Patent US3983751A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3983751A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of measuring the level of elevated temperature particulate material
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1974-07-17
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Granted: 1976-10-05
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Expires: 1994-07-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring the amount of particulate material in an accumulator, which material enters the accumulator at a temperature above the ambient temperature, comprising an accumulator body for holding particulate material; an inlet means located in the upper portion of the accumulator body to allow the particulate material to enter the accumulator body; and a plurality of temperature sensing means located at points of differing height in the accumulator body below the inlet means. Improved methods for determining and/or monitoring the amount of particulate material entering an accumulator body through an inlet means at a temperature above the ambient are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Lincoln D. Cipriano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/24; G01F23/246; G01F23/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for monitoring the amount of particulate material in an accumulator having an inlet means located in the upper portion of said accumulator to allow said particulate material to enter said accumulator, provided that said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature above the ambient temperature, said method comprising: 1. determining the temperature at a plurality of points of differing height in said accumulator below said inlet means provided that the uppermost of said points is in the gas above the level of said particulate material and said uppermost point is at substantially the same temperature as said entering particulate material; 2. repeating step (1) periodically; and 3. measuring the amount of said particulate material in said accumulator by comparing the temperatures determined in steps (1) and (2) wherein a reduction in temperature at any said lower point relative to the temperature at the uppermost of said points indicates that said lower point is below the level of said particulate material and essentially no change in temperature at said lower point relative to the uppermost of said points indicating that said lower point is above the level of said particulate material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for monitoring the amount of particulate material in an accumulator having an inlet means located in the upper portion of said accumulator to allow said particulate material to enter said accumulator, provided that said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature above the ambient temperature, said method comprising: 1. determining the temperature at a plurality of points of differing height in said accumulator below said inlet means provided that the uppermost of said points is in the gas above the level of said particulate material and said uppermost point is at substantially the same temperature as said entering particulate material; 2. repeating step (1) periodically; and 3. measuring the amount of said particulate material in said accumulator by comparing the temperatures determined in steps (1) and (2) wherein a reduction in temperature at any said lower point relative to the temperature at the uppermost of said points indicates that said lower point is below the level of said particulate material and essentially no change in temperature at said lower point relative to the uppermost of said points indicating that said lower point is above the level of said particulate material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature at least about 100°F. higher than the ambient temperatures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said reduction in temperature is at least about 3°F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said accumulator includes outlet means located in the lower portion of accumulator and said points of differing height are located between said inlet means and said outlet means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said points of differing height are essentially equidistant from the nearest outer wall of said accumulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature at least about 150°F. higher than the ambient temperature and said reduction in temperature is at least about 60°F.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for determing when more than a predetermined amount of particulate material is present in an accumulator, said particulate matter entering said accumulator through an inlet means at a temperature above the ambient temperature, which comprises: 1. determining the temperature at two points of differing height in said accumulator below said inlet means, the lower of these points being in the gas above the level of particulate material when said predetermined amount of particulate material is present in said accumulator and the upper of these points is at substantially the same temperature as said entering particulate material; 2. repeating step (1) periodically; and 3. measuring the amount of said particulate material in said accumulator by comparing the temperatures determined in steps (1) and (2) wherein a decrease in temperature at said lower point relative to the temperature at said upper point being indicative that more than said predetermined amount of said particulate material is present in said accumulator body.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for determing when more than a predetermined amount of particulate material is present in an accumulator, said particulate matter entering said accumulator through an inlet means at a temperature above the ambient temperature, which comprises: 1. determining the temperature at two points of differing height in said accumulator below said inlet means, the lower of these points being in the gas above the level of particulate material when said predetermined amount of particulate material is present in said accumulator and the upper of these points is at substantially the same temperature as said entering particulate material; 2. repeating step (1) periodically; and 3. measuring the amount of said particulate material in said accumulator by comparing the temperatures determined in steps (1) and (2) wherein a decrease in temperature at said lower point relative to the temperature at said upper point being indicative that more than said predetermined amount of said particulate material is present in said accumulator body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature at least about 100°F. higher than the ambient temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said decrease in temperature is at least about 30°F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said point are essentially equidistant from the nearest outer wall of the accumulator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature at least about 150°F. higher than the ambient temperature and said decrease in temperature is at least about 60°F.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for determining when less than a predetermined amount of particulate material is present in an accumulator, said particulate matter entering said accumulator through an inlet means at a temperature above the ambient temperature, which comprises: 1. determining the temperature at two points of differing height in said accumulator below said inlet means, the lower of these points being below the level of particulate material and the upper of these points being in the gas above the level of particulate material when said predetermined amount of particulate material is present in said accumulator, provided that said upper point is at substantially the same temperature as said entering particulate material; 2. repeating step (1) periodically; and 3. measuring the amount of said particulate material in said accumulator by comparing the temperatures determined in steps (1) and (2) wherein an increase in temperature at said lower point to a temperature below or essentially the same as the temperature at said upper point being indicative that less than said predetermined amount of said particulate material is present in said accumulator.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for determining when less than a predetermined amount of particulate material is present in an accumulator, said particulate matter entering said accumulator through an inlet means at a temperature above the ambient temperature, which comprises: 1. determining the temperature at two points of differing height in said accumulator below said inlet means, the lower of these points being below the level of particulate material and the upper of these points being in the gas above the level of particulate material when said predetermined amount of particulate material is present in said accumulator, provided that said upper point is at substantially the same temperature as said entering particulate material; 2. repeating step (1) periodically; and 3. measuring the amount of said particulate material in said accumulator by comparing the temperatures determined in steps (1) and (2) wherein an increase in temperature at said lower point to a temperature below or essentially the same as the temperature at said upper point being indicative that less than said predetermined amount of said particulate material is present in said accumulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature at least about 100°F. higher than the ambient temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said increase in temperature is at least about 30°F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said points of differing height are essentially equidistant from the nearest outer wall of said accumulator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said particulate material enters said accumulator at a temperature at least about 150°F. higher than the ambient temperature and said increase in temperature is about 60°F.
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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) | 1979-10-05 | 1980-04-05 | 1980-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-05 | 1984-04-05 | 1984-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-05 | 1988-04-05 | 1988-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |