Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Michael D Ferretti

James A Horton

Brian L Gabel

Thomas S Weiss, Sr

Kevin K Miller

A system for dispatching a refilling vehicle to a tank updates a prior collected average level of substance in the tank. It continuously determines values of differential pressure within the tank and in accordance with the values of differential pressure, calculates the instantaneous level of substance within the tank. A prior collected average level is stored and is compared with each of the instantaneous values of level thus obtained. On the basis of this comparison a relative weighting factor is determined which weighs the relative contribution of the collected and instantaneous values in determining a new collected value. In one embodiment a remote location may interrogate to determine the rate of usage over a predetermined time window. In another embodiment when the new collected average falls below a set point a selected one of a plurality of remote locations is signalled to dispatch a refilling vehicle. A remote location may be selected in accordance with the time of day or the substance in the tank. The time window, the set points and selection of a remote location may all be programmed from a remote location.

Method and system for measurement of a liquid level in a tank

The computer based remote tank telemetry system uses a method for updating a prior collected average level of substance in a tank. It continuously determines values of differential pressure within the tank and in accordance with the values of differential pressure determines the instantaneous level of substance within the tank. A prior collected average level is stored and is compared with each of the instantaneous values of level thus obtained. On the basis of this comparison a relative weighing factor is determined which weighs the relative contribution of the collected and instantaneous values in determining a new collected value. The new collected average is compared against a predetermined setpoint to determine whether the level of substance in the tank is too low. The results of this comparison can be displayed locally, and using a modem, communicated to a remote display. The method for determining the relative weighing factor has three tiers. The selection of the required tier is done in accordance with the levels compared.

Growing community of inventors

Nazareth, PA, United States of America

Michael D Ferretti