ASM Introduces Compact MEMS Inclinometer for OEM Applications
June 16, 2010 by admin
Filed under Inclinometer, Level
ASM introduces its smallest addition to the POSITILT® inclinometer series that is available in single and dual axis versions. By using MEMS technology, this new inclinometer PTAM20 series is packaged into a very compact, flat housing making it ideally suited for OEM applications. The measurement range for the single axis version is available from +/- 15° to +/- 180°, in increments of 15°. For the dual axis version, the measurement range is available from +/- 15° to +/- 60°, in increments of 15°.
Due to its small size of 7mm in height and 48 mm in diameter, the PTAM20 series inclinometer has been designed to fit into the tightest locations in OEM applications. The enclosure is rated IP60 which is suitable for many instrumentation functions.
The maximum measurement range for the single axis version is +/- 180° and +/- 60° for each axis in the dual axis version. Each version is available with smaller ranges in +/- 15° increments. Several analogue output types are available: 0.5-4.5 V, 0.5-10 V and 4-20 mA.
The resolution is 0.05° and the linearity is up to +/- 0.5°. Each version offers high shock resistance.
ASM UK
www.asm-sensor.co.uk
Servo Inclinometers Have IP64 Environmentally Sealed Housing
May 11, 2010 by admin
Filed under Inclinometer
Sherborne Sensors announced the North American market introduction of the LSI series, a family of cost-effective, rugged, closed loop gravity referenced servo inclinometers. The LSI series is specially designed to withstand severe shock and vibration inputs, for precision measurement capabilities in even the most demanding of environments.
The LSI series incorporates a unique, flexure-supported torque balancing system, which is rugged enough to withstand shock inputs of 1500 g, yet still provides excellent accuracy and repeatability over a wide operating temperature range. For added durability, sensor components and associated electronics are contained within IP64 environmentally sealed housing. Units are available in ranges of ±14.5°, ±30° and ±90°, and offer a high level, 5-Volt analog DC-output signal, proportional to sine of the angle of tilt. LSI series models are fully self-contained, and are able to connect to a DC power source and a readout or control device, to form a complete operating system. These robust units are ideal for use in civil engineering, structural monitoring, geophysical and seismic studies, machinery and structural alignment, pipeline leveling, crane safety and satellite antenna leveling applications, among others. Recommended accessories include bi-polar power supplies and the new DTI series digital panel indicator, which allows a user to read outputs directly in degrees. All are available from Sherborne Sensors.
NASA Develops More Accurate Fuel Tank Sensor
May 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under Level, Liquid Level
NASA has developed wireless sensor technology is giving recreational boat owners safer and more accurate readings of how much fuel is in their tanks.
The NASA-developed magnetic measuring system also has potential use in planes, trains and automobiles.
Originally developed by NASA to retrofit aging aircraft with safety equipment, the technology is a spinoff for designing and using sensors without the shortcomings of many commonly-used liquid storage measurement systems.
Traditional marine fuel-gauge float systems can provide inaccurate readings because of a boat’s movement. A vessel’s pitch and roll in open waters can create a “seesaw” effect on fuel gauges. This new wireless fluid-level measurement system has two stationary pieces of conducting material located in the fuel, connected to an inductor on the outside of the tank.
Another aspect of the wireless fuel-level sensor system is the design can be modified to detect water, a concern for recreational boaters. It also can be modified to detect other non-fuel liquid contaminants in a tank. While this particular system is for a marine application, it could be modified for other uses.
Hermetic Switch Introduces Liquid Level Sensors
CHICKASHA, OK – Hermetic Switch, Inc.unveiled its new series of liquid level sensors, also known as float sensors or fluid level sensors.
The new PRX+1660 series represents a new product line for the company, which enables Hermetic to address the need for reliable, robust, and reasonably priced sensors for liquid level monitoring applications in appliance, automotive, control, household, industrial, municipal, petrochemical, power generation, processing, and recreational markets.
These sensors can be used for level sensing or monitoring of brake fluid, contained water, dilute acid, gasoline, oil, or any number of process liquids, limited only by the series’ material of construction (polyamide or polypropylene).
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Digital Light Sensor Works Behind Darkened Glass
Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions®, Inc., announced the first members of its next generation digital ambient light sensor (ALS) and proximity detection family that is designed to provide consumer electronics manufacturers with greater freedom to produce sleeker, more appealing and innovative product designs. These latest TAOS devices eliminate the need to use clear glass/plastic in front of the sensor or drill holes/slots into the display, bezel or frame in order for light to reach the sensor.
Specifically designed to operate behind darkened glass or other translucent materials, the TSL2771 device family provides both ambient light sensing and proximity detection in a single device that consumes far less power than currently available comparable solutions. Proximity detection is ideally suited for touch screen smart phones to automatically turn off the display or control other user functions and can also be used in laptops, desktop computers and monitors to conserve energy or maintain information privacy when the user is not present. Other emerging applications for proximity sensing technology include touchless display controls activation and management as well as human gesture detection.
Level Sensor Switches From Clean Liquids to Dry Solid Materials
March 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Level, Liquid Level
BlueLevel Technologies, Inc. announces the availability of its latest level sensor, the Model CPH Capacitive Proximity Switch for clean liquids and dry bulk solid materials.
Managing Director, Joe Lewis, comments that “this level sensor is a great addition for our customer base. It provides them with a compact level sensor offering reliable performance and a low cost”. It provides level control, level detection and level monitoring capability.
The Model CPH is a capacitive proximity switch consisting of units available to operate with either AC or DC loads. They are compact level sensors, being 30mm in diameter and approximately 80mm deep. They are low in cost, well under $100, and provide a very high performance-to-cost value ratio.
The Model CPH 2-wire AC proximity switch operates with voltages from 20-250VAC, switching loads as high as 300ma. These AC capacitive proximity level switches include built-in ESD protection and operate over a wide temperature range from -25°C to +70°C (-13°F to +158°F).
The Model CPH 4-wire DC proximity switch units are capable of interfacing with a wide variety of PLC’s, operating on voltage from 10-30VDC, and come in either NPN or PNP styles with both NO and NC wiring connectivity.
BlueLevel Technologies brings 35 years of process measurement and control experience and knowledge to its “Just Level” service strategy. “Just Level” is designed to anticipate, meet and exceed the needs of BlueLevel Technologies customers and their industries by bringing decades of process measurement and control expertise directly to the user. Level measurement and monitoring is our single focus and our passion.
AccuStar® Electronic Clinometer from Sherborne Sensors
March 18, 2010 by admin
Filed under Inclinometer, Industry News, Level
Sherborne Sensors has announced the AccuStar® electronic clinometer, designed to provide precision angular measurements within applications where a high degree of accuracy is required.
The unique design of the AccuStar® incorporates a capacitance-based sensor without moving parts. When rotated about its sensitive axis, this sensor provides a fundamentally linear variation in capacitance, which is electronically converted into high-precision angular data. Available in choice of analog, ratiometric, digital or serial models, the AccuStar® electric clinometer offers a ±60° measurement range, outputting a signal that corresponds to the direction and magnitude of angular displacement. The highly compact AccuStar® measures just two inches (50 mm) in diameter and weighs just two ounces (60 grams) for easy installation, with units designed to reliably operate in temperatures of -30 to +65°C. The sensor and its associated low-power CMOS electronics are encased in a rugged plastic housing.
With its durable, high-performance design, the AccuStar® is ideal for a multitude of applications, including off-highway vehicles, wheel alignment, construction equipment, antenna positioning and robotics applications, as well as other portable or mobile applications where space constraints or environmental concerns preclude the use of other types of precision angle measurement devices.
Sherborne Sensors
www.sherbornesensors.com
Sensor Measures Dissolved Nitrate In Water
March 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under Level, Liquid Level, Temperature
Featuring a precision nitrate ISE electrode sensor with an integral self-cleaning sprayer, the new HYDRA Nitrate Analyzer System from Electro-Chemical Devices, Inc. (ECD), offers superior measurement, monitoring and control with virtually no maintenance.
The highly intelligent HYDRA Nitrate Analyzer System measures the concentration of dissolved nitrate as nitrogen (NO3–N) in water. The sensor uses two electrodes to determine the NO3–N concentration: a nitrate ion electrode and a chloride ion electrode. An optional electrode is also available for pH measurement.
The system’s HYDRA Analyzer is configured to periodically actuate a cleaning cycle using the integral spray cleaner in the nitrate sensor, minimizing the formation of biofilms or other coatings on the electrodes and keeping maintenance to a minimum. The cleaning cycles feature a user configurable period and duration. During the cleaning cycle the 4-20 mA output is held at either a preset value or the last value.
While useful in all types of water treatment applications, the HYDRA Nitrate Analyzer System is especially well suited for municipal wastewater treatment plants. Nitrogen primarily enters a municipal wastewater system as ammonia/ammonium compounds. Nitrification oxidizes the toxic ammonium ion into a much less toxic nitrate ion using an aerobic activated sludge process.
De-nitrification reduces the nitrate ion (NO3-) to nitrogen gas (N2) through an anoxic reaction in the same treatment basin or in a separate anaerobic digester. The NO3–N measurement helps optimize the methanol being fed to the digester, which minimizes cost and provides trend measurement of the total nitrogen (TN) in the effluent.
The nitrate ion electrode provides the primary measurement. A second electrode measures the Chloride ions in the sample. The HYDRA Analyzer subtracts the appropriate amount of signal from the nitrate measurement for accurate monitoring. The sensor also detects temperature, and the analyzer provides a temperature-compensation calculation for superior measurement accuracy.
The rugged nitrate sensor offers 1.25-inch NPT rear facing threads for attaching an extension/immersion tube for easy installation from catwalks or handrails. Internal signal conditioning allows the sensor to be mounted up to 200 meters from the analyzer. The sensor is extremely low-maintenance, featuring a movable electrode guard to facilitate easy electrode replacement when necessary.
ECD’s HYDRA Nitrate Analyzer System measures nitrate and chloride in concentrations from 0.1 to 1000 ppm, pH from 0 to 14 and temperature from 0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F). Accuracy is ±3 percent of reading with a response time of T90 1 minute.
Featuring a backlit LCD display that provides up to 4 lines of text and graphics, the HYDRA Analyzer includes two 4-20 mA outputs with two SPDT alarm relays. Input power is 110/220 Vac. It is housed in a rugged NEMA 4X enclosure.
Safety Gas Sensor Detect Combustable Gases And CO2
Scott Health & Safety is proud to announce the launch of the Freedom(TM) Direct gas detector-the newest member of the company’s full line of fixed gas detection instruments.
Specifically designed to detect combustible gases and carbon dioxide using infrared (IR) or catalytic bead sensor technologies, the Scott Freedom Direct detector delivers information on gas concentrations directly to a Scott controller without the need for a transmitter. By eliminating the use of the transmitter, the Freedom Direct detector reduces the initial investment needed to maintain plant safety.
This unique design provides the most economical way to add points of detection to remote locations or areas where local display is not required, providing a greater coverage of potentially hazardous areas.
The Freedom Direct detector also allows for easy installation, simple maintenance and quick sensor change-out in the field. The ability to switch between IR and catalytic bead sensor technologies in the field expands the detector’s capabilities and provides customers the ultimate flexibility.
The advanced sensor technology used with the Freedom Direct detector is protected from the harshest of environments by its rugged stainless steel housing which helps to maintain its life and operation. When combined with the 5.5 volt catalytic bead sensor, the detector can operate in temperatures up to 200°C (392°F).
When local display is required, the Freedom Direct detector can be upgraded seamlessly to the Freedom 6000 transmitter in the field, providing customers the functionality that they desire.
Inclinometer Packaged To Be Compact, Ideal For OEM Applications
February 9, 2010 by admin
Filed under Inclinometer, Level
Automated Control Engineering is the exclusive national supplier of the newest ASM product. ASM has introduced its smallest addition to the POSITILT® inclinometer series that is available in single and dual axis versions. By using MEMS technology, this new inclinometer PTAM20 series is packaged into a very compact, flat housing making it ideally suited for OEM applications.
The measurement range for the single axis version is available from +/- 15° to +/- 180°, in increments of 15°. For the dual axis version, the measurement range is available from +/- 15° to +/- 60°, in increments of 15°. The resolution is 0.05° and the linearity is up to +/- 0.5°. Several analogue output types are available that include: 0.5-4.5 V, 0.5-10 V and 4-20 mA. Each version offers high shock resistance and is rated IP60 which is suitable for many instrumentation functions.
