Patent US1152366A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3886792A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3886792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conformal pressure transducer for ammunition testing
Assignee: PCB Piezotronics Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A transducer for converting pressure changes into electrical signals wherein the pressure changes act on one surface of a relatively thin wall, such as pressure changes within a tube. A piston means on one end of the transducer housing and integral therewith has a contoured end surface conforming to the other surface of the wall opposite the surface on which pressure changes act. When the pressure changes are within a tube, for example within a cartridge casing in ammunition testing, the contoured end surface is concave. Piezoelectric crystal elements rigidly positioned within the transducer are deformed when pressure is applied through the wall to the contoured end surface of the piston means, and an output electrical signal is produced proportional to the applied pressure. Installation of the transducer in a test body is facilitated by a captive retaining nut rotatably connected on the transducer housing and having external threads for connecting in the test body. An alignment guide is carried by the transducer and engages the test body in a manner providing precise rotational alignment and permitting depth adjustment of the contoured end surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas D Change
- 👤 Michael T Riggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:24
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B35/00; G; G01; G01L; G01L5/00; G01L5/14; G01L9/00; G01L9/0001; G01L9/0041; G01L9/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for testing ammunition fired from a test body such as a gun barrel having an interior chamber for holding an unmodified ammunition cartridge and an access opening communicating with a portion of the outer wall surface of said cartridge said apparatus comprising: a. a housing adapted to be connected in the access opening of the test body; b. piston means on one end of said housing and having a contoured end surface conforming to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge; c. piezolectric means within said housing and mechanically connected to said pisTon means; d. whereby when said contoured end surface of said piston means firmly contacts and conforms to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge, pressure developed in response to firing of the cartridge is applied through the cartridge to said contoured end surface to deform said piezoelectric means to generate an electrical output signal proportional to the applied pressure; and e. circuit means connecting the electrical output of said piezoelectric means to means providing information of pressure amplitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for testing ammunition fired from a test body such as a gun barrel having an interior chamber for holding an unmodified ammunition cartridge and an access opening communicating with a portion of the outer wall surface of said cartridge said apparatus comprising: a. a housing adapted to be connected in the access opening of the test body; b. piston means on one end of said housing and having a contoured end surface conforming to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge; c. piezolectric means within said housing and mechanically connected to said pisTon means; d. whereby when said contoured end surface of said piston means firmly contacts and conforms to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge, pressure developed in response to firing of the cartridge is applied through the cartridge to said contoured end surface to deform said piezoelectric means to generate an electrical output signal proportional to the applied pressure; and e. circuit means connecting the electrical output of said piezoelectric means to means providing information of pressure amplitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for testing ammunition fired from a test body such as a gun barrel having an interior chamber for holding an unmodified ammunition cartridge and an access opening communicating with a portion of the outer wall surface of said cartridge said apparatus comprising: a. a housing adapted to be connected in the access opening of the test body; b. piston means on one end of said housing and having a contoured end surface conforming to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge; c. piezolectric means within said housing and mechanically connected to said pisTon means; d. whereby when said contoured end surface of said piston means firmly contacts and conforms to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge, pressure developed in response to firing of the cartridge is applied through the cartridge to said contoured end surface to deform said piezoelectric means to generate an electrical output signal proportional to the applied pressure; and e. circuit means connecting the electrical output of said piezoelectric means to means providing information of pressure amplitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for testing ammunition fired from a test body such as a gun barrel having an interior chamber for holding an unmodified ammunition cartridge and an access opening communicating with a portion of the outer wall surface of said cartridge said apparatus comprising: a. a housing adapted to be connected in the access opening of the test body; b. piston means on one end of said housing and having a contoured end surface conforming to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge; c. piezolectric means within said housing and mechanically connected to said pisTon means; d. whereby when said contoured end surface of said piston means firmly contacts and conforms to the outer surface of the ammunition cartridge, pressure developed in response to firing of the cartridge is applied through the cartridge to said contoured end surface to deform said piezoelectric means to generate an electrical output signal proportional to the applied pressure; and e. circuit means connecting the electrical output of said piezoelectric means to means providing information of pressure amplitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said contoured end surface of said piston means is concave.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piston means is integral with said housing and is generally cylindrical including relatively thin elastic wall means between said housing and said contoured end surface whereby the entire end surface of said transducer is a force sensitive surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric means comprises first and second piezoelectric crystal elements rigidly positioned within said piston means so as to be deformed by said contoured end surface in response to applied pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a coating of thermally insulating material on said contoured end surface of said piston means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a captive nut rotatably connected on said housing and provided with external threads for engaging threads in the access opening for connecting said housing in the access opening while maintaining a predetermined orientation of said contoured end surface in response to rotation of said nut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including alignment guide means carried by said housing and engaging the test body to align said contoured end surface of said piston means with the surface of the interior chamber at the access opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including an alignment opening in the test body spaced from the access opening and having a predetermined alignment with respect to the surface of the interior chamber and alignment guide means carried by said housing and having a portion which is received in guiding engagement by said alignment opening as said housing is connected into said access opening in said test body whereby said contoured end surface of said piston means is aligned with the surface of the interior chamber at the access opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including: a. an alignment opening provided in the test body spaced from the access opening and having a predetermined alignment with respect to the surface of the interior chamber of the test body around the access opening; b. a pin member adapted to be slidably received in said alignment opening; and c. means connecting said pin member to said housing in a manner such that said pin has a fixed alignment relative to said contoured end surface of said piston means and such that said pin is received in said alignment opening as said housing is connected in the access opening of the test body; d. whereby said contoured end surface of said piston means is aligned with the surface of the interior chamber at the access opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further including means adjustably securing said connecting means to said housing.
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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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |