Electronic Liquid Level Gauge with Wireless Remote Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel gauges for pressurized liquids in delivery vehicles suffer from parallax errors and inaccuracies due to the gauge's location, requiring manual calculations for specific gravity and temperature corrections, making it difficult and time-consuming to obtain accurate liquid level readings.
Innovation Solution
An electronic gauge assembly with a processor, liquid level sensor, and temperature sensor that calculates and displays temperature-compensated liquid level conditions, eliminating parallax errors and providing accurate readings without the need for manual calculations, and allowing wireless communication of tank information to a remote device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the gauge head is mounted at the rear center of the tank to minimize reading errors, then measurement precision is improved, but the gauge becomes inaccessible to the operator who must exit the cab and walk to the rear of the vehicle to observe the reading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the tank level information and transmits it wirelessly to a remote display location. Instead of requiring the operator to physically access the gauge at the rear of the tank, the system copies the measurement data and presents it at a convenient location such as inside the cab or at a safe distance from the tank, eliminating the need for the operator to expose themselves to hazardous areas.
2Measurement precision
If manual calculation of specific gravity and temperature corrections is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic temperature and specific gravity compensation without requiring manual intervention. The electronic gauge assembly incorporates sensors and processing capabilities that self-correct for environmental factors, eliminating the need for the operator to perform time-consuming manual calculations while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calculation methods with an electronic automated system. Instead of requiring the operator to manually apply correction factors based on temperature and specific gravity tables, the system uses electronic sensors and computational algorithms to automatically calculate and compensate for these variations, significantly reducing time and operational complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the gauge is located above eye level to minimize parallax errors, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as the operator must position themselves precisely to read the gauge
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies the analog gauge reading into a digital format and transmits it to a remote display location. This eliminates the need for the operator to position themselves at a specific angle relative to the physical gauge, as the digital copy can be displayed at any convenient location and viewed without precise alignment, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electronic gauge assembly provides accurate, real-time liquid level and temperature-compensated readings, reducing errors and increasing efficiency by allowing operators to monitor tank conditions from a safe distance and simplifying the process of determining liquid levels and volumes.
Implementation Method 1
The first electronic sensor is couplable to the liquid level sensor probe such that a change in the liquid level sensor probe due to a change in liquid level causes a change in electronic state of the first electronic sensor
Implementation Method 2
a second electronic sensor for detecting a temperature of the liquid within the tank is also in communication with the processor
Implementation Method 3
The processor includes means for calculating a second temperature-compensated liquid level condition based on the first liquid level condition and the temperature of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic liquid level gauge assembly includes an electronic display located in a housing connected to a tank. The display has first and second display portions for indicating liquid level condition. A first electronic sensor senses a change in magnetic field of a magnet associated with a liquid level transducer, with magnet rotation being proportional liquid level change. A processor determines a temperature-compensated liquid level condition by correlating the liquid level signal with temperature measurement of the liquid. A temperature-compensated vapor space can also be calculated based on tank information and properties of the liquid. Signals related to the temperature-compensated liquid level and vapor space are sent to the display and wirelessly transmitted to a smart phone or the like for remotely viewing the tank information. The smart phone also includes a special app for sending information, firmware updates, and display configuration data to the electronic gauge assembly.