Acoustic volume indicator

Abstract

Acoustic volume indicators for determining liquid or gas volume within a container comprise a contactor to vibrate a container wall, a detector to receive vibration data from the container wall, a processor to convert vibration data to frequency information and compare the frequency information to characteristic container frequency vs. volume data to obtain the measured volume, and an indicator for displaying the measured volume. The processor may comprise a microprocessor disposed within a housing having lights that each represent a particular volume. The microprocessor is calibrated to provide an output signal to a light that indicates the container volume. The processor may comprise a computer and computer program that converts the data to frequency information, analyzes the frequency information to identify a peak frequency, compares the peak frequency to the characteristic frequency vs. volume data to determine the measured volume, and displays the measured volume on a video monitor.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An acoustic indicator for noninvasively determining the pressure of a gas within a container comprising:
 a vibration device positioned adjacent an outside surface of the container, wherein the container is configured to accommodate a volume of fluid or gas therein, wherein a bladder is disposed inside of the container and is configured to accommodate a volume of gas therein at a pressure;   a vibration detector positioned adjacent an outside surface of the container; and   a processor that receives information from the vibration detector and that is configured to determine from the information the pressure of gas inside of the bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is configured to cause the container to resonate. 
     
     
         3 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the vibration device is an impactor that is configured to strike the container surface. 
     
     
         4 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the vibration device is configured to generate a sweep frequency vibration within the container instead of producing a momentary impact with the container surface. 
     
     
         5 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vibration detector is configured to receive information from the container caused by activation of the vibration device and transfer the information to the processor. 
     
     
         6 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to compare the information received from a vibration detector with stored information for purposes of determining the pressure of gas inside of the bladder. 
     
     
         7 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator that is configured to provide an indication of the determined pressure of gas inside of the bladder. 
     
     
         8 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the indicator is configured to provide a visual or audible indication when the determined pressure of gas inside of the bladder is different than a set bladder gas pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is located remotely away from the container, and information received by the vibration detector is transmitted by wired or wireless means to the processor. 
     
     
         10 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the vibration device is configured to be activated by receiving an actuating signal from a device located away from the container. 
     
     
         11 . The acoustic indicator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to convert information received from the vibration detector to determine a volume of a liquid or a gas disposed within the container. 
     
     
         12 . An indicator for noninvasively determining the pressure of gas within an elastomeric bladder disposed in a container, comprising:
 a contactor positioned outside of and adjacent the container and configured to cause the container to vibrate;   a detector positioned outside of and adjacent the container and configured to detect vibration from the container caused by activation of the contactor and provide an output signal;   a processor that is configured to receive the output signal from the detector and determine information relating to the pressure of the gas within the bladder; and   an indicator that provides an indication of the pressure of the gas within the bladder as determined by the processor.   
     
     
         13 . The indicator as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the contactor includes an element that strikes a surface of the container when activated. 
     
     
         14 . The indicator as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the detector is connected with a surface of the container and is configured to convert detected container vibration information into a signal that is output for processing by the processor. 
     
     
         15 . The indicator as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to compare information received from the detector to stored information to provide determined information relating to the pressure of the gas within the bladder. 
     
     
         16 . The indicator as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to determine container gas or liquid level or volume information based on the information provided by the detector. 
     
     
         17 . A method for noninvasively determining the pressure of a gas within a container, wherein the container comprises a gas-filled bladder disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
 causing the container to vibrate by use of a device located outside of the container;   detecting vibration of the container caused by the device and providing an output signal by a detector disposed outside of the container; and   processing the output signal to determine the pressure of gas within bladder.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising providing an indication of the determined pressure of gas within the bladder. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein during the step of processing, a processor compares information in the output signal to stored information to arrive at the determined pressure of gas within the bladder. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising, during the step of processing, determining a level or volume of liquid or gas in the container.