US3889525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibrating wire meter
Assignee: United States Department of the Interior
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Filing: 1974-08-07
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A device for measuring and displaying the natural frequency of a wire under tension by magnetically plucking the wire at a selected frequency for a first period and monitoring the mechanical vibrations during a second period. The selected frequency is manually adjusted until the monitored frequency is of sufficient amplitude to be tracked, at which point the selected frequency is electronically adjusted. The tracked frequency is displayed.
Inventors
- 👤 William V Bailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H13/00; G01G; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/16; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S331/00; Y10S331/02; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for measuring the natural frequency of a wire under tension by plucking the wire using a coil comprising: means for driving said coil at a given frequency for a first period; means manually adjustable for selecting said given frequency for driving said coil; means connected to said coil for detecting vibration of said wire above a given amplitude during a second period; means connected to said vibration detecting means for tracking the frequency of said detected vibrations within a given range of said given frequency; means connected to said tracking means for detecting tracking; means interconnecting said driving means and said tracking means for determining in response to said tracking detecting means whether said given frequency is to be the manually selected frequency or the tracked frequency in a subsequent first period; and means for displaying said tracked frequency.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for measuring the natural frequency of a wire under tension by plucking the wire using a coil comprising: means for driving said coil at a given frequency for a first period; means manually adjustable for selecting said given frequency for driving said coil; means connected to said coil for detecting vibration of said wire above a given amplitude during a second period; means connected to said vibration detecting means for tracking the frequency of said detected vibrations within a given range of said given frequency; means connected to said tracking means for detecting tracking; means interconnecting said driving means and said tracking means for determining in response to said tracking detecting means whether said given frequency is to be the manually selected frequency or the tracked frequency in a subsequent first period; and means for displaying said tracked frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 including means connected to said determining means and said display means for controlling said display means to display said tracked frequency if tracking has been detected during at least two consecutive second periods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said display means includes first means for counting a fixed number of cycles of said tracked frequency, means for generating a clock pulse, second means for counting said clock pulse until said first counting means reaches said fixed number and means for displaying the final count of said second counting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said display control means includes means for activating said first and second counters if said tracking has been detected during three consecutive second periods and means for activating said final count display means if tracking is maintained for at least said fixed number of cycles of said tracked frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said tracking means includes a first phase lock circuit having a voltage controlled oscillator, said manual selection means controlling the center frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 5 including means connected to said first phase lock circuit for storing said tracked frequency for application as said given frequency during said subsequent first period if chosen by said determining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 5 including means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for disconnecting said voltage controlled oscillator from said phase lock circuit during said first period, whereby said voltage controlled oscillator provides said given frequency for said drive means during said first period and is part of the tracking means in said second period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said tracking means includes a second phase lock circuit for accurately tracking a substantially greater frequency range than said first phase lock circuit, and wherein said tracking detecting means is connected to said first and second phase lock circuits to detect if said first phase lock circuit is tracking said vibrating frequency.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said wire and said coil are remote from the system and said vibration detecting means includes an amplifier connected to said coil for monitoring said coil during said second period, a filter in series with said amplifier, and a level detector in series with said filter.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A device for measuring the natural frequency of a wire under tension comprising: means for magnetically plucking said wire; means for Detecting mechanical vibration of said wire; a phase lock loop circuit connected to said vibration detecting means for tracking mechanical vibration in a given frequency band about a selected frequency; a voltage controlled oscillator; means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for connecting said voltage controlled oscillator to said plucking means during a first period and for connecting said voltage controlled oscillator to said phase lock loop circuit for tracking during a second period; and means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for indicating the tracked frequency.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A device for measuring the natural frequency of a wire under tension comprising: means for magnetically plucking said wire; means for Detecting mechanical vibration of said wire; a phase lock loop circuit connected to said vibration detecting means for tracking mechanical vibration in a given frequency band about a selected frequency; a voltage controlled oscillator; means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for connecting said voltage controlled oscillator to said plucking means during a first period and for connecting said voltage controlled oscillator to said phase lock loop circuit for tracking during a second period; and means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for indicating the tracked frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 10 including means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for manually adjusting said selected frequency and means connected to said voltage controlled oscillator for storing the tracked frequency of said detected mechanical vibration during said second period for use as said selected frequency during a subsequent first period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 11 including means connected to said phase lock loop circuit for detecting if said phase lock loop circuit is tracking, and means connected to said tracking detecting means for activating said storing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 12 including means connected to said tracking detecting means for preventing activation of said indicator means until tracking during three consecutive second periods have been detected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3583225A
Cited
US3726129A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |