Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
351 words
Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient detector member located in the path of said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said resilient detector member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member due to deflection of said resilient member by said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream, said means for measuring the displacement of said resilient detector member comprising means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and the resilient member past respective sensor devices, said means for measuring said time difference comprising means for producing first and second electric pulses having leading edges corresponding, respectively, to the times at which said reference and resilient members pass predetermined portions of their respective sensors, means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses, means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference between said leading edges of said first and second electric pulses only during a predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors, and means for generating an alarm signal when a spurious signal appears at the input of said gating means outside of said predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
351 words
Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient detector member located in the path of said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said resilient detector member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member due to deflection of said resilient member by said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream, said means for measuring the displacement of said resilient detector member comprising means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and the resilient member past respective sensor devices, said means for measuring said time difference comprising means for producing first and second electric pulses having leading edges corresponding, respectively, to the times at which said reference and resilient members pass predetermined portions of their respective sensors, means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses, means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference between said leading edges of said first and second electric pulses only during a predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors, and means for generating an alarm signal when a spurious signal appears at the input of said gating means outside of said predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses comprise means for producing a third electric pulse Having a time duration corresponding to the time difference between said leading edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, comprising means for producing an analog signal whose amplitude varies in accordance with the time duration of said third electric pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the respective sensor devices comprise magnetic sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the respective sensor devices comprise magnetic sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the beginning points of the respective electric pulses correspond to the zero time crossings at which the respective members pass the magnetic centers of their respective magnetic sensors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the beginning points of the respective electric pulses correspond to the zero time crossings at which the respective members pass the magnetic centers of their respective magnetic sensors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for generating an alarm signal comprises an Exclusive-Or Circuit having an output for producing an alarm pulse, said Exclusive-Or Circuit having first and second input terminals coupled respectively to the input and output terminals of said gating means for producing an alarm pulse only when a spurious signal is applied to the input of said gating means at times outside of said predetermined time when said gating means gates said first electric pulse through its output terminal to said means for determining said time difference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for generating an alarm signal comprises an Exclusive-Or Circuit having an output for producing an alarm pulse, said Exclusive-Or Circuit having first and second input terminals coupled respectively to the input and output terminals of said gating means for producing an alarm pulse only when a spurious signal is applied to the input of said gating means at times outside of said predetermined time when said gating means gates said first electric pulse through its output terminal to said means for determining said time difference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for generating an alarm signal comprises an alarm latch circuit for producing said alarm signal and wherein said alarm latch circuit comprises a bistable multi-vibrator having a set input coupled to the output of said Exclusive-Or Circuit and a reset input coupled to said output terminal of said gating means for resetting said alarm circuit when normal signal pulses are passed through said gating means to its output terminal during said predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for generating an alarm signal comprises an alarm latch circuit for producing said alarm signal and wherein said alarm latch circuit comprises a bistable multi-vibrator having a set input coupled to the output of said Exclusive-Or Circuit and a reset input coupled to said output terminal of said gating means for resetting said alarm circuit when normal signal pulses are passed through said gating means to its output terminal during said predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.