US4070903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outflow meter for measuring surface drainage characteristics
Assignee: Dunlop Ltd
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Filing: 1975-06-23
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1995-06-23
Abstract
Abstract An outflow meter for measuring the drainage characteristics of a surface comprising a disc having a surface engaging face which is disposed in contact with the surface during use of the meter, an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face, means for pressing the disc into engagement with the surface under a predetermined load and means for supplying a predetermined volume of fluid through the orifice to the surface engaging face characterized in that the disc is an elliptical disc.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey Lees
- 👤 Izzed-Din Katekhda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8359
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An outflow meter for determining the drainage characteristics of a surface, in which the time for a given volume of fluid to flow out of the meter is a measure of the drainage characteristics of the surface, said meter comprising: a liquid fluid reservoir having an outlet in its base said reservoir including means for permitting measurement of outflow time of liquid from said reservoir; a resilient disc having an elliptical surface engaging face for being selectively disposed in contact with a surface during use of the meter; an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face; means for pressing the disc into engagement with a surface under a predetermined load; and closure means for the fluid reservoir outlet which closure means is removable from said outlet for bringing the outlet into fluid communication with the orifice to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the orifice to the surface engaging face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An outflow meter for determining the drainage characteristics of a surface, in which the time for a given volume of fluid to flow out of the meter is a measure of the drainage characteristics of the surface, said meter comprising: a liquid fluid reservoir having an outlet in its base said reservoir including means for permitting measurement of outflow time of liquid from said reservoir; a resilient disc having an elliptical surface engaging face for being selectively disposed in contact with a surface during use of the meter; an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face; means for pressing the disc into engagement with a surface under a predetermined load; and closure means for the fluid reservoir outlet which closure means is removable from said outlet for bringing the outlet into fluid communication with the orifice to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the orifice to the surface engaging face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An outflow meter according to claim 1 wherein the orifice has a circular cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An outflow meter according to claim 1 wherein the orifice has an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
An outflow meter system for determining the drainage characteristics of a surface, in which the time for a given volume of fluid to flow out of the meter is a measure of the drainage characteristics of the surface, said meter comprising: a liquid fluid reservoir having an outlet in its base said reservoir including means for permitting measurement of outflow time of liquid from said reservoir; a resilient disc having an elliptical surface engaging face for being selectively disposed in contact with a surface during use of the meter; an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face; means for pressing the disc into engagement with a surface under a predetermined load; closure means for the fluid reservoir outlet which closure means is removable from said outlet for bringing the outlet into fluid communication with the orifice to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the orifice to the surface engaging face; said elliptical surface engaging face of said resilient disc being pressed into engagement with a road surface having anisotropic drainage characteristics, for measuring those anisotropic drainage characteristics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
An outflow meter system for determining the drainage characteristics of a surface, in which the time for a given volume of fluid to flow out of the meter is a measure of the drainage characteristics of the surface, said meter comprising: a liquid fluid reservoir having an outlet in its base said reservoir including means for permitting measurement of outflow time of liquid from said reservoir; a resilient disc having an elliptical surface engaging face for being selectively disposed in contact with a surface during use of the meter; an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face; means for pressing the disc into engagement with a surface under a predetermined load; closure means for the fluid reservoir outlet which closure means is removable from said outlet for bringing the outlet into fluid communication with the orifice to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the orifice to the surface engaging face; said elliptical surface engaging face of said resilient disc being pressed into engagement with a road surface having anisotropic drainage characteristics, for measuring those anisotropic drainage characteristics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The outflow meter system according to claim 4, wherein said road surface has a plurality of grooves therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The outflow meter surface according to claim 5 wherein said grooves are substantially parallel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of determining anisotropic drainage characteristics in a road surface, comprising: selecting a sample road surface to be tested, pressing into engagement with said sample road surface an outflow meter for determining the drainage characteristics of a surface, in which the time for a given volume of liquid flow to flow out of the meter is a measure of the drainage characteristics of the surface, said meter comprising: a fluid reservoir having an outlet in its base said reservoir including means for permitting measurement of outflow time of liquid from said reservoir; a resilient disc having an elliptical surface engaging face for being selectively disposed in contact with a surface during use of the meter; an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face; means for pressing the disc into engagement with a surface under a predetermined load; closure means for the fluid reservoir outlet which closure means is removable from said outlet for bringing the outlet into fluid communication with the orifice to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the orifice to the surface engaging face, said elliptical surface engaging face being in engagement with said road surface; and measuring the time required for a given volume of fluid to flow out of said meter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of determining anisotropic drainage characteristics in a road surface, comprising: selecting a sample road surface to be tested, pressing into engagement with said sample road surface an outflow meter for determining the drainage characteristics of a surface, in which the time for a given volume of liquid flow to flow out of the meter is a measure of the drainage characteristics of the surface, said meter comprising: a fluid reservoir having an outlet in its base said reservoir including means for permitting measurement of outflow time of liquid from said reservoir; a resilient disc having an elliptical surface engaging face for being selectively disposed in contact with a surface during use of the meter; an orifice extending through the disc and terminating at the surface engaging face; means for pressing the disc into engagement with a surface under a predetermined load; closure means for the fluid reservoir outlet which closure means is removable from said outlet for bringing the outlet into fluid communication with the orifice to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the orifice to the surface engaging face, said elliptical surface engaging face being in engagement with said road surface; and measuring the time required for a given volume of fluid to flow out of said meter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said road surface has a plurality of grooves therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said grooves are substantially parallel.
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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) | 1981-01-30 | 1981-08-01 | 1982-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-30 | 1985-08-01 | 1986-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-30 | 1989-08-01 | 1990-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |