A method for the functional diagnosis of an electromechanical fill state measuring device in which a displacement element on a measuring wire is lowered into a filling material in a container such that in an equilibrium state, the weight of the displacement element minus a displacement element buoyancy, which depends upon at least one equilibrium volume, is determined to be equal to a resulting weight of the displacement element. The resulting weight is specified, and the specified resulting weight is kept constant by correspondingly changing the length of the measuring wire in the equilibrium state. The fill state of the filling material is ascertained using the length of the lowered measuring wire. In order to diagnose a function, the specified value of the equilibrium volume of the displacement element is changed, and the resulting change in the length of the measuring wire is ascertained on the basis of the constant equilibrium state of the resulting weight.

A method for the functional diagnosis of an electromechanical fill state measuring device in which a displacement element on a measuring wire is lowered into a filling material in a container such that in an equilibrium state, the weight of the displacement element minus a displacement element buoyancy, which depends upon at least one equilibrium volume, is determined to be equal to a resulting weight of the displacement element. The resulting weight is specified, and the specified resulting weight is kept constant by correspondingly changing the length of the measuring wire in the equilibrium state. The fill state of the filling material is ascertained using the length of the lowered measuring wire. In order to diagnose a function, the specified value of the equilibrium volume of the displacement element is changed, and the resulting change in the length of the measuring wire is ascertained on the basis of the constant equilibrium state of the resulting weight.

A device for measuring the level of a material (e.g., a liquid) in a tank is disclosed. An example device includes a non-buoyant flexible member and a plurality of sensor nodes distributed along the length of the flexible member. The sensor nodes are configured to indicate a change in orientation. A buoyant float provides a generally U-shape configuration for the flexible member, and causes an increasing number of the sensing nodes to depart from a substantially vertical orientation as the level of the material rises within the storage tank. A monitor is configured to monitor a signal indicating the change in orientation of the sensor nodes. As such, the device may be implemented to conveniently and accurately measure the liquid level in the tank.

A multiturn pulley liquid level sensor device for measuring a liquid level in a well and in a container, comprising a mechanical float which is fastened to a fastening rope and which can slide up and down. The fastening rope is installed on one or more pulleys, and as the float moves up and down, the pulley rotates back and forth. One pulley is mechanically coupled to one digital absolute magnetic rotation encoder device, and the encoder device is used for monitoring the total rotation angle of the pulley in real time. By way of using an algorithm, the total rotation angle of the pulley is converted into a distance from the bottom to calculate the height of a liquid level. A multiwheel encoder has two reading types, i.e., one is an electrical signal reading type, and the other is an optical signal reading type. The electronic output of said encoder may be used as input to an industrial control system, or be sent via communications link to a remote or the internet. The precision of the level measurement is determined by the number of encoder wheels. A mechanical gear or belt can adjust the total number of pulley turns corresponding to the full range of liquid level measurement.

A multiturn pulley liquid level sensor device for measuring a liquid level in a well and in a container, comprising a mechanical float which is fastened to a fastening rope and which can slide up and down. The fastening rope is installed on one or more pulleys, and as the float moves up and down, the pulley rotates back and forth. One pulley is mechanically coupled to one digital absolute magnetic rotation encoder device, and the encoder device is used for monitoring the total rotation angle of the pulley in real time. By way of using an algorithm, the total rotation angle of the pulley is converted into a distance from the bottom to calculate the height of a liquid level. A multiwheel encoder has two reading types, i.e., one is an electrical signal reading type, and the other is an optical signal reading type. The electronic output of said encoder may be used as input to an industrial control system, or be sent via communications link to a remote or the internet. The precision of the level measurement is determined by the number of encoder wheels. A mechanical gear or belt can adjust the total number of pulley turns corresponding to the full range of liquid level measurement.

A lubrication system comprises a lubricant reservoir, a motorized pump, a follower plate, a stationary rod, a movable sleeve, and a flexible connection. The motorized pump is disposed to pump fluid from the lubricant reservoir to lubricant work lines. The follower plate is situated within the lubricant reservoir. The stationary rod has a colored indicator portion. The movable sleeve disposed concentrically about the stationary rod. The flexible connection extends between the follower plate and the stationary colored rod, such that the flexible connection pulls the movable sleeve away from the stationary rod to reveal the colored indicator portion as the follower plate drops towards a bottom of the lubricant reservoir.

A lubrication system comprises a lubricant reservoir, a motorized pump, a follower plate, a stationary rod, a movable sleeve, and a flexible connection. The motorized pump is disposed to pump fluid from the lubricant reservoir to lubricant work lines. The follower plate is situated within the lubricant reservoir. The stationary rod has a colored indicator portion. The movable sleeve disposed concentrically about the stationary rod. The flexible connection extends between the follower plate and the stationary colored rod, such that the flexible connection pulls the movable sleeve away from the stationary rod to reveal the colored indicator portion as the follower plate drops towards a bottom of the lubricant reservoir.

A motor control system for a lubricant pump motor comprises a pump system power input, a motor drive, a current sensor, a lubrication controller, and a drive controller. The pump system power input is configured to supply system power. The motor drive is configured to drive the lubricant pump motor using the system power. The current sensor is disposed between the pump system power input and the motor drive to sense an input current of the system power. The lubrication controller configured to provide motor activation signals. The drive controller is disposed to receive the motor activation signals via an isolated digital input, and to control the motor drive as a function of the sensed input current and a user-defined current set-point, in response to the activation signals.

A motor control system for a lubricant pump motor comprises a pump system power input, a motor drive, a current sensor, a lubrication controller, and a drive controller. The pump system power input is configured to supply system power. The motor drive is configured to drive the lubricant pump motor using the system power. The current sensor is disposed between the pump system power input and the motor drive to sense an input current of the system power. The lubrication controller configured to provide motor activation signals. The drive controller is disposed to receive the motor activation signals via an isolated digital input, and to control the motor drive as a function of the sensed input current and a user-defined current set-point, in response to the activation signals.