Method and apparatus for measuring physical phenomena

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps: storing in the memory said known values of said physical phenomena; and computing from said stored values and relative data values the unknown value for said physical phenomenon in response to which said certain condition was established in the measurement apparatus.

Claim 4

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein two conditions are established in the measurement apparatus in response to physical phenomena having two known values; and wherein said two known values and said unknown values are each one coordinate of different points on a first degree curve.

Claim 5

A method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps: providing a measurement apparatus which is responsive to the physical phenomenon to be measured; providing actuator means for said measurement apparatus for establishing in said apparatus the different conditions in response to the phenomena; providing sensor means for said apparatus whose output is the relative data values which are functions of the conditions present in the apparatus.

Claim 6

A method as set forth in claim 4 including the step: providing a programming means for controlling said actuator means in response to the outputs from said sensor means.

Claim 7

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said measurement device provided is a U-tube mercury manometer for the measurement of gas pressures; and wherein said sensor means provided is a conductive probe coacting with the liquid mercury in said manometer, and whose output is relative data values which are functions of the height of the liquid mercury in the manometer.

Claim 8

A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sensor means provided further includes a conductive probe having a dielectric coating, to define with the mercury liquid a variable capacitor whose output is a function of the height of the mercury.

Claim 9

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the measurement device includes a torsion bar for connection with driving and driven member and which deflects rotationally in response to a torque load; wherein the sensing means provided includes a pair of signal producing means mounted for rotation respectively with the driving and driven ends of the torsion bar, signal detection means for detecting signals from the respective signal producing means, and counter means controlled by said signal detecting means for producing a time value which is the function of the deflection torsion bar.

Claim 10

A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said actuator means provided includes a dynamometer for establishing selected known torque loads at the driven end of said torsion bar.

Claim 11

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said measurement device proviDed includes a torsion bar for coupling between driving and driven devices and which deflects rotationally in response to the applied torque load; wherein said sensor means includes a magnet mounted at each end of the torsion bar for rotation therewith in a path spaced from the axis of rotation, a detector mounted adjacent to the path of each of said magnets for detecting the magnetic field of each path of the magnet, and counter means for producing a time count between the passage of said magnet means which is the data value responsive to the deflection of said torsion bar.

Claim 12

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said measurement apparatus provided comprises a temperature detecting head including two materials of known ice point, and a thermal responsive device for producing output signals responsive to the temperature of said detecting head; wherein said actuator means provided includes means for heating said head above the temperature of the highest ice point; wherein said known physical conditions are established by heating said head to a temperature above the highest ice point, and detecting the thermal responsive device output as a function of time to identify the relative data values which are a function of the respective ice point temperatures; and wherein said sensor means comprises said thermal responsive device.

Claim 13

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said measurement device provided comprises a float supported in a liquid pool and defining with the liquid surface a variable volume chamber, and including means for communicating said chamber with sources of gas for the measurement of gas pressures; and wherein said sensor means provided comprises means for detecting the height of the float under different conditions of pressure, the height of the float being a function of the pressure within the chamber.

Claim 14

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said measurement device provided comprises a float of known weight supported in a liquid pool and having an open bottom ballast chamber and an open bottom pressure chamber of known cross-section in communication with the liquid; and wherein said sensor means provided comprises means for detecting the height of the float, the height being a function of the pressure within the pressure chamber; including the further steps: independently supporting said float by communicating said pressure chamber with air at known atmospheric pressure, and detecting the float height as a first data value which is a function of atmospheric pressure; trapping the atmospheric air in the pressure chamber to support the known weight of the float, and detecting the float height as a second data value which is a function of the second known pressure; said atmospheric and second known pressures and said first and second data values determining a ratio of pressure change to data value change; trapping a pocket of air in said ballast chamber to support said float while communicating said pressure chamber with atmospheric air, and detecting the float height as the third data value which is also a function of atmospheric pressure; trapping the air contained within the ballast chamber to retain the extant volume of liquid within said ballast chamber; communicating said pressure chamber with an unknown gas pressure while maintaining said trapped air pocket in said ballast chamber, and detecting the float height as a fourth data value which is a function of said unknown pressure; the difference between said third and fourth data values multiplied by said ratio determining a difference between atmospheric pressure and said unknown pressure.

Claim 15

A method as set forth in claim 1 for providing data from which measured values of torque can be mathematically determined, including the steps: establishing by means of a dynamometer two known torque loads in a driven torsion bar; measuring the angular deflection of said torsion bar by detecting the time different between signals produceD by signal devices mounted in axially spaced relation on said torsion bar, said time differences being functions of the respective torque load; storing said time differences as relative data values of the known torque loads; detecting and storing the angular deflection which is a function of an unknown torque load in the same manner.

Claim 16

A method as set forth in claim 1 for providing data from which measured values of temperature can be mathematically determined including the steps establishing two conditions responsive to known temperature phenomena in a measurement apparatus comprising a temperature detecting probe including a thermal responsive device and two materials having different known ice points; producing relative data values which are functions of the two known ice points by heating said probe to a temperature above that of the highest ice point, and monitoring the thermal responsive device output as a function of time while the probe cools to a temperature below that of the lowest ice point whereby the thermal responsive device output values corresponding to the respective known ice points are detected.

Claim 17

A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the thermister output values for the respective ice points are detected by calculating output value changes for successive discrete increments of time; and comparing succeeding incremental changes with preceeding incremental changes to detect a change in the cooling rate which is a function of the changing condition of one of said materials.

Claim 18

A method as set forth in claim 1 for providing data from which measured values of gas pressure can be mathematically determined, including the steps: establishing two conditions responsive to pressure phenomena in a U-tube mercury manometer, which pressure phenomena are known from the observed relative height of the mercury in the manometer legs; producing relative data values which are functions of the mercury height, by means of one or more conductive probes in the manometer legs which coact with the conductive mercury and an electric circuit to produce an output signal responsive to the mercury height; and storing relative data values produced by means of said conductive probe each time a condition is established in the manometer.

Claim 19

A method as set forth in claim 1 for providing data from which measured values of gas pressure can be mathematically determined, including the steps: establishing two conditions of known pressure in a variable chamber defined by a floating chamber means and its supporting liquid surface; and producing relative data value which are functions of the height of said chamber means relative to the liquid surface.

Claim 20

A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein a first known pressure condition is established by communicating said chamber with atmospheric pressure while independently supporting said float in said liquid pool; and wherein a second known pressure condition is established in said chamber when said chamber means of known weight is supported in said liquid pool by the volume of air trapped in said chamber to establish said first condition.

Claim 23

In a system including a computer having a memory and having programming means for directing sequential operations, a measurement apparatus which is responsive to physical phenomena to be measured, actuator means for the measurement apparatus, controlled by the computer, for establishing in the apparatus different conditions of the phenomena to be measured, sensor means for the measurement apparatus, the output of which is relative data values which are functions of conditions present in the apparatus, a method for mathematically determining measured values of physical phenomena using curve fitting techniques comprising the steps: operating said actuator means to establish a first known condition of the phenomenon in the measurement apparatus; storing a value for said first known condition in the computer memory, storing a relative data value in the computer memory which is a function of said first known condition; operating said actuator means in response to the computer output to establish a second known condition of the phenomenon in the measurement apparatus; storing a value in the computer memory for said second known condition, and storing a relative data value in the computer memory which is a function of said second known condition; operating said actuator means for establishing an unknown condition of the phenomenon in the measurement apparatus; storing a relative data value in the memory of the computer which is a function of said unknown condition; and computing the measured value of said unknown condition; the values of said known and unknown conditions of said phenomenon each being one coordinate of different points on a curve, and said respective data values each being the other coordinate of the different points on said curve.

Claim 24

In a system including a computer having a memory and having programming means for directing sequential operations, a measurement apparatus which is responsive to physical phenomena to be measured, actuator means for the measurement apparatus, controlled by the computer, for establishing in the apparatus different conditions of the phenomena to be measured, sensor means for the measurement apparatus, the output of which is relative data values which are functions of conditions present in the apparatus, a method for mathematically determining measured values of physical phenomena using curve fitting techniques comprising the steps: operating said actuator means to establish a first known condition of the phenomenon in the measurement apparatus; storing a value for said first known condition in the computer memory, storing a relative data value in the computer memory which is a function of said first known condition; operating said actuator means in response to the computer output to establish a second known condition of the phenomenon in the measurement apparatus; storing a value in the computer memory for said second known condition, and storing a relative data value in the computer memory which is a function of said second known condition; operating said actuator means for establishing an unknown condition of the phenomenon in the measurement apparatus; storing a relative data value in the memory of the computer which is a function of said unknown condition; and computing the measured value of said unknown condition; the values of said known and unknown conditions of said phenomenon each being one coordinate of different points on a curve, and said respective data values each being the other coordinate of the different points on said curve.

Claim 25

Apparatus for measurement of physical phenomena for use with a computer having a memory, processing means and control means comprising: a measurement device responsive to a physical phenomenon to be measured; sensor means for said measurement device whose output is relative data values which are functions of conditions present in the measurement device and which may be stored in the computer memory; actuator means for said measurement device, operable in response to signals produced by the computer, for establishing in the measurement device different known and unknown conditions of the phenomenon to be measured; and a computer having a memory, processing means, and control means; said memory providing for the storing of values for said known conditions, and for the storing of relative data values for said known and unknown conditions; said computer producing said signals for controlling said actuator means; and said processing means calculating the measured values of unknown conditions established in the measurement device from said stored values and relative data values using curve fitting techniques.

