US3248061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus utilizing radiation for depth control of flowable materials
Assignee: Kennecott Corp
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Filing: 1961-11-08
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Granted: 1966-04-26
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Expires: 1981-11-08
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry W Franz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:21
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06; G05D7/0617; G05D7/0629; G05D7/0635; G05D7/067; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OPERATING ON FLOWABLE MATERIAL, THE CONTROL BEING EXERCISED ON THE BASIS OF FLUCTUATIONS IN HEIGHT OF SAID MATERIAL WITHIN A STRUCTURE RELATED TO SAID PROCESS, COMPRISING A SOURCE OF PENETRATING RADIATION DISPOSED AT ONE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE TO DIRECT RADIATION TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID MATERIAL SO THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WIDTH THEREOF THE TOTAL DEPTH OF THE ZONE OF HEIGHT FLUCTUATION IS TRAVERSED BY RADIATION WHICH SERVES AS A SENSING BEAM; AN ELONGATE RADIATION DETECTOR DISPOSED AT AN OPPOSITE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS INCLINED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL, SO THAT ITS EFFECTIVE LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY SUBTENDS SAID SENSING BEAM; MODULATING AND AMPLIFYING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PUT OUT BY THE DETECTOR IN RESPONSE TO SENSING BEAM RADIATION; ELECTRICAL SERVOMECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO THE OUTPUT OF THE MODULATING AND AMPLIFYING MEANS; AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED OF MATERIAL TO THE PROCESS, SAID MEANS BEING ARRANGED FOR ACTUATION BY SAID SERVOMECHANISM.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OPERATING ON FLOWABLE MATERIAL, THE CONTROL BEING EXERCISED ON THE BASIS OF FLUCTUATIONS IN HEIGHT OF SAID MATERIAL WITHIN A STRUCTURE RELATED TO SAID PROCESS, COMPRISING A SOURCE OF PENETRATING RADIATION DISPOSED AT ONE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE TO DIRECT RADIATION TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID MATERIAL SO THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WIDTH THEREOF THE TOTAL DEPTH OF THE ZONE OF HEIGHT FLUCTUATION IS TRAVERSED BY RADIATION WHICH SERVES AS A SENSING BEAM; AN ELONGATE RADIATION DETECTOR DISPOSED AT AN OPPOSITE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS INCLINED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL, SO THAT ITS EFFECTIVE LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY SUBTENDS SAID SENSING BEAM; MODULATING AND AMPLIFYING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PUT OUT BY THE DETECTOR IN RESPONSE TO SENSING BEAM RADIATION; ELECTRICAL SERVOMECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO THE OUTPUT OF THE MODULATING AND AMPLIFYING MEANS; AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED OF MATERIAL TO THE PROCESS, SAID MEANS BEING ARRANGED FOR ACTUATION BY SAID SERVOMECHANISM.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
146 words
A METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OPERATING ON FLOWABLE MATERIAL, THE CONTROL BEING EXERCISED ON THE BASIS OF VARIATIONS IN DEPTH OF SAID MATERIAL WITHIN A STRUCTURE RELATED TO SAID PROCESS, COMPRISING POSITIONING A SOURCE OF PENETRATING RADIATION AT ONE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE SO AS TO DIRECT RADIATION TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID MATERIAL SO THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WIDTH THEREOF THE TOTAL DEPTH OF THE ZONE OF HEIGHT FLUCTUATION IS TRAVERSED BY RADIATION WHICH SERVES AS A SENSING BEAM; POSITIONING AN ELONGATE RADIATION DETECTOR AT AN OPPOSITE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS INCLINED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL, SO THAT ITS EFFECTIVE LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY SUBTENDS SAID SENSING BEAM; AND USING THE VARYING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PUT OUT BY THE DETECTOR IN RESPONSE TO SENSING BEAM RADIATION FOR DETERMING THE CONTROL OF AT LEAST ONE PHASE OF SAID PROCESS.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
146 words
A METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OPERATING ON FLOWABLE MATERIAL, THE CONTROL BEING EXERCISED ON THE BASIS OF VARIATIONS IN DEPTH OF SAID MATERIAL WITHIN A STRUCTURE RELATED TO SAID PROCESS, COMPRISING POSITIONING A SOURCE OF PENETRATING RADIATION AT ONE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE SO AS TO DIRECT RADIATION TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID MATERIAL SO THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WIDTH THEREOF THE TOTAL DEPTH OF THE ZONE OF HEIGHT FLUCTUATION IS TRAVERSED BY RADIATION WHICH SERVES AS A SENSING BEAM; POSITIONING AN ELONGATE RADIATION DETECTOR AT AN OPPOSITE LATERAL SIDE OF SAID STRUCTURE WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS INCLINED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL, SO THAT ITS EFFECTIVE LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY SUBTENDS SAID SENSING BEAM; AND USING THE VARYING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PUT OUT BY THE DETECTOR IN RESPONSE TO SENSING BEAM RADIATION FOR DETERMING THE CONTROL OF AT LEAST ONE PHASE OF SAID PROCESS.
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) | 1969-04-25 | 1969-10-25 | 1970-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-04-25 | 1973-10-25 | 1974-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-04-25 | 1977-10-25 | 1978-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |