US3618061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring apparatus for monitoring the density of a material carried by a fluid and the flow of the fluid
Assignee: Cleveland Gear Co
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Filing: 1969-04-30
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1989-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved monitoring apparatus for sensing the density of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of the fluid to activate a warning device when the density of the material or flow of the fluid drops below a predetermined level. Such an improved monitoring apparatus includes means for sensing the density of the material carried by said fluid and is adapted to provide a signal proportional to the density to a circuit means and means for sensing the flow of the fluid for providing a signal dependent on the flow to the circuit means. The circuit means is adapted to receive these signals and is operable to activate the warning device when either signal drops below a predetermined level. The means for sensing provides light to the conduit, a first sensor means for detecting the light intensity and a second sensor for sensing the amount of light reflected by the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph A Livers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P13/008; G01P13/0086; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N21/53; G01N21/532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit means further includes first circuit-adjusting means for varying said first predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 2 wherein said circuit means further includes second circuit-adjusting means for varying said second predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing said density of the material carried by said fluid includes a light source adapted to provide said conduit with light, first sensor means for detecting light along a first path and providing a signal proportional to the intensity of light in said one path, second sensor means for detecting light along a second path and providing a signal proportional to the intensity of light in said second path, the first and second paths being such that said signal from said second sensor means increases with respect to said signal from said first sensor means as the density of the material carried by said fluid increases, and comparator means for comparing said signal from said first sensor means with the signal from said second sensor means, said comparator means providing said first input signal dependent on said density of the material carried by said fluid. 5. An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 4 wherein said second sensor means detects said light in said second path by sensing the light provided by said light source which is reflected by said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for sensing the flow of said fluid includes flow sensor means adapted to determine the flow of said fluid and operable to provide a signal dependent thereon, compensating sensor means for providing a signal for compensating for system variables, and means for comparing said signals from said flow sensor means and said compensating sensor means and operable to provide said second input signal dependent on said flow of fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for comparing said signals from said flow sensor means and said compensating sensor means is operable to determine the algebraic difference between said signals from said flow and compensating sensor means, said means for comparing said signals from said flow sensor means and said compensating sensor means directing said second input signal to said means responsive to said first and second signals to provide said output signal when said difference between said signals from said flow and compensating sensor means is of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 6 wherein said flow-sensor means includes a temperature changes created by the flow of said fluid and said compensating sensor means including a temperature sensor for sensing the ambient air temperature of the air surrounding said conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 1 including a density meter connected to said means for sensing the density of the material and responsive to said first input signal and operable to give a visible indication of said density of the material carried by the fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 9 including a flow indicator connected to said means for sensing said flow of fluid and responsive to said second signal and operable to provide a visible indication of the flow of the fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid as defined in claim 1 further including means responsive to said first input signal, a density-warning device connected to said means responsive to said first input signal such that said density-warning device will be activated in response to said first input signal indicating said density of the material in said fluid is below said second predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by flUid in a conduit as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing the density of the material includes light source means for directing light into said conduit, first sensor means for detecting said light and providing a signal proportional thereto, second sensor means for detecting the amount of said light reflected by the material carried by said fluid and providing a signal proportional thereto, and comparator means for subtracting said signal from said first sensor means from said signal from said second sensor means and providing said first input signal, said means responsive to said first and second input signals providing said output signal when said first input signal drops below a predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit as defined in claim 12 wherein said first sensor means detects light along one path and provides said comparator means with a signal proportional thereto, said second sensor means detects light along a different path and provides said comparator means with a signal proportional thereto, said paths being such that said signal from said second sensor increases with respect to said signal from said first sensor as the density of the material carried by said fluid increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit as defined in claim 13 wherein said first sensor means is positioned along an axis common to the axis of said light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit defined in claim 14 wherein said second sensor means is positioned along an axis which is at an angle with respect to the axis of said light such that the density of the material in said fluid is detected thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for monitoring the density of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit as defined in claim 15 wherein said first sensor provides said signal to said comparator means for compensating for the intensity of said light such that said first signal is not affected by fluctuations in the intensity of said light source.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit and the flow of said fluid comprising circuit means having first amplifying means, light source means adapted to provide said conduit with at least one ray of light in a substantially radial direction with respect to said conduit, first sensor means for detecting said light and providing said first amplifying means with a signal proportional thereto, second sensor means for detecting said light reflected by said material carried by said fluid and providing said first amplifying means with a signal proportional thereto, said first amplifying means adapted to provide a signal proportional to said signal from said first sensor when subtracted from said signal from said second sensor means, flow-sensing means adapted to detect the rate of flow of said fluid to provide a signal dependent on the rate of flow of said fluid, and means responsive to said signals from said first amplifying means and said flow-sensing means to provide an output signal when said density or said flow drops below a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for monitoring the presence of a material carried by a fluid in a conduit as defined in claim 17 wherein said circuit means includes a circuit-adjusting means for varying when said density drops below said predetermined level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |