A tank fill control apparatus comprising: a tank-installed switch, including: a tubular body including an upper end, a lower end, and an annular mounting flange on an outer surface between the upper end and the lower end; a liquid level sensor including a detector, a float in and moveable along a length of the lower end and a rod connecting the float to the detector, the liquid level sensor configured to sense a liquid level relative to the lower end and further configured to generate a signal when at least a maximum selected liquid level is sensed; and a control unit in communication with the tank-installed switch including: a liquid level monitoring function for receiving the signal from the liquid level sensor; and a control function for generating at least one of (i) an alert signal indicating that the maximum selected liquid level is sensed and (ii) a valve control to modify a fill operation from a tank fill system.

A tank fill control apparatus comprising: a tank-installed switch, including: a tubular body including an upper end, a lower end, and an annular mounting flange on an outer surface between the upper end and the lower end; a liquid level sensor including a detector, a float in and moveable along a length of the lower end and a rod connecting the float to the detector, the liquid level sensor configured to sense a liquid level relative to the lower end and further configured to generate a signal when at least a maximum selected liquid level is sensed; and a control unit in communication with the tank-installed switch including: a liquid level monitoring function for receiving the signal from the liquid level sensor; and a control function for generating at least one of (i) an alert signal indicating that the maximum selected liquid level is sensed and (ii) a valve control to modify a fill operation from a tank fill system.

A tank fill control apparatus comprising: a tank-installed switch, including: a tubular body including an upper end, a lower end, and an annular mounting flange on an outer surface between the upper end and the lower end; a liquid level sensor including a detector, a float in and moveable along a length of the lower end and a rod connecting the float to the detector, the liquid level sensor configured to sense a liquid level relative to the lower end and further configured to generate a signal when at least a maximum selected liquid level is sensed; and a control unit in communication with the tank-installed switch including: a liquid level monitoring function for receiving the signal from the liquid level sensor; and a control function for generating at least one of (i) an alert signal indicating that the maximum selected liquid level is sensed and (ii) a valve control to modify a fill operation from a tank fill system.

A tank fill control apparatus comprising: a tank-installed switch, including: a tubular body including an upper end, a lower end, and an annular mounting flange on an outer surface between the upper end and the lower end; a liquid level sensor including a detector, a float in and moveable along a length of the lower end and a rod connecting the float to the detector, the liquid level sensor configured to sense a liquid level relative to the lower end and further configured to generate a signal when at least a maximum selected liquid level is sensed; and a control unit in communication with the tank-installed switch including: a liquid level monitoring function for receiving the signal from the liquid level sensor; and a control function for generating at least one of (i) an alert signal indicating that the maximum selected liquid level is sensed and (ii) a valve control to modify a fill operation from a tank fill system.

An invertible optical float switch is provided, comprising a floatable housing having an interior, a central longitudinal axis, a top end and a bottom end; first and second optical fibers each having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the first optical fiber connectable to a light source located remote from the housing, the proximal end of the second optical fiber connectable to a light detector located remote from the housing, the distal ends of the first and optical fibers positioned in the interior of the housing and the distal ends being mounted in the interior on a separator assembly such that the distal ends are optically aligned and separated by a gap; the separator assembly further including a movable member, the movable member adapted to be movable by gravity between a first position where the movable member occupies the gap such that the distal ends are no longer optically aligned, and a second position where the movable member does not occupy the gap; wherein the distal ends and the separator assembly are mounted on a paddle positioned in the interior of the floatable housing, the paddle adapted to be mounted either in position A with the gap closer to the top end of the floatable housing than the bottom end of the floatable housing, or in an inverted position B with the gap closer to the bottom end of the floatable housing than in position A.

A float assembly comprising a float traveling along a rod until making contact with either an upper or a lower adjustable stopper, so that an actuator lever having one or more counterweights in mechanical coupling with a switch, so that the float assembly may respond to the fluid level.

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.

In one embodiment, an apparatus may meter a level of a liquid. The apparatus includes a float component, wherein the float component includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor senses a parameter usable to determine an inclination of the float component. The controller is operable to receive the sensed parameter, and communicate information based on the sensed parameter to an external controller. When operating to determine a level of a liquid within a container, the apparatus physically contacts the container. Further, at least one of the controller or the external controller is operative to estimate the inclination of the float component based on the sensed parameter, and determine the level of the liquid within the container based on the estimated inclination.

Tank-installable switches for installation through a thief hatch port on a tank. In some embodiments, the switch may comprise a tubular body and a liquid level sensor. The liquid level sensor may include: a detector; a float in and moveable along a length of the lower end; and a rod connecting the float to the detector. The liquid level sensor may be configured to sense a liquid level relative to the lower end and further configured to generate a signal when at least a maximum selected liquid level is sensed.

Tank-installable switches for installation through a thief hatch port on a tank. In some embodiments, the switch may comprise a tubular body and a liquid level sensor. The liquid level sensor may include: a detector; a float in and moveable along a length of the lower end; and a rod connecting the float to the detector. The liquid level sensor may be configured to sense a liquid level relative to the lower end and further configured to generate a signal when at least a maximum selected liquid level is sensed.