US3668701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring apparatus
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-20
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring circuit monitors separate transducers energized by an alternating current carrier for determining if a failure to track occurs and for detecting failure of components of the monitoring circuit. The amplitude and phase of the transducer outputs and a.c. and d.c. tracer signals normally combine to produce a tracking-within-tolerance signal. The transducers are individually monitored for carrier output indicative of their operativeness. A pair of relay driver amplifiers responsive to the tracking signal and each carrier signal are normally alternately energized to maintain relays in a normally energized condition. Tracking failure or failure of any component in the monitoring circuitry causes disruption of the alternate energization of the relay driver amplifiers causing one or more relays to deenergize and actuate an alarm. A test sequence provides for a system check by progressively short circuiting portions of a tracking monitoring input circuit to produce an alarm signal followed by an alarm off condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy T Mayberry
- 👤 Edwin B Sirrine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:37
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D45/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for monitoring first and second signals for differences therebetween and detecting operability of components of said apparatus, the combination comprising a source of alternating reference potential, combining means for combining said first and second signals with said alternating reference potential in accordance with said differences between said first and second signals, means responsive to said combined signal for providing a first pulse signal in accordance therewith, means responsive to said first and second signals for providing second and third pulse signals respectively of different phases with respect to each other, first driver means responsive to said first and second pulse signals, second driver means responsive to said first and third pulse signals, said first and second drivEr means being alternately energized with respect to each other whenever the difference between said first and second signals is less than a predetermined threshold and said components of said apparatus are functioning properly, and output means coupled to said first and second driver means for being maintained in an energized condition whenever said first and second driver means are alternately energized with respect to each other and for being deenergized whenever said first and second driver means cease being alternately energized with respect to each other, thereby providing a warning signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for monitoring first and second signals for differences therebetween and detecting operability of components of said apparatus, the combination comprising a source of alternating reference potential, combining means for combining said first and second signals with said alternating reference potential in accordance with said differences between said first and second signals, means responsive to said combined signal for providing a first pulse signal in accordance therewith, means responsive to said first and second signals for providing second and third pulse signals respectively of different phases with respect to each other, first driver means responsive to said first and second pulse signals, second driver means responsive to said first and third pulse signals, said first and second drivEr means being alternately energized with respect to each other whenever the difference between said first and second signals is less than a predetermined threshold and said components of said apparatus are functioning properly, and output means coupled to said first and second driver means for being maintained in an energized condition whenever said first and second driver means are alternately energized with respect to each other and for being deenergized whenever said first and second driver means cease being alternately energized with respect to each other, thereby providing a warning signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said combining means further includes resistor T-network means for coupling said first and second signals to said combining means, and d.c. tracer voltage sources coupled to said resistor T-network means for providing signals to disrupt said alternate energization of said first and second driver means when a component of the signal paths of said apparatus fails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including testing means for systematically interrupting said first and second signals to systematically operate said output means thereby verifying the operability thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said first and second signals comprise first and second variable amplitude carrier signals, said alternating reference potential comprises a full wave rectified sinusoidal signal and said combining means comprises means for obtaining the difference between said first and second signals, and means for adding said difference to said alternating reference potential thereby providing said combined signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a source of d.c. reference potential, and means for adding said d.c. reference potential to said alternating reference potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means responsive to said combined signal comprises first level detecting means for providing first and second output levels whenever said combined signal exceeds and does not exceed a predetermined threshold, respectively, thereby providing said first pulse signal of such a character that under proper operation one pulse is provided for each cycle of said full wave rectified sinusoidal signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said means responsive to said first and second signals comprises second level detecting means responsive to said first carrier signal for providing first and second output levels whenever said first carrier signal exceeds and does not exceed a predetermined threshold, respectively, thereby providing said second pulse signal of such a character that under proper operation, one pulse is provided for each cycle of said first carrier signal, and third level detecting means responsive to said second carrier signal, of different phase with respect to said first carrier signal, for providing first and second output levels whenever said second carrier signal exceeds and does not exceed a predetermined threshold, respectively, thereby providing said third pulse signal of such a character that under proper operation one pulse is provided for each cycle of said second carrier signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said first driver means includes means for testing coincidence between said pulses of said first and second pulse signals and energizing said first driver means only upon said coincidence thereof, and said second driver means includes means for testing coincidence between said pulses of said first and third pulse signals and energizing said second driver means only upon said coincidence thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said output means comprises first relay switch means having first relay energizing means and first contact means, second relay switch means having second relay energizing means and second contact means, first unidirectional charging circuit means coupled with said first relay energizing means, and second unidirectional charging circuit means coupled with said second relay energizing means, said first and second unidirectional charging circuit means being connected in parallel between the outputs of said first and second driver means, said first and second contact means being connected in series circuit with respect to each other to provide said warning signal whenever said first and second driver means cease being alternately energized thereby permitting said contact means to break said series circuit.
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) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |