Apparatus to produce data count signals

Claim 2

Apparatus to produce data count signals in a form equivalent to C/n + OR - C'', wherein n is a variable and C and C'' are constants, which comprises a means for supplying an initiating signal, a means for supplying a terminating signal, a first timebase generator means, a first gated digital/analog converter, an amplifier, a second time-base generator means, a second gated digital/analog converter, a comparator means, a gated counter, and means for adding or subtracting a desired number of pulses to said gated counter, said means for supplying an initiating signal, said first time-base generator means and said means for supplying a terminating signal being connected to said first converter so that the application of an initiating signal will start the first converter accumulating pulses from the first time-base generator means and the application of a terminating signal will Stop said first converter from accumulating additional pulses, the time between said initiating signal and said terminating signal and thus the pulses accumulated by said first converter being directly proportional to n, said amplifier being connected to said first converter and to said second converter so as to apply an amplified reference signal to said second converter which is directly proportional to n, said means for supplying an initiating signal, said second time-base generator means, and said means for supplying a terminating signal being connected to said second converter and to said counter so that said second converter and said counter are reset to zero values upon the application of the initiating signal and begin to accumulate pulses from said second time-base generator means upon the application of said terminating signal, said second converter providing an output signal which is directly proportional to the product of the pulses accumulated therein and the amplified reference signal applied thereto from said first converter, said comparator being connected to said second converter so as to compare the output signal from said second converter to a selected reference voltage and to stop the second converter from receiving any further pulses from said second time-base generator means when said second converter output signal becomes equal to said reference voltage, thereby producing accumulated pulses in said second converter which are directly proportional to l/n, the performance characteristics of said first and second converters and said amplifier being such that the accumulated pulses in said second converter are also directly proportional to C, said gated counter being connected for operation in parallel to said second converter to provide a gross number of pulses from said second time-base generator means in said counter equivalent to C/n, and said means for adding or subtracting a desired number of pulses to said counter being connected so as to add or subtract pulses equivalent to C'' to the gross number of pulses in said counter and thereby provide a net data count signal in said counter equivalent to C/n + OR - C''.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 having an indicator means connected to said gated counter.

Claim 4

Apparatus for measuring and indicating the specific gravity of a test liquid by the falling drop method wherein a drop of the test liquid falls through a second fluid and the relationship between the specific gravity (S.G.) of the test liquid and the time (t) required for a drop thereof to fall a given distance is expressed by the formula S.G. C/t + or - C'' wherein C'' is a constant related to the specific gravity of the second fluid through which the drop falls and C is a constant related to other variables in the measuring system, said apparatus comprising column means for storing a fluid, means for providing a falling drop of test liquid to the fluid stored in said column means, first sensing means mounted in conjunction with said column means for supplying an initiating signal when the falling drop passes adjacent to said first sensing means, second sensing means mounted in conjunction with said column below said first sensing means for supplying a terminating signal when the falling drop passes adjacent to said second sensing means, a first time-base generator means, a first gated digital/analog converter, an amplifier, a second time-base generator means, a second gated digital/analog converter, a comparator means, a gated counter, means for adding or subtracting a desired number of pulses to said gated counter and indicator means responsive to an output signal from said counter, said means for supplying an initiating signal, said first time-base generator means and said means for supplying a terminating signal being connected to said first converter so that the application of an initiating signal will start the first converTer accumulating pulses from the first time-base generator means and the application of a terminating signal will stop said first converter from accumulating additional pulses, the number of pulses accumulated by said first converter being directly proportional to t, said amplifier being connected to said first converter and to said second converter so as to apply an amplified reference signal to said second converter which is directly proportional to t, said means for supplying an initiating signal, said second time-base generator means, and said means for supplying a terminating signal being connected to said second converter and to said counter so that said second converter and said counter are reset to zero values upon the application of the initiating signal and begin to accumulate pulses from said second time-base generator means upon the application of said terminating signal, said second converter providing an output signal which is directly proportional to the product of the pulses accumulated therein and the amplified reference signal applied thereto from said first converter, said comparator being connected to said second converter so as to compare the output signal from said second converter to a selected reference voltage and to stop the second converter from receiving any further pulses from said second time-base generator means when said second converter output signal becomes equal to said reference voltage, thereby producing accumulated pulses in said second converter which are directly proportional to l/t, the performance characteristics of said first and second converters and said amplifier being such that the accumulated pulses in said second converter are also directly proportional to C, said gated counter being connected for operation in parallel to said second converter to provide a gross number of pulses from said second time-base generator means in said counter equivalent to C/t, and said means for adding or subtracting a desired number of pulses to said counter being connected so as to add or subtract pulses equivalent to C'' to the gross number of pulses in said counter and thereby provide a net output signal from said counter equivalent to C/t + or - C'', said output signal being fed to said indicator means to read directly in specific gravity units.

Claim 5

Apparatus for measuring and indicating the specific gravity of a test liquid by the falling drop method wherein a drop of the test liquid falls through a second fluid and the relationship between the specific gravity (S.G.) of the test liquid and the time (t) required for a drop thereof to fall a given distance is expressed by the formula S.G. C/t + or - C'' wherein C'' is a constant related to the specific gravity of the second fluid through which the drop falls and C is a constant related to other variables in the measuring system, said apparatus comprising column means for storing a fluid, means for providing a falling drop of test liquid to the fluid stored in said column means, first sensing means mounted in conjunction with said column means for supplying an initiating signal when the falling drop passes adjacent to said first sensing means, second sensing means mounted in conjunction with said column below said first sensing means for supplying a terminating signal when the falling drop passes adjacent to said second sensing means, a first time-base generator means, a first gated digital/analog converter, an amplifier, a second time-base generator means, a second gated digital/analog converter, a comparator means, a gated counter, means for adding or subtracting a desired number of pulses to said gated counter and indicator means responsive to an output signal from said counter, said means for supplying an initiating signal, said first time-base generator means and said means for supplying a terminating signal being connected to said first converter so that the application of an initiating signal will start the first converTer accumulating pulses from the first time-base generator means and the application of a terminating signal will stop said first converter from accumulating additional pulses, the number of pulses accumulated by said first converter being directly proportional to t, said amplifier being connected to said first converter and to said second converter so as to apply an amplified reference signal to said second converter which is directly proportional to t, said means for supplying an initiating signal, said second time-base generator means, and said means for supplying a terminating signal being connected to said second converter and to said counter so that said second converter and said counter are reset to zero values upon the application of the initiating signal and begin to accumulate pulses from said second time-base generator means upon the application of said terminating signal, said second converter providing an output signal which is directly proportional to the product of the pulses accumulated therein and the amplified reference signal applied thereto from said first converter, said comparator being connected to said second converter so as to compare the output signal from said second converter to a selected reference voltage and to stop the second converter from receiving any further pulses from said second time-base generator means when said second converter output signal becomes equal to said reference voltage, thereby producing accumulated pulses in said second converter which are directly proportional to l/t, the performance characteristics of said first and second converters and said amplifier being such that the accumulated pulses in said second converter are also directly proportional to C, said gated counter being connected for operation in parallel to said second converter to provide a gross number of pulses from said second time-base generator means in said counter equivalent to C/t, and said means for adding or subtracting a desired number of pulses to said counter being connected so as to add or subtract pulses equivalent to C'' to the gross number of pulses in said counter and thereby provide a net output signal from said counter equivalent to C/t + or - C'', said output signal being fed to said indicator means to read directly in specific gravity units.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first and second sensing means are photosensitive devices having light sources directing light rays thereon and wherein the falling drop modifies said light rays to produce said initiating signal and said terminating signal from said photosensitive devices.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the fluid in the column means has a specific gravity less than 1 and wherein means are provided for subtracting a desired number of pulses from the pulses accumulated in said counter.