Patent US4083255A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4083255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydro-optic vibration detector
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1977-03-04
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Granted: 1978-04-11
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Expires: 1997-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A vibration sensing and measuring system is disclosed as including a series connected signal generator, vibration sensor adapted for being connected to any appropriate compatible object from which the vibration information and/or parameters analogous thereto are desired, and utilization apparatus - such as, for example, a readout - for indicating or otherwise utilizng the measured vibrations of said vibrating apparatus. When the aforesaid object vibrates, said sensor vibrates in synchronism therewith; thus a liquid disposed therein is disturbed in such manner as to cause standing waves at the surface thereof that are proportional thereto. The reception by a photodiode (located in said sensor) of light broadcast in a given amount along and in contiguous disposition with the surface of said liquid by a light emitting diode (likewise located in said sensor) is reduced in accordance with the aforesaid standing waves thereof and, by calibration, constitutes a measure of the vibration of said sensor and, hence, the object to which it is connected.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. McKechnie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A vibration detector, comprising in combination: means for generating a first predetermined electrical signal; a container means having at least a pair of oppositely disposed walls; liquid means disposed within said container means in such manner as to cause the surface thereof to be at a certain level therein when said liquid means is in a quiescent state; radiant energy generating means effectively electrically connected to the output of said first predetermined electrical signal generating means and mounted in and extending through one of the oppositely disposed walls of said container means in such manner that one portion of the periphery thereof is in contiguous disposition with the surface of said liquid means when said liquid means is in a quiescent state, and so as to permit the broadcast of the radiant energy generated thereby in a predetermined direction along the aforesaid liquid surface in response to said first predetermined electrical signal; means mounted in and extending through the other of said oppositely disposed walls of said container means in such manner that one portion of the periphery thereof is in contiguous disposition with the surface of said liquid means when said liquid means is in a quiescent state, and so as to permit the reception of radiant energy broadcast by the aforesaid radiant energy generating means and for generating a second electrical signal proportional thereto; and utilization apparatus means effectively connected to the output of said radiant energy reception means for response to the aforesaid second electrical signal generated thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A vibration detector, comprising in combination: means for generating a first predetermined electrical signal; a container means having at least a pair of oppositely disposed walls; liquid means disposed within said container means in such manner as to cause the surface thereof to be at a certain level therein when said liquid means is in a quiescent state; radiant energy generating means effectively electrically connected to the output of said first predetermined electrical signal generating means and mounted in and extending through one of the oppositely disposed walls of said container means in such manner that one portion of the periphery thereof is in contiguous disposition with the surface of said liquid means when said liquid means is in a quiescent state, and so as to permit the broadcast of the radiant energy generated thereby in a predetermined direction along the aforesaid liquid surface in response to said first predetermined electrical signal; means mounted in and extending through the other of said oppositely disposed walls of said container means in such manner that one portion of the periphery thereof is in contiguous disposition with the surface of said liquid means when said liquid means is in a quiescent state, and so as to permit the reception of radiant energy broadcast by the aforesaid radiant energy generating means and for generating a second electrical signal proportional thereto; and utilization apparatus means effectively connected to the output of said radiant energy reception means for response to the aforesaid second electrical signal generated thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a first predetermined electrical signal comprises an alternating current signal generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a first predetermined electrical signal comprises a direct current signal generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a first predetermined electrical signal comprises a radio frequency signal generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a first predetermined electrical signal comprises a modulated radio frequency generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said container means comprises an open top container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said container means comprises a closed container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid means comprises water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid means comprises oil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid means comprises mercury.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said radiant energy generating means comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said radiant energy reception means comprises a photodiode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said utilization apparatus means comprises: a transmitter; a transmitting transducer connected to the output of said transmitter and disposed within a predetermined environmental medium; a receiving transducer disposed within the aforesaid predetermined environmental medium; a receiver connected to the output of said receiving transducer; and a readout connected to the output of said receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 1, further characterized by a vibrating apparatus effectively connected to the aforesaid container means for effecting the vibration thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said utilization apparatus means comprises: a receiver; and a readout connected to the output of said receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 15, wherein said readout comprises an alternating current voltmeter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 15, wherein said readout comprises a direct current voltmeter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
153 words
A vibration sensing and measuring system, comprising in combination: a generator for producing a first electrical signal; a container having walls, said container being capable of being vibrated by a vibrating apparatus; a predetermined liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein; a light emitting diode effectively electrically connected to the output of said electrical generator and mounted on one of the walls of said container in such manner as to shine the light emitted thereby along the surface of said liquid in response to said first electrical signal; a photodiode mounted on another of the walls of said container in such manner as to receive light emitted by the aforesaid light emitting diode and produce a second electrical signal proportional thereto; and means effectively connected to the output of said photodiode for reading out said second signal in predetermined meaningful terms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
153 words
A vibration sensing and measuring system, comprising in combination: a generator for producing a first electrical signal; a container having walls, said container being capable of being vibrated by a vibrating apparatus; a predetermined liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein; a light emitting diode effectively electrically connected to the output of said electrical generator and mounted on one of the walls of said container in such manner as to shine the light emitted thereby along the surface of said liquid in response to said first electrical signal; a photodiode mounted on another of the walls of said container in such manner as to receive light emitted by the aforesaid light emitting diode and produce a second electrical signal proportional thereto; and means effectively connected to the output of said photodiode for reading out said second signal in predetermined meaningful terms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 18, wherein said predetermined liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein comprises oil.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 18, wherein said predetermined liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein comprises mercury.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 18, wherein said predetermined liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein comprises water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 18, wherein said means effectively connected to the output of said photodiode for reading out said second signal in predetermined meaningful terms comprises a voltmeter calibrated in terms of amplitude of vibration of the aforesaid vibrating apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
211 words
A vibration sensing and measuring instrument, comprising in combination: an electrical signal generator; a selector switch connected to the output of said electrical signal generator; a vibration sensor, said vibration sensor including: a container capable of being connected to a vibrating apparatus for the vibration thereof thereby; a predetermined light reflective liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the reflective surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein when said vibration sensor is in a quiescent state; a light emitting diode electrically connected to the output of the aforesaid selector switch and mounted within said container in such manner as to shine the light emitted thereby along the reflective surface of said liquid and thus be reflected thereby in response to the energization thereof by the aforesaid electrical signal generated by said electrical signal generator; a photodiode mounted within said container in such manner as to receive light emitted by said light emitting diode and reflected from the surface of said reflective liquid and to produce an electrical signal proportional thereto; an amplifier connected to the output of the photodiode of said vibration sensor for amplifying the electrical signal produced thereby to a more useful level; and a predetermined utilization apparatus connected to the output of said amplifier.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
211 words
A vibration sensing and measuring instrument, comprising in combination: an electrical signal generator; a selector switch connected to the output of said electrical signal generator; a vibration sensor, said vibration sensor including: a container capable of being connected to a vibrating apparatus for the vibration thereof thereby; a predetermined light reflective liquid disposed within said container in such manner that the reflective surface thereof is located at a predetermined level therein when said vibration sensor is in a quiescent state; a light emitting diode electrically connected to the output of the aforesaid selector switch and mounted within said container in such manner as to shine the light emitted thereby along the reflective surface of said liquid and thus be reflected thereby in response to the energization thereof by the aforesaid electrical signal generated by said electrical signal generator; a photodiode mounted within said container in such manner as to receive light emitted by said light emitting diode and reflected from the surface of said reflective liquid and to produce an electrical signal proportional thereto; an amplifier connected to the output of the photodiode of said vibration sensor for amplifying the electrical signal produced thereby to a more useful level; and a predetermined utilization apparatus connected to the output of said amplifier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 23, wherein said predetermined utilization apparatus comprises a readout that is calibrated in terms of the amplitude of vibration of the aforesaid vibrating apparatus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 23, further characterized by a light stop effectively connected to said container in such manner as to be partially disposed between the light emitting diode and the photodiode of said vibration sensor, so as to limit the light transfer therebetween a predetermined amount, regardless of the attitude of said container.
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) | 1981-04-10 | 1981-10-10 | 1982-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-10 | 1985-10-10 | 1986-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-10 | 1989-10-10 | 1990-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |