting member casing mounting hole is located in the hollow of the pivoting member casing along the bottom wall. The pivoting member casing is substantially parallel or parallel to the bottom wall first edge (473) and the bottom wall second edge (476). When assembled as described herein, the pivoting member casing mounting hole functions as a connection point between the pivoting member casing and the sensor casing (480), and also cooperates with the third fastener (430) and the sensor casing mounting hole (485 shown in FIG. 7) to form a pivot point that enables the rotation of the sensor casing within the pivoting member casing.

[0127] FIG. 6 also shows the sensor casing (480). As shown in FIG. 6, the sensor casing includes a sensor casing planar member (481) having at least a first edge (482) and a second edge (483) opposite the first edge. When assembled to the pivoting member (400), the first edge interacts with a first concave inner surface (474A) of the pivoting member casing (470), and the second edge interacts with a second concave inner surface (474B) of the pivoting member casing.

[0128] The sensor casing (480) may include a sensor casing extension (484). The sensor casing extension generally extends away from the bottom surface of the sensor casing planar member (481). The sensor casing extension can take various shapes, but a preferred shape of the sensor casing extension is a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 6. A sensor casing through hole (487 shown in FIG. 7) passes through the sensor casing longitudinal axis (488 as shown in FIG. 7) and enables at least a part of the sensor (500) to be accommodated within the sensor casing.

[0129] The sensor casing extension (484) has a tip (486). As shown in FIG. 6, a sensor casing mounting hole (485 shown in FIG. 7) may penetrate the tip of the sensor casing extension. When assembled as described herein, the sensor casing mounting hole functions as a connection point between the pivoting member casing (470) and the sensor casing, and also cooperates with a third fastener (430) and a pivoting member casing mounting hole (477 shown in FIG. 7) to form a pivot point that enables the sensor casing to rotate within the pivoting member casing.

[0130] Each third fastener (430) may pass through a stud (250 shown in FIG. 6) extending from the upper surface of the clamp (230). Preferably, the stud is integrally connected to the clamp, such as by welding the stud to the upper surface of the clamp or manufacturing the stud and the clamp as a single member. In some embodiments, two studs are included, preferably disposed on both sides of the clamp. The pivot member casing (470) is configured to fit between the studs by a third fastener that connects the pivot member casing to the clamp, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0131] FIGS. 6-8 show the sensor casing (480). The sensor casing may be configured to be connected to the pivot member casing (470) by passing a third fastener (430) through a pivot member casing mounting hole (477) and a sensor casing mounting hole (485). Each third fastener is selected from a group of fasteners including bolts, screws, rivets, etc. In some embodiments, each third fastener includes an O-ring, gasket, or other sealing member. The connection between the sensor casing and the pivot member casing forms a pivot point, allowing the sensor casing to pivot within the pivot member casing.

[0132] When assembled, the sensor (500) is connected to the device as shown in FIG. 8. The sensor is connected to the device by passing a portion of the sensor through a pivot member longitudinal hole (450 shown in FIG. 7), which is formed by a pivot member casing through hole (478 shown in FIG. 7) and a sensor casing through hole (487 shown in FIG. 7).

[0133] Another embodiment of the present device is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The device of this third embodiment includes a device base portion (200 shown in FIG. 9) and a shaft adjustment member (600).

[0134] Similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the device base part (200 shown in FIG. 9) is configured to be connected to the container connection part (110). The connection between the container connection part and the device base part can take many forms. In some embodiments, the connection between the container connection part and the device base part includes the use of at least one fastener such as a clamp, screw, bolt, and combinations thereof. The first gasket is disposed at the boundary between the device base part and the container connection part to improve the sealing between the container connection part and the device base part.

[0135] In some embodiments, the device base part (200) may be a process flow sight glass. An example of such a process flow sight glass (forming a container connection part and a sterile seal) is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As described in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2, the process flow sight glass is connected to the container connection part using a clamp (230) of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,914,910B2.

[0136] Notably, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, may not include a separate rotating member as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. However, the sensor (500) in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may still be rotated by some means. In some embodiments, the sensor may be rotated within the ball (610) of the shaft adjustment member (610) to adjust the incident beam line (520 shown in FIG. 10). In other embodiments, the ball itself may be rotated within the mounting clamp (620) to adjust the incident beam line.

[0137] Figure 9 shows the shaft adjustment member (600). As shown in Figure 9, the shaft adjustment member may include a ball (610) and a mounting clamp (620). The ball may include an axial through-hole (615 shown in Figure 10), in which at least a part of the sensor (500) is received when the device is assembled as shown in Figure 10.

[0138] The mounting clamp (620) may include a first mounting clamp portion (621) and a second mounting clamp portion (622). Each mounting clamp portion may have a concave surface inside it, and the concave surface surrounds the mounting clamp portion through-hole around the longitudinal axis of each mounting clamp portion. That is, the first mounting clamp portion has a first concave surface (623) and a first mounting clamp portion through-hole (625) around the first mounting clamp portion longitudinal axis (626). Similarly, the second mounting clamp portion has a second concave surface (627) and a second mounting clamp portion through-hole (628) around the second mounting clamp portion longitudinal axis (629).

[0139] During operation, the ball (610) is housed inside the mounting clamp (620) formed by the first concave surface (623) and the second concave surface (627). With this configuration, the sensor (at least a part of which is housed in the axial through-hole (615) of the ball (610)) can pivot from the container connection longitudinal axis (116 shown in Figure 9) and rotate about the container connection longitudinal axis.

[0140] The first mounting clamp portion (621) may have a first mounting clamp portion mounting surface (624) as shown in FIG. 9, and the first mounting clamp portion mounting surface is located on the side of the first mounting clamp portion opposite to the first concave surface (623). When assembled, the shaft adjustment member (600) is configured to be connected to the device base portion (200) with the first mounting clamp portion mounting surface in contact with the flat surface of the device base portion, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In some embodiments, fasteners such as bolts, screws, rivets, clamps, etc. may assist in connecting the shaft adjustment member to the device base portion. Preferably, the fourth gasket is disposed at the boundary between the first mounting clamp portion mounting surface and the device base portion when the shaft adjustment member is connected to the device base portion.

[0141] By pivoting the incident beam line from the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion and further rotating it about the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion, as shown in FIG. 2, the incident beam line, and thus the incident beam itself, can be adjusted to coincide with the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection portion. Such adjustment allows the operator to more accurately measure and monitor the liquid level inside the container at the container outlet connection portion, especially when the container has a conical, concave, or other angled or inclined bottom wall. By attaching a sensor or radar level measuring device to the device base portion (which may be a process flow sight glass), the incident beam line can be pivoted and rotated while maintaining the seal between various components including the aseptic seal between the device base portion and the container connection portion.

[0142] Also, in order to indicate the inclination angle from the vertical line, it was devised to mark the side surface of the spirit level.

[0143] The setting accuracy is achieved by inserting a laser in the range of visible light (380 - 720 nm) into the sensor housing through hole so that the laser light coincides with the longitudinal axis of the sensor housing. Thereby, the laser light can be directed at the exact spot where the incident beam line hits the container or the container outlet.

[0144] Unless the laser is configured exactly like the radar, the laser requires a housing adapter to be fixed within the housing so as to align with the longitudinal axis of the sensor housing. Once fixed within the housing, the laser light is adjusted to tilt from the vertical line and can rotate about the container connection until the laser light hits the desired point on the container wall including the bottom dome. Thereafter, the device is set, the laser and adapter are removed, and the radar is placed in the housing.

[0145] In this way, the radar can be accurately installed without using the mode of repeating "estimation and confirmation".

[0146] It was also found in the experiment that the effectiveness of the non-contact radar system depends greatly on the type of material used between the radar and the inside of the container.

[0147] Experiment

[0148] It was demonstrated that there are advantages in angling the incident beam by measuring various liquid levels by changing the angle from the vertical longitudinal axis of the container.

[0149] In this case, the container was 24 inches (61 cm) in diameter and the height of the rounded part was 26 inches (66 cm). The container had an upper dome and a lower dome, each dome having a height of 5 inches (12.7 cm), and the overall height of the container was 36 inches (91.4 cm). The outlet port of the container was arranged on the longitudinal axis. The center of the connection of the rounded container was 4 inches (10.2 cm) from the wall and 8 inches (10.3 cm) from the center of the outlet port.

[0150] Mathematically, the angle formed by the longitudinal axis of the container outlet connection and the line intersecting the container connection and the longitudinal axis of the container connection is 12 degrees [O = Sin -1 (8 / 38)=12].

[0151] The container was filled with liquid to different heights measured by a pressure transducer arranged beyond the outlet of the container.

[0152] The same radar was tilted at angles of 0 degrees, 3 degrees, 6 degrees, and 8 degrees to measure the liquid level respectively.

[0153] The differences between the raw data and the exact control levels are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

[0154] This data is plotted in Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 shows the data up to a liquid level of 3.0 inches. As can be seen, as the liquid level increases, the relative differences at multiple acute angles converge to zero. This visualizes that as the liquid level rises within the dome, the liquid approaches the wall of the container, and it becomes easier to be read by the radar in an area where there are few or no acute angles.

[0155] Figure 12 is an exploded view, showing that the deviation from the actual reading value is large. However, as can be seen from the table and Figure 12, the accuracy improves as the acute angle increases.

[0156] In this experiment, when the angle at the intersection was 12 degrees, it was not reported because it was not as accurate as the acute angle of 8 degrees. However, 12 degrees was more accurate than vertical, i.e., 0 degrees. It was later found that some radar beams may not be the strongest at the center and may be stronger somewhere between the angle of 0 degrees and the angle at the intersection.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a liquid level above a container outlet connection part (120) located on the outlet side of a container (100) having a longitudinal axis (125) of the container outlet connection part, using a sensor (500) that emits an incident beam (510) of electromagnetic waves forming an incident beam line (520), wherein the apparatus comprises an apparatus base part (200) configured to be connected to the container connection part, a rotating member (300) including an incident beam hole (310), at least one rotating member mounting hole (320), and at least one rotating member curved slot (330), a pivoting member (400), and is provided with the pivoting member (400) comprises a pivoting member housing (410), a sensor housing (420), and is provided with the pivoting member housing (410) comprises a first hemispherical external shape (411), a pivoting member through hole (412) around the longitudinal axis (413) of the pivoting member housing, at least one longitudinal mounting hole (414) of the pivoting member housing, at least one radial mounting hole (415) of the pivoting member housing, and at least one curved slot (416) of the pivoting member housing, the sensor housing (420) comprises a second hemispherical external shape (421), a sensor housing through hole (422) around the longitudinal axis (423) of the sensor housing, at least one first mounting hole (424) of the sensor housing, and a second mounting hole (425) of the sensor housing, the apparatus is configured to allow the incident beam line to pivot by ±30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the container connection part and form a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container connection part, the apparatus is configured such that the incident beam line rotates about the longitudinal axis of the container connection part, the rotating member is configured to be connected to the apparatus base part by inserting a first fastener (210) through the at least one rotating member mounting hole into at least one apparatus base part mounting hole (220), the pivoting member housing is configured to be connected to the rotating member by passing a second fastener (340) through the at least one longitudinal mounting hole of the pivoting member housing and the at least one rotating member curved slot, The pivot member housing is configured to connect to the sensor housing by inserting a third fastener (430) through a radially-mounted hole in the pivot member housing into a first mounting hole in the sensor housing and inserting a fourth fastener (440) through a curved slot in the pivot member housing into a second mounting hole in the sensor housing. The hemispherical internal shape of the pivot member housing is configured to interact with the second hemispherical external shape. The apparatus is characterized in that the sensor is configured to at least partially fit within a longitudinally-extending hole (450) in the pivot member formed by a through-hole in the pivot member housing and a through-hole in the sensor housing. **Claim 2** The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus base portion is configured to be connected to the container connection portion (110) by a clamp (230). **Claim 3** The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first gasket (240) configured to be located at a boundary between the apparatus base portion and the container connection portion. **Claim 4** The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus base portion is a process flow sight glass. **Claim 5** The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second gasket (350) configured to be located at a boundary between the rotating member and the apparatus base portion. **Claim 6** The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third gasket (460) located at a boundary between the pivot member and the rotating member. **Claim 7** An apparatus for measuring a liquid level above a container outlet connection portion (120) located on an outlet side of a container (100) having a longitudinal axis (125) of the container outlet connection portion, using a sensor (500) that emits an incident beam (510) of electromagnetic waves forming an incident beam line (520), the apparatus comprising: An apparatus base portion (200) configured to be connected to the container connection portion; A pivot member (400); Comprising; The pivot member (400) comprises: A pivot member casing (470); A sensor casing (480); Comprising; The pivot member casing (470) includes a bottom wall (471), a first side wall (472) extending upward from a first edge portion (473) of the bottom wall and having a first concave inner surface (474A), a second side wall (475) extending upward from a second edge portion (476) of the bottom wall opposite to the first edge portion of the bottom wall and having a second concave inner surface (474B), a pivot member casing mounting hole (477) parallel to the first edge portion of the bottom wall and the second edge portion of the bottom wall, and a pivot member casing through hole (478) around a longitudinal axis (479) of the pivot member casing. The sensor casing (480) includes a sensor casing planar member (481) having at least a first edge portion (482) and a second edge portion (483), a sensor casing extension portion (484), a sensor casing mounting hole (485) penetrating a tip portion (486) of the sensor casing extension portion, and a sensor casing through hole (487) around a longitudinal axis (488) of the sensor casing. The device is configured to allow the incident beam line to pivot by ±30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion and form a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion. The device is configured such that the incident beam line rotates about the longitudinal axis of the container connection portion. The device base portion has a clamp (230) having at least one stud (250) extending from an upper surface of the clamp. The pivot member casing is configured to connect to the device base portion by passing a third fastener (430) through the stud and the sensor casing mounting hole. The sensor casing is configured to connect to the pivot member casing by passing the third fastener through the pivot member casing mounting hole and the sensor casing mounting hole. The first concave inner surface is configured to interact with the first edge portion. The second concave inner surface is configured to interact with the second edge portion. The sensor is configured to be at least partially received within a pivot member longitudinal hole (450) formed by the pivot member casing through hole and the sensor casing through hole. A device characterized by this. Claim 8 The device according to claim 7, wherein the device base portion is configured to be connected to the container connection portion (110) by a clamp (230). Claim 9 The device according to claim 7, further comprising a first gasket (240) configured to be located at a boundary between the device base portion and the container connection portion.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device base portion is a process flow sight glass.

11. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a fourth gasket configured to be located at a boundary between the pivoting member casing and the device base portion.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the sensor casing extension has a substantially triangular shape.

13. A device for measuring a liquid level above a container outlet connection portion (120) located on an outlet side of a container (100) having a container outlet connection portion longitudinal axis (125), using a sensor (500) that emits an electromagnetic wave incident beam (510) forming an incident beam line (520), a device base portion (200) configured to be connected to the container connection portion, a shaft adjustment member (600), comprising: The shaft adjustment member (600) comprises a ball (610) having an axially through hole (615), a mounting clamp (620), comprising: The mounting clamp (620) has a first mounting clamp portion (621) and a second mounting clamp portion (622). The first mounting clamp portion (621) has a first concave surface (623), a first mounting clamp portion mounting surface (624), and a first mounting clamp portion through hole (625) around a first mounting clamp portion longitudinal axis (626). The second mounting clamp portion (622) has a second concave surface (627) and a second mounting clamp portion through hole (628) around a second mounting clamp portion longitudinal axis (629). The device is configured to allow the incident beam line to pivot by ±30 degrees from the container connection portion longitudinal axis and form a first angle with respect to the container connection portion longitudinal axis. The device is configured such that the incident beam line rotates about the container connection portion longitudinal axis. The shaft adjustment member is configured to be connected to the device base portion with the first mounting clamp portion mounting surface in contact with a plane of the device base portion. The ball is configured to fit inside the mounting clamp formed by the first concave surface and the second concave surface. The device is characterized in that the sensor is configured to be at least partially received within the axially extending through-hole. **Claim 14** The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the device base part is configured to be connected to the container connection part by a clamp (230). **Claim 15** The device according to claim 13, further comprising a first gasket configured to be located at a boundary between the device base part and the container connection part. **Claim 16** The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the device base part is a process flow sight glass. **Claim 17** The device according to claim 13, further comprising a fourth gasket configured to be located at a boundary between the first mounting clamp part mounting surface and the device base part. **Claim 18** The device according to claim 2, further comprising a first gasket (240) configured to be located at a boundary between the device base part and the container connection part. **Claim 19** The device according to claim 8, further comprising a first gasket (240) configured to be located at a boundary between the device base part and the container connection part. **Claim 20** The device according to claim 14, further comprising a first gasket (240) configured to be located at a boundary between the device base part and the container connection part.

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