US3929019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure transducer
Assignee: CENTURY FLIGHT SYSTEMS Inc A TX CORP
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Filing: 1974-03-25
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Static pressure acting on an aneroid provides movement of a vane as part of a mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer generating an electrical signal varying with pressure. The aneroid is coupled to a set point adjustment through a ring gear as part of the transducer housing for establishing a particular pressure level about which changes are reflected in the output of the transducer. Changes in static pressure produce an electrical output signal from the motion transducer that is applied to a control loop including a servomotor driving a gear carried by a shaft coupled to the aneroid through a rotary-to-rectilinear converter. Excitation of the servomotor repositions the vane attached to the aneroid with respect to the motion transducer to reestablish a balance in the transducer output signal. The motion transducer includes two variable capacitors with the vane positionable therebetween to change the capacitance of the two capacitors differentially. A differential-to-single ended converter having two inputs each connected to one of the variable capacitors generates an error signal varying with the capacitor difference.
Inventors
- 👤 James R Younkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0082; G01L9/0086; G01L9/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A pressure transducer which comprises: a frame; a bellows secured at one end to said frame and having a movable end; an aneroid element having a free side and secured at the opposite side to the movable end of said bellows with the sensitive axis of said aneroid coaxial to an axis of said bellows and bodily movable with the movable end; actuation means fixed to the movable end of said bellows and extending through said bellows; control means coupled to said actuation means and rotational relative to said frame to impart rectilinear movement to the movable end of said bellows along the sensitive axis to said aneroid element; and pickoff means coupled to the free side of said aneroid element along the sensitive axis and responsive to movement on the free side of said aneroid element relative to said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A pressure transducer which comprises: a frame; a bellows secured at one end to said frame and having a movable end; an aneroid element having a free side and secured at the opposite side to the movable end of said bellows with the sensitive axis of said aneroid coaxial to an axis of said bellows and bodily movable with the movable end; actuation means fixed to the movable end of said bellows and extending through said bellows; control means coupled to said actuation means and rotational relative to said frame to impart rectilinear movement to the movable end of said bellows along the sensitive axis to said aneroid element; and pickoff means coupled to the free side of said aneroid element along the sensitive axis and responsive to movement on the free side of said aneroid element relative to said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means has a fixed spatial relation relative to said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bellows biases said control means into a fixed spatial relation relative to said frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A pressure transducer at set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuation means includes a translational shaft having a threaded section external of said bellows and said control means includes: a rotational shaft having a threaded section engaging the threaded section of the translational shaft and having one end fixed in position relative to said frame by said bellows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 4 including a spring connected to said rotational shaft and to said frame to impart a predetermined torque to the rotational shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pickoff means includes: a vane attached to said aneroid element and movable with the free end side thereof; and a mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer responsive to the movement of said vane to provide an electrical output signal varying with the vane movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 6 wherein said mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer includes: two variable capacitors with said vane positionable therebetween to change the capacitance thereof differentially; and a differential-to-single ended converter having two inputs each connected to one of said variable capacitors and generating a signal varying with the capacitor difference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 7 wherein said differential-to-single ended converter includes: a first amplifier having an input coupled to oNe of said variable capacitors and an output varying with the capacitance thereof; a second amplifier having an input coupled to the second of said variable capacitors; and circuit means for connecting the output of the first amplifier to the input of the second amplifier to thereby cause the second amplifier output to vary with the difference in capacitance between the two variable capacitors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
A pressure transducer, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber open to static pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; pressure responsive means coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows secured at one end to the capsule housing around the bore and having a movable end secured to said shaft to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft; a pickoff coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to a movement of said pressure responsive means along the sensitive axis to provide an output signal varying with the motion of said pressure responsive means relative to said housing; and means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said pressure responsive means with respect to said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
167 words
A pressure transducer, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber open to static pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; pressure responsive means coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows secured at one end to the capsule housing around the bore and having a movable end secured to said shaft to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft; a pickoff coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to a movement of said pressure responsive means along the sensitive axis to provide an output signal varying with the motion of said pressure responsive means relative to said housing; and means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said pressure responsive means with respect to said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bellows biases said translational shaft into a fixed spatial relation relative to said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said translational shaft includes a threaded section external of the chamber of said housing and said means for imparting translational motion includes: a rotational shaft having a threaded section engaging the threaded section of the translational shaft and having one end fixed in position relative to said housing by said bellows; and means for imparting rotational motion to said rotational shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pressure transducer as set forth in claim 11 including a spring connected to said rotational shaft and to said housing to apply a predetermined torque to the rotational shaft relative to said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
201 words
An altimeter, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber open to static pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; an aneroid having a free side and coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows secured at one end to the capsule housing around the bore and having a movable end secured to the one end of said translational shaft within the chamber to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft with respect to the housing; a motion transducer coupled to said aneroid and responsive to a composite movement of said aneroid and said translational shaft to provide an output signal varying with the free side motion of said aneroid relative too said housing; means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of the free side of said aneroid with respect to said housing; and means coupled to said housing for positioning said housing with respect to the free side of said aneroid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
201 words
An altimeter, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber open to static pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; an aneroid having a free side and coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows secured at one end to the capsule housing around the bore and having a movable end secured to the one end of said translational shaft within the chamber to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft with respect to the housing; a motion transducer coupled to said aneroid and responsive to a composite movement of said aneroid and said translational shaft to provide an output signal varying with the free side motion of said aneroid relative too said housing; means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of the free side of said aneroid with respect to said housing; and means coupled to said housing for positioning said housing with respect to the free side of said aneroid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 13 including a controller responsive to the output signal of said motion transducer to actuate said means for imparting translational motion to maintain a preestablished relation between the free end of said aneroid and said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 13 wherein said translational shaft includes a threaded section external of the chamber of said housing, and said means for imparting translational motion includes: a rotational shaft having a threaded section engaging the threaded section of the translational shaft and having one end fixed in position relative to said housing by said bellows; and means for imparting rotational motion to said rotational shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for imparting rotational motion includes a drive gear mounted to the rotational shaft and further including a controller responsive to the output signal of said motion transducer and providing a signal to a servomotor having an output gear engaging the drive gear.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for positioning includes a drive gear fixed to said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
179 words
An altimeter, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber opened to atmospheric pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted through the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; an aneroid having a free end and coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows secured at one end to the capsule housing around the bore and having a movable end secured to said bellows to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft with respect to said housing; a vane attaching the free side to said aneroid and movable therewith; a mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer responsive to the composite movement of said vane and the translational shaft to provide an electrical output signal varying with the vane movement relative to said housing; and means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said aneroid with respect to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
179 words
An altimeter, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber opened to atmospheric pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted through the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; an aneroid having a free end and coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows secured at one end to the capsule housing around the bore and having a movable end secured to said bellows to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft with respect to said housing; a vane attaching the free side to said aneroid and movable therewith; a mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer responsive to the composite movement of said vane and the translational shaft to provide an electrical output signal varying with the vane movement relative to said housing; and means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said aneroid with respect to said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 18 wherein said motion transducer includes: two variable capacitors with said vane positionable therebetween to change the capacitance thereof differentially; and a differential-to-single ended converter having two inputs each connected to one of said variable capacitors and generating an error signal varying with the capacitor difference.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 19 wherein said differential-to-single ended converter includes: a first amplifier having an input coupled to one of said variable capacitors and an output varying with the capacitance thereof; a second amplifier having an input coupled to the second of said variable capacitors; and circuit means for connecting the output of the first amplifier to the input of the second amplifier to thereby cause the second amplifier output to vary with the difference in capacitance between the two variable capacitors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 19 wherein said vane is attached to said aneroid on the free side along the sensitive axis thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 21 wherein said housing includes an end cap displaced from said aneroid and said two variable capacitors are mounted to said end cap with said vane positionable therebetween.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
203 words
An altimeter, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber opened to atmospheric pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; an aneroid having a free side and coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows having one end in a sealing engagement with said aneroid and an opposite end in a sealing engagement with said housing around the bore to provide a flexible seal, prevent rotational movement of the shaft with respect to said housing, and provide an axial force on said translational shaft; a vane attached to the free side of said aneroid and movable therewith; a mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer responsive to the movement of said vane relative to said housing to provide an electrIcal output signal varying with the vane movement; means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said aneroid with respect to said housing; and means coupled to said capsule housing for positioning said housing with respect to said translational shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
203 words
An altimeter, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber opened to atmospheric pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; an aneroid having a free side and coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; a bellows having one end in a sealing engagement with said aneroid and an opposite end in a sealing engagement with said housing around the bore to provide a flexible seal, prevent rotational movement of the shaft with respect to said housing, and provide an axial force on said translational shaft; a vane attached to the free side of said aneroid and movable therewith; a mechanical motion to electrical signal transducer responsive to the movement of said vane relative to said housing to provide an electrIcal output signal varying with the vane movement; means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said aneroid with respect to said housing; and means coupled to said capsule housing for positioning said housing with respect to said translational shaft.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 23 including a controller responsive to the output signal of said motion transducer to actuate said means for imparting translational motion to maintain a preestablished relation between said vane and said housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 23 wherein said translational shaft includes a threaded section external of the chamber of said housing, and said means for imparting translational motion includes: a rotational shaft having a threaded section engaging the threaded section of the translational shaft and having one end fixed in position relative to said housing by said bellows; and means for imparting rotational motion to said rotational shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
An altimeter as set forth in claim 25 including a spring connected to said rotational shaft and to said housing to apply a predetermined torque to the rotational shaft relative to said housing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
145 words
A pressure transducer which comprises in combination: a frame; sealing means secured at one part to said frame and having a movable section; pressure responsive means coupled along a sensitive axis to the movable section of said sealing means and physically displaced with respect to said frame by the movement of the movable section; actuation means fixed to the movable section of said sealing means and extending through said frame to said sealing means; control means coupled to said actuation means and rotational relative to said frame to impart rectilinear movement to the movable section of said sealing means along the sensitive axis of said pressure responsive means; and pickoff means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to a movement thereof along the sensitive axis to provide an output signal varying with the motion of said pressure responsive means relative to said frame.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
145 words
A pressure transducer which comprises in combination: a frame; sealing means secured at one part to said frame and having a movable section; pressure responsive means coupled along a sensitive axis to the movable section of said sealing means and physically displaced with respect to said frame by the movement of the movable section; actuation means fixed to the movable section of said sealing means and extending through said frame to said sealing means; control means coupled to said actuation means and rotational relative to said frame to impart rectilinear movement to the movable section of said sealing means along the sensitive axis of said pressure responsive means; and pickoff means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to a movement thereof along the sensitive axis to provide an output signal varying with the motion of said pressure responsive means relative to said frame.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
174 words
A pressure transducer, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber open to static pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; pressure responsive means coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; sealing means secured at one part to the capsule housing around the bore to form the chamber therein open to static pressure and having a movable portion secured to said shaft to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft; a pickoff coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to a movement of said means along the sensitive axis to provide an output signal varying with the motion of said pressure responsive means relative to said housing; and means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said pressure responsive means with respect to said housing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
174 words
A pressure transducer, comprising in combination: a capsule housing having a chamber open to static pressure and including a bore into the chamber; a translational shaft mounted in the bore and extending from an end within the chamber to an end external of the chamber; pressure responsive means coupled along a sensitive axis to the end of said shaft in the chamber of said housing; sealing means secured at one part to the capsule housing around the bore to form the chamber therein open to static pressure and having a movable portion secured to said shaft to provide a flexible seal and prevent rotational movement of the shaft; a pickoff coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to a movement of said means along the sensitive axis to provide an output signal varying with the motion of said pressure responsive means relative to said housing; and means coupled to said translational shaft for imparting translational motion to said shaft to adjust the position of said pressure responsive means with respect to said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2597892A
Cited
US2825227A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |