US3611408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital setup apparatus for radiation gauging and controlling systems
Assignee: Industrial Nucleonics Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-07
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a radiation gauge equipped with a strip chart recorder for measuring the properties of moving materials. The recorder has a multiplicity of scales with selectively illuminated scale numerals, a measuring pen and pointer, and a specification target marking pen and pointer. The gauge includes a digital setup arrangement which receives decimal input numbers, indicative of the specification target value for the material to be measured and its composition, either from decimally numbered dials on the operator''s control panel, or from some other input device. Digital logic circuits responsive to the input numbers automatically select the proper scale to be used and illuminate the proper scale numbers. The logic circuits use both the specification target numbers and the composition numbers to automatically and digitally select the center scale and span settings which properly calibrate the gauge for the material to be measured. The logic circuits further use these input numbers to control a digital to analog converter servomechanism which drives the specification target pen and pointer. The operation of this converter is automatically sequenced to mark successively on the moving recorder chart lines whose positions identify the scale used, the material composition measured and the specification target value. The final position of the target pen and pointer determines the set point for an automatic controller for the process machine which produces the measured material.
Inventors
- 👤 David J Shoemaker
- 👤 Rex W Dewey
- 👤 James L Griffith
- 👤 Paul H Troutman
- 👤 Franklin A Wolf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In a system for determining a property of a traveling material, including a radiation gauge having calibration means and indicator means responsive to said gauge for indicating the value of said property, said indicator means including a measuring indicator, a target indicator and a plurality of scales, an improved digital setup apparatus comprising: means for receiving digital signals indicative of the desired value of said property, and in response to said digital signals selecting the proper scale from said plurality of scales, setting said gauge calibration means and causing said target indicator to indicate the location of said desired value on said proper scale.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a system for determining a property of a traveling material, including a radiation gauge having calibration means and indicator means responsive to said gauge for indicating the value of said property, said indicator means including a measuring indicator, a target indicator and a plurality of scales, an improved digital setup apparatus comprising: means for receiving digital signals indicative of the desired value of said property, and in response to said digital signals selecting the proper scale from said plurality of scales, setting said gauge calibration means and causing said target indicator to indicate the location of said desired value on said proper scale.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a system for determining a property of a traveling material including a radiation gauge having calibration means and indicator means responsive to said gauge for indicating the value of said property, said indicator means having a measuring indicator, a target indicator and a plurality of scales, an improved digital setup apparatus comprising: means for receiving digital signals indicative of the desired value of said property, means responsive to said digital signals for selecting the proper scale from said plurality of scales, first means responsive to said selecting means for setting said gauge calibration means, and second means responsive to said selecting means for causing said target indicator to indicate the location of said desired value on said proper scale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a system for determining a property of a traveling material including a radiation gauge having calibration means and indicator means responsive to said gauge for indicating the value of said property, said indicator means having a measuring indicator, a target indicator and a plurality of scales, an improved digital setup apparatus comprising: means for receiving digital signals indicative of the desired value of said property, means responsive to said digital signals for selecting the proper scale from said plurality of scales, first means responsive to said selecting means for setting said gauge calibration means, and second means responsive to said selecting means for causing said target indicator to indicate the location of said desired value on said proper scale.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a radiation gauge for measuring a property of a traveling material, said gauge including calibration circuits and a recorder having a measuring indicator, a target indicator and a plurality of scales, an improved digital setup apparatus comprising: means for receiving digital signals indicative of the desired value of said property, logic circuit means responsive to said digital signals for selecting the proper scale from said plurality of scales, first means responsive to said logic circuit means for setting said gauge calibration circuits, and second means responsive to said logic circuit means for causing said target indicator to indicate the location of said desired value on said proper scale.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a radiation gauge for measuring a property of a traveling material, said gauge including calibration circuits and a recorder having a measuring indicator, a target indicator and a plurality of scales, an improved digital setup apparatus comprising: means for receiving digital signals indicative of the desired value of said property, logic circuit means responsive to said digital signals for selecting the proper scale from said plurality of scales, first means responsive to said logic circuit means for setting said gauge calibration circuits, and second means responsive to said logic circuit means for causing said target indicator to indicate the location of said desired value on said proper scale.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said target indicator comprises a pointer, and wherein said second means responsive to said logic circuit means comprises a digital-signal-to-analog-position converter for servo positioning said pointer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said target indicator comprises a pointer, wherein said second means responsive to said logic circuit means comprises a digital-signal-to-analog-position converter for servo positioning said pointer, wherein said converter comprises a digital potentiometer responsive to said logic circuit means, and an analog servomechanism responsive to said digital potentiometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including means for coupling a voltage from said digital potentiometer to said analog servomechanism, and means external to said digital potentiometer and responsive to said logic circuit means for digitally adjusting the amplitude of said voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including a feedback member in said servomechanism for providing an analog voltage, and means external to said feedback member and responsive to said logic circuit means for digitally adjusting the amplitude of said voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including a strip chart and a chart moving mechanism for said recorder, a chart marking pen coupled to said pointer, a sequencing device, and means responsive to said logic circuit means and to said sequencing device for causing said converter to sequentially move said pen to a first position for indicating the scale used and to a second position for indicating said desired value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means receiving said digital numbers includes means for receiving a Further number indicating the composition of said material, and means causing said pen to move to a third position to indicate said composition on said chart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 including means receiving a signal indicative of a time interval wherein said gauge is not measuring, and means energizing said sequencing device in response to said last-mentioned signal for initiating said pen position moving sequence.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for receiving said digital signals includes means for receiving further digital signals indicating the composition of said material, and wherein said logic circuit means includes means responsive to both said desired value and composition-indicative signals for setting said gauge calibration circuits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for setting said gauge calibration circuits comprises a pair of digital potentiometers in said gauge calibration circuits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for setting gauge calibration circuits comprises a plurality of analog potentiometers, and means responsive to said logic circuit means for selecting pairs of said analog potentiometers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including means responsive to said logic circuit means for indicating numeral values for said proper scale.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said means for indicating numeral values comprises an index scale member on said recorder, said index scale member bearing selectively lighted numerals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for receiving digital signals comprises a memory device for storing digital signals, and wherein said logic circuit means comprises means responsive to said stored digital signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said gauge comprises an operator''s control unit, selector means in said operator''s control unit for selecting said desired value, a signal channel for digital signals between said desired value selecting means and said memory device, and a remote signal channel also connected to said memory device for feeding input signals thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 including means providing and maintaining a signal at said operator''a control unit when said input signals are received on said remote channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 18 including switch means controlled from said operator''s control unit for disabling said remote signal channel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said logic circuit means includes a plurality of circuit matrices each including a plurality of locations therein where circuit elements may be inserted to adapt the circuit logic to a desired calibration for said gauge and said target indicator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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 |