Claim 26

Apparatus for measurement of physical phenomena for use with a computer having a memory, processing means and control means comprising: a measurement device responsive to a physical phenomenon to be measured; sensor means for said measurement device whose output is relative data values which are functions of conditions present in the measurement device and which may be stored in the computer memory; actuator means for said measurement device, operable in response to signals produced by the computer, for establishing in the measurement device different known and unknown conditions of the phenomenon to be measured; and a computer having a memory, processing means, and control means; said memory providing for the storing of values for said known conditions, and for the storing of relative data values for said known and unknown conditions; said computer producing said signals for controlling said actuator means; and said processing means calculating the measured values of unknown conditions established in the measurement device from said stored values and relative data values using curve fitting techniques.

Claim 27

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said measurement device comprises a U-tube mercury manometer for measuring gas pressures; wherein said sensor means comprises a conductive probe mounted in at least one leg of said mercury manometer and provided with a dielectric coating to define, with the mercury liquid, a capacitor for producing an electric data values responsive to the height of the mercury within the leg; and wherein said actuator means comprises a plurality of selectively operable valve means for communicating said manometer with selected known and unknown gas pressures.

Claim 28

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said sensor means comprises first and second conductive probes mounted respectively in the two legs of said U-tube manometer, each probe having a dielectric coaTing to define a capacitor with the mercury liquid; said first probe being shaped to define a surface area contacted by the mercury liquid which varies as a sine function during movement of the liquid from one end of the probe to the other; and said second probe being shaped to define a surface area contacted by the mercury liquid which varies as a cosine function during movement of the liquid from one end of the probe to the other.

Claim 29

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 including circuit means for converting the capacitance values produced by said probes to data values acceptable to the computer.

Claim 30

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 for measuring torque wherein said measuring device is an elongated torsion bar adapted to be deflected in response to rotational loads; wherein said sensor means includes means for detecting angular displacement between axially spaced locations on said torsion bar AS a time period; and wherein said actuator means includes a dynamometer coupled to the load end of said torsion bar for placing known rotational loads on said torsion bar.

Claim 31

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said sensor means further includes a pair of disc means mounted for rotation with said torsion bar at axially spaced locations thereon; signal producing means mounted on each of said disc means; a pair of signal detector means mounted with respect to the respective disc means to detect a signal from the respective signal producing means; and counter means controlled by said signal detector means for determining the time period between signals produced by the respective signal producing means.

Claim 32

Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said signal producing means comprise permanent magnets mounted in said disc means; and wherein said signal detecting means includes magnetic pick-off devices mounted to detect the magnetic fields produced by said magnets as they are rotated past the pick-off devices.

Claim 33

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 for measuring temperatures wherein said measuring device comprises a sensor head enclosing, in intimate relation with each other, individual sealed quantities of at least two materials each having a known ice point, a heater element and a thermister; wherein said sensor means comprises said thermister and circuit means for converting the thermister output to data values responsive to the temperature in said head and acceptable to a computer; and wherein said actuator means comprises said heater element and a control therefore, for heating the head to a temperature above the highest ice point of said at least two materials.

Claim 34

Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein said sensor means further comprises computer means for calculating data value changes in response to time, and for comparing data value changes for successive time periods.

Claim 35

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 for measuring gas pressure wherein said measurement device comprises a container for a pool of liquid; float means, disposed for vertical movement within said container, having an open bottom pressure chamber communicating with the liquid surface and defining a manometer device; and conduit means communicating with said chamber; wherein said actuator means comprises valve means associated with said conduit means for selectively flowing gas into and out of said chamber; and wherein said sensor means comprises means for detecting the height of said float means relative to said container.

Claim 36

Apparatus as set forth in claim 31 wherein said measurement device float means includes a second open bottom chamber communicating with the liquid surface defining a ballast chamber; and conduit means communicating with said ballast chamber; and wherein said actuator means further comprises valve means associated with said ballast chamber conduit means, for selectively flowing gas into and out of said ballast chamber to control the liquid column therein.

Claim 37

Apparatus as set fortH in claim 32 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said pressure chamber and said ballast chamber are uniform throughout the height thereof and are equal to each other.

Claim 38

Apparatus as set forth in claim 31 wherein said sensor means further comprises a resolver and linkage means coupling said resolver to said float means, wherein said resolver produces data values responsive to the height of the float means and to the pressure within the pressure chamber.

Claim 39

Apparatus as set forth in claim 31 including means for exposing said pool of liquid and said float means to a source of reference pressure; and means communicating said conduit means for both said pressure chamber and said ballast chamber with said source of reference pressure.