US3582662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiation sensitive electronic flow gauging system
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1970-04-06
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1990-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A rotameter is adapted to relay a signal that indicates whether the opaque float ball of the rotameter is within some predetermined longitudinal segment of the transparent rotameter tube. A solar cell is mounted on one side of the tube and a light source mounted on the other side. The cell is mounted in a position to monitor and receive light emitted from the light source which has passed through that segment of the tube. The output of the cell is amplified and applied to a signal means. When the float ball is outside the monitored segment of the tube, the cell receives all the incident light from the light source. When the float ball enters the monitored segment, it casts its shadow on the cell, and so long as the ball remains in that segment, the output of the cell is reduced thereby reducing the amplified output which is noted by the signal means.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil Henry Soika
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/22; G01F1/24; A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16886
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for gauging the flow rate of a fluid through an orifice comprising: a housing, a light source and a plurality of solar cells mounted in the housing in spaced apart relation to each other; a rotameter having a transparent rotameter tube and an opaque float ball freely mounted within the tube to permit movement of the ball upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal axis of the tube in response to changes in flow rate disposed between the light source and the solar cells; each of the solar cells having a surface sensitive to light emitted from the light source mounted alongside a different segment of the rotameter tube with the lighT sensitive surface facing the tube and the light source whereby light emitted from the light source and passing through that segment of the rotameter tube is incident on the surface; means for supplying a regulated pressurized source of fluid to the rotameter; an exhaust means for venting the fluid from the rotameter; the end of the exhaust means being adapted for attaching thereto an article having an orifice through which the flow rate is to be measured; a switching means, an amplifier means adapted to receive the output of a cell selected by the switching means, and signal means for receiving the amplified output of the selected cell and indicating whether the float ball is within the segment of the rotameter tube monitored by the selected cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
An apparatus for gauging the flow rate of a fluid through an orifice comprising: a housing, a light source and a plurality of solar cells mounted in the housing in spaced apart relation to each other; a rotameter having a transparent rotameter tube and an opaque float ball freely mounted within the tube to permit movement of the ball upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal axis of the tube in response to changes in flow rate disposed between the light source and the solar cells; each of the solar cells having a surface sensitive to light emitted from the light source mounted alongside a different segment of the rotameter tube with the lighT sensitive surface facing the tube and the light source whereby light emitted from the light source and passing through that segment of the rotameter tube is incident on the surface; means for supplying a regulated pressurized source of fluid to the rotameter; an exhaust means for venting the fluid from the rotameter; the end of the exhaust means being adapted for attaching thereto an article having an orifice through which the flow rate is to be measured; a switching means, an amplifier means adapted to receive the output of a cell selected by the switching means, and signal means for receiving the amplified output of the selected cell and indicating whether the float ball is within the segment of the rotameter tube monitored by the selected cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said cell has a longitudinal dimension essentially corresponding to the longitudinal segment of the rotameter tube being monitored.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the solar cell has a P-type silicon surface sensitive to light in the range 400 to 1,100 millimicrons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said light source is an elongated tungsten lamp having a longitudinal dimension essentially corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of the rotameter tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal means responsive to the amplified output of the selected cell includes a relay and when the output of said cell is at a maximum said relay is open and when the output is reduced said relay is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 in which said relay is of the double-throw double-pole electrically connected to a pair of indicator lights such that when said relay is closed only one light of said pair is operative, and when said relay is open only the other light of said pair is operative.
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) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |