Patent US6122673A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3645135A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3645135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mercury system
Assignee: SCHWIEN ENGR Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-24
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A mercury system for use as a level and as a manometer. A pair of cisterns with interconnected pools of mercury and with a float in each cistern serving as the lower plate of the cistern capacitor. A resilient sheet attached to the float and to the cistern for sealing the mercury in a lower chamber of the cistern. An alternative diaphragm consisting of a thin resilient sheet closing the mercury pool with the surface of the pool serving as a capacitor plate. A bellows unit connected in the mercury line between the cisterns for controlling the mercury level in the cisterns.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin H Hadley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C9/00; G01C9/18; G01C9/20; G01C9/22; G01L; G01L7/00; G01L7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
In a mercury system including first and second cisterns, each cistern including a capacitor with a first capacitor plate positioned above a pool of mercury and a second capacitor plate at the pool of mercury, and a mercury carrying line interconnecting the cisterns, the improvement wherein each of the cisterns includes diaphragm means affixed at the periphery thereof to the cistern and defining upper and lower chambers, with the first capacitor plate in the upper chamber and with the lower chamber filled with mercury whereby said diaphragm means engages and is moved by the upper surface of the mercury pool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a mercury system including first and second cisterns, each cistern including a capacitor with a first capacitor plate positioned above a pool of mercury and a second capacitor plate at the pool of mercury, and a mercury carrying line interconnecting the cisterns, the improvement wherein each of the cisterns includes diaphragm means affixed at the periphery thereof to the cistern and defining upper and lower chambers, with the first capacitor plate in the upper chamber and with the lower chamber filled with mercury whereby said diaphragm means engages and is moved by the upper surface of the mercury pool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said diaphragm means comprises a thin sheet of elastic material, with the surface of the mercury pool serving as the second capacitor plate and with the thin sheet forming a portion of the dielectric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as defined in claim 2 in which each of the cisterns includes an insulator supported in the upper chamber, with the first capacitor plate carried below said insulator closely spaced above said thin sheet and located centrally of said thin sheet, with said insulator including an annular portion disposed about said first capacitor plate and substantially engaging said thin sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said capacitor is a generally cylindrical structure with a flat bottom, and said insulator includes a separate tubular member disposed about said cylindrical structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as defined in claim 2 in which each of the cisterns includes an insulator supported in the upper chamber and having a substantially flat lower surface witH said first capacitor plate affixed thereto in the form of a thin layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said diaphragm means comprises: a float resting on the pool of mercury within the cistern, said float including the second capacitor plate spaced from said first capacitor plate and in electrical contact with the pool of mercury; and a thin sheet of elastic material affixed at its periphery to the cistern and affixed interiorly of its periphery to said float.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said floats has a sloping upwardly facing outer edge and each of said cistern has a sloping downwardly facing inner shoulder disposed above said thin sheet, with said edge and shoulder engageable for limiting upward movement of the float.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 6 in which said float comprises an upper plate member and a lower plate member, with said thin sheet clamped between said plate members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system defined in claim 1 including a control unit connected to said line between said cisterns, said control unit comprising a housing with a bellows means therein defining an inner zone and an outer zone, with one of said zones connected to said line and containing mercury with said the other of said zones containing a fluid for exerting a volume varying force on said bellows means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 9 in which said control unit housing includes an opening closed by a piston movable relative to said housing for varying the volume of said other zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 10 in which said piston is threadedly mounted on a hollow shaft providing a small passage between the ambient atmosphere and said other zone, and including means for closing said passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as defined in claim 9 including: a second bellows means within said control unit housing and about said first bellows means defining an intermediate zone between said inner and outer zones; means for coupling said bellows means together at each end thereof; first passage means for introducing a fluid into said intermediate zone; and second passage means for connecting said other zone to the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said upper chamber of each of said cisterns is closed to provide a leveling system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as defined in claim 9 wherein one of said cisterns is movable vertically relative to the other of said cisterns and said upper chamber of the upper cistern is connectable to a lower pressure source and said upper chamber of the lower cistern is connectable to a higher pressure source to provide a manometer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2532883A
Cited
US3296867A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |