Patent US3908279A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3908279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curvature measurement device
Assignee: WILMARK ELECTRONIC CO Inc
•
Filing: 1973-08-29
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1993-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A curvature measurement device is described having an elongated flexible member with at least one sensing wire attached at one end of the flexible member and extending along said flexible member to the other end thereof. The flexible member is attached to an object whose curvature is to be measured and flexed in accordance with the shape of the object. A deviation sensing means coupled to the non-fixed end of the sensing wire measures the change in position of said wire as the flexible member is flexed to produce an electrical output signal proportional to the change in position.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred Yoslow
- 👤 Alvin Bicker
- 👤 Mark L Yoslow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B23/00; A63B23/02; A63B23/0244; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1116; G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/28; G01B7/281; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0261; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6823; A61B5/683; A61B5/6831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A curvature measurement device comprising an elongated flexible member, at least one pair of substantially parallel sensing wires extending longitudinally along said member, the wires of said at least one pair being disposed on opposing sides of said member and together defining a plane, said member including retaining means for maintaining said wires substantially coextensive with said member along the lengths thereof and each of said wires of said at least one pair being fixedly connected at one end thereof to said member and having the other end thereof free for longitudinal displacement along said member within said plane, whereby flexing of said member within said plane causes the free ends of said at least one pair of sensing wires to be displaced relative to each other in opposing directions along said member; and deviation means coupled to said free ends for producing an electrical signal proportional to the change of relative longitudinal positions of said free ends of a respective pair of sensing wires to thereby provide a measure of curvature within the respective plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A curvature measurement device comprising an elongated flexible member, at least one pair of substantially parallel sensing wires extending longitudinally along said member, the wires of said at least one pair being disposed on opposing sides of said member and together defining a plane, said member including retaining means for maintaining said wires substantially coextensive with said member along the lengths thereof and each of said wires of said at least one pair being fixedly connected at one end thereof to said member and having the other end thereof free for longitudinal displacement along said member within said plane, whereby flexing of said member within said plane causes the free ends of said at least one pair of sensing wires to be displaced relative to each other in opposing directions along said member; and deviation means coupled to said free ends for producing an electrical signal proportional to the change of relative longitudinal positions of said free ends of a respective pair of sensing wires to thereby provide a measure of curvature within the respective plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 1 and comprising two pairs of sensing wires each wire extending longitudinally along said member, each pair defining a different plane, and each pair measuring the curvature within its defined plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as in claim 2 and wherein said planes are orthogonally perpendicular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as in claim 1 and wherein said deviation sensing means comprises resistive means fixedly located on said member at said other location and adapted to have a voltage impressed across it, and wherein said sensing wires are conductive and include sliding means electrically contacting said resistive means whereby said electrical signal is the voltage between said wires.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as in claim 4 and wherein said resistive means comprises a resistive collar surrounding said flexible member and wherein said flexible member is a non-conductive cylindrical member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 5 and wherein said sliding means comPrises conductive spring means brushing said resistive collar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 5 and wherein said sliding means comprises a curved section of said wire in sweeping contact with said resistive collar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as in claim 5 and further comprising feed wires connected to said resistive collar and wherein said flexible member includes a hollow bore therein, said feed wires passing through said hollow bore to said collar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A device as in claim 1 and wherein said wires are electrical resistance wires and wherein said deviation sensing means comprises an electrical bridge circuit having four arms with two pairs of opposing diagonals, a voltage source adapted to be connected across one pair of diagonals, a voltage sensing device adapted to be connected across the other pair of diagonals, first and second resistance means connected respectively in two adjacent arms, and two sliding contact means respectively contacting said two resistance wires at said other locations, said wires and their respective sliding contact means connected respectively in the two remaining arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 1 and wherein said retaining means comprises longitudinal grooves in said flexible member in which each of said wires respectively extend.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 10 and wherein said grooves contain a narrow neck portion at the outer edge thereof such that said wires snap into said groove and are retained therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 10 and wherein said retaining means comprises a plurality of holding means retaining said wires in said grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 1 and further comprising audio means responsive to said electrical signal whose frequency is proportional to said electrical signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 1 and further comprising audio means whose amplitude is proportional to said electrical signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 1 and further comprising readout means providing a visual signal proportional to said electrical signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as in claim 1 and further comprising means for establishing a reference signal such that said electrical signal will represent a deviation from said reference signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 1 and wherein said flexible member comprises a plurality of cascaded sections each section measuring the curvature about at least one axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 1 and wherein said flexible member further comprises mounting means adapted to interconnect said flexible member to an object being measured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A curvature measurement device comprising an elongated flexible member; two sensing wires spirally extending along said flexible member in opposing rotational directions, said member including retaining means for maintaining said wires substantially coextensive with said member along the lengths thereof and each of said wires being fixedly connected at one end thereof to said member and having the other end thereof free for substantially axial displacement along said member, whereby rotational flexing of said member about the central axis thereof causes the free ends of said sensing wires to be displaced relative to each other along said member; and deviation means coupled to said free ends for producing an electrical signal proportional to the change of relative positions of said free ends of said pair of sensing wires to thereby provide a measure of the rotational curvature about the central axis of said member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
A curvature measurement device comprising an elongated flexible member; two sensing wires spirally extending along said flexible member in opposing rotational directions, said member including retaining means for maintaining said wires substantially coextensive with said member along the lengths thereof and each of said wires being fixedly connected at one end thereof to said member and having the other end thereof free for substantially axial displacement along said member, whereby rotational flexing of said member about the central axis thereof causes the free ends of said sensing wires to be displaced relative to each other along said member; and deviation means coupled to said free ends for producing an electrical signal proportional to the change of relative positions of said free ends of said pair of sensing wires to thereby provide a measure of the rotational curvature about the central axis of said member.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |