PISTON PUMP ELEVATOR HAVING FLUID LEVEL MEASUREMENT CAPABILITY

摘要

A piston pump elevator having fluid level measurement capability (10) which is capable of providing an electrical signal proportional to the approximate amount of fluid remaining in a container from which fluid is being withdrawn. A first preferred embodiment of the piston pump elevator includes a hook (20) which is mounted on a crossbar (22) and a cable extension transducer (24) which is mounted to the elevator and its sensing cable (26) connects to the hook. Thus, as the follower plate (16) rises, cable (26) is drawn out from the cable extension transducer (24) and its output voltage changes at a rate proportional to the approximate amount of fluid remaining in the container (12). A second preferred embodiment utilizes a polished tube, for the cylinder rod (120) which is attached to a crossbar (122) by a sealing screw (123). The piston (124) contains a through hole and a pocket for a sensing element (126), such as a magnet for a magnetostrictive transducer or a sliding contact for a linear resistance transducer (128).