Michael S Loftus

US Patent:

51036720, Apr 14, 1992

Filed:

Sep 26, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/588537

Inventors:

Vincent J. Terry - Dix Hills NY
Eugene J. Schmidt - Bohemia NY
Michael J. Loftus - Medford NY
Kenneth J. Pedersen - Miller Place NY
Richard B. Orbell - Saint James NY
Vidan Jovanovic - Flushing NY

Assignee:

Ragen Data Systems, Inc. - Islip NY

International Classification:

G01F 2326

US Classification:

73304C

Abstract:

A fluid level gauging probe having a flexible transmitter wherein the flexible transmitter includes a first flexible electrically conductive conduit flexibly and substantially coaxially supported within a second flexible conduit. The second flexible conduit includes an electrically conductive probe conduit portion forming an electrical capacitance member with the first conduit. Non conductive spacers are provided for flexibly and substantially coaxially supporting the first flexible conduit within the second flexible conduit. Non conducting locating pins are radically disposed through longitudinal slots in the first and second flexible conduits for the attaching the flexible transmitter to a probe housing and for maintaining the first and second flexible conduits in a substantially fixed longitudinal relationship when the flexible transmitter is flexed. Circuitry, including electrical leads to the first flexible conductive member and the probe portion of the second flexible conduit, is provided for measuring the capacitance of the electrical capacitance member and for detecting the level of fluid in a container as a function of the measured capacitance.