Prox sensor MORE DETAIL
Archiver
Posts: 46,084
All getting a bit complex....
The ONLY info we need is a go/no-go level at a certain point to indiacted
whern the level in the silo falls below a certain point. The type of product
varies in size and density regularly.
Original Message
From: <gbrecke@y...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 4:42 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor
> I'm not sure the goal has been well established yet.
>
> Is this silo used to store this material exclusively? If so,
> could you use sonar to determine the presence of this material
> and a the volume as well?
>
> George B.
>
>
> --- In basicstamps@y..., s premena <premzee@j...> wrote:
> > It would help if you could give the minimum amount of weight
> > you need to detect. And what sort of granular size.
> >
> > For reliable detection I'd suggest some sort of vibrating
> > assembly [noparse][[/noparse]could be piezo] - the frequency and energy it
> > takes to drive it would vary as it was surrounded with
> > material. This assumes that the sensor enclosure material is
> > flexible. The vibration would also tend to clean dust off.
> > Is the stuff flammable? [noparse][[/noparse]static electric charge could be
> > an issue].
> >
> > For just pressure you could have a capacitive bridge with
> > grounded outer plates which would squeeze toward an inner
> > plate. Here the issue would be what would stay uniform over
> > time squeezing and un squeezing. Perhaps silicone rubber
> > between aluminum plates would work.
> >
> > Interlink Electronics has resistive material which changes
> > with pressure on it.
> >
> > There are membrane elastomers used in keyboards which change
> > resistance with pressure.
> >
> > Without knowing how much pressure - min and max - you are
> > trying to work with it's all up in the guessing region.
> >
> >
> > >>
> > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 08:28:42 +0930
> > From: "Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS" <stocky@c...>
> > ...
> > I am looking for a circuit that will be suitable to detect the
> presence
> > of a granular fertilizer in a storage silo. Just need a go/no-go
> type
> > output eg whether the sensor is covered or not.
> > <<
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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>
>
The ONLY info we need is a go/no-go level at a certain point to indiacted
whern the level in the silo falls below a certain point. The type of product
varies in size and density regularly.
Original Message
From: <gbrecke@y...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 4:42 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor
> I'm not sure the goal has been well established yet.
>
> Is this silo used to store this material exclusively? If so,
> could you use sonar to determine the presence of this material
> and a the volume as well?
>
> George B.
>
>
> --- In basicstamps@y..., s premena <premzee@j...> wrote:
> > It would help if you could give the minimum amount of weight
> > you need to detect. And what sort of granular size.
> >
> > For reliable detection I'd suggest some sort of vibrating
> > assembly [noparse][[/noparse]could be piezo] - the frequency and energy it
> > takes to drive it would vary as it was surrounded with
> > material. This assumes that the sensor enclosure material is
> > flexible. The vibration would also tend to clean dust off.
> > Is the stuff flammable? [noparse][[/noparse]static electric charge could be
> > an issue].
> >
> > For just pressure you could have a capacitive bridge with
> > grounded outer plates which would squeeze toward an inner
> > plate. Here the issue would be what would stay uniform over
> > time squeezing and un squeezing. Perhaps silicone rubber
> > between aluminum plates would work.
> >
> > Interlink Electronics has resistive material which changes
> > with pressure on it.
> >
> > There are membrane elastomers used in keyboards which change
> > resistance with pressure.
> >
> > Without knowing how much pressure - min and max - you are
> > trying to work with it's all up in the guessing region.
> >
> >
> > >>
> > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 08:28:42 +0930
> > From: "Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS" <stocky@c...>
> > ...
> > I am looking for a circuit that will be suitable to detect the
> presence
> > of a granular fertilizer in a storage silo. Just need a go/no-go
> type
> > output eg whether the sensor is covered or not.
> > <<
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Comments
switch or hall-effect sensor on the outside is the most simple solution.
Original Message
> The ONLY info we need is a go/no-go level at a certain point to indiacted
> whern the level in the silo falls below a certain point. The type of
product
> varies in size and density regularly.
in brief:
LED emitter | silo | LED Detector
Daniel
Original Message
From: Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=IyiEPq6oc3q7uJd7S4K6zODgF5H6xYs0qb0gDMFN8pNTiXlRK65uTDZSdbHaaenKwEo1tTJIs5Hgop_EnMw]stocky@c...[/url
Sent: Sunday, 08 July 2001 20:26
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor MORE DETAIL
All getting a bit complex....
The ONLY info we need is a go/no-go level at a certain point to indiacted
whern the level in the silo falls below a certain point. The type of product
varies in size and density regularly.
Original Message
From: <gbrecke@y...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 4:42 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor
> I'm not sure the goal has been well established yet.
>
> Is this silo used to store this material exclusively? If so,
> could you use sonar to determine the presence of this material
> and a the volume as well?
>
> George B.
>
>
> --- In basicstamps@y..., s premena <premzee@j...> wrote:
> > It would help if you could give the minimum amount of weight
> > you need to detect. And what sort of granular size.
> >
> > For reliable detection I'd suggest some sort of vibrating
> > assembly [noparse][[/noparse]could be piezo] - the frequency and energy it
> > takes to drive it would vary as it was surrounded with
> > material. This assumes that the sensor enclosure material is
> > flexible. The vibration would also tend to clean dust off.
> > Is the stuff flammable? [noparse][[/noparse]static electric charge could be
> > an issue].
> >
> > For just pressure you could have a capacitive bridge with
> > grounded outer plates which would squeeze toward an inner
> > plate. Here the issue would be what would stay uniform over
> > time squeezing and un squeezing. Perhaps silicone rubber
> > between aluminum plates would work.
> >
> > Interlink Electronics has resistive material which changes
> > with pressure on it.
> >
> > There are membrane elastomers used in keyboards which change
> > resistance with pressure.
> >
> > Without knowing how much pressure - min and max - you are
> > trying to work with it's all up in the guessing region.
> >
> >
> > >>
> > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 08:28:42 +0930
> > From: "Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS" <stocky@c...>
> > ...
> > I am looking for a circuit that will be suitable to detect the
> presence
> > of a granular fertilizer in a storage silo. Just need a go/no-go
> type
> > output eg whether the sensor is covered or not.
> > <<
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
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>
>
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for large ice making machines. The device has an IR transmitter/ receiver
pair mounted side by side. When the medium is close enough (ice in my case),
the reflection of the IR transmitter is picked up by the IR receiver,
closing a dry contact or a transistor depending on the model.
Brad Watts / AMT
E-mail BradWatts@a...
Web www.amt.nb.ca
Original Message
From: D. Daniel McGlothin [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=oaa2joAsS5ilqNHG5lruXh1Jn5Sd8luHsCWShaTl2EolVAQzAlaOfmDBFjf6LsQQc2jEh3QYZs7NQQ]ddm_stamps@y...[/url
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 9:44 AM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor MORE DETAIL
Would a simple through-beam photo-sensor work?
in brief:
LED emitter | silo | LED Detector
Daniel
Original Message
From: Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=XxUBtoUw-gxNrANO28aA2zw7nGPq61vvoxBlUFFzkfsZdM9ZyXdDnMR-ESQ2AeaF8roiN0ohNzXaDknGEQ]stocky@c...[/url
Sent: Sunday, 08 July 2001 20:26
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor MORE DETAIL
All getting a bit complex....
The ONLY info we need is a go/no-go level at a certain point to indiacted
whern the level in the silo falls below a certain point. The type of product
varies in size and density regularly.
Original Message
From: <gbrecke@y...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 4:42 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor
> I'm not sure the goal has been well established yet.
>
> Is this silo used to store this material exclusively? If so,
> could you use sonar to determine the presence of this material
> and a the volume as well?
>
> George B.
>
>
> --- In basicstamps@y..., s premena <premzee@j...> wrote:
> > It would help if you could give the minimum amount of weight
> > you need to detect. And what sort of granular size.
> >
> > For reliable detection I'd suggest some sort of vibrating
> > assembly [noparse][[/noparse]could be piezo] - the frequency and energy it
> > takes to drive it would vary as it was surrounded with
> > material. This assumes that the sensor enclosure material is
> > flexible. The vibration would also tend to clean dust off.
> > Is the stuff flammable? [noparse][[/noparse]static electric charge could be
> > an issue].
> >
> > For just pressure you could have a capacitive bridge with
> > grounded outer plates which would squeeze toward an inner
> > plate. Here the issue would be what would stay uniform over
> > time squeezing and un squeezing. Perhaps silicone rubber
> > between aluminum plates would work.
> >
> > Interlink Electronics has resistive material which changes
> > with pressure on it.
> >
> > There are membrane elastomers used in keyboards which change
> > resistance with pressure.
> >
> > Without knowing how much pressure - min and max - you are
> > trying to work with it's all up in the guessing region.
> >
> >
> > >>
> > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 08:28:42 +0930
> > From: "Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS" <stocky@c...>
> > ...
> > I am looking for a circuit that will be suitable to detect the
> presence
> > of a granular fertilizer in a storage silo. Just need a go/no-go
> type
> > output eg whether the sensor is covered or not.
> > <<
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
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>
>
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contain dust that could coat lenses or windows making a light device
less reliable unless some type of self cleaning device is
incorporated.... which would up the cost and lower the reliability.
In addition, some fertilizers "clump" if the moisture content is not
controlled. At this point, this is unknown and has to be taken into
account. Can you engineer an (inexpensive) mechanical device that
would shake off this potentially corrosive stuff and assure it was
not present when the silo level is lowered?
If a sonar device were mounted high in the silo, you could sense any
level you wished and gather even more data than you require today.
But more importantly, your sensors would be up out of these elements
where they can more readily cope with such an environment.
George B.
--- In basicstamps@y..., "Brad Watts" <bradwatts@b...> wrote:
> I have used Omron proximity sensors for sensing when their was
enough ice
> for large ice making machines. The device has an IR transmitter/
receiver
> pair mounted side by side. When the medium is close enough (ice in
my case),
> the reflection of the IR transmitter is picked up by the IR
receiver,
> closing a dry contact or a transistor depending on the model.
>
> Brad Watts / AMT
> E-mail BradWatts@a...
> Web www.amt.nb.ca
>
>
Original Message
> From: D. Daniel McGlothin [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:ddm_stamps@y...]
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 9:44 AM
> To: basicstamps@y...
> Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor MORE DETAIL
>
> Would a simple through-beam photo-sensor work?
>
> in brief:
> LED emitter | silo | LED Detector
>
> Daniel
>
>
Original Message
> From: Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:stocky@c...]
> Sent: Sunday, 08 July 2001 20:26
> To: basicstamps@y...
> Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor MORE DETAIL
>
>
> All getting a bit complex....
> The ONLY info we need is a go/no-go level at a certain point to
indiacted
> whern the level in the silo falls below a certain point. The type
of product
> varies in size and density regularly.
>
>
>
Original Message
> From: <gbrecke@y...>
> To: <basicstamps@y...>
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 4:42 AM
> Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: RE:Prox sensor
>
>
> > I'm not sure the goal has been well established yet.
> >
> > Is this silo used to store this material exclusively? If so,
> > could you use sonar to determine the presence of this material
> > and a the volume as well?
> >
> > George B.
> >
> >
> > --- In basicstamps@y..., s premena <premzee@j...> wrote:
> > > It would help if you could give the minimum amount of weight
> > > you need to detect. And what sort of granular size.
> > >
> > > For reliable detection I'd suggest some sort of vibrating
> > > assembly [noparse][[/noparse]could be piezo] - the frequency and energy it
> > > takes to drive it would vary as it was surrounded with
> > > material. This assumes that the sensor enclosure material is
> > > flexible. The vibration would also tend to clean dust off.
> > > Is the stuff flammable? [noparse][[/noparse]static electric charge could be
> > > an issue].
> > >
> > > For just pressure you could have a capacitive bridge with
> > > grounded outer plates which would squeeze toward an inner
> > > plate. Here the issue would be what would stay uniform over
> > > time squeezing and un squeezing. Perhaps silicone rubber
> > > between aluminum plates would work.
> > >
> > > Interlink Electronics has resistive material which changes
> > > with pressure on it.
> > >
> > > There are membrane elastomers used in keyboards which change
> > > resistance with pressure.
> > >
> > > Without knowing how much pressure - min and max - you are
> > > trying to work with it's all up in the guessing region.
> > >
> > >
> > > >>
> > > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 08:28:42 +0930
> > > From: "Tim Stockman, STOCKMAN ELECTRONICS" <stocky@c...>
> > > ...
> > > I am looking for a circuit that will be suitable to detect the
> > presence
> > > of a granular fertilizer in a storage silo. Just need a go/no-
go
> > type
> > > output eg whether the sensor is covered or not.
> > > <<
> > >
> > > ________________________________________________________________
> > > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and
> Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and
> Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________
>
> Do You Yahoo!?
>
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
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not work. I would think the fertilizer dust / moisture would tend to corrode
the metal diaphragm found in most ultrasonic transducers.
What about a piece of pipe with a hole in it every so often. Pump air into
the pipe at a known rate of flow and monitor the pressure. The higher the
level of material, the higher the pressure. Of course you would have to
figure out how to keep the material out of the hole.
Original Message
> This environment appears to be a nasty one. The materials probably
> contain dust that could coat lenses or windows making a light device
> less reliable unless some type of self cleaning device is
> incorporated.... which would up the cost and lower the reliability.
>
> In addition, some fertilizers "clump" if the moisture content is not
> controlled. At this point, this is unknown and has to be taken into
> account. Can you engineer an (inexpensive) mechanical device that
> would shake off this potentially corrosive stuff and assure it was
> not present when the silo level is lowered?
>
> If a sonar device were mounted high in the silo, you could sense any
> level you wished and gather even more data than you require today.
> But more importantly, your sensors would be up out of these elements
> where they can more readily cope with such an environment.
to guage distance. I would think that was a fairly lousy environment
for a piece of metal... so maybe it uses a stainless diaphragm or
at least a powder coated one??
--- In basicstamps@y..., Rodent <daweasel@s...> wrote:
> Unless they make a sonar unit with a plastic diaphragm, this
probably would
> not work. I would think the fertilizer dust / moisture would tend
to corrode
> the metal diaphragm found in most ultrasonic transducers.
>
> What about a piece of pipe with a hole in it every so often. Pump
air into
> the pipe at a known rate of flow and monitor the pressure. The
higher the
> level of material, the higher the pressure. Of course you would
have to
> figure out how to keep the material out of the hole.
>
>
Original Message
>
>
> > This environment appears to be a nasty one. The materials probably
> > contain dust that could coat lenses or windows making a light
device
> > less reliable unless some type of self cleaning device is
> > incorporated.... which would up the cost and lower the
reliability.
> >
> > In addition, some fertilizers "clump" if the moisture content is
not
> > controlled. At this point, this is unknown and has to be taken
into
> > account. Can you engineer an (inexpensive) mechanical device that
> > would shake off this potentially corrosive stuff and assure it was
> > not present when the silo level is lowered?
> >
> > If a sonar device were mounted high in the silo, you could sense
any
> > level you wished and gather even more data than you require today.
> > But more importantly, your sensors would be up out of these
elements
> > where they can more readily cope with such an environment.
corrosive, but it attracts moisture. In a silo alot of dust would be
created, which would find its way onto any exposed metal. Stainless would
probably hold up well, assuming you can find a transducer with a stainless
diaphragm.
Original Message
> They mount some form of ultrasonic transducer on the back of trucks
> to guage distance. I would think that was a fairly lousy environment
> for a piece of metal... so maybe it uses a stainless diaphragm or
> at least a powder coated one??
> > Unless they make a sonar unit with a plastic diaphragm, this
> probably would
> > not work. I would think the fertilizer dust / moisture would tend
> to corrode
> > the metal diaphragm found in most ultrasonic transducers.
> >
> > What about a piece of pipe with a hole in it every so often. Pump
> air into
> > the pipe at a known rate of flow and monitor the pressure. The
> higher the
> > level of material, the higher the pressure. Of course you would
> have to
> > figure out how to keep the material out of the hole.
> >
> >
Original Message
> >
> >
> > > This environment appears to be a nasty one. The materials probably
> > > contain dust that could coat lenses or windows making a light
> device
> > > less reliable unless some type of self cleaning device is
> > > incorporated.... which would up the cost and lower the
> reliability.
> > >
> > > In addition, some fertilizers "clump" if the moisture content is
> not
> > > controlled. At this point, this is unknown and has to be taken
> into
> > > account. Can you engineer an (inexpensive) mechanical device that
> > > would shake off this potentially corrosive stuff and assure it was
> > > not present when the silo level is lowered?
> > >
> > > If a sonar device were mounted high in the silo, you could sense
> any
> > > level you wished and gather even more data than you require today.
> > > But more importantly, your sensors would be up out of these
> elements
> > > where they can more readily cope with such an environment.
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>