Patent US4051720A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4051720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine useful life measuring device
Assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
•
Filing: 1976-06-08
•
Granted: 1977-10-04
•
Expires: 1996-06-08
Abstract
Abstract The useful life of rotating machines is used up depending upon the load which the machine has to bear. In some machines it is necessary to measure the usage of the machine life and the present invention provides a device for doing this. In the described embodiment the device is applied to a gas turbine engine in which measurement of speed changes between certain speed levels is used to indicate the life usage.
Inventors
- 👤 Clive Seymour Barrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:27
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/08; G07C3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A device for measuring the use of the useful life of a rotating machine, comprising means for generating a signal having a characteristic related to a variable load of the machine; a plurality of detectors each responsive to a different level of said characteristics of said signal, the said detectors comprising a first set of detectors which respond to lower levels of said characteristic and a second set of detectors which respond to higher levels of said characteristic, the means for generating the count being associated only with the second set of detectors; means for generating a count which means is associated with said detectors and arranged to generate a count when the characteristic of said signal changes between predetermined levels of said characteristic consequent upon a corresponding machine load change; and means for summating successive counts generated by said means thereby to give an indication of the usage of said useful life.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A device for measuring the use of the useful life of a rotating machine, comprising means for generating a signal having a characteristic related to a variable load of the machine; a plurality of detectors each responsive to a different level of said characteristics of said signal, the said detectors comprising a first set of detectors which respond to lower levels of said characteristic and a second set of detectors which respond to higher levels of said characteristic, the means for generating the count being associated only with the second set of detectors; means for generating a count which means is associated with said detectors and arranged to generate a count when the characteristic of said signal changes between predetermined levels of said characteristic consequent upon a corresponding machine load change; and means for summating successive counts generated by said means thereby to give an indication of the usage of said useful life.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 1, comprising means for inhibiting counting connected to each of the detectors of the second set, which inhibiting means are arranged to become effective after a count has been generated to inhibit the generation of a further count in respect of said detector until the load has dropped to below a pre-determined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein one of said detectors is arranged to detect said pre-determined load level and said one detector includes means for removing the count inhibit from the first-mentioned detector upon the load falling below said pre-determined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the detectors of the first set each include said means for removing the count inhibit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the load variation of the machine is the machine speed and the signal is an electrical voltage and its characteristic is its voltage level.
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) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |