Fluid level sensor

Abstract

A fluid level or fluid volume sensor or probe for mounting in a fluid storage vessel for sensing the level or volume of the fluid within the vessel which is comprised of four like electrically conductive capacitor elements each formed to present two electrically connected capacitive plates disposed in angular relation to each other. Electrical insulating material constitutes centrally located means for mounting the capacitor elements in fixed spaced relationship from one another around such mounting means and for positioning the elements so that each capacitive plate thereof defines with a capacitive plate of the next adjacent capacitor element a dielectric space therebetween whereby the mounted capacitor elements together form four like dielectric spaces. Material of known constant dielectric value fills two of the dielectric spaces thereby forming with their respective space defining capacitive plates two capacitors of known fixed and substantially like capacitive value. The remaining two dielectric spaces are open to receive varying levels of fluid thereby forming with their respective capacitive plates, and the fluid within the spaces, two capacitors of variable capacitive value. The sensor or probe is not limited in its application to fluid level or fluid volume measurements of liquids in vessels and may be used for volume measurement with respect to a wide variety of multi-component systems (including liquid/liquid, liquid/gas, liquid/solid, solid/gas, etc.) as long as the dielectric constants for the two or more components are different.