US3915109A — Phase sensing system for use with a ship stabiliz…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

A system for use with a fluid-type ship stabilization tank for maintaining the operation of the stabilization tank near optimum conditions, said system comprising: fluid sensing means operatively associated with said tank for sensing a characteristic related to the movement of fluid within said tank and for developing a signal indicative of fluid movement; roll sensing means in operative relationship with said ship for sensing a characteristic related to the roll of the ship and for developing a signal indicative of ship roll; comparator means operatively associated with said fluid sensing means and said roll sensing means for developing a signal indicative of the phase differential between the movement of fluid within the ship stabilization tank and the roll of the ship; level indicator means in operative relationship with said comparator means for indicating whether the fluid level in the stabilization tank requires adjustment to maintain the desired condition of ship stabilization; and updating means for periodically updating said level indicator means with updating information in such a manner that transient conditions are not reflected in the updating information reaching said level indicator.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 183 words

A system for use with a fluid-type ship stabilization tank for maintaining the operation of the stabilization tank near optimum conditions, said system comprising: fluid sensing means operatively associated with said tank for sensing a characteristic related to the movement of fluid within said tank and for developing a signal indicative of fluid movement; roll sensing means in operative relationship with said ship for sensing a characteristic related to the roll of the ship and for developing a signal indicative of ship roll; comparator means operatively associated with said fluid sensing means and said roll sensing means for developing a signal indicative of the phase differential between the movement of fluid within the ship stabilization tank and the roll of the ship; level indicator means in operative relationship with said comparator means for indicating whether the fluid level in the stabilization tank requires adjustment to maintain the desired condition of ship stabilization; and updating means for periodically updating said level indicator means with updating information in such a manner that transient conditions are not reflected in the updating information reaching said level indicator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A system as in claim 1, wherein said updating means is in operative relationship with said level indicator means, and only periodically updates said indicator means after a predetermined number of increments of updating information.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system as in claim 2, further comprising: logic means for receiving signals from said fluid sensing means and roll sensing means; and timing means for periodically returning said logic means to a predetermined starting condition.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 71 words

A system as in claim 2, wherein said updating means includes: an update generator operatively connected to said roll sensor; counter means operatively connected to said update generator and said level indicator means for detecting the output signals from said update generator and for periodically issuing an output signal to said level indicator means to periodically enable updated information from said comparator means to be transmitted to said level indicator means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

A system as in claim 1, further comprising: shaping means and logic means intermediate said comparator means and the respective fluid sensing and roll sensing means for receiving the signals developed by said fluid sensing means and said roll sensing means, and for shaping the thus received signals and for transmitting the same to said comparator means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as in claim 1, wherein said fluid sensing means comprises pressure sensors positioned beneath the surface of the fluid within said tank.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

A system as in claim 6, wherein two pressure sensors are provided in saiD stabilization tank, and wherein one of said pressure sensors is positioned adjacent a first end of said tank and the other of said pressure sensors is positioned adjacent a second and opposite end of said tank.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system as in claim 1, wherein said roll sensing means is a gyro-type sensor for directly detecting the roll of the ship.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 86 words

A system as in claim 1, wherein said shaping means comprises: first amplifier means operatively connected to said fluid sensing means for receiving and amplifying output signals from said fluid sensing means and for issuing signals of predetermined characteristics as determined by the level of fluid in said tank; and second amplifier means operatively connected to said roll sensing means for receiving and amplifying output signals from said roll sensing means and for issuing signals of predetermined characteristics as determined by the roll of the ship.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system as in claim 9, wherein said shaping means further comprises: first integrator means for receiving signals originating with said fluid sensing means; and second integrator means for receiving signals originating with said roll sensing means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

A system as in claim 10, wherein said logic means comprises: first control means operatively connected to said first integrator means for controlling the operation thereof; and second control means operatively connected to said second integrator means for controlling the operation thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 81 words

A system as in claim 11, wherein said shaping means further comprises: summing means operatively connected to said first and second integrator means for receiving the output signals from said first and second integrator means and for developing a signal equal to the arithmetic sum thereof; and difference means operatively connected to said first and second integrator means for receiving the output signals from said first and second integrator means and for developing a signal equal to the arithmetic difference thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

A system as in claim 12, and further comprising: voltage divider means operatively connected to said summing means for receiving output signals therefrom and for issuing a signal which is a multiple of the summed outputs of said first and second integrator means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 75 words

A system as in claim 13, wherein said comparator means comprises: first and second comparator units operatively connected to said voltage divider means for comparing the difference between the outputs of said first and second integrator means with said multiple of the summed outputs of said first and second integrator means, and for issuing and transmitting to said indicator means, output signals indicative of the level of the desired fluid level in said stabilization tank.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 71 words

A system as in claim 14, wherein said level indicator means includes: a logic circuit operatively connected to said first and second comparator units; memory means operatively connected to said logic circuit for storing information received from said first and second comparator means; and connector means for operatively connecting said level indicator means with said memory means for indicating information relative to the level of the fluid in the stabilization tank.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system as in claim 10, and further comprising timing means including a dump generator for periodically returning said first and second integrator means to a predetermined condition.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as in claim 16, wherein the period for returning to said predetermined condition is determined by the roll period of the ship.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system as in claim 1, wherein said comparator means includes a low-pass filter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 115 words

A system as in claim 1, wherein said fluid sensing means issues first signals indicative of the movement of fluid within said tank; wherein said roll-sensing means issues second signals indicative of the roll of the ship; and wherein said comparator means includes means for comparing the phase difference between said first and second signals and for issuing third signals indicatIve of the phase differences, and low-pass filter means for receiving said third signals and for averaging the same over multiple rolls of the ship, said low-pass filter means thereby controlling said level indicator means in accordance with the average relationship between the fluid movement and the ship over said multiple rolls of the ship.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-27	1979-04-28	1979-10-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-27	1983-04-28	1983-10-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-27	1987-04-28	1987-10-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Phase sensing system for use with a ship stabilization apparatus

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