Patent US2903015A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3631337A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3631337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Moisture measuring and totalizing system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-06-17
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1989-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A system for measuring the moisture entrained in a batch of aggregate material discharged from a storage hopper and for compensating for said moisture in a batch-mixing apparatus. The system includes a plurality of electrical probes arranged to project into a free-falling stream of aggregate material in a plurality of vertical portions of said stream, as said stream is discharged from the storage hopper. Electrical circuit means connected to said probes create an electrical signal proportional to the conductivity and hence the moisture content of each vertical portion of the aggregate stream. Signal accumulating means is also provided to accumulate and integrate said electrical signals during the time interval of aggregate material flow past said probes to provide a resultant electrical signal which is proportional to the total entrained moisture in the aggregate batch. Data-recording means is also provided to provide indicia of said moisture content of said aggregate in response to said resultant signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul M Mackinney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:50
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22C; B22C5/00; B22C5/08; B28; B28C; B28C7/00; B28C7/04; B28C7/0404; B28C7/0409; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A system for measuring and totalizing the moisture entrained in aggregate material discharged from a storage vessel to permit said entrained moisture to be compensated for when the aggregate is mixed with water comprising: a plurality of electrical probes arranged in an array which positions said probes for projection into a plurality of portions of a moving aggregate stream discharged from said vessel; means for mounting said probes so that the aggregate in said vessel flows in a stream over said probes; electrical circuit means including an energy source connected to said probes and creating an electrical reference signal which varies in amplitude proportional to the conductivity and hence the entrained moisture content of the stream of aggregate flowing past probes in each of said portions of said stream; signal-accumulating means comprising a variable speed electrical servomotor which is quickly responsive to said variations in amplitude of said reference signal to proportionately vary the output speed of a motor shaft, said servomotor being connected to said circuit means to produce output revolutions of said motor shaft proportional to both the time interval of aggregate flow and to said signal variations in said voltage produced by the variations in electrical conductivity of said flowing aggregate stream as sensed by said probes, so that the revolution of said motor shaft is thereby proportional to the total entrained moisture in the quantity of aggregate flowing past said probes; indicia means activated by said motor to provide indicia representative of the total entrained moisture in the aggregate discharged from said vessel during said time interval.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
261 words
A system for measuring and totalizing the moisture entrained in aggregate material discharged from a storage vessel to permit said entrained moisture to be compensated for when the aggregate is mixed with water comprising: a plurality of electrical probes arranged in an array which positions said probes for projection into a plurality of portions of a moving aggregate stream discharged from said vessel; means for mounting said probes so that the aggregate in said vessel flows in a stream over said probes; electrical circuit means including an energy source connected to said probes and creating an electrical reference signal which varies in amplitude proportional to the conductivity and hence the entrained moisture content of the stream of aggregate flowing past probes in each of said portions of said stream; signal-accumulating means comprising a variable speed electrical servomotor which is quickly responsive to said variations in amplitude of said reference signal to proportionately vary the output speed of a motor shaft, said servomotor being connected to said circuit means to produce output revolutions of said motor shaft proportional to both the time interval of aggregate flow and to said signal variations in said voltage produced by the variations in electrical conductivity of said flowing aggregate stream as sensed by said probes, so that the revolution of said motor shaft is thereby proportional to the total entrained moisture in the quantity of aggregate flowing past said probes; indicia means activated by said motor to provide indicia representative of the total entrained moisture in the aggregate discharged from said vessel during said time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
A moisture-measuring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical probes are arranged so that at least one pair of closely spaced probes is adapted to project into each quadrant of said stream of aggregate material and so that said electrical circuit means is normally open by the gap across said probes and is completed by the flow of electrical current through the stream of aggregate material flowing in said gap between said one pair of closely spaced electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A moisture-measuring system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit means connects said pairs of closely spaced probes in an electrical series arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A moisture-measuring system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit means connects said pairs of closely spaced probes in an electrical parallel arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A moisture compensating system in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least two of said pairs of probes are positioned on an electrical insulator plate provided on each side of said stream of aggregate material and wherein said means for mounting said probes comprises a pivoted joint connected to said insulator plates so that said probes can swing out of said aggregate stream in response to foreign objects and the like in said stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A moisture-measuring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicia means comprises a visual display device including an arm connected to said motor output shaft and a dial face arranged adjacent said arm so that the position of said arm with respect to said dial face provides indicia representative of said measured entrained aggregate moisture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A moisture-measuring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicia means comprises a visual display device including a digital counter operatively connected to said motor output shaft so as to provide a totalized digital readout which is representative of said measured entrained aggregate moisture.
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) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |