FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to technique of density determination, and more particularly relates to a system and method employing sensors for automatically determining and digitally rendering density of liquid. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, density of liquids was determined manually utilizing conventional density determination meters like hydrometers, lactometers, alcoholometers etc. The manual determination of density of liquids is done based on Archimedes principle by floating vertically the density determination meters in the respective liquids hold in the container and manually noting down the submerged level of the density determination meters in the respective liquids through scales provided in the stems of the density determination meters. The manual determination of density of the liquids leads to inadvertent errors. Further in the manual determination it is mandatory to ensure that the density determination needs to float vertically for achieving exact measurements. The conventional density determination meters require expertise in every step of the manual operation protocols, which often affects the accuracy and reliability of the results. Most often, different operators will obtain different results for the same sample.

Later due to technology developments, the digital density meters were invented and employed to determine the density of the liquids. The digital density meters employ Piezo elements in the oscillating U tube to excite the U-tube whereby optical pickups determine the period of oscillation. This period t can be measured with high resolution and stands in simple relation to the density p of the sample in the oscillator. The conventional digital density meters evolved were not completely automated. Also, the conventional digital density meters do not employ sensors for accurate measurements. Further the conventional digital density meters do not communicate with servers to keep track off the records of density measurements at various temperatures.

Accordingly, there remains a need for the system and method employing sensors for automatically determining and digitally rendering the exact density of the liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments herein describe a system and method for automatically determining and digitally rendering density of a liquid. The system includes a density determination apparatus and a server. The density determination apparatus includes a closed container, a density determination meter, a first sensor, a second sensor and a controller unit. The closed container holds the liquid for which the density to be determined. The density determination meter floats in the liquid vertically inside the closed container. The density determination meter includes a flat surface at stem end. The first sensor attached at top of the closed container is adapted to measure altitude of submerged level of the density determination meter in the liquid. The second sensor attached to a second side of the closed container is adapted to measure temperature of the liquid within the closed container. The closed container includes a business logic and a communication unit. The business logic is adapted to determine the density of the liquid using a logical equation based on the measured temperature and the submerged level of the density determination meter. The communication unit is adapted to communicate the determined density to at least one of a server and one or more computing devices having displays in order to digitally render the density of the liquid. The server is wirelessly connected with one or more density determination apparatus. The server stores and keeps track of the measurements and calibrate each of the density determination apparatus connected with the server.

According to an embodiment, the system comprises a tank attached at bottom of the closed container to collect the liquid overflowing through the overflow pipe and the liquid draining through a solenoid valve. According to another embodiment, the closed container includes an entry funnel, an overflow pipe and a solenoid valve. The entry funnel attached to the closed container on a first side is adapted to fill the closed container with the liquid. The overflow pipe attached to the closed container on the second side is adapted to drain the overflowing liquid. The solenoid valve attached to bottom of the closed container is adapted to drain the entire liquid.

According to yet another embodiment, the server stores prestored density values of the liquid at observed temperatures. According to yet another embodiment, the controller unit determines the density of the liquid from the prestored density values at the observed temperatures using the logical equation.

According to yet another embodiment, the system includes one or more supporting guidances that are adapted to hold the floating density determination meter vertically in line with the first sensor for accurate measurements. According to yet another embodiment, the first sensor is selected from a group comprising at least one of a distance sensor and a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor. According to yet another embodiment, the second sensor is a temperature sensor.

According to yet another embodiment, the density values of the liquid are automatically updated and stored in the server upon communication by the density determination apparatus.

According to yet another embodiment, the density determination meter includes one of but not limited to a hydrometer, a lactometer, an alcoholmeter, a saccharometer, a salinometer and an urinometer. In one aspect, method of automatically determining and digitally rendering density of a liquid is described herein. The method includes holding, by a closed container, the liquid for which the density is to be determined and rendered digitally; supporting, by one or more supporting guidances, a density determination meter to float vertically in the liquid inside the closed container in line with the first sensor; measuring, by a first sensor, altitude of submerged level of the density determination meter in the liquid; measuring, by a second sensor, temperature of the liquid within the closed container; receiving, by a controller unit, measurements integrated from the first sensor and the second sensor; determining, by a business logic of the controller unit, the density of the liquid using a logical equation based on the measured temperature and the submerged level of the density determination meter; and communicating, by a communication unit of the controller unit, the determined density to a server and one or more computing devices having displays in order to digitally render the density of the liquid. The foregoing has outlined, in general, the various aspects of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understand the more complete detailed description which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or application of use described and illustrated herein. It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a system view for automatically determining and digitally rendering density of a liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the density determination meter employed for automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the system for automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for calibrating the density determination apparatus and automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention describes a system and method for automatically determining and digitally rendering density of liquid. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantages details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The present invention works based on Archimedes principle and assisted by sensors for automated determination of density. Density determination meters like hydrometers, lactometers, etc. are made to float on a respective liquid for which the density is to be measured. Due to the upward buoyant force, the density determination meters submerge fully or partially in the liquid. Based on the submerged level of the density determination meters in the liquid and with the employment of sensors, the present invention automatically determines the density of the liquid by using logical equations. Further with the assistance of the server the exact density of the liquid is determined and rendered digitally. One or more density determination apparatus comprising the density determination meter for determining density of various liquids are wirelessly connected to the server. Each density determination apparatus connected to the server has a unique density meter ID, closed container ID (i.e. Jar ID) and specification values. Each density determination apparatus having specific values is calibrated initially and synced with the server for determination of the density of the liquid. Each density determination apparatus connected to the server may be adapted to determine density of different liquids. Each density determination apparatus holds/maintains the same amount of liquid. The server in center stores the measurement records of each density determination apparatus. The server also stores density meter ID, offset value of density meter, density meter sink level of each density determination apparatus that are used for determining the density of corresponding liquid.

Figure 1 illustrates a system view for automatically determining and digitally rendering density of a liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a density determination apparatus and a server. The density determination apparatus includes a closed container 102, a density determination meter 104, a first sensor 106 and a second sensor 108. The closed container 102 holds a liquid for which the density is to be determined. The closed container 102 includes a removable cap 120. The removable cap 120 is utilized in time of at least one of maintenance and service. The closed container 102 includes an entry funnel 112, an overflow pipe 110 and a solenoid valve 116. The entry funnel 112 is attached to the closed container 102 on a first side. The entry funnel 112 is adapted to fill the closed container 102 with the liquid. The overflow pipe 110 is attached to the closed container 102 on a second side. The overflow pipe 110 is adapted to drain the liquid overflowing to a bottom tank. The solenoid valve 116 is attached to bottom of the closed container 102. The solenoid valve 116 is adapted to drain the entire liquid at the time of service or maintenance. The system also includes a bottom tank 122 at the bottom of the closed container 102 in order to collect the liquid that is draining or overflowing from the closed container 102.

The density determination meter 104 floats in the liquid vertically inside the closed container 102. The density determination meter 104 may be at least one of but not limited to a Hydrometer, a Lactometer, an Alcoholometer, an Urinometer, a Salinometer and a Saccharometer. The density determination meter 104 includes a flat surface 118 at end of its stem. The density determination meter 104 includes one or more supporting guidances 114. The one or more supporting guidances 114 is adapted to hold the floating density determination meter 104 vertically in line with the first sensor 106 for accurate measurements. The first sensor 106 measures submerged level of the density determination meter 104 in the liquid when the density determination meter 104 floats stably in the liquid. The second sensor 108 measures temperature of the liquid within the closed container 102. In an embodiment, the first sensor 106 is at least one of a distance sensor and a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor and the second sensor 108 is a temperature sensor. The first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108 measures the submerged level of the density determination meter 104 and the temperature respectively at the same point of time for accurate density determination. The system also includes a server. The density determination apparatus is calibrated initially by connecting it with the server. The measurements of the first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108 are communicated to the server via a network. The network may be at least one of wired network or a wireless network. The server receives the measurements from the first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108. The server includes a database. The database stores prestored density measurements for various liquids done at various temperatures (say observed temperatures) at various instances. The prestored measurements (i.e. the measurements at the observed temperature) stored in the server are utilized as reference measurements in order to determine the exact density of the liquid at the measured temperature. Upon receiving the current measurements from the first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108, the server compares the current measurements with the prestored measurements. The server includes a controller unit that estimates density of the liquid from the density calculated at observed temperature t by using a logical equation. To calculate the density an initial calibration is to be performed first.

D Y1 + H = Y -X Which implies D U1 = U -C- H

The formula to calculate the density at observed temperature is

H = Y - (C+DU1)

D Y1 = offset value of Hydrometer (from Hydrometer ID) Y = fluid level (from container id)

X =distance reading (between sensor and Hydrometer stem head)

D XI = Hydrometer sink level

H = Hydrometer reading (FROM SCALE CHART OF HYDROMETER) to - OBSERVED TEMP. (°c)

The logical equation for calculating the density of the liquid at the measured temperature Z is Dz =HD + C X (t _{0 -} Z)

To get_H _D value compare the H value in hydrometer chart

Where

DZ - Density to be estimated for the temperature measured HD- Observed Density at t °c

Z- Temperature at which the density to be determined C - Constant product wise as per following table: e.g. The logical equation for calculating the density of the liquid at 15 deg Celsius is Density at 15 deg c = Density observed + Constant x (temp observed - 15)

Density units - kg/m3

The server further communicates the determined density of the liquid to one or more computing devices and the density determination apparatus that are remotely connected to the server via the wireless network. The one or more computing devices and the density determination apparatus includes display that renders the determined density of the liquid.

Figure 2 illustrates the density determination meter 104 employed for automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The density determination meter 104 includes the flat surface 118 at end of its stem. In an embodiment, the density determination meter 104 is a conventional density meter (like Hydrometers, Urinometers, etc.) that includes a cap having the flat surface 118. The stem is calibrated with scale as similar as the conventional density meters like Hydrometers. The scale readings are digitalized (i.e. displaying the density of the liquid digitally) using logical equations as described above in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the system for automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a density determination apparatus and a server. The density determination apparatus includes a controller unit 304, a first sensor 106, a second sensor 108, a solenoid valve 116, a display unit 202 and a power supply and charging unit. The controller unit includes a business logic and a communication unit. The communication unit is configured to communicate with the first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108. The business logic within the controller unit 304 performs the calculations using the logical equations as described above in Figure 1 in order to determine the density of the liquid. The solenoid valve 116 is also coupled to the controller unit 304 for automating the solenoid valve 116 in order to drain the entire liquid. The determined density of the liquid is communicated to the server and the server stores the density values at respective temperatures for future records and analysis purposes. The controller unit 304 controls rest of all the electronic components.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 402, the liquid is filled and hold inside the closed container 102. At step 404, the density determination meter 104 is made to float vertically in line with the first sensor 106 with the assistance of the one or more supporting guidances 114. At step 406, the first sensor 106 attached at the top of the closed container 102 measures the submerged level of the density determination meter 104 and estimates the distance between the first sensor 106 and the stem head of the density determination meter 104. At step 408, the second sensor 108 within the closed container 102 measures the temperature of the liquid within the closed container 102. At step 410, the controller unit 304 receives the measurements from the first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108. At step 412, the business logic of the controller unit determines the density at the measured temperature utilizing the logical equation as described in Figure 1. At step 414, the determined density is communicated to the server and the one or more computing units having displays in order to render the density of the liquid digitally. In one embodiment, each density determination apparatus connected with the server are calibrated initially. In another embodiment, the business logic within the controller unit 304 is placed in the server and only the determined density is communicated to the one or more intended computing devices and the density determination apparatuses having displays for rendering digitally the density of the liquid. Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for calibrating the density determination apparatus and automatically determining and rendering digitally density of the liquid, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 502, all sensors are initialized. At step 504, the density determination apparatus accepts input i.e. the liquid for which the density is to be determined. At step 506, the controller unit 304 checks whether the drain button is on or not i.e. whether the solenoid valve is draining the liquid or not. At step 510, the controller unit 304 triggers the solenoid valve 116 to drain the liquid for N seconds when the drain button is ON. At step 508, the controller unit 304 checks whether the scan button is on or not when the drain button is off (i.e. solenoid valve is closed). The scanning is displayed on the displays of the device connected at step 512. At step 514, the N readings of temperature and distance sensors are taken. At step 516, the distortion of readings is calculated. At step 518, the calculated distortion is accepted. At step 520, retrieving specific values of the closed container 102 and the container ID from the local storage and map. At step 522, the density at the observed temperature is determined and the density of the liquid at the measured temperature is determined using a logical equation as described in Figure 1. At step 524, the outcome is accepted and displayed. At step 526, the determined result is communicated to intended computing devices having displays for digitally render the density of the liquid. At step 528, the entire liquid is drained by triggering ON the solenoid valve by the controller unit 304. The process of calibration is described herein. At step 530, once the scan button is triggered, the controller unit 304 checks whether the calibrate button is ON or OFF. When the calibrate button is OFF, the configuration is done through WIFI hotspot at step 550. At step 532 &534, the apparatus ID and the density meter ID are entered via input devices to initiate calibration. At step 536, the liquid for which the density to be determined is filled inside the closed container 102. At step 538, the scan button is checked whether it is ON or OFF. If It is OFF the density apparatus is filled again. If it is ON the parameters are measured at step 540. At step 542, the reference density is entered. At step 544, the scale chart is retrieved in response to the entered reference density. Upon successfully retrieval, the scale is adjusted as per the requirement at step 546. At step 548, the calibration is success and proceeded to auto drain at step 528 and is ready for determining the density of the liquid. Thus, the density determination apparatus with the assistance of the first sensor 106, the second sensor 108 and the server automatically determines the density of the liquid and digitally renders the density.

While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to limit the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations.