VEHICLE TANK LIQUID LEVEL SENSOR AND SYSTEM

Abstract

A vehicle tank liquid level sensor and system are provided. The vehicle tank liquid level sensor uses ultrasonic sonar sensors which are externally mounted to a tank reservoir of a vehicle to efficiently and accurately measure the level of a liquid in the tank of a vehicle. The sensor(s) are especially suitable for recreational vehicles (RVs). The sensors may be used with standard CAN BUS protocols already installed in vehicles. The present sensors and system allow for a liquid level measuring system which does not need additional holes to be drilled into the tank reservoir which might otherwise cause leakage and other problems. The system may send a wireless signal to a cell phone or computer informing the user of the tank levels.

Claims

1) A vehicle tank liquid level sensor system comprising: a liquid tank holder located within a vehicle; wherein the liquid tank holder has an interior for storing a liquid and an exterior surface; at least one sensor attached to the exterior surface of the liquid tank holder; and wherein the sensor measures the level of liquid within the liquid tank holder.

2) The vehicle tank liquid level sensor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor uses sonar to detect the level of the liquid within the liquid tank holder.

3) The vehicle tank liquid level sensor system of claim 2 wherein the sonar is an ultrasonic frequency between 0.5 MHz and 2.5 MHz.

4) The vehicle tank liquid level sensor system of claim 1 further comprising: a first computerized device in communication with the sensor wherein the sensor sends a liquid level reading to the computerized device and wherein the computerized device sends a signal to second computerized device related to the liquid level within the interior of the liquid tank holder.

5) The vehicle tank liquid level sensor system of claim 4 wherein the signal is sent to the second computerized device in real-time.

6) The vehicle tank liquid level sensor system of claim 1 wherein a second sensor is attached to the exterior surface of the liquid tank holder and wherein an average reading of the liquid levels detected by the sensors is taken and sent to a computerized device.

7) The vehicle tank liquid level sensor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is at least partially ceramic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a recreational vehicle wherein the sensor and system are illustrated.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the sensor of the present system.

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an electrical schematic of the sensor in one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the potential wiring of the liquid level sensor system for a tank in one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A vehicle tank liquid level sensor and system are provided. The vehicle tank liquid level sensor uses ultrasonic sonar sensors which are externally mounted to a tank reservoir of a vehicle to efficiently and accurately measure the level of a liquid in the tank of a vehicle. The sensor(s) are especially suitable for recreational vehicles (RVs). The sensors may be used with standard CAN BUS protocols already installed in vehicles. The present sensors and system allow for a liquid level measuring system which does not need additional holes to be drilled into the tank reservoir which might otherwise cause leakage and other problems. The system may send a wireless signal to a cell phone or computer informing the user of the tank levels.

[0025] Referring now to the figures, in an embodiment a vehicle tank liquid level sensor 1 is provided. The sensors 1 may be mounted to a tank 20 reservoir of a vehicle 30. In particular, the sensor(s) 1 are generally applied to, for example, exterior of the fresh (potable) water tank 20 and the grey water tank 20 of the vehicle 30. The sensors 1 are especially suitable for recreational vehicles (RVs) which typically have multiple water tanks. FIG. 1 illustrates only one tank 20 being used for illustrative purposes; however, a greater number of tanks 20 and systems may be used on the same vehicle 30 in the present system.

[0026] The sensors 1 may be mounted to an exterior surface 21 of the tank 20 so that holes do not need to be drilled into the tank 20 for the purpose of inserting an internal level sensor (which occurs in most prior art vehicle tanks by inserting a rod). As a result of not requiring holes to be drilled into the tank 20 of the vehicle to insert internal sensors, the tanks 20 of the present device and system are substantially less likely to leak and/or need to be replaced.

[0027] The sensors 1 may use ultrasonic frequency via sonar to determine the level of a liquid 50 located within an interior 22 of the tank 20. In an embodiment, the ultrasomic frequency is, for example, preferably between 1 MHz and 2 MHz, but may be between 0.5 and 2.5 MHz. As stated above, the tanks 20 may preferably hold, for example, potable water and grey water, but may also be used to hold other liquids as well including waste water and fuel. In an embodiment, the sensors 1 may incorporate, for example, circular disks 2 which may be secured to the exterior surface 21 of the tank 20. The circular disks 2 are preferably made of ceramic and are preferable secured to the exterior bottom surface 21 of the tank 20 by a permanent adhesive. FIG. 1 illustrates the circular disk 2 and also the sensor 1 shown by itself (without the circular disk) in one embodiment. In an embodiment, the circular disk 2 may be a silicon cover for a piezo element to protect the piezo element. The piezo element may be made of a ceramic material.

[0028] The circular disks 2 housing the sensors 1 may be electrically connected to a wire 3 which may be electrically connected to a computerized device 5 (“computer” or “CPU”) located on or within the vehicle 30. In an embodiment, the computerized device 5 may further send real-time information related to the detected level of the liquid 50 within the interior 22 of the tank 20 wirelessly to a second computerized device 6 such as, for example, a cell phone or computer. The information may be sent to the second computerized device 6 by, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, through the internet or through the telephone communication network. As a result, a user may check the level of the liquid 50 within the interior 22 of the tank 20 at a remote location from the vehicle 30.

[0029] Preferably, the sensors 1 are applied to the bottom of the tank 20 for more accurate readings, but may also be applied to the side of the tank 20. In an embodiment, an adhesive is used to secure the sensor 1 to the tank 20. In the preferred embodiment, multiple sensors 1 are used on each tank 20 and an average is taken of the obtained data to increase accuracy of the liquid 50 level, especially if the vehicle 30 is parked on an incline or hill. FIG. 4 illustrates a tank with three sensors; however, a greater or fewer number of sensors may be used on a single tank to obtain an average reading.

[0030] The sensors 1 may emit an ultrahigh sound wave sonar via a transmitter that passes through the tank 20 and into the liquid 50 within the interior 22 of the tank 20 and then returns to the sensors 1 for reading. Depending on the rate at which the signal is returned to the receiver of the sensor 1, the level of the liquid 50 in the tank 20 may be precisely calculated.

[0031] In one alternative (non-wireless) embodiment, the present sensors may utilize a “daisy chain” system. More specifically, sensor 1 may be connected to sensor 2, and sensor 2 may be connected to sensor 3, and sensor 3 may therein be connected sensor 4, etc. . . . with the final sensor connected to the control box. This eliminates many feet of wiring which means saving weight and money. This daisy chain system may also reduce the number of places where long connection poor quality issues might arise. In particular, current systems often have a cable from each sensor to a hard wire into a CAN BUS or other master system. These can often be 40 feet long in an RV. The current system, however, can use, in one alternative (non-wireless) embodiment, a daisy chain to eliminate having individual sensors being needed to be wired to the master system. Instead, in this alternative embodiment wherein WI-Fi, Bluetooth or some other wireless system is not used, the present system may use short cables from sensor to sensor with just one long cable to the CAN BUS or master system in embodiments if Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or some other wireless method is not used as described above.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, an electrical schematic of the sensor system is provided. The schematic may replace the RaspberryPi (which is shown in FIG. 3) with a low-cost microcontroller like the PIC18F26K22 which would connect directly to the UM0017. In an embodiment, a PCB may be located inside the box with a connector to receive the UM0017, and 2 CAN bus connectors in parallel where CAN-H and CAN-L are shown in this schematic, and on the board, there is a microcontroller, a CAN controller, and a CAN transceiver along with a 12V to 5V regulator.

[0033] Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.