Patents Assigned to Magnetrol International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6588272
    Abstract: A redundant level measuring system comprises a chamber for fluidic coupling to a process vessel whereby material level in the vessel equalizes with material level in the chamber. A float including a magnet in the chamber rises and falls with material level in the chamber. A magnet actuated visual indicator is mounted to the chamber for indicating level of the magnet in the chamber. A measurement instrument includes a probe and a measurement circuit. The instrument is mounted atop the chamber with the probe extending downwardly into the chamber. The measurement circuit measures a characteristic of the probe representing level of the material in the chamber. A shield in the chamber isolate the float from the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mulrooney, Boyce M. Carsella, Jr., Paul D. Myatt, Don P. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6515487
    Abstract: A low voltage, low current apparatus for detecting discontinuities, such as bubbles, in a fluid stream, in which a tube is placed between a transducer transmitting successive bursts of ultrasonic energy and for receiving the bursts. The receiving transducer is connected to a low current transistor amplifier circuit of a signal processing circuit which keeps an output in a first state when signals are received corresponding to the presence of a fluid and in a second state when the bursts of energy are modified by the discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Dawson, Mayank H. Patel
  • Patent number: 5907112
    Abstract: A secondary seal assembly is used with a process instrument including a probe assembly and an electric housing assembly. The probe assembly includes an adaptor receivable in an opening of a process vessel, a probe extending through the adaptor into the process vessel, and a primary seal between the probe and the adaptor. A probe terminal provides an electrical connection between the probe and the electric housing assembly. The secondary seal comprises an elongate extension housing adapted to be mechanically connected at one end to the adaptor and at another end to the electric housing assembly. A shaft insert is received in the extension housing having a terminal at each of opposite ends, a first terminal for providing an electrical connection to the electric housing assembly and a second terminal for providing an electrical connection to the probe terminal. A seal between the shaft insert and the extension housing provides a secondary seal to the process vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Magnetrol International Inc.
    Inventor: Cesar L. Queyquep
  • Patent number: 5703289
    Abstract: An improved housing assembly is used for a microwave level sensing instrument for sensing level of a process fluid in a vessel. The process vessel includes a vessel flange defining an opening into a storage space in the vessel. The housing assembly includes a flange assembly including a housing flange having a distal gasket face sealingly mateable with the vessel flange in use. The housing flange is connected to a window housing for housing a window spaced from the gasket face and providing a process seal. An electronics housing is mounted to the window housing. The electronics housing supports a microwave antenna proximate the window for focusing energy through the window to the process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Mulrooney
  • Patent number: 5701084
    Abstract: An insulated probe assembly is disclosed for use with a process instrument adapted to detect a condition of a material in a process vessel. The probe assembly includes an adaptor receivable in an opening of the process vessel. The adaptor includes a through opening having an enlarged counterbore at an outer end defining an inner shoulder. A probe extends through the adaptor into the process vessel. The probe narrows from an outer process end to an inner end at a sloped shoulder positioned in the counterbore of the adaptor. An insulator sleeve surrounds the probe and has an inner end extending into the adaptor counterbore and engaging the shoulder, and an opposite outer end extending beyond an outer end of the probe. A plug is provided for sealing the probe in the insulator sleeve at the sleeve outer end. A tubular insulating probe cover surrounds the sloped shoulder of the probe and is at least partially received in the adaptor end of the insulator sleeve and extends beyond the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Thomas Borthwick, Jr., Christopher Michael Zalud
  • Patent number: 5640880
    Abstract: An improved mounting arrangement is shown for a magnetostrictive level sensing instrument for sensing level of a process fluid in a process vessel. The process vessel includes an opening into a storage space in the vessel. The improvement includes an elongate tube having a closed end and an opposite open end. A process fitting receives the open end of the outer tube, the process fitting being adapted to be received in the vessel opening, in use, whereby the process fitting and the elongate tube seal the vessel opening. A magnetostrictive wire assembly is removably received in the elongate tube through the open end for operatively sensing position of a magnetic float captured on the elongate tube and floating atop the fluid in the vessel. A housing is mounted to the adaptor fitting and supports the wire assembly when the wire assembly is received in the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mulrooney, James T. Borthwick, Jr., Paul G. Janitch, Cesar L. Queyquep
  • Patent number: 5611239
    Abstract: A microwave point level instrument is adapted to detect level or change of products in a storage vessel. The instrument includes a microwave transducer periodically developing a pulse of microwave energy. A microwave bridge is driven by the transducer for receiving pulses of microwave energy. The bridge includes a reference arm receiving a portion of each pulse of microwave energy to be altered by a variable impedance tuning circuit. A measurement arm receives another portion of each pulse of microwave energy to be altered by dielectric properties of a product at a process seal installed in a storage vessel, in use. A detector arm develops a microwave signal responsive to imbalance in the bridge between the microwave energy altered by the tuning circuit and the microwave energy altered by the dielectric properties of the product. A sensing circuit is coupled to the bridge detector arm for developing an electrical signal responsive to the microwave signal representing the imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Magnetrol International Inc.
    Inventor: Leonid Klinshteyn
  • Patent number: 5452267
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer has an electrically energized crystal in contact with a flexible plate. The crystal drives the plate in a flexural mode. Particularly, the plate is oscillated so that different circular areas of the plate, referred to as nodes, do not vibrate. The nodes separate adjacent annular anti-node areas referred to as positive anti-nodes and negative anti-nodes which oscillate oppositely. An impedance matching material of uniform thickness is disposed between the plate and the surrounding medium to improve efficiency. To avoid cancellation of waves, concentric plastic layer rings are disposed between the impedance matching layer and the oscillating disk. The plastic rings act as a barrier to negative anti-nodes, thus eliminating cancellation between waves from the positive and negative anti-nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventor: Lev Spevak
  • Patent number: 5434555
    Abstract: A thermal dispersion flow/level switch includes a dual element probe assembly. Each element comprises an RTD sensor. The two RTD's are driven at different currents at a fixed ratio so that one RTD is self heated to establish a temperature differential. When a process product comes in contact with the heated sensor, the thermal differential is diminished. The differential is set to determine presence or absence of a process media and provide a change of contact state responsive thereto. In a flow application under no flow or low flow conditions, the RTDs will stabilize with a sufficient temperature differential which decreases in response to higher flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Haynes
  • Patent number: 5335545
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detector of the type for determining the level of a liquid within a tank or the magnitude of the flow of liquid within a conduit. The detector includes a transducer that generates bursts of ultrasonic energy and receives echoes of the energy bursts. The frequency at which the transducer transmits energy bursts is automatically adjusted to substantially match the ringdown frequency of the transducer. The detector distinguishes between true echo signals and spurious echo signals by determining whether the frequency of the echo signals generated by the transducer substantially matches the frequency at which the corresponding energy bursts were transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Leszczynski
  • Patent number: 5277065
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detector of the type for determining the level of a liquid within a tank or the magnitude of the flow of liquid within a conduit. The detector includes a transducer that generates bursts of ultrasonic energy and receives echoes of the energy bursts. The frequency at which she transducer transmits energy bursts is automatically adjusted to substantially match the ringdown frequency of the transducer. The detector distinguishes between true echo signals and spurious echo signals by determining whether the frequency of the echo signals generated by the transducer substantially matches the frequency at which the corresponding energy bursts were transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Leszczynski
  • Patent number: 5207101
    Abstract: A two-wire ultrasonic transmitter senses level of a material and controls current of power supplied thereto to a magnitude representing sensed level The transmitter comprises a transducer mounted in proximity to a material, the level of which is being sensed. A power supply circuit receives power for operating the instrument. A drive circuit is connected to the transducer and the power supply circuit and periodically energizes the transducer to transmit an energy pulse to be reflected off of a surface of the sensed material. An amplifier circuit is connected to the transducer and develops an analog signal having a magnitude corresponding to reflected energy received by the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Magnetrol International Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Haynes
  • Patent number: 5131271
    Abstract: An ultrasonic level detector includes a transducer for generating and receiving bursts of sonic energy at a surface to locate the position of the surface. In response to receiving a burst of energy reflected from the surface, the transducer generates an electrical signal, which is then supplied to a variable gain amplifier. After amplification, the electrical signal is supplied to a comparator and a peak detector. The comparator generates a timing signal upon the electrical signal exceeding a threshold. A window generator circuit generates a receive window that controls whether the electrical signal is supplied to the comparator and the magnitude of the threshold on the comparator. The peak detector determines the maximum amplitude of the electrical signal, which may be used to vary the amplifier gain and the number of pulses included in an excitation signal which drives the transducer. Upon receipt of the timing signal, a microprocessor determines the distance between the transducer and the detected surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Haynes, Steven E. Margison