Patent US3782831A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3782831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Angular position transducer apparatus
Assignee: Hunter Engineering Co
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Filing: 1971-11-05
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1991-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use in measuring any angular relationship between a movable body and a fixed reference axis or point, wherein the measuring is achieved by an angular position transducer. The transducer adapts itself to improved method of measuring angular relationship, particularly where the angles are small, so that small angles can be expanded for easier examination. An example is the determination of vehicle wheel toe angles which are small but important to the proper operation of any vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 D Senften
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/30; G01B7/315; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/275
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
Angular position transducer apparatus for determining the angular position of a body relative to a predetermined reference line, said apparatus comprising a light projector oriented relative to said body to normally direct its beam of light along the reference line and thereby have a known angular relation to the body, light beam sensing means spaced from said projector and lying on the reference line, means to swing the projector independently of the body and to either side of said reference line, said light beam sensing means generating a signal response on receiving the beam, signal voltage generating means operable concurrently with said projector swing means to generate a signal voltage proportional to the angular position of said light beam with respect to its known angular relation, said voltage generating means and light beam sensing means are connected into a circuit which includes gate means connected to said sensing means to respond to the light beam, circuit means to feed signal voltage to said gate means, said circuit means includes means to differentiate the direction of sweep of said light projector and inhibit the operation of said gate means for one direction of sweep, memory circuit means receiving the signal voltage admitted through said gate means by said sensing means, said memory circuit means being connected into said voltage display means and means connected to the voltage generating means to display the voltage in terms of angular units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
Angular position transducer apparatus for determining the angular position of a body relative to a predetermined reference line, said apparatus comprising a light projector oriented relative to said body to normally direct its beam of light along the reference line and thereby have a known angular relation to the body, light beam sensing means spaced from said projector and lying on the reference line, means to swing the projector independently of the body and to either side of said reference line, said light beam sensing means generating a signal response on receiving the beam, signal voltage generating means operable concurrently with said projector swing means to generate a signal voltage proportional to the angular position of said light beam with respect to its known angular relation, said voltage generating means and light beam sensing means are connected into a circuit which includes gate means connected to said sensing means to respond to the light beam, circuit means to feed signal voltage to said gate means, said circuit means includes means to differentiate the direction of sweep of said light projector and inhibit the operation of said gate means for one direction of sweep, memory circuit means receiving the signal voltage admitted through said gate means by said sensing means, said memory circuit means being connected into said voltage display means and means connected to the voltage generating means to display the voltage in terms of angular units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said light projector and voltage generating means have a common drive which effects angular sweep of said projector and signal voltage generating operation proportional to the sweep angles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
256 words
Transducer apparatus for finding the angular deviation of a body relative to a predetermined reference axis, said apparatus including a light beam projector carried on the body adjacent the reference axis, a light beam detector spaced from the body and being on the reference axis in position to receive the light beam projected along the reference axis, means operable to swing said projector relative to the body such that the light beam sweeps through an angle to either side of the reference axis and which sweep angle includes the expected angle of deviation of said body relative to the reference axis, voltage generating means in the apparatus operable to produce a signal voltage proportional to the angular sweep of said light beam, electrical gate means connected to said voltage generating means, circuit means connecting said light beam detector to said gate means, said circuit means electrically relating said light beam detector and voltage generating means for only one direction of sweep of said light beam projector, said detector generating an electrical impulse in response to receipt of the light beam at the angle of said body to the reference axis, said detector impulse opening said gate means to pass the signal voltage at its value at the time of receipt by the detector of the light beam, and electrical meter means connected to said gate to display the signal voltage at the time of gate opening, said meter means translating the signal voltage in terms of the angular relation of the body to the reference axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
256 words
Transducer apparatus for finding the angular deviation of a body relative to a predetermined reference axis, said apparatus including a light beam projector carried on the body adjacent the reference axis, a light beam detector spaced from the body and being on the reference axis in position to receive the light beam projected along the reference axis, means operable to swing said projector relative to the body such that the light beam sweeps through an angle to either side of the reference axis and which sweep angle includes the expected angle of deviation of said body relative to the reference axis, voltage generating means in the apparatus operable to produce a signal voltage proportional to the angular sweep of said light beam, electrical gate means connected to said voltage generating means, circuit means connecting said light beam detector to said gate means, said circuit means electrically relating said light beam detector and voltage generating means for only one direction of sweep of said light beam projector, said detector generating an electrical impulse in response to receipt of the light beam at the angle of said body to the reference axis, said detector impulse opening said gate means to pass the signal voltage at its value at the time of receipt by the detector of the light beam, and electrical meter means connected to said gate to display the signal voltage at the time of gate opening, said meter means translating the signal voltage in terms of the angular relation of the body to the reference axis.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of determining an angular relation of the plane of rotation of a rotary boDy to a reference axis which includes relating a light beam projector with the plane of body rotation, projecting the light beam along the reference axis from the body and sweeping the beam angularly back and forth across the reference axis and in a plane containing the reference axis, carrying the light beam sweep through an angle which includes the angular relation to be determined of the plane of rotation of the body to the reference axis, receiving said projected light beam and generating a signal initiated by said light beam which causes the sampling of a generated signal which has a characteristic that is proportional to the angular position of the plane of rotation of the body relative to the projected light beam, and converting said generated signal sampling into an angular reading relative to the reference axis.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of determining an angular relation of the plane of rotation of a rotary boDy to a reference axis which includes relating a light beam projector with the plane of body rotation, projecting the light beam along the reference axis from the body and sweeping the beam angularly back and forth across the reference axis and in a plane containing the reference axis, carrying the light beam sweep through an angle which includes the angular relation to be determined of the plane of rotation of the body to the reference axis, receiving said projected light beam and generating a signal initiated by said light beam which causes the sampling of a generated signal which has a characteristic that is proportional to the angular position of the plane of rotation of the body relative to the projected light beam, and converting said generated signal sampling into an angular reading relative to the reference axis.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for finding the angular position of the plane of rotation of a body relative to a reference axis, said method including sweeping a light beam back and forth across the reference axis and through an angle which includes the angular relation of the plane of rotation of the body to the reference axis, generating a voltage concurrently with light beam sweep which changes in timed relation to the light beam sweep in one direction through its angular sweep, detecting the light beam at the angular position of the plane of rotation of the body relative to the reference axis, generating a signal upon detecting the light beam, applying the signal generated at the time of light beam detection to finding the value of the generated voltage at that time, and translating the voltage at the time of detection into an angular reading of the body plane of rotation relative to the reference axis.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for finding the angular position of the plane of rotation of a body relative to a reference axis, said method including sweeping a light beam back and forth across the reference axis and through an angle which includes the angular relation of the plane of rotation of the body to the reference axis, generating a voltage concurrently with light beam sweep which changes in timed relation to the light beam sweep in one direction through its angular sweep, detecting the light beam at the angular position of the plane of rotation of the body relative to the reference axis, generating a signal upon detecting the light beam, applying the signal generated at the time of light beam detection to finding the value of the generated voltage at that time, and translating the voltage at the time of detection into an angular reading of the body plane of rotation relative to the reference axis.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for displaying electrically the angular position of the plane of rotation of a body relative to a reference axis which method consists in establishing a reference axis; disposing a light beam projector in a predetermined position in the body plane of rotation; moving the light beam back and forth to both sides of the reference axis and through an angle which includes the angular position of the plane of rotation to be displayed; constantly generating a signal voltage which is the analogue of the angular relation of the light beam to the reference axis; detecting the time of coincidence of the light beam with the reference axis; collecting the generated signal voltage at the time the light beam sweeps into coincidence with the reference axis and in only one direction of sweep; sampling the signal voltage at the time of detection of the coincidence of the light beam with the reference axis; and displaying the generated voltage as an angular reading of the plane of rotation of the body relative to the reference axis.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for displaying electrically the angular position of the plane of rotation of a body relative to a reference axis which method consists in establishing a reference axis; disposing a light beam projector in a predetermined position in the body plane of rotation; moving the light beam back and forth to both sides of the reference axis and through an angle which includes the angular position of the plane of rotation to be displayed; constantly generating a signal voltage which is the analogue of the angular relation of the light beam to the reference axis; detecting the time of coincidence of the light beam with the reference axis; collecting the generated signal voltage at the time the light beam sweeps into coincidence with the reference axis and in only one direction of sweep; sampling the signal voltage at the time of detection of the coincidence of the light beam with the reference axis; and displaying the generated voltage as an angular reading of the plane of rotation of the body relative to the reference axis.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for displaying the angular position of the plane of rotation of a rotary body relative to a reference axis which method consists in aligning the reference plane of the body at some angle to be determined relative to the reference axis, projecting a light beam from a position in the reference plane of the body along the reference axis, locating a signal generating light responsive detector on the reference axis and at a position spaced from light beam projector in the reference plane of the body, moving the projected light beam back and forth across the reference axis and through an angular amount which includes the angle to be determined, generating a signal concurrently with movement of said projected light beam but having a characteristic that is proportional to the angular relation of the body plane relative to the projected light beam at the coincidence of the light beam and reference axis, and converting the generated signal and the detector signal into a reading of the angle of the body plane to be determined relative to the reference axis.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for displaying the angular position of the plane of rotation of a rotary body relative to a reference axis which method consists in aligning the reference plane of the body at some angle to be determined relative to the reference axis, projecting a light beam from a position in the reference plane of the body along the reference axis, locating a signal generating light responsive detector on the reference axis and at a position spaced from light beam projector in the reference plane of the body, moving the projected light beam back and forth across the reference axis and through an angular amount which includes the angle to be determined, generating a signal concurrently with movement of said projected light beam but having a characteristic that is proportional to the angular relation of the body plane relative to the projected light beam at the coincidence of the light beam and reference axis, and converting the generated signal and the detector signal into a reading of the angle of the body plane to be determined relative to the reference axis.
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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |