US3754126A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrating conveyor scale
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-01-06
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1992-01-06
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus for measuring the rate at which material is transferred through a region and for measuring the total quantity of material transferred through the region over a period of time. A pulse train is generated having constant width pulses which are repeated at a rate proportional to the speed at which the material is transferred through the region. The pulse train is amplitude modulated with an analog signal which is proportional to the instantaneous weight of material in the region. The modulated pulse train is then filtered or averaged to obtain a continuous analog signal which is proportional to the transfer rate for driving a rate indicating meter. The rate signal is also converted to a frequency modulated pulse signal for stepping a counter which indicates the total quantity of material transferred over a period of time. Circuitry is provided for automatically zeroing the analog weight signal and for inhibiting measurements of less than a predetermined percentage of the maximum capacity of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 R Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G11/00; G01G11/04; G01G11/043; G01G11/046; G01G11/14; G01G11/16; G01G11/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
Measuring apparatus for use with a conveyor for moving material through a region comprising, in combination, means for generating a train of constant width pulses which are repeated at a frequency proportional to the speed at which the material is transferred through the region, means for generating an analog signal proportional to the instantaneous weight of material in the region, multiplying means responsive to the analog weight signal and to the pulse train for generating a modulated pulse train corresponding to the product of the analog weight signal and the pulse train, and means for measuring the average value of the modulated pulse train, whereby such average value is proportional to the rate at which material is transferred through the region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Measuring apparatus for use with a conveyor for moving material through a region comprising, in combination, means for generating a train of constant width pulses which are repeated at a frequency proportional to the speed at which the material is transferred through the region, means for generating an analog signal proportional to the instantaneous weight of material in the region, multiplying means responsive to the analog weight signal and to the pulse train for generating a modulated pulse train corresponding to the product of the analog weight signal and the pulse train, and means for measuring the average value of the modulated pulse train, whereby such average value is proportional to the rate at which material is transferred through the region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Measuring apparatus for use with a conveyor for moving material through a region, as defined in claim 1 wherein said multiplying means includes switch means responsive to the pulse train for selectively passing and blocking the analog weight signal, said switch means passing the analog weight signal during the constant width pulses in the pulse train and blocking the analog weight signal between the constant width pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes means for filtering the modulated pulse train to obtain a continuous analog signal proportional to the material transfer rate, and means responsive to the continuous analog signal for indicating such material transfer rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Measuring apparatus for use with a conveyor for moving material through a region, as defined in claim 3, further including voltage-to-frequency converter means responsive to said continuous analog signal for generating a frequency modulated pulse train having a frequency proportional to said transfer rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
Measuring apparatus for use with a conveyor for moving material through a region, as defined in claim 4, further including stepping motor means responsive to said frequency modulated pulse train and counting means driven by said stepping motor means for indicating the total weight of material conveyed by the conveyor over a period of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 3, and including means for changing the pulse rate of the train of constant width pulses by a predetermined factor whereby the average value of the continuous analog signal is changed by such predetermined factor, and means for changing the predetermined factor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes means for filtering the modulated pulse train to obtain a continuous analog signal proportional to the material transfer rate, means for integrating the continuous analog signal, and means for measuring the total quantity of material conveyed through the region over a period of time by measuring the integral of the continuous analog signal over such period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 7, and including means for changing the pulse rate of thE train of constant width pulses by a predetermined factor whereby the measure of the total quantity of material conveyed is changed by such predetermined factor, and means for changing the predetermined factor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 7, wherein said integrating means includes converter means for generating a pulse signal having a pulse rate proportional to the continuous analog signal, and wherein said means for measuring the total weight of conveyed material includes means for counting pulses in the pulse signal whereby the pulse count is proportional to the total weight of conveyed material. 10. Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 9, and including means for changing the number of pulses in the pulse signal by a predetermined factor whereby the weight range covered by said counting means is changed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 9, and including means for inhibiting the operation of said counter means when said conveyor is moving material at less than a predetermined minimum rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 7, and including means for inhibiting the operation of said means for measuring the total weight of conveyed material when the material is conveyed at less than a predetermined minimum rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 1, and including a power source, means for operating said analog signal generating means for said power source, means for periodically interrupting power from said power source to said analog signal generating means, and means operable while power to said analog signal generating means is interrupted for setting the output of said analog signal generating means to zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 13, wherein said power interrupting means interrupts power to said generating means only between the constant width pulses in the pulse train.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Measuring apparatus, as defined in claim 13, and including means operable while power to said analog signal generating means is interrupted for maintaining said modulated pulse train at its amplitude prior to the power interruption.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for measuring the quantity of material transferred through a region, comprising the steps of: a. generating a train of constant width pulses having a frequency proportional to the speed at which material is transferred through the region; b. modulating the amplitude of the pulse train in proportion to the instantaneous weight of material in the transfer region: and c. filtering the modulated pulse train to produce a continuous signal proportional to the product of the weight of material in the region times the transfer speed, whereby the magnitude of the filtered signal is a measure of the instantaneous rate at which material is transferred through the region.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for measuring the quantity of material transferred through a region, comprising the steps of: a. generating a train of constant width pulses having a frequency proportional to the speed at which material is transferred through the region; b. modulating the amplitude of the pulse train in proportion to the instantaneous weight of material in the transfer region: and c. filtering the modulated pulse train to produce a continuous signal proportional to the product of the weight of material in the region times the transfer speed, whereby the magnitude of the filtered signal is a measure of the instantaneous rate at which material is transferred through the region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for measuring the quantity of material transferred through a region, as set forth in claim 16, and further including the steps of: d. converting the filtered signal into a second pulse train having a pulse rate proportional to the magnitude of the filtered signal; and e. totalizing the pulses in such second pulse train as a measure of the total quantity of material transferred.
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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) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |