Patent US3721115A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3721115A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Structure for and method of surface condition sensing and indicating and motor speed control
Assignee: Cabot Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-08
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1990-06-08
Abstract
Abstract The condition of a surface is sensed by cyclically moving two members having engaged surfaces relative to each other, driving the surfaces for only a portion of each cycle to set up a threshold kinetic energy level in accordance with the friction between the engaged surfaces, sensing the kinetic energy developed in one of the members due to moving the members relative to each other, comparing the developed kinetic energy with the threshold kinetic energy and controlling the cyclic movement of the members in accordance with the relationship between the kinetic energy threshold and the developed kinetic energy. The cyclic movement of the members is then used to provide a visual indication of the condition of one of the surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 R Kearns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N19/00; G01N19/02; H; H02; H02P; H02P7/00; H02P7/06; H02P7/18; H02P7/24; H02P7/28; H02P7/285; H02P7/29; H02P7/2913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, means for differentially driving the members in surface-to-surface contact through an angular differential displacement to a predetermined relative position at which the members possess a reference differential kinetic energy, and means operably associated with the means for differentially driving the members for automatically initiating the conversion of the differential kinetic energy possessed by the members once during each revolution thereof at said predetermined relative position into an additional relative displacement between the members in response to the arrival of the members at the predetermined position, the magnitude of which additional relative displacement is a measure of the friction between the surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, means for differentially driving the members in surface-to-surface contact through an angular differential displacement to a predetermined relative position at which the members possess a reference differential kinetic energy, and means operably associated with the means for differentially driving the members for automatically initiating the conversion of the differential kinetic energy possessed by the members once during each revolution thereof at said predetermined relative position into an additional relative displacement between the members in response to the arrival of the members at the predetermined position, the magnitude of which additional relative displacement is a measure of the friction between the surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for providing an indication of the condition of one of the surfaces in accordance with the measure of the friction between the surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
Structure as set forth in claim 1 including means for repeatedly driving the members through the differential displacement to the predetermined relative position and converting the differential kinetic energy possessed by the members at the predetermined relative position into an additional relative displacement between the members in response to the arrival of the members at the predetermined position, the magnitude of which additional relative displacement is a measure of the friction between the surfaces and the differential of the measure of the friction between the surfaces in successive repetitions is a measure of the slipperiness of the surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means operably associated with the means for differentially driving the members for regulating the differential kinetic energy between the members at the predetermined relative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for regulating the kinetic energy comprises a speed control connected to the means for differentially driving the members.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
91 words
The method comprising differentially driving a pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement through a differential angular displacement to a predetermined relative position at which the members possess a reference differential kinetic energy, automatically initiating conversion of the differential kinetic energy possessed by the members once during each revolution thereof at said predetermined relative position into an additional relative angular displacement between the members in response to the arrival of the members at the predetermined position, the magnitude of which additional relative displacement is a measure of the friction between the surfaces.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
The method comprising differentially driving a pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement through a differential angular displacement to a predetermined relative position at which the members possess a reference differential kinetic energy, automatically initiating conversion of the differential kinetic energy possessed by the members once during each revolution thereof at said predetermined relative position into an additional relative angular displacement between the members in response to the arrival of the members at the predetermined position, the magnitude of which additional relative displacement is a measure of the friction between the surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 and further including indicating the condition of one of the surfaces in accordance with the measure of the friction between the surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 and further including repetitively driving the members through a differential displacement to the predetermined relative position and automatically initiating conversion of the differential kinetic energy into an additional relative displacement between the members in response to the arrival of the members at the predetermined position in successive cycles, the magnitude of which additional relative displacement in each cycle is a measure of the friction between the surfaces and the differential between the measure of the friction between the surfaces in different cycles is a measure of the slipperiness of one of the surfacEs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 and further including regulating the differential kinetic energy between the members at the predetermined relative position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the differential kinetic energy at the predetermined point is regulated by means of controlling the relative speed of the members at the predetermined position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, means for driving at least one of the members for producing repetitive relative movement of the surfaces in engagement, means operably associated with the means for producing relative movement of the surfaces for sensing friction between the surfaces and for varying the time of initiation of the succeeding repetitive relative movement in accordance with the sensed friction between the surfaces including means for stopping driving of the one member during a portion of a cycle of movement thereof and comparing the kinetic energy thereof with a predetermined threshold kinetic energy necessary for the one member to at least develop before initiating a succeeding cycle of movement thereof relative to the other without a dwell time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, means for driving at least one of the members for producing repetitive relative movement of the surfaces in engagement, means operably associated with the means for producing relative movement of the surfaces for sensing friction between the surfaces and for varying the time of initiation of the succeeding repetitive relative movement in accordance with the sensed friction between the surfaces including means for stopping driving of the one member during a portion of a cycle of movement thereof and comparing the kinetic energy thereof with a predetermined threshold kinetic energy necessary for the one member to at least develop before initiating a succeeding cycle of movement thereof relative to the other without a dwell time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
Structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein the means for varying the time of repetitive relative movement in accordance with the friction between the surfaces includes means for providing continuous relative movement of the members when the kinetic energy developed in the one member is above the threshold kinetic energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
Structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein the means for varying the time of repetitive relative movement in accordance with the friction between the surfaces includes means for providing a predetermined time delay between cycles of relative movement of the members when the kinetic energy developed in the one member is not above the threshold kinetic energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
Structure as set forth in claim 13, and further including means for varying the time delay automatically in accordance with the relation between the kinetic energy developed and the threshold level established, whereby a shorter time delay between cycles of relative movement is provided as more kinetic energy is developed in the one member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
Structure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the means for varying the time delay automatically includes a capacitor connected to prevent operation of the drive means during discharge thereof and feedback means for charging the capacitor during operation of the drive means an amount determined by the relative speed of movement of the surfaces during operation of the drive means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
Structure as set forth in claim 15, wherein the drive means includes an electric motor having at least two commutator brush inputs and the feedback means includes a third commutator brush output.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
111 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising driving at least one of a pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement to produce repetitive relative movement of the surfaces in engagement, sensing the friction between the surfaces during the relative movement therebetween and varying the time of initiation of repetitive relative movement in accordance with the sensed friction between the surfaces by stopping driving of one member during a portion of a cycle of movement thereof and comparing the kinetic energy thereof with a predetermined threshold kinetic energy necessary for the one member to at least develop before initiating a succeeding cycle of movement thereof relative to the other without a dwell time.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising driving at least one of a pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement to produce repetitive relative movement of the surfaces in engagement, sensing the friction between the surfaces during the relative movement therebetween and varying the time of initiation of repetitive relative movement in accordance with the sensed friction between the surfaces by stopping driving of one member during a portion of a cycle of movement thereof and comparing the kinetic energy thereof with a predetermined threshold kinetic energy necessary for the one member to at least develop before initiating a succeeding cycle of movement thereof relative to the other without a dwell time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as set forth in claim 17, and further including providing continuous relative movement of the members when the kinetic energy developed in the one member relative to the other member is above the threshold kinetic energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 17, and further including providing a predetermined time delay between cycles of the repetitive relative movement of the members when the kinetic energy developed in the one member relative to the other member is not Above the threshold kinetic energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as set forth in claim 19, and further including varying the time delay automatically in accordance with the relation between the kinetic energy developed and the threshold level established whereby a shorter time delay between cycles of the repetitive relative movement is provided as more kinetic energy is developed in the one member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, drive means for driving at least one of the members through repeating displacement cycles relative to the other, and automatic control means for activating said drive means to drive said members through said repeating relative displacement cycles, said automatic control means including means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles in response to a measure of the surface condition encountered by the driven member during a previous relative displacement cycle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
78 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, drive means for driving at least one of the members through repeating displacement cycles relative to the other, and automatic control means for activating said drive means to drive said members through said repeating relative displacement cycles, said automatic control means including means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles in response to a measure of the surface condition encountered by the driven member during a previous relative displacement cycle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as defined in claim 21, wherein said automatic control means includes means for sensing the speed of the driven member during at least a portion of each displacement cycle and means to vary the starting time of the next cycle in response to the magnitude of the speed sensed during the previous relative displacement cycle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 22, wherein said drive means is an electric motor having two commutator brushes and the means for sensing the speed of the motor includes a third commutator brush.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as defined in claim 22, wherein the drive means is an electric motor and the means for sensing the speed of the motor utilizes an electric signal from the commutator brush.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 24 and further including means for rectifying the electric signal from the commutator brush.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention as defined in claim 21, wherein the means for varying the time includes means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles in response to the measure of the friction encountered by the driven member during the previous relative displacement cycle with the time being long when the friction encountered is high and the time being short when the friction encountered is low.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 21, wherein said automatic control means includes manually adjustable means for varying the number of relative displacement cycles per unit time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as defined in claim 21, wherein said automatic control means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles includes a capacitor, and means for varying the charge on the capacitor in response to the measure of the friction encountered by the driven member during the previous relative displacement cycle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as defined in claim 28, wherein said drive means is an electric motor and the charge in the capacitor is a measure of the speed of the motor during at least a portion of the previous relative displacement cycle.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
181 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly and rotatably driving a first member in surface-to-surface contact with a second member, establishing the first member''s velocity with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle of rotation at a predetermined relative position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as one measure of the surface condition and reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where again at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the first member and using the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a second measure of the surface condition, and using the series of measures obtained in a series of such cycles to refine the meAsure of the surface condition.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
181 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly and rotatably driving a first member in surface-to-surface contact with a second member, establishing the first member''s velocity with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle of rotation at a predetermined relative position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as one measure of the surface condition and reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where again at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the first member and using the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a second measure of the surface condition, and using the series of measures obtained in a series of such cycles to refine the meAsure of the surface condition.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method described in claim 30, wherein during succeeding cycles substantially the same non-driven sliding velocity is obtained over each subdivision of the surface of the second member passed over by the first member after the first member passes the predetermined position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method described in claim 30, wherein during succeeding cycles at least one of the surface-to-surface normal force, the temperature, the established kinetic energy, and the area of surface-to-surface contact are substantially the same each cycle.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
205 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly and rotatably driving a first member in surface-to-surface contact with a second member through a plurality of similar cycles, obtaining a velocity of the first member with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle of rotation at a predetermined relative position so that at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a measure of the second member''s surface condition during the cycle and reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the driven member is dissipated as work done on the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined relative position as a measure of the surface condition during the second cycle and using a series of such measures obtained in a series of such cycles to identify when there is a change in the surface condition.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
205 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly and rotatably driving a first member in surface-to-surface contact with a second member through a plurality of similar cycles, obtaining a velocity of the first member with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle of rotation at a predetermined relative position so that at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a measure of the second member''s surface condition during the cycle and reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the driven member is dissipated as work done on the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined relative position as a measure of the surface condition during the second cycle and using a series of such measures obtained in a series of such cycles to identify when there is a change in the surface condition.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 33, and further using the change in the series of such measures obtained in a series of such cycles to detect the presence of at least a third element between the first and second member''s area of surface-to-surface contact.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34, where the third element is one of viscous mud, rain, water, snow, and ice.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
72 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, means for driving at least one of the members through repeating relative displacement cycles, automatic control means for activating said drive means to drive said members through said repeating relative displacement cycles, and switch means positioned by the drive means for deactivating said drive means to terminate said relative displacement cycle, said automatic control means including means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
72 words
A pair of members in surface-to-surface engagement, means for driving at least one of the members through repeating relative displacement cycles, automatic control means for activating said drive means to drive said members through said repeating relative displacement cycles, and switch means positioned by the drive means for deactivating said drive means to terminate said relative displacement cycle, said automatic control means including means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
50 words
Structure as defined in claim 36 wherein said means for varying the time between relative displacement cycles includes a capacitor, and both the magnitude of the charge input to the capacitor and the rate of charge output from the capacitor are controlled to vary the time between relative displacement cycles.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
261 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly driving a first member which is rubber simulating the properties of a sliding tire in surface to surface contact with a second member which surface is of concrete or asphalt or the like simulating the properties of a road through a plurality of similar cycles, establishing the first member''s velocity with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle at a predetermined relative position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as one measure of the surface condition, reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where again at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the first member, using the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a second measure of the surface condition, using the series of measures obtained in a series of such cycles to refine the measure of the surface condition wherein during succeeding cycles at least one of the surface to surface normal force, the temperature, the established kinetic energy, and the area of surface to surface contact are substantially the same each cycle and making the measure of the surface condition of the second member available to the driver of a vehicle.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
261 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly driving a first member which is rubber simulating the properties of a sliding tire in surface to surface contact with a second member which surface is of concrete or asphalt or the like simulating the properties of a road through a plurality of similar cycles, establishing the first member''s velocity with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle at a predetermined relative position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as one measure of the surface condition, reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where again at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the first member, using the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a second measure of the surface condition, using the series of measures obtained in a series of such cycles to refine the measure of the surface condition wherein during succeeding cycles at least one of the surface to surface normal force, the temperature, the established kinetic energy, and the area of surface to surface contact are substantially the same each cycle and making the measure of the surface condition of the second member available to the driver of a vehicle.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
267 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly driving a first member in surface to surface contact with a second member through a plurality of similar cycles, obtaining a velocity of the first member with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle at a predetermined relative position so that at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member, using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a measure of the second member''s surface condition during the cycle, reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the driven member is dissipated as work done on the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined relative position as a measure of the surface condition during the second cycle, and using the series of such measures obtained in a series of such cycles to identify when there is a change in the surface condition wherein the time between succeeding cycles is varied such that when the surfaces exhibit a high value of friction as indicated by a high rate of energy dissipation with displacement the time between succeeding cycles is long and when the surface exhibits a low value of friction as indicated by a low rate of dissipation of energy with displacement the time between succeeding cycles is short.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
267 words
The method of surface condition sensing comprising repeatedly driving a first member in surface to surface contact with a second member through a plurality of similar cycles, obtaining a velocity of the first member with respect to the second member, stopping the driving of the first member for a portion of each cycle at a predetermined relative position so that at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the first member is dissipated as work done on the surface of the first member, using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined position as a measure of the second member''s surface condition during the cycle, reactivating the driving of the first member, continuing the driving to the same predetermined position where at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the driven member is dissipated as work done on the first member and using a measure of the sliding displacement of the first member from the predetermined relative position as a measure of the surface condition during the second cycle, and using the series of such measures obtained in a series of such cycles to identify when there is a change in the surface condition wherein the time between succeeding cycles is varied such that when the surfaces exhibit a high value of friction as indicated by a high rate of energy dissipation with displacement the time between succeeding cycles is long and when the surface exhibits a low value of friction as indicated by a low rate of dissipation of energy with displacement the time between succeeding cycles is short.
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) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |