US3677334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote accumulator charge indicator
Assignee: United Aircraft Products Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-30
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An accumulator-reservoir device, used in a system circulating a liquid coolant or the like, in which a biased pressure applying member moves to reflect changing temperature induced density of the coolant. A remote indicator signals that the system has attained a properly charged condition, or that it has failed to remain fully charged. Electrical controls including variable resistors responding to changes in system temperature and to movement of the piston comprise a triggering circuit. Other controls including a signaling means and a gated Silicon Controlled Rectifier comprise a signaling circuit activated and deactivated by the triggering circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Pritam S Bathla
- 👤 Carl E Simmons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:31
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F27/00; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/02; F01P11/029; F01P2025/00; F01P2025/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/001; Y10S165/005; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
In a fluid flowing system, an accumulator apparatus useful in applying pressure to the system and to accommodate fluid expansion over a wide range of ambient temperatures, said accumulator communicating with the system and containing a resiliently biased piston the position of which in the accumulator is a function of fluid temperature, said piston having a position indicating a properly charged system for any given fluid temperature; follower means for said piston; fluid temperature sensing means; said follower means being a potentiometer and said sensing mean being a thermistor, each reflecting an electrical resistance which is a function of fluid temperature; an electrical bridge circuit incorporating said potentiometer and said thermistor and inducing a signaling current flow in the absence of balancing resistances; and another electrical circuit containing indicator means energized by current flow through said other circuit, said other circuit further containing a Silicon Controlled Rectifier device normally deactivatEd and blocking current flow through said other circuit, the induced signaling current flow from said electrical bridge being applied as gate voltage to said Silicon Controlled Rectifier device for actuating thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a fluid flowing system, an accumulator apparatus useful in applying pressure to the system and to accommodate fluid expansion over a wide range of ambient temperatures, said accumulator communicating with the system and containing a resiliently biased piston the position of which in the accumulator is a function of fluid temperature, said piston having a position indicating a properly charged system for any given fluid temperature; follower means for said piston; fluid temperature sensing means; said follower means being a potentiometer and said sensing mean being a thermistor, each reflecting an electrical resistance which is a function of fluid temperature; an electrical bridge circuit incorporating said potentiometer and said thermistor and inducing a signaling current flow in the absence of balancing resistances; and another electrical circuit containing indicator means energized by current flow through said other circuit, said other circuit further containing a Silicon Controlled Rectifier device normally deactivatEd and blocking current flow through said other circuit, the induced signaling current flow from said electrical bridge being applied as gate voltage to said Silicon Controlled Rectifier device for actuating thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Accumulator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the potentiometer includes a slider member fixed to move with said piston and coil means fixed to a relatively stationary part of the accumulator to be traversed by said slider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Accumulator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piston forms in said accumulator a pressure chamber, said thermistor being installed in said accumulator to extend into and sense the temperature of the fluid in said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
182 words
A remote charge indicator for use in connection with an accumulator-reservoir device in a fluid flowing system, the accumulator-reservoir device embodying a pressure applying piston; including an electrical control circuit comprising a bridge made up of a potentiometer a slider member of which is in a following relation to said piston and made up further of a thermistor sensing fluid temperature, said potentiometer and said thermistor both exhibiting resistances which are functions of fluid temperature, said potentiometer and said thermistor being in different legs of said bridge which is further made up of matched resistors, said bridge being balanced when the resistance of said potentiometer and of said thermistor are substantially the same for zero current flow across said bridge, said bridge being unbalanced by said piston assuming a position indicating a fluid temperature either higher or lower than actual fluid temperature, a current flow being generated across said bridge in response to unbalancing thereof, and means utilizing said generated current flow as a control to indicate that the fluid system is less than fully charged or has failed to remain so.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A remote charge indicator for use in connection with an accumulator-reservoir device in a fluid flowing system, the accumulator-reservoir device embodying a pressure applying piston; including an electrical control circuit comprising a bridge made up of a potentiometer a slider member of which is in a following relation to said piston and made up further of a thermistor sensing fluid temperature, said potentiometer and said thermistor both exhibiting resistances which are functions of fluid temperature, said potentiometer and said thermistor being in different legs of said bridge which is further made up of matched resistors, said bridge being balanced when the resistance of said potentiometer and of said thermistor are substantially the same for zero current flow across said bridge, said bridge being unbalanced by said piston assuming a position indicating a fluid temperature either higher or lower than actual fluid temperature, a current flow being generated across said bridge in response to unbalancing thereof, and means utilizing said generated current flow as a control to indicate that the fluid system is less than fully charged or has failed to remain so.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A remote charge indicator according to claim 4, characterized by an indicator circuit containing a Silicon Controlled Rectifier device, the generated current flow from said bridge being applied as gate voltage to said Silicon Controlled Rectifier device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remote charge indicator according to claim 5, wherein said indicator circuit further includes energizable means deenergized in a balanced condition of said bridge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remote charge indicator according to claim 4, wherein said bridge generates said current flow in either an under charged or an over charged condition of the system.
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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) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |