US3812424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capacitive wire gauge
Assignee: ADE Corp
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Filing: 1973-03-15
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1993-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at a ground potential where the wire is placed within or passed through a tubular insulator having a tubular sensing electrode thereon and a pair of end electrodes located adjacent opposite ends of the sensing electrode. The sensing and end electrodes are surrounded by a conductive guard and all the electrodes and the guard are energized by alternating electric current. Measuring the capacitance between the sensing electrode and the wire provides an indication of the wire''s cross sectional configuration. The energized guard and a shield maintained at ground potential and surrounding the guard eliminate the effects of stray environmental capacitance. The pair of end electrodes eliminate the fringe effects of the capacitive field at the ends of the sensing electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 R Abbe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/12; G01B7/125; G01B7/02; G01B7/06; G01B7/08; G01B7/087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at ground potential comprising: a tubular sensing electrode within which the wire is placed; a conductive guard substantially surrounding said sensing electrode; means for energizing said electrode and guard with alternating electric current; and means for measuring the capacitance between said electrode and wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at ground potential comprising: a tubular sensing electrode within which the wire is placed; a conductive guard substantially surrounding said sensing electrode; means for energizing said electrode and guard with alternating electric current; and means for measuring the capacitance between said electrode and wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrode is cylindrical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including an insulating tubular member on which said electrode is mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said insulating tubular member contains quartz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including a shield member substantially surrounding said conductive guard and maintained at ground potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said measuring means is a circuit located between the ends of said sensing electrode and within said shield.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including a pair of tubular end electrodes within which the wire is also placed and which are located adjacent the opposite ends of said sensing electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensing electrode and guard are maintained at approximately the same instantaneous potential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said measuring means comprises: a grounded balancing capacitor energized with alternating electric current at approximately the same instantaneous potential as is said sensing electrode; a matrix circuit for directing alternating current to said sensing electrode and to said balancing capacitor, said matrix circuit having first and second arms, each arm conducting current during one polarity of said alternating current to said sensing electrode and to said balancing capacitor during the other polarity of said alternating current, said first arm conducting current to said sensing electrode and balancing capacitor during polarities opposite to those during which said second arm conducts current to said sensing electrode and balancing capacitor; and means for measuring the average current through at least one of said arms of said matrix circuit, said average current being indicative of the difference in the capacitance to ground between said balancing capacitor and said sensing electrode and the wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9 and further including means for blocking the DC component from said energizing means and applying the remaining AC component to said matrix circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9: wherein said arms of said matrix circuit contain diodes; wherein said energizing means energizes said sensing electrode through said matrix circuit; wherein said energizing means is a single AC source for energizing both said sensing electrode and said conductive guard; and further including a circuit adapted to conduct current of both polarities from said AC source to said conductive guard, the voltage drop across said circuit being approximately the same as the voltage drop across said matRix circuit so that said conductive guard and said sensing electrode are maintained at approximately the same instantaneous potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said balancing capacitor and said matrix circuit are located within said conductive guard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said wire is circular in cross sectional shape.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for gauging the cross-sectional configuration of a conductive wire at a ground potential comprising: a tubular sensing electrode within which the wire is placed; a pair of tubular end electrodes within which the wire is also placed and which are located adjacent the opposite ends of said sensing electrode; means for energizing said tubular and end electrodes with substantially the same instantaneous alternating electric potential; and means for measuring the capacitance between said sensing electrode and wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said sensing electrode.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for gauging the cross-sectional configuration of a conductive wire at a ground potential comprising: a tubular sensing electrode within which the wire is placed; a pair of tubular end electrodes within which the wire is also placed and which are located adjacent the opposite ends of said sensing electrode; means for energizing said tubular and end electrodes with substantially the same instantaneous alternating electric potential; and means for measuring the capacitance between said sensing electrode and wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said sensing electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 14 and further including a conductive guard substantially surrounding said sensing and end electrodes and also energized with alternating electric current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensing electrode, end electrodes and conductive guard are maintained at approximately the same instantaneous potential.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15 further including a shield member substantially surrounding said conductive guard and maintained at ground potential.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said wire is circular in cross sectional shape.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at ground potential comprising: placing said wire within a tubular sensing electrode substantially surrounded by a conductive guard; energizing said electrode and conductive guard with alternating electric current; and measuring the capacitance between said electrode and the wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said sensing electrode.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at ground potential comprising: placing said wire within a tubular sensing electrode substantially surrounded by a conductive guard; energizing said electrode and conductive guard with alternating electric current; and measuring the capacitance between said electrode and the wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said sensing electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 19 and further including the step of substantially surrounding said conductive guard with a shield maintained at ground potential.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as recited in claim 19 and further including the steps of also placing said wire within a pair of tubular end electrodes located adjacent the opposite ends of said sensing electrode, and energizing said end electrodes with alternating electric current to maintain said end electrodes at approximately the same instantaneous potential as said sensing electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 19 and further comprising the step of moving said wire longitudinally through said tubular sensing electrode.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at a ground potential comprising; placing said wire within a tubular sensing electrode and within a pair of tubular end electrodes located adjacent the opposite ends of said sensing electrode; energizing said sensing and end electrodes with substantially the same instantaneous alternating electric potential to maintain them at approximately the same instantaneous potential; and measuring the capacitance between said sensing electrode and the wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said sensing electrode.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of gauging the cross sectional configuration of a conductive wire at a ground potential comprising; placing said wire within a tubular sensing electrode and within a pair of tubular end electrodes located adjacent the opposite ends of said sensing electrode; energizing said sensing and end electrodes with substantially the same instantaneous alternating electric potential to maintain them at approximately the same instantaneous potential; and measuring the capacitance between said sensing electrode and the wire to obtain an indication of the cross sectional configuration of the wire within said sensing electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 23 and further including the step of moving said wire longitudinally through said tubular sensing and end electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |