Tank with level-measuring means

Abstract

The present technology relates to determining the volume or level of a fluid contained in a transportable tank, wherein the tanks are used for storing and transporting different types of fluids, for example, water tanks for road tankers or tanks that store fuel used to operate vehicle engines, of the diesel, gasoline or other type, for example but not limited to tanks used in large-scale mining vehicles or any sea or land vehicle, whether they use and / or transport fluids stored in transportable tanks.

Description

POND WITH MEANS FOR MEASURING LEVEL FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the mining and construction industries. In particular, the present technology relates to the determination of the volume or level of a fluid contained in a mobile tank, where the tanks are used to store and transport different types of fluids, such as the water tanks of tanker trucks and the tanks that store fuel used to operate vehicle engines, whether diesel, gasoline, or others, for example, but not limited to, the tanks used in large mining vehicles or any vehicle, whether maritime or land-based, that consumes and / or transports fluids stored in mobile tanks. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Currently, the mining and construction industries are seeking new alternatives to determine the volume or level of a fluid contained in a mobile tank. Devices found in the literature, whether installed externally or internally to the tanks, are designed to measure the height of a fluid contained within a tank. However, the measurement can be affected because the mechanical elements inside the tanks are prone to clogging. Similarly, external sensors experience measurement difficulties due to the thickness of the tank walls or the accumulation of debris and sludge on both the bottom and walls of the tank.

[0003] Another problem faced by the devices found in the literature is the difficult access to the components located inside the tanks for maintenance or replacement in case of component failures.

[0004] Among the known patents is W02021099820A1, which refers to a device, method, and non-invasive fluid volume measurement system for determining the fluid volume within a movable tank. The device is located on one side of the tank and comprises an electronic circuit with a processor, at least one acoustic transducer located on the contact face, and an industrial measuring unit. The device determines spatial tilt angles and tank acceleration using the industrial measuring unit, and the acoustic transducer then emits a plurality of ultrasonic waves and receives a plurality of reflected ultrasonic waves, or echoes.The processor determines the height of a wave rebound point on the fluid surface, based on the density of the fluid to be measured and the wave travel time; and determines the fluid volume using the height of the rebound point, the spatial tilt angles, the tank acceleration, the location of the acoustic transducer, and the tank geometry. Where the device transmits the determined fluid volume through a first bidirectional communication medium to a second bidirectional communication medium, and from the second bidirectional communication medium to a server.

[0005] Another state-of-the-art document is publication US20170350746A1, which teaches a device for measuring fluid levels in fuel tanks of mining trucks comprising a sensor mounted externally to the tank by means of a set of vertical pipes joined to the side and top faces of the tank using the communicating vessels effect, which allows measuring the height of a column of fluid inside an external pipe without considering either the shape or the volume of the tank.

[0006] Another prior art document is publication US20060169039A1, a fuel tank probe that includes a water level float and a fuel level float. The tank probe incorporates a fuel weight sensor that reports the fuel density inside the tank. The fuel weight sensor includes a compressible bladder whose shape changes according to the fuel density. A magnet in the compressible bladder moves along with the changing shape of the bladder, allowing the height of the fuel column to be measured. The fuel density can then be determined from the measured height of the fuel column.

[0007] Another prior art document is patent US10605645B2, which describes a fuel tank for a vehicle in which a fuel measuring bar provided in a vertical direction in a fuel storage body in which fuel burned in an engine is stored and capable of measuring a quantity of fuel using an ultrasonic wave includes a first fuel measuring bar fixed to a lower surface of the fuel storage body and a second fuel measuring bar easily coupled to the first fuel measuring bar to easily enter and exit the fuel storage body.

[0008] In accordance with the deficiencies detected in the state of the art, it is necessary to have new alternatives to determine the volume or level of a fluid contained in a mobile tank that facilitate access to its components for maintenance and that reduce the error in the measurement due to the accumulation of residue in the tank. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present technology is directed to a fluid storage tank comprising an angled connection positioned on a lower face of the tank and a sensor pressure sensor positioned mostly horizontally, where the angled connection seamlessly connects the inside of the tank to the pressure sensor, so that both the pressure sensor and the angled connection are accessible from outside the tank and the mostly horizontal position of the pressure sensor connected via the angled connection is less interfered with by accumulations of debris. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present technology.

[0011] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an alternative configuration of the technology illustrated in Figure 1.

[0012] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of another alternative configuration of the technology illustrated in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present technology is directed to a fluid storage tank 101 comprising an angled connection 201 positioned on a lower face of the tank 101 and a pressure sensor 202 positioned mostly horizontally, wherein the angled connection 201 fluidly connects the interior of the tank 101 with the pressure sensor 202.

[0014] Pressure sensor 202 measures the hydraulic pressure around the base of the tank and transmits it via wired or wireless connection to a computer unit. This unit uses the hydraulic pressure information from pressure sensor 202, along with a defined density for the liquid inside tank 101, to determine the fluid level within tank 101 associated with the measured pressure. Then, using a recorded internal geometry for tank 101, the computer unit determines the volume of fluid inside tank 101 from the calculated fluid level.

[0015] This geometric configuration of components benefits from the fact that the pressure measured inside a fluid body is the same regardless of the direction in which it is measured with the pressure sensor 202, so by positioning the pressure sensor mostly horizontally it is less likely that its reading will be distorted by the force exerted by accumulations of residue 302 on the base of the tank and its mostly horizontal surfaces where such accumulations of residue are deposited.

[0016] In the event that accumulations of residue 302 manage to penetrate the angled connection 201, these are deposited on the mostly horizontal surfaces of the angled connection 201 around the area of ​​change of direction, but without altering the measurement of the pressure sensor 202.

[0017] Another advantage of this geometric configuration of components is that it allows access to both the angled connection 201 and the pressure sensor 202 without disassembling the tank, as they are accessible from the outside. Additionally, the mostly horizontal position of the pressure sensor 202 allows it to be positioned parallel to and close to the base of the tank, resulting in a more protected position and less exposure to impacts in the horizontal direction due to its reduced cross-section in that direction.

[0018] The angled connection 201 can be a 90° elbow, a "T" connection or another type of connection with a change of direction around 90° and is connected to the base of the tank by means of a threaded or welded connection around an outlet hole of the tank, this outlet hole being, for example, a drain and empty hole positioned on a lower face of the tank 101.

[0019] The present technology may also incorporate a valve 203 positioned between the angled connection 201 and the pressure sensor 202. The valve 203 allows, for example, the removal of the pressure sensor 202 for maintenance or replacement without draining the tank 101. In other embodiments, the valve 203 may be located between the angled connection 201 and the base of the tank, thus also allowing cleaning and maintenance of the angled connection without draining the tank 101.

[0020] This technology may also incorporate an internal protection 204 that reduces the entry of debris 302 into the angled connection 201. The internal protection 204 may be an extension of the angled connection 201 into the tank 101 or may be an additional element inside the tank. The internal protection 204 has side walls that rise above the base of the tank 101, preventing debris 302 from the base of the tank from sliding into the angled connection 201.

[0021] The present technology may also incorporate a filter 205 positioned on the inner protection 204. The filter 205 prevents the entry of debris 302 and other particles into the angled connection 201, and may be, for example, a mesh or perforated plate so as not to interfere with the hydraulic pressure measurement at the pressure sensor 202. The filter 205 can be cleaned, for example, by air jets or pressurized liquids. injected through the angled connection 201 to facilitate maintenance when the pressure sensor 202 is removed.

[0022] The present technology may also incorporate a surface sensor 206 which measures the distance to the liquid surface 301 inside the tank 101. The surface sensor 206 may be, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, a radar, a magnetism-based sensor or a time-of-flight (ToF) camera and communicates with the computer unit in order to complement the measurement made with the pressure sensor 202.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a tank 101 storing a liquid with a fluid surface area 301. Accumulations of residue 302 are visible in the tank. Figure 1 shows the angled connection 201 that connects the interior of the tank 101 to the pressure sensor 202. The mostly horizontal position of the pressure sensor 202 reduces reading errors due to the influence of residue accumulations 302 and minimizes the sensor's exposure to lateral shocks.

[0024] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a tank 101 storing a liquid with a fluid surface area 301, as in Figure 1, but also incorporating a valve 203 to facilitate maintenance and cleaning. Additionally, an internal protective cover 204 prevents the accumulation of debris 302 from entering the angled connection 201.

[0025] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a tank 101 storing a liquid with a fluid surface 301, as in Figure 2, but also incorporating a filter 205 to prevent debris 302 from entering the angled connection 201. Additionally, a surface sensor 206 is shown to measure the distance to the liquid surface 301 inside the tank 101. REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0026] In order to clarify the present description, a list of the components of the invention and their respective reference numbers in the figures is included below. 101 Pond 201 Angled connection 202 Pressure sensor 203 Valve 204 Interior Protection 205 Filter 206 Surface sensor 301 Fluid surface 302 Accumulation of waste

[0027] Finally, it should be noted that various specific parameters of the invention, such as dimensions, choice of materials, and specific aspects of the preferred configurations described above, may vary or be modified according to operational requirements. Consequently, the specific configurations described above are not intended to be limiting, and such variations and / or modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A fluid storage tank (101), CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: an angled connection (201) positioned on a lower face of the tank (101); and a pressure sensor (202); wherein the angled connection (201) fluidly connects the interior of the tank (101) with the pressure sensor (202).

2. The tank according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises a valve (203) positioned between the angled connection (201) and the pressure sensor (202).

3. The tank according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises an internal protection (204) that reduces the entry of waste accumulations into the angled connection (201).

4. The tank according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises a filter (205) positioned on the inner protection (204).

5. The pond according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises a surface sensor (206).

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