LEVEL AND/OR DENSITY SENSOR DEVICE FOR LIQUID VESSELS

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to a level and/or density sensor for vessels suitable for storing liquids, in particular barrels or vats, more in particular barrels or vats for storing or producing wine. The hydrostatic pressure differential sensor for measuring volume and/or density disclosed herein comprises a main body; a tube for diving into the liquid; a hydrostatic pressure differential sensor; an air injector for injecting air into said tube; wherein the tube is coupled to the main body; wherein the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor has two inlets, a first inlet airtight connected to the upper top of said tube, configured so that the tube maintains air present in the interior thereof when dived into the liquid, and a second inlet for communicating with the interior of the vessel.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A system comprising: a first stainless steel tube that is straight between a first end and a second end; and a first sensor, operably coupled to the first end of the first stainless steel tube, configured to measure a volume of liquid in which the second end of the first stainless steel tube is submerged, wherein: the first stainless steel tube is tilted in relation to vertical to form an angle as measured between an opening at the second end of the first stainless steel tube and a surface of the liquid, and the angle is greater than 30? and less than 60?.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein: the first sensor is a hydrostatic pressure differential sensor.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein: a first inlet of the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor is operably coupled to the first end of the first stainless steel tube, a first air injector is configured to maintain air in the first stainless steel tube while the second end of the first stainless steel tube is in contact with the liquid, and the volume of liquid is measured according to pressures at the first inlet and a second inlet.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein: a second inlet of the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor is in contact with an interior of a vessel holding the liquid, and the second inlet of the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor is in contact with air.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the system comprises: a second stainless steel tube for protecting the second inlet of the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein: a length of the second stainless steel tube is different from a length of the first stainless steel tube, the second inlet of the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor is in contact with a first end of the second stainless steel tube, and the second end of the second stainless steel tube is submerged into the liquid.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the system comprises: a second air injector configured to inject air into the first end of the second stainless steel tube.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein: the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor comprises two non-differential pressure sensors and a differentiator for providing the difference between the pressures measured by the two non-differential sensors.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein: the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor comprises an electronic data processor coupled to an air injector, and the electronic data processor is configured to inject air into the first stainless steel tube before obtaining a measure by the hydrostatic pressure differential sensor.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein: the second end of the first stainless steel tube is cut at angle that is greater than 30? and less than 60?.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises: a temperature sensor coupled to the first stainless steel tube, and the measurement of the volume of the liquid varies according to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises: one or more sensors for measuring pH, turbidity, color, sugar and/or alcohol concentration of the liquid.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein: the sensor is configured to measure a density of the liquid.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises: a wireless transmitter for transmitting data collected by the sensor.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the collected data are transmitted periodically.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises: a processor configured to store data collected by the sensor.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises: a sound alarm that is operable according to data collected by the sensor.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises: a visual alarm that is operable according to data collected by the sensor.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein: the system is wirelessly coupled to a remote alarm that is operable according to data collected by the sensor.

42. A method comprising: inserting a tube into liquid; and measuring, via a sensor, a volume of the liquid, wherein: the tube is straight between a first end and a second end, the sensor is operably coupled to the first end of the tube, the second end of the tube is submerged in the liquid, the tube is tilted in relation to vertical to form an angle as measured between an opening at the second end of the tube and a surface of the liquid, and the angle is greater than 30? and less than 60?.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] Figures are attached for an easier understanding of the present disclosure that represents preferred embodiments for illustrating the description and should not be limiting the scope of the disclosure.

[0079] FIG. 1: Schematic representation of the operation of the differential sensor device used.

[0080] FIG. 2: Side view schematic representation of the assembly for measuring the level.

[0081] FIG. 3: Side view schematic representation of the set for measuring the density.

[0082] FIG. 4: Side view schematic representation of the set for measuring the level and density.

[0083] FIG. 5: Side view schematic representation of the set for measuring the level placed in the barrel.

[0084] FIG. 6: Side view schematic representation of the set for measuring the density placed in the barrel.

[0085] FIG. 7: Side view schematic representation of the set for measuring the level and density placed in the barrel.

[0086] FIG. 8: Bottom view schematic representation of the set for measuring the level or density.

[0087] FIG. 9: Bottom view schematic representation of the set for measuring the level and density.

[0088] FIG. 10: Schematic representation of the system with pumps for introducing air or air injectors.

[0089] FIG. 11: Side view schematic representation of the set for measuring the density placed in the vat.

