Consistometer

Claim 2

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient member located in said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said member at a constant rate about an axix which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member as a measure of the deflection of said resilient member due to said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient member is a thin, flat, flexible paddle, said paddle presenting its thin edge to the flowing stream.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for measuring the reaction forces exerted on said resilient member comprises means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and resilient member past respective sensor devices.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the respective sensor devices comprise magnetic sensors.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the respective members relative to their respective magnetic sensors comprise means for producing first and second electric signal pulses having leading edges corresponding to the zero time crossings at which the respective members pass the magnetic centers of their respective magnetic detectors and further comprising means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric signal pulse.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric signal pulses compriSes means for producing a third electric pulse having a time duration corresponding to the time difference between said leading edges.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, comprising means for producing an analog signal whose amplitude varies in accordance with the time duration of said third electric pulse.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the means for producing said analog signal corresponding to the time duration of said third electric pulse comprises an integrator for producing an analog signal whose amplitude is proportional to the duration of said third pulse and means for determining the amplitude of the output of said integrator.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the respective members relative to their respective magnetic sensors comprise means for producing electric pulses corresponding to the respective outputs of the magnetic sensors and a means for determining the time difference between the beginning points of the respective electric pulses by producing a third electric pulse having a time duration corresponding to the time difference between said beginning points.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the beginning points of the respective electric pulses correspond to the zero time crossings at which the respective members pass the magnetic centers of their respective magnetic detectors.

Claim 12

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a resilient member, said resilient member having a flexible end portion and being located in said stream and disposed so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow of said material in said stream, means for causing rotational movement between said material and said resilient member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow of said material in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted on said resilient member by said material substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material during said rotation relative to said material comprising a reference member and means for maintaining said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for measuring displacements between said reference member and the flexible end portion of said resilient member due to flexure of said resilient member.

Claim 13

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a resilient member, said resilient member having a flexible end portion and being located in said stream and disposed so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow of said material in said stream, means for causing rotational movement between said material and said resilient member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow of said material in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted on said resilient member by said material substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material during said rotation relative to said material comprising a reference member and means for maintaining said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for measuring displacements between said reference member and the flexible end portion of said resilient member due to flexure of said resilient member.

Claim 14

Apparatus for substantially continuously measuring the consistency of a material comprising a chamber adapted to have a stream of said material passed therethrough in a given direction, means for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material passing through said chamber comprising a rotatable resilient member located in said chamber and mounted for rotation so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow of a stream of said material along said axis in said given direction, means for rotating said member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to said given direction of flow of said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measure of the reaction forces exerted on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material during rotation of said resilient member in said material comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring the time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member, thereby measuring the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream.

Claim 15

Apparatus for substantially continuously measuring the consistency of a material comprising a chamber adapted to have a stream of said material passed therethrough in a given direction, means for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material passing through said chamber comprising a rotatable resilient member located in said chamber and mounted for rotation so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow of a stream of said material along said axis in said given direction, means for rotating said member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to said given direction of flow of said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measure of the reaction forces exerted on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material during rotation of said resilient member in said material comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring the time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member, thereby measuring the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said resilient member is a thin, flat, flexible blade, saId paddle having its thin edge aligned with said given direction of flow of said stream.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said resilient member is positioned within said chamber and wherein said reference member is positioned outside of said chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said resilient member and said reference member are mounted to a common shaft for rotation together and wherein the resilient member is mounted to a portion of said shaft extending within said chamber and wherein said reference member is mounted to a portion of said shaft external of said chamber.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said resilient member and said reference member normally lie in the same plane as the axis of said shaft when said resilient member is in the undeflected condition.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for sensing the relative positions of the resilient and reference members comprise respective magnetic sensors positioned opposite the respective resilient and reference members.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for sensing the relative positions of said flexible member and said reference member comprise respective magnetic sensors for generating respective zero crossing signals which change polarity at the time intervals corresponding to the times when the respective members pass the magnetic centers of the respective magnetic sensors, together with means coupled to said sensors for measuring the difference in the times of occurrence of said zero time crossing signals.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the means for measuring the difference in the times of occurrence of said zero time crossing signals comprises means for producing corresponding electric pulses whose leading edges correspond to the occurrence of said zero time crossing signals and means for measuring the time difference between the said leading edges.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for measuring the time difference between said leading edges of said corresponding electric pulses comprises means for generating a further pulse whose duration corresponds to the time interval between said leading edges.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said means for measuring said time difference between said leading edges comprises means for converting said further pulse to an analog signal whose amplitude corresponds to the duration of said further pulse.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for converting said further pulse to said analog signal of amplitude proportional to said time duration comprises means for integrating said further pulse.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 20, further comprising means for selectively gating said electric pulse whose leading edge corresponds to the occurrence of the zero time crossing signal for said reference sensor to said means for generating a further pulse whose duration corresponds to the time interval between said leading edges only during a selected time interval when the respective blades are in the vicinity of the respective sensors.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the means for selectively gating said electric pulse whose leading edge corresponds to the occurrence of the zero time crossing signal for said reference sensor comprises a noise gate having a control input coupled to the output of said latch circuit comprising a bistable multivibrator having set and reset inputs, said set input being coupled to means for deriving a set signal from said reference sensor for opening said noise gate at a time interval corresponding to the arrival of the leading edge of said reference member at said reference sensor, said reset input being coupled to means for deriving a reset signal from said detector sensor for closing said noise gate at a time which corresponds to the zero time crossing of said resilient member past said detector sensor.

Claim 28

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistenCy of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient detector member located in the path of said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said resilient detector member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member due to deflection of said resilient member by said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream, said means for measuring the displacement of said resilient detector member comprising means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and the resilient member past respective sensor devices, said means for measuring said time difference comprising means for producing first and second electric pulses having leading edges corresponding, respectively, to the times at which said reference and resilient members pass predetermined portions of their respective sensors, means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses, and means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference between said leading edges of said first and second electric pulses only during a predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.

Claim 29

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistenCy of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient detector member located in the path of said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said resilient detector member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member due to deflection of said resilient member by said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream, said means for measuring the displacement of said resilient detector member comprising means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and the resilient member past respective sensor devices, said means for measuring said time difference comprising means for producing first and second electric pulses having leading edges corresponding, respectively, to the times at which said reference and resilient members pass predetermined portions of their respective sensors, means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses, and means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference between said leading edges of said first and second electric pulses only during a predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses comprises means for producing a third electric pulse having a time duration corresponding to the time difference between said leading edges.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 26, comprising means for producing an analog signal whose amplitude varies in accordance with the time duration of said third electric pulse.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the respective sensor devices comprise magnetic sensors.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein the respective sensor devices comprise magnetic sensors.

Claim 34

Apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the beginning points of the respective electric pulses correspond to the zero time crossings at which the respective members pass the magnetic centers of their respective magnetic sensors.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein the beginning points of the respective electric pulses correspond to the zero time crossings at which the respective members pass the magnetic centers of their respective magnetic detectors.

Claim 36

Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference comprises a noise gate coupled to the output of a latch circuit comprising a bistable multivibrator having set and reset inputs wherein said set of said latch circuit is coupled to means for deriving a set signal from said reference sensor which corresponds to a time when the reference member approaches the referense sensor, and wherein the reset input of said latch circuit is coupled to means for deriving a reset signal from said detector sensor which corresponds to the time of the occurrence of the leading edge of said second electric pulse.

Claim 37

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient detector member Located in the path of said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said resilient detector member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member due to deflection of said resilient member by said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream, said means for measuring the displacement of said resilient detector member comprising a reference sensor positioned adjacent the travel path of said reference member, a detector sensor positioned adjacent the travel path of said resilient detector member, and means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and the resilient member past their respective sensor devices, said means for measuring said time difference comprising means for producing a first electric pulse having a leading edge corresponding to the time at which said reference member passes a predetermined portion of said reference sensor, means for producing a second electric pulse having a leading edge corresponding to the time at which said reference member passes a predetermined portion of said reference sensor, means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses, and means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference between said leading edges of said first and second electric pulses only during a predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.

Claim 38

Apparatus for continuously measuring the consistency of a stream of material comprising a rotatable resilient detector member Located in the path of said stream so that the opposite surfaces about which said member is flexible are substantially parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for rotating said resilient detector member at a constant rate about an axis which is parallel to the direction of flow in said stream, means for sensing the condition of flexure of said member in order to provide a measurement of the reaction forces exerted by said material on said resilient member substantially entirely in a direction normal to said direction of flow of said material, comprising a reference member, means for rotating said reference member in synchronism with said resilient member, and means for substantially continuously measuring time displacement between said reference member and said resilient member due to deflection of said resilient member by said material, thereby providing a measurement indicating the consistency of the material substantially independently of the rate of flow of said material in said stream, said means for measuring the displacement of said resilient detector member comprising a reference sensor positioned adjacent the travel path of said reference member, a detector sensor positioned adjacent the travel path of said resilient detector member, and means for measuring the time difference between the passage of the reference member and the resilient member past their respective sensor devices, said means for measuring said time difference comprising means for producing a first electric pulse having a leading edge corresponding to the time at which said reference member passes a predetermined portion of said reference sensor, means for producing a second electric pulse having a leading edge corresponding to the time at which said reference member passes a predetermined portion of said reference sensor, means for determining the time difference between the leading edges of the respective first and second electric pulses, and means for selectively gating said first electric pulse to said means for determining said time difference between said leading edges of said first and second electric pulses only during a predetermined time when said reference and resilient members are in the vicinity of their respective sensors.