US3611343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rate-measuring system
Assignee: Case LLC
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Filing: 1969-07-10
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-07-10
Abstract
Abstract Rate-measuring system for measuring the velocity of rotation of a shaft, the rate of reciprocable movement of a part or for similar applications. A switch, preferably a magnetically operated reed switch, responds to movement of a part to periodically discharge a capacitor of a ramp generator, the voltage to which the capacitor is charged being inversely proportional to the rate of movement of the part. The voltage is stored by a storage capacitor connected to a voltage comparator which controls Schmitt trigger circuit operative to develop an indication as to whether the rate is less or greater than a certain value. Preferably, the ramp generator, voltage comparator and trigger circuit are connected to a common voltage supply.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert R Schoenbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/07; G01P1/08; G01P1/10; G01P1/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
In a rate-measuring system, sensing means operable periodically at a rate proportional to the rate of movement of a part, said sensing means comprising a switch having a pair of contacts operable between an interengaged condition and a disengaged condition, and means for periodically operating said contacts from one of said conditions to the other and back again at said rate proportional to the rate of movement of the part, ramp generator means comprising capacitance means, clamping means including a control device having a control electrode and coupled to said capacitance means to operate when conductive to fix the charge of said capacitance means at a first level, charge changing means for changing the charge of said capacitance means toward a second level at a certain rate when said control device is nonconductive, and circuit means interconnecting said contacts and said control electrode and arranged to apply a signal to said control electrode to render said control device conductive during each operation of said contacts to said one of said conditions and to fix the charge of said capacitance means at said first level, and measuring means responsive to the difference between said levels, said control device and said circuit means being constructed and arranged to render said control device highly conductive during only a short duration time interval at the initial portion of each operation of said contacts to said one of said conditions to rapidly fix the charge of said capacitor at said first level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
In a rate-measuring system, sensing means operable periodically at a rate proportional to the rate of movement of a part, said sensing means comprising a switch having a pair of contacts operable between an interengaged condition and a disengaged condition, and means for periodically operating said contacts from one of said conditions to the other and back again at said rate proportional to the rate of movement of the part, ramp generator means comprising capacitance means, clamping means including a control device having a control electrode and coupled to said capacitance means to operate when conductive to fix the charge of said capacitance means at a first level, charge changing means for changing the charge of said capacitance means toward a second level at a certain rate when said control device is nonconductive, and circuit means interconnecting said contacts and said control electrode and arranged to apply a signal to said control electrode to render said control device conductive during each operation of said contacts to said one of said conditions and to fix the charge of said capacitance means at said first level, and measuring means responsive to the difference between said levels, said control device and said circuit means being constructed and arranged to render said control device highly conductive during only a short duration time interval at the initial portion of each operation of said contacts to said one of said conditions to rapidly fix the charge of said capacitor at said first level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a system as defined in claim 1, said control device being in the form of a transistor having a base electrode forming said control electrode, and said circuit means including second capacitance means in series relation between said switch means and said base electrode and arranged to be rapidly charged during said short duration time interval to produce a high base current and thereby a high current conduction of said transistor during said short duration time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, said switch being a magnetic reed switch having a vane of magnetic material, and magnet means arranged to be carried by the part to be moved into proximity to said magnetic reed switch during movement of the part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, said operating means comprising a cam arranged for connection to the part, and said switch including an arm actuated by said cam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, wherein the part is a rotatable part, said sensing means being operable an integer number of times during each rotation of the part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, wherein the part is a reciprocable part, said sensing means being operable an integer number of times during each complete cycle of reciprocable movement of the part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, said measuring means comprising second capacitance means, and unidirectIonal conduction means connected in series with said second capacitance means across said ramp generator capacitance means to charge said second capacitance means to said second level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, said measuring means comprising a voltage comparator circuit having two inputs, reference voltage means for applying a reference voltage to one of said inputs, and means for applying to the other of said inputs a voltage proportional to the difference between said first and second levels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 8, means for connecting both said ramp generator means and said reference voltage supply means to a common voltage supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 1, said measuring means comprising a trigger circuit switched from one condition to a second condition upon application of a certain voltage thereto, and means for applying to said trigger circuit a voltage proportional to the difference between said first and second levels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 10, said trigger circuit being a Schmitt trigger circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 10, said means for applying said voltage to said trigger circuit comprises a voltage comparator circuit having two inputs, reference voltage means for applying a reference voltage to one of said inputs, and means for applying to the other of said inputs a voltage proportional to the difference between said first and second levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 12, means for connecting said ramp generator means, said reference voltage supply means and said trigger circuit to a common voltage supply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 10, signal means energized upon switching of said trigger circuit from said one condition to said second condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a rate-measuring system as defined in claim 10, said trigger circuit being switched back to said one condition upon application of less than said certain voltage thereto, and signal means energized upon switching of said trigger circuit from said second condition to said on condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |