公开(公告)号：USH1132H

公开(公告)日：1993-01-05

申请号：US831718

申请日：1992-02-05

申请人： Kenneth G. Hellyar ,  Rajendrakumar V. Mehta

发明人： Kenneth G. Hellyar ,  Rajendrakumar V. Mehta

IPC分类号： G01N29/024 ,  G01S5/14 ,  G01S5/30 ,  G01S11/16 ,  G01S3/80 ,  G01F1/66

CPC分类号： G01N29/024 ,  G01N2291/0222 ,  G01N2291/02416 ,  G01S5/14 ,  G01S5/30 ,  G01S11/16

摘要： An apparatus and method for determining the position of an object, especially the position of a movable object in an industrial vessel. The position is determined by the use of two signals having a very large difference in their velocities, such as electromagnetic and acoustic waves. The object whose position is to be determined receives the electromagnetic signal, analyzes the electromagnetic signal, and, if appropriate, transmits an acoustic signal. In addition to the object containing an electromagnetic receiver and an acoustic transmitter, there is required an electromagnetic transmitter, three or more receivers to receive the acoustic signal from the object, and supporting equipment to process signals and log data. When the object transmits an acoustic signal, the acoustic receivers, which are in known positions in the vessel, receive the signal at different times depending on the distance of the object from each receiver. From the speed of the acoustic signal in the medium contained in the vessel and the time required for the signal to reach each receiver, the distances from each receiver to the object are calculated. Because the location of each receiver is known, it is possible by triangulation to calculate the position of the object.