Patent US4020691A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4020691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
D.C. signal currents in capacitance gaging systems
Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc
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Filing: 1976-05-10
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1996-05-10
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Cecil Franklin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/26; G01F23/263; G01F23/266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An aircraft fuel contents measuring and display system, comprising a plurality of variable impedance type transducers each sensitive to the fuel content of a respective one of several aircraft fuel tanks, an A.C. energisation source for energising the transducers in parallel to produce A.C. signals dependent on the impedance of each transducer, a respective pair of rectifier means connected to each transducer and defining respective first and second circuit paths for that trandsucer which respectively carry unidirectional currents of opposite polarity both dependent on the A.C. signals of that transducer, first and second integrating means, selector means having inputs respectively connected to all the said first circuit paths and a single output for feeding any selected one of its inputs to the first integrating means to produce an output signal dependent on the fuel content sensed by the transducer feeding the selected one of the first circuit paths, and means additively connecting all the second circuit paths to the second integrating means to produce a second output signal dependent on the sum of the fuel contents sensed by all the said transducers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
An aircraft fuel contents measuring and display system, comprising a plurality of variable impedance type transducers each sensitive to the fuel content of a respective one of several aircraft fuel tanks, an A.C. energisation source for energising the transducers in parallel to produce A.C. signals dependent on the impedance of each transducer, a respective pair of rectifier means connected to each transducer and defining respective first and second circuit paths for that trandsucer which respectively carry unidirectional currents of opposite polarity both dependent on the A.C. signals of that transducer, first and second integrating means, selector means having inputs respectively connected to all the said first circuit paths and a single output for feeding any selected one of its inputs to the first integrating means to produce an output signal dependent on the fuel content sensed by the transducer feeding the selected one of the first circuit paths, and means additively connecting all the second circuit paths to the second integrating means to produce a second output signal dependent on the sum of the fuel contents sensed by all the said transducers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system according to claim 1, in which the A.C. energisation source is connected to produce an A.C. energistation output varying about a grounded datum point, the said first integrating means comprises a differential amplifier having one of its inputs connected to the output of the selector means and the other of its inputs grounded, the said second integrating means comprises another differential amplifier having one of its inputs connected to the additively connected second circuit paths and the other of its inputs grounded, each differential amplifier has a feed-back circuit including a parallel-connected capacitor and resistor, and the said selector means for grounding each unselected first circuit path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1, including, for each integrating means, respective power amplifier means for receiving and amplifying the said output signal of the integrating means, and display means responsive to the amplified output signal for displaying it.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system according to claim 3, in which the display means comprises a mechanical indicator, and each power amplifying means comprises a servo motor connected to drive the mechanical indicator, means responsive to the instantaneous position of the mechanical indicator to produce an electrical feedback signal, comparing means for comparing the feedback signal with the respective said output signal to produce an error signal dependent on the difference, if any, therebetween, amplifying means connected to receive and power-amplify the said error signal, and means feeding the amplified error signal to energise the servo motor in a direction such as to minimize the value of the error signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1, in which each transducer comprises a capacitor whose dielectric is formed at least in part by the fuel, whereby its capacitive impedance depends on the fuel contents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1, in which each first and second circuit path includes unshielded signal lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3916689A
Cited
US3935739A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |