US4142238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-09
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Granted: 1979-02-27
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Expires: 1993-08-09
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure deals with a system for monitoring the rate of operation of a cyclically operating machine or process or the rate of cyclically recurring events. The system monitors the rate by sensing each cycle occurring during a sampling time interval or duration and generating a signal which is taken as a standard value representing a standard rate. Either the length of time required for a specific number of events is measured, or the number of events occurring in a specified time is measured. The measured value is compared with the standard value and an indication is made of the comparison.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Brandt
- 👤 Robert D. Fisher
- 👤 James E. Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:41
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/08; G07C3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically occurring series of said events, comprising first means for sensing the occurrences of said events and for generating a train of pulses, each of said pulses representing one of said events, second means responsive to said train of pulses for providing a signal having a characteristic which represents the rate of occurrence of said events, preset comparator means for providing a preselected standard value of said characteristic and for comparing said characteristic of said signal with said standard value, and indicator means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparision.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically occurring series of said events, comprising first means for sensing the occurrences of said events and for generating a train of pulses, each of said pulses representing one of said events, second means responsive to said train of pulses for providing a signal having a characteristic which represents the rate of occurrence of said events, preset comparator means for providing a preselected standard value of said characteristic and for comparing said characteristic of said signal with said standard value, and indicator means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparision.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically occurring series of said events, comprising first means for sensing the occurrence of said events and for generating a train of pulses, each of said pulses representing one of said events, second means responsive to said train of pulses for providing a signal having a characteristic which represents the rate of occurrence of said events, comparator means for providing a standard value of said characteristic and for comparing said characteristic of said signal with said standard value, and indicator means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said second means comprising a first circuit for generating a sampling time interval, and a second circuit providing said signal representing the number of said events occurring during said interval.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically occurring series of said events, comprising first means for sensing the occurrence of said events and for generating a train of pulses, each of said pulses representing one of said events, second means responsive to said train of pulses for providing a signal having a characteristic which represents the rate of occurrence of said events, comparator means for providing a standard value of said characteristic and for comparing said characteristic of said signal with said standard value, and indicator means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said second means comprising a first circuit for generating a sampling time interval, and a second circuit providing said signal representing the number of said events occurring during said interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said second circuit comprises an integrator providing a voltage having a magnitude representing said number of cycles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said first circuit is responsive to said first means and initiates a sampling time interval in synchronism with the occurrence of one of said events.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said second circuit includes means for adjusting the length of said time interval.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically occurring series of said events, comprising first means for sensing the occurrences of said events and for generating a train of pulses, each of said pulses representing one of said events, second means responsive to said train of pulses for providing a signal having a characteristic which respresents the rate of occurrence of said events, comparator means for providing a standard value of said characteristic and for comparing said characteristic of said signal with said standard value, and indicator means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said comparator means comprising means for adjusting said standard value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically occurring series of said events, comprising first means for sensing the occurrences of said events and for generating a train of pulses, each of said pulses representing one of said events, second means responsive to said train of pulses for providing a signal having a characteristic which respresents the rate of occurrence of said events, comparator means for providing a standard value of said characteristic and for comparing said characteristic of said signal with said standard value, and indicator means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said comparator means comprising means for adjusting said standard value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for measuring the rate of operation of a cyclically operating machine, comprising first means for sensing each cycle of operation and generating a pulse in response thereto, second means for generating a sampling interval, third means responsive to said first and second means for generating a signal having a characteristic that is a function of the number of said pulses occurring during said sampling interval, preset comparator means for providing a preselected standard value and for comparing said characteristic with said standard value, and fourth means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for measuring the rate of operation of a cyclically operating machine, comprising first means for sensing each cycle of operation and generating a pulse in response thereto, second means for generating a sampling interval, third means responsive to said first and second means for generating a signal having a characteristic that is a function of the number of said pulses occurring during said sampling interval, preset comparator means for providing a preselected standard value and for comparing said characteristic with said standard value, and fourth means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as in claim 7, wherein said second means is coupled to said first means and includes means for initiating a sampling interval in synchronization with one of said pulses from said first means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for measuring the rate of operation of events in a cyclically operating machine, comprising first means for sensing each cycle of operation and generating a pulse in response thereto, second means for generating a sampling interval, third means responsive to said first and second means for generating a signal having a characteristic that is a function of the number of said pulses occurring during said sampling interval, comparator means for providing a standard value and for comparing said characteristic with said standard value, and fourth means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said third means comprising an integrator, and said characteristic comprising the magnitude of a voltage.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for measuring the rate of operation of events in a cyclically operating machine, comprising first means for sensing each cycle of operation and generating a pulse in response thereto, second means for generating a sampling interval, third means responsive to said first and second means for generating a signal having a characteristic that is a function of the number of said pulses occurring during said sampling interval, comparator means for providing a standard value and for comparing said characteristic with said standard value, and fourth means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said third means comprising an integrator, and said characteristic comprising the magnitude of a voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 9, wherein said integrator includes adjustable means for varying the amount of change in the magnitude of said voltage for each pulse from said first means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as in claim 10, wherein said second means includes adjustable means for varying the length of said sampling interval, said adjustable means of said integrator and said adjustable means of said second means being coupled together for simultaneous adjustment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as in claim 9, and further including reset means connected to the output of said second means for generating a reset pulse at the end of each sampling interval, said integrator means being connected to said reset means to be reset by each of said reset pulses.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for measuring the rate of operation of events in a cyclically operating machine, comprising first means for sensing each cycle of operation and generating a pulse in response thereto, second means for generating a sampling interval, third means responsive to said first and second means for generating a signal having a characteristic that is a function of the number of said pulses occurring during said sampling interval, comparator means for providing a standard value and for comparing said characteristic with said standard value, and fourth means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said characteristic comprising the voltage magnitude of said signal, and said comparator means comprising at least one Schmitt trigger circuit connected to respond to said voltage magnitude.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for measuring the rate of operation of events in a cyclically operating machine, comprising first means for sensing each cycle of operation and generating a pulse in response thereto, second means for generating a sampling interval, third means responsive to said first and second means for generating a signal having a characteristic that is a function of the number of said pulses occurring during said sampling interval, comparator means for providing a standard value and for comparing said characteristic with said standard value, and fourth means responsive to said comparator means for indicating said comparison, said characteristic comprising the voltage magnitude of said signal, and said comparator means comprising at least one Schmitt trigger circuit connected to respond to said voltage magnitude.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as in claim 13, wherein two of said Schmitt trigger circuits are provided which are preset to be triggered at different voltage magnitudes, and said fourth means comprises an indicator and gating and storage circuits for storing signals received from said Schmitt trigger circuits and activating said indicator during a sampling interval.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation and generating a first signal in response thereto, generating a second signal representing a preselected unit of time, combining said first and said second signals to produce a third signal representing the number of said cycles occurring in said unit of time, comparing said third signal with a reference value representing a preselected standard rate of operation, and indicating the result of said comparison.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation and generating a first signal in response thereto, generating a second signal representing a preselected unit of time, combining said first and said second signals to produce a third signal representing the number of said cycles occurring in said unit of time, comparing said third signal with a reference value representing a preselected standard rate of operation, and indicating the result of said comparison.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically recurring series of said events, comprising first means connected to respond to said events and generating a first signal representing a number of the occurrences of said events, second means for generating a second signal representing a sampling time interval, third means providing a standard value of comparison representing a predetermined rate of occurrence of said events, one of said first and second signals being variable as a function of the rate of said events while the other of said first and second signals is held constant, and fourth means for providing an indication of a comparison of said variable signal with said standard value.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically recurring series of said events, comprising first means connected to respond to said events and generating a first signal representing a number of the occurrences of said events, second means for generating a second signal representing a sampling time interval, third means providing a standard value of comparison representing a predetermined rate of occurrence of said events, one of said first and second signals being variable as a function of the rate of said events while the other of said first and second signals is held constant, and fourth means for providing an indication of a comparison of said variable signal with said standard value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as in claim 16, wherein said first means comprises a variable voltage circuit for producing a voltage having a level representing said number of occurrences, said second means comprises a circuit for generating a signal at a fixed time interval, and said third means comprises a voltage level responsive trigger circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 17, wherein said first means comprises an integrator circuit, said second means comprises a relaxation oscillator, and said third means comprises at least one Schmitt trigger circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as in claim 16, wherein said first means comprises a first counter for providing said first signal after a fixed number of said occurrences, said second means comprising an oscillator and a second counter for said oscillator frequency, said second signal being the count output of said second counter, and said third means comprising gating circuits and connections of said second counter with said gating circuits.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 16, and further including shut-down means responsive to said first means and to timing means for providing an indication when the length of time for one of said occurrences exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
93 words
A monitoring system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically recurring series of said events, comprising first means connected to respond to said events and generating a first signal after a predetermined number of occurrences of said events, an oscillator circuit and a counter connected to to the output thereof, gating and indicator means connected to said counter for providing an indication of the count therein, and second means responsive to said first signal for transferring said count to said gating and indicator means and for resetting said counter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
93 words
A monitoring system for measuring the rate of occurrence of events in a cyclically recurring series of said events, comprising first means connected to respond to said events and generating a first signal after a predetermined number of occurrences of said events, an oscillator circuit and a counter connected to to the output thereof, gating and indicator means connected to said counter for providing an indication of the count therein, and second means responsive to said first signal for transferring said count to said gating and indicator means and for resetting said counter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said second means comprises a sequencing circuit connected to receive the signal output of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 21, wherein said first means is adjustable to change said predetermined number of occurrences.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 21, wherein said connection of said oscillator circuit with said counter is adjustable to change the frequency of the signal received by said counter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as in claim 21, wherein gating and indicator means provides an indication of said count as a percentage of a standard rate, and further including means for adjusting the value of said percentage.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as in claim 21, and further including third means connected to the output of said oscillator circuit for indicating the frequency thereof, said third means further being connected to line power frequency and repetitively indicating said frequency as a function of line frequency.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
84 words
A monitoring system for measuring the length of time required for the occurrence of an event, comprising an oscillator, counting means, counter actuating means connected to control flow of pulses from said oscillator to said counter to be counted, said actuating means further being connected to respond to said events to enable said pulse flow to said counter only during the time duration of said event, and indicating means connected to said counter for indicating when the count therein and reaches a predetermined limit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
84 words
A monitoring system for measuring the length of time required for the occurrence of an event, comprising an oscillator, counting means, counter actuating means connected to control flow of pulses from said oscillator to said counter to be counted, said actuating means further being connected to respond to said events to enable said pulse flow to said counter only during the time duration of said event, and indicating means connected to said counter for indicating when the count therein and reaches a predetermined limit.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation, counting the number of said cycles up to a preset number, generating a signal representing time, utilizing said signal to determine the elapsed time from a first cycle until said preset number is reached, providing a preset standard of time, comparing said elapsed time with said preset standard of time, and providing an indication of said comparison.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation, counting the number of said cycles up to a preset number, generating a signal representing time, utilizing said signal to determine the elapsed time from a first cycle until said preset number is reached, providing a preset standard of time, comparing said elapsed time with said preset standard of time, and providing an indication of said comparison.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation counting the number of said cycles up to a preset number, generating a train of pulses at a fixed frequency, counting the number of said pulses until said preset number of cycles is reached, providing a preselected standard count of pulses, comparing said pulse count with said preselected standard count, and providing an indication of said comparison.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation counting the number of said cycles up to a preset number, generating a train of pulses at a fixed frequency, counting the number of said pulses until said preset number of cycles is reached, providing a preselected standard count of pulses, comparing said pulse count with said preselected standard count, and providing an indication of said comparison.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation and generating a first signal in response thereto, generating a second signal representing time, combining said first and said second signal to produce a third signal representing the length of time required to attain a preselected number of said cycles, comparing said third signal with a reference value representing a preselected standard rate of operation, and indicating the result of said comparison.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of monitoring the rate of operation of a machine or process which operates in a cyclically repetitive manner, comprising the steps of sensing each cycle of said operation and generating a first signal in response thereto, generating a second signal representing time, combining said first and said second signal to produce a third signal representing the length of time required to attain a preselected number of said cycles, comparing said third signal with a reference value representing a preselected standard rate of operation, and indicating the result of said comparison.
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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) | 1982-02-26 | 1982-08-28 | 1983-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-26 | 1986-08-28 | 1987-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-26 | 1990-08-28 | 1991-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |