Title: Automatic level measuring and control system for dispensing bin

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1. A measuring system for automatically measuring a variable quality or quantity of matter present within a sensing area and for providing a representation of the value of said quality or quantity, comprising:

a. sensing means including an elongate body of metallic material having first and second end means with said body extending between spaced points in said sensing area;

b. energizing means connected with said sensing means for electrically energizing said body;

c. electrical processing means connected with said sensing means and responsive to a change in one or more electrical characteristics of said body which vary in value as a function of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points and for forming an output electrical signal dependent upon the value of said one or more electrical characteristics;

d. output means connected with said processing means and said output electrical signal for forming an output representative of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points;

e. an enclosing structure extending about said sensing area for forming a container means, said container means including a filling opening and a dispensing opening for respectively inserting material into said container and dispensing material from said container;

f. securing means connected to said elongate body for mounting said body vertically within said enclosing structure, said securing means including first and second vertically spaced mounting members positioned substantially at the upper and lower ends of said container means with said elongate body connected to and extending linearly between said mounting members in touching engagement with matter contained within said container;

g. control means connected with and operated by said output means for automatically inserting material into said container to maintain a predetermined quantity of material said container; and

h. digitizing means included in said processing means for converting said difference signal into a square wave digitized signal having pulses of constant amplitude and width and a frequency which is a function of said difference signal frequency.

2. A measuring system for automatically measuring a variable quality or quantity of matter present within a sensing area and for providing a representation of the value of said quality or quantity, comprising:

a. sensing means including an elongate body of a flexible metal cable means having first and second end means with said body extending between spaced points in said sensing area;

b. energizing means connected with said sensing means for electrically energizing said body, said energizing means including transmitting circuit means having a first oscillator circuit means for generating a variable frequency sensing signal, said elongate body being electrically coupled with said first oscillator circuit means and sensitive to the quality or quantity of matter in the area adjacent said body between said spaced points to change the load impedance of said first oscillator circuit means for causing a change in the frequency of said sensing signal;

c. electrical processing means connected with said sensing means and responsive to a change in one or more electrical characteristics of said body which vary in value as a function of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points and for forming a first electrical signal dependent upon the value of said one or more electrical characteristics, said electrical processing means further including:

i. reference circuit means having a second oscillator circuit means for providing a substantially constant frequency reference signal;

ii. comparator means for combining said reference signal and said sensing signal to form a difference signal which is representative of the difference between said reference and sensing signals;

iii. digitizing means controlled by said difference signal for forming a square wave digitized output electrical signal having pulses occurring at a frequency which is a function of the value of said one or more electrical characteristics;

d. output means connected with said processing means and said output electrical signal for forming an output representative of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points;

e. an enclosing structure extending about said sensing area for forming a container means, said container means including a filling opening and a dispensing opening for respectively inserting material into said container and dispensing material from said container;

f. securing means connected to said elongate body for mounting said body vertically within said enclosing structure, said securing means including first and second vertically spaced mounting members positioned substantially at the upper and lower ends of said container means with said elongate body connected to and extending linearly between said mounting members in touching engagement with matter contained within said container; and

g. control means connected with and operated by said output means for automatically inserting material into said container to maintain a predetermined quantity of material within said container.

3. A measuring system as defined in claim 2 wherein said output means includes integrating circuit means for integrating said digitized signal to form an amplitude modulated signal for providing a visible output display in an analog indicator.

4. A measuring system as defined in claim 2 wherein said output means includes counting means for counting said pulses to form a visible output display in a digital indicator.

5. A measuring system for automatically measuring a variable quality or quantity of matter present within a sensing area for providing a representation of the value of said quality or quantity, comprising:

a. sensing means including an elongate body having first and second end means with said body extending between spaced points in said sensing area;

b. energizing means connected with said sensing means for electrically energizing said body, said energizing means including transmitting circuit means having a first oscillator circuit means for generating a variable frequency sensing signal, said elongate body being electrically coupled with said first oscillator circuit means and sensitive to the quality or quantity of matter in the area adjacent said body between said spaced points to change the load impedance of said first oscillator circuit for causing a change in the frequency of said sensing signal;

c. electrical processing means connected with said sensing means and responsive to a change in one or more electrical characteristics of said body which vary in value as a function of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points and for forming an output electrical signal dependent upon the value of said one or more electrical characteristics, said electrical processing means including reference circuit means having a second oscillator circuit means for providing a substantially constant frequency reference signal and further including comparator means for combining said reference signal and said sensing signal to form a difference signal which is representative of the difference between said reference and sensing signals;

d. differential amplifier means included in said transmitting circuit means and employing a first inductive and capacitive feedback circuit to form said first oscillator circuit means, said elongate body being inductively coupled with the inductive reactance in said first feedback circuit for changing the inductive reactance in said first feedback circuit with changes in the reactance of said elongate body;

e. output means connected with said processing means and said output electrical signal for forming an output representative of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points;

f. an enclosing structure extending about said sensing area for forming a container means, said container means including a filling opening and a dispensing opening for respectively inserting material into said container and dispensing material from said container;

g. securing means connected to said elongate body for mounting said body vertically within said enclosing structure, said securing means including first and second vertically spaced mounting members positioned substantially at the upper and lower ends of said container means with said elongate body connected to and extending linearly between said mounting members in touching engagement with matter contained within said container; and

h. control means connected with an operated by said output means for automatically inserting material into said container to maintain a predetermined quantity of material within said container.

6. A measuring system as defined in claim 5 wherein said reference circuit means includes a differential amplifier employing a second inductive and capacitive feedback circuit to form said second oscillator circuit means.

7. A measuring system as defined in claim 6 wherein:

a. said output electrical signal is inductively coupled with a rectifying, integrating circuit to form a direct current output signal; and

b. said output means includes display means responsive to said output electrical signal to form a visible representation of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points.

8. A measuring system as defined in claim 7 wherein said processing means includes digitizing means for converting said difference signal into a square wave digitized signal having pulses of constant amplitude and width and a frequency which is a function of said difference signal frequency.

9. A measuring system for automatically measuring a variable quality or quantity of matter present within a sensing area and for providing a representation of the value of said quality or quantity, comprising:

a. sensing means including an elongate body having first and second end means with said body extending between spaced points in said sensing area;

b. energizing means connected with said sensing means for electrically energizing said body, said energizing means including transmitting circuit means having a first oscillator circuit means for generating a variable frequency sensing signal, said elongate body being electrically coupled with said first oscillator circuit means and sensitive to the quality or quantity of matter in the area adjacent said body between said spaced points to change the load impedance of said first oscillator circuit for causing a change in the frequency of said sensing signal;

c. electrical processing means connected with said sensing means and responsive to a change in one or more electrical characteristics of said body which vary in value as a function of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points and for forming an output electrical signal dependent upon the value of said one or more electrical characteristics, -aid electrical processing means further including:

i. reference circuit means having a second oscillator circuit means for providing a substantially constant frequency reference signal;

ii. comparator means for combining said reference signal and said sensing signal to form a difference signal which is representative of the difference betw-en said reference and sensing signals;

iii. digitizing means for forming a square wave digitized signal having pulses o-curring at a frequency which is a function of the value of said one or more electrical characteristics;

d. output means connected with said processing means and said output electrical sigal for forming an output representative of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points;

e. an enclosing structure extending about said sensing area for forming a container means, said container means including a filling opening and a dispensing opening for respectively inserting material into said container and dispensing material from said container;

f. securing means connected to said elongate body for mounting said body vertically within said enclosing structure, said securing means including first and second vertically spaced mounting members positioned substantially at the upper and lower ends of said container means with said elongate body connected to and extending linearly between said mounting members in touching engagement with matter contained within said container; and

g. control means connected with and operated by said output means for automatically inserting material into said container to maintain a predetermined guantity of material within said container.

10. A measuring system as defined in claim 9 wherein said output means includes integrating circuit means for integrating said digitized signal to form an amplitude modulated signal for providing a visible output display in an analog indicator.

11. A measuring system as defined in claim 10 wherein said output means includes counting means for counting said pulses to form a visible output display in a digital indicator.

12. A measuring system for automatically measuring a variable quality or quantity of matter present within a sensing area and for providing a representation of the value of said quality or quantity, comprising:

a. sensing means including an elongate body of a flexible metal cable means having first and second end means with said body extending between spaced points in said sensing area;

b. energizing means connected with said sensing means for electrically energizing said body, said energizing means including transmitting circuit means having a first oscillator circuit means for generating a variable frequency sensing signal, said elongate body being electrically coupled with said first oscillator circuit means and sensitive to the quality or quantity of matter in the area adjacent said body between said spaced points to change the load impedance of said first oscillator circuit for causing a change in the frequency of said sensing signal;

c. electrical processing means connected with said sensing means and responsive to a change in one or more electrical characteristics of said body which vary in value as a function of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points and for forming an output electrical signal dependent upon the value of said one or more electrical characteristics, said electrical processing means including reference circuit means having a second oscillator circuit means for providing a substantially constant frequency reference signal and further including comparator means for combining said reference signal and said sensing signal to form a difference signal which is representative of the difference between said reference and sensing signals;

d. differential amplifier means included in said transmitting circuit means and employing a first inductive and capacitive feedback circuit to form said first oscillator circuit means, said elongate body being inductively coupled with the inductive reactance in said first feedback circuit for changing the inductive reactance in said first feedback circuit with changes in the reactance of said elongate body;

e. output means connected with said processing means and said output electrical signal for forming an output representative of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points;

f. an enclosing structure extending about said sensing area for forming a container means, said container means including a filling opening and a dispensing opening for respectively inserting material into said container and dispensing material from said container;

g. securing means connected to said elongate body for mounting said body vertically within said enclosing structure, said securing means including first and second vertically spaced mounting members positioned substantially at the upper and lower ends of said container means with said elongate body connected to and extending linearly between said mounting members in touching engagement with matter contained within said container; and

control means connected with and operated by said output means for automatically inserting material into said container to maintain a predetermined quantity of material within said container.

13. A measuring system as defined in claim 12 wherein said reference circuit means includes a differential amplifier employing a second inductive and capacitive feedback circuit to form said second oscillator circuit means.

14. A measuring system as defined in claim 13 wherein:

a. said output electrical signal is inductively coupled with a rectifying, integrating circuit to form a direct current output signal; and

b. said output means includes display means responsive to said output electrical signal to form a visible representation of the quality or quantity of the matter adjacent said body between said spaced points.

15. A measuring system as defined in claim 14 wherein said processing means includes digitizing means for converting said difference signal into a square wave digitized signal having pulses of constant amplitude and width and a frequency which is a function of said difference signal frequency.

Other info:

Inventors: Spaw, Robert L. (Houston, TX, US)

Application Number: 439056
Filing Date: 1974-02-04
Publication_date: 1976-02-03
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 222/56 222/64, 340/617
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2381505	Aug, 1945	Lindholm	222/56.
2621517	Dec, 1952	Sontheimer	73/304.
2674396	Apr, 1954	Peterson	222/56.
2774959	Dec, 1956	Edelman	340/244.
2955466	Oct, 1960	Coles	73/304.
3036736	May, 1962	Murphy	222/56.
3140608	Jul, 1964	Clark	73/304.
3277711	Oct, 1966	Roberge	73/304.
3404963	Oct, 1968	Fritsche	222/56.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Reeves, Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Scherbel, David A.
Attorney: Torres & Berryhill