[0090] FIG. 12: Schematic representation of the embodiment for preventing the meniscus effect by the angle-cut of the inferior end of the measurement tube.

[0091] FIG. 13: Schematic representation of the integrated system herein disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] FIG. 2 represents an embodiment for measuring the level of the liquid contained in the barrel, disclosing some of the components comprised in the present disclosure. FIG. 2 represents in particular a side view of the present disclosure wherein 1 represents the carcass/main body of the stopper/sensor device, 2 represents a silicone joint that may or may not exist and may or may not play the additional role of acting as a stopper (tightness of the vessel; 3 represents two tubes connected to the sensor, one for measuring the air pocket pressure and another with air in the interior thereof for measuring the liquid pressure at a given depth, in particular tubes that may comprise in the composition thereof a material compatible with the liquid with which stainless steel, Teflon or plastic is in contact; and 4 represents a temperature sensor.

[0093] FIG. 3 represents an embodiment, it represents a side view of the set disclosed herein for measuring the liquid density contained in the barrel, with two tubes connected to the sensor with air in the interior thereof for measuring the liquid pressure at two predetermined depths.

[0094] FIG. 4 represents an embodiment of the present disclosure, it represents a side view of the set for measuring the liquid level and density contained in the barrel, with three tubes connected to the sensor, one for measuring the air pocket pressure and two tubes with air in the interior thereof for measuring the liquid pressure at two predetermined depths.

[0095] The tube for measuring the pressure in the air pocket in the described embodiments is optional, since the sensor will function equally well without it. The tube has here a physical protection function of the sensor.

[0096] The temperature sensor is optional, in case the temperature measure is not used or is provided by another sensor, inside or outside the barrel.

[0097] FIG. 5 represents an architecture of the monitoring platform, in particular a side view of the measurement set in the level placed in the barrel, being that P.sub.0 represents the hydrostatic pressure measured in the interior of the vessel; P.sub.2 represents the hydrostatic pressure measured in the tube end (first tube) that is dived into the liquid contained in the barrel and h represents the height between the point where the measurement of P.sub.2 is made and the surface of the liquid.

[0098] FIG. 6 represents the architecture of the monitoring platform in particular a side view of the set for density measurement placed in the barrel wherein P.sub.2 represents the hydrostatic pressure measured in the tube end (first tube) that is dived into the liquid contained in the barrel, P.sub.1 represents the hydrostatic pressure measured in the end of a second tube that is dived into the liquid contained in the barrel and ?h represents the height difference between the points P.sub.1 and P.sub.2. FIG. 6 represents a joint embodiment of the level and density sensor.

[0099] FIG. 12 represents an embodiment allowing for reducing or minimizing the meniscus effect that may introduce reading errors, either of liquid level or density level. Therefore for avoiding or minimizing the meniscus effect, each tube may comprise in the inferior end thereof an angle-cut, for example between 30-60?, preferably 45?, being that this angle is measured between the inferior opening plan of the tube and the liquid surface. Alternatively, or complementarily, the tube may be tilted in relation to the vertical.

[0100] In an embodiment, the initial calibration may be carried out by the following steps: [0101] carrying out a measure with the sensor outside the liquid, that is in the air; [0102] carrying out a measure with the sensor dived into the liquid d/2 mm (where d represents the total length of the sensor in mm, that is, it represents the maximum value of the level the sensor can measure); [0103] carrying out a measure with the sensor dived into the liquid d mm (where d represents the maximum value of the level the sensor can measure).

[0104] In an embodiment, the initial calibration may also be carried out by the following steps: [0105] carrying out a measure with the sensor outside the liquid, that is in the air; [0106] carrying out a measure with the sensor dived into the liquid d/3 mm (where d represents the maximum value of the level the sensor can measure); [0107] carrying out a measure with the sensor dived into the liquid 2?d/3 mm (where d represents the maximum value of the level the sensor can measure); [0108] carrying out a measure with the sensor dived into the liquid d mm (where d represents the maximum value of the level the sensor can measure).

[0109] In an embodiment, the initial calibration carried out in 4 steps is a more precise calibration than the calibration carried out in 3 steps because more points are obtained giving rise to a better adjustment equation, decreasing the error associated to the calibration.

[0110] Although merely particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been represented and described herein, those skilled in the art will know how to introduce modifications and replace some technical features with equivalent ones, depending on the requisites of each situation, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. The term comprises or comprising when used in this document is intended to indicate the presence of the mentioned features, elements, integers, steps and components, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps and components or combinations thereof. The following claims additionally set out embodiments of the disclosure.