Patent US3651697A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3651697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Depth variation indicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-20
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Granted: 1972-03-28
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Expires: 1990-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An instrument used, for example, in measuring variations in the depth of a submersible vehicle includes a chamber which is pressurized to a reference pressure by opening a valve at a reference depth to permit the chamber to fill with sea water. The chamber is bounded by a high volume expansion member in the form of a bellows and a high sensitivity pressure sensing element such as a diaphragm, the sensing element being exposed to the ambient surroundings, that is, the sea water and measuring the pressure differential between the ambient pressure and the chamber pressure. An indicator responsive to the differential provides an indication of the variation in depth from the reference depth.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Pete Ianuzzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C5/00; G01C5/06; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A pressure responsive measuring instrument comprising a housing; a means for dividing the space within said housing into first and second variable volumes, one of said volumes being evacuated and the other of said volumes being filled with a fluid in direct communication with an ambient fluid; valve means for controlling communication of the fluid filled volume with the ambient fluid, said valve means, when opened, causing the pressure within said fluid filled volume to equal that of the ambient fluid and, when closed, maintaining the pressure within said fluid filled volume at approximately said pressure; a pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure differential between the ambient fluid pressure and the pressure within said fluid filled volume; and indicator means responsive to said differential pressure; said space dividing means comprising a volume expansion member whose volume varies as a function of the pressure thereon and said pressure sensing means being directly coupled to said volume expansion member through the fluid in the fluid filled volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A pressure responsive measuring instrument comprising a housing; a means for dividing the space within said housing into first and second variable volumes, one of said volumes being evacuated and the other of said volumes being filled with a fluid in direct communication with an ambient fluid; valve means for controlling communication of the fluid filled volume with the ambient fluid, said valve means, when opened, causing the pressure within said fluid filled volume to equal that of the ambient fluid and, when closed, maintaining the pressure within said fluid filled volume at approximately said pressure; a pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure differential between the ambient fluid pressure and the pressure within said fluid filled volume; and indicator means responsive to said differential pressure; said space dividing means comprising a volume expansion member whose volume varies as a function of the pressure thereon and said pressure sensing means being directly coupled to said volume expansion member through the fluid in the fluid filled volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a section for enveloping and protecting said differential pressure sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said volume expansion means comprises a bellows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pressure sensing means compRises a diaphragm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for limiting the pressure exerted on said diaphragm comprising a plate member positioned adjacent said diaphragm and including a plurality of apertures therein for permitting access to the diaphragm by the ambient, the surface of said plate member adjacent said diaphragm being of concave curvature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein said indicator means comprises strain gauge means, including a strain gauge bonded to said diaphragm, a sleeve member extending through a wall of said housing, an indicating device responsive to said strain gauge, internal leads for connecting said strain gauge to said member, and external leads for connecting said member to said indicating device, said instrument further comprising a slack diaphragm positioned between said bellows and said pressure sensing diaphragm to form a chamber for containing a protective fluid for said internal leads, and further valve means, comprising an overpressure safety valve and an underpressure safety valve, opening into said volume space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pressure sensing means comprises a Bourdon tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a pointer located at the end of said Bourdon tube, and a scale for cooperating with said pointer to provide an indication of the deviation of the depth of the instrument from a reference depth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a further Bourdon tube located in said volume space, said housing including a section for enveloping and protecting said bellows and said second Bourdon tube opening into the space between said bellows and said protective housing section and cooperating with a further scale to provide an indication of the pressure depth of the instrument.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
An instrument as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second Bourdon tube is located concentrically with respect to the first-mentioned Bourdon tube, said instrument further including first and second adjustable indicator tabs located about the circumference of the first-mentioned scale to indicate the upper and lower pressure depth excursion limits, said valve means comprising screw valve, including a central bore, for controlling opening and closing of a passage providing communication between said volume space and the ambient surroundings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-28 | 1975-09-27 | 1976-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-28 | 1979-09-27 | 1980-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-09-27 | 1984-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |