Patent US4267173A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4320291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical instrument
Assignee: Yuasa Corp
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Filing: 1979-12-03
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Granted: 1982-03-16
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Expires: 1999-12-03
Abstract
Abstract An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, particularly the specific gravity of the acid in a lead acid battery, which incudes a base part and a transparent member, the transparent member including an incident light surface and reflector. The instrument further includes a light source arranged in the base part of the transparent member which is capable of radiating a straight-lined ray into the transparent member parallel to the axis of the member, and a photosensitive element for receiving light reflected by the incident light surface and the reflector. During use the instrument is positioned such that the transparent member is in contact with the solution whose specific gravity is to be measured.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromu Uramoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/41; G01N21/43; G01N21/431; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S250/00; Y10S250/90; Y10S250/901; Y10S250/902; Y10S250/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, said instrument comprising an elongated base body having a first end and a second end, a light-emitting means located near said first end of the elongated base body for emitting a ray of non-divergent light through the elongated base body, a photosensitive element located near said first end of the elongated base body for sensing light passing through the elongated base body in parallel with said ray of nondivergent light emitted by said light-emitting means, and a transparent glass member having a refractive index value of not less than 1.5 sealingly connected to said second end of the elongated base body, said glass member including only two light-contacting surfaces which consist of (a) an incident light surface which is positioned and inclined such that said ray of non-divergent light emitted from said light-emitting means will strike the incident light surface and be divided into a light portion entering the solution in which the optical instrument is partly immersed and a reflected portion, and (b) a reflector surface; said reflector surface including a reflective coating enabling 100% of the light hitting said reflector surface to be redirected towards said photosensitive element in a direction parallel to the ray of non-divergent light emitted from said light-emitting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, said instrument comprising an elongated base body having a first end and a second end, a light-emitting means located near said first end of the elongated base body for emitting a ray of non-divergent light through the elongated base body, a photosensitive element located near said first end of the elongated base body for sensing light passing through the elongated base body in parallel with said ray of nondivergent light emitted by said light-emitting means, and a transparent glass member having a refractive index value of not less than 1.5 sealingly connected to said second end of the elongated base body, said glass member including only two light-contacting surfaces which consist of (a) an incident light surface which is positioned and inclined such that said ray of non-divergent light emitted from said light-emitting means will strike the incident light surface and be divided into a light portion entering the solution in which the optical instrument is partly immersed and a reflected portion, and (b) a reflector surface; said reflector surface including a reflective coating enabling 100% of the light hitting said reflector surface to be redirected towards said photosensitive element in a direction parallel to the ray of non-divergent light emitted from said light-emitting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated base member includes two parallel passageways therethrough, one for the passage of said ray of nondivergent light emitted from said light-emittting means towards said incident light surface and one for the passage of the light reflected from said reflector surface towards said photosensitive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein a light ray-limiting means is positioned in the passageway through which the ray of non-divergent light from said light-emitting means passes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein said light ray-limiting means comprises a focusing lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein said light ray-limiting means comprises a tubular member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein said light ray-limiting means controls the divergence of the ray of light passing therethrough such that it has an expansion angle of not more than 1.5°, the optical instrument being thereby adapted to measure a specific weight of about 1.000 to 1.320 of sulfuric acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
237 words
An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, said instrument comprising an elongated base body having a first end and a second end, a light-emitting means located near said first end of the elongated base body for emitting a ray of nondivergent light through the elongated base body, a photosensitive element located near said first end of the elongated base body for sensing light passing through the elongated base body in parallel with said ray of non-divergent light emitted by said light-emitting means, and a transparent glass member having a refractive index value of not less than 1.5 sealingly connected to said second end of the elongated base body, said glass member including only two light-contacting surfaces which consist of (a) a reflector surface which is positioned and inclined such that said ray of non-divergent light emitted from said light-emitting means will strike the reflector surface, and (b) an incident light surface positioned such that the light reflected by said reflector surface will strike the incident light surface and be divided into a light portion entering the solution in which the optical instrument is partly immersed and a reflected portion which is directed towards said photosensitive element in parallel with the ray of non-divergent light emitted from said lightemitting means; said reflector surface including a reflective coating enabling 100% of the light hitting said reflector surface to be redirected towards said incident light surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
237 words
An optical instrument for measuring the specific gravity of a solution, said instrument comprising an elongated base body having a first end and a second end, a light-emitting means located near said first end of the elongated base body for emitting a ray of nondivergent light through the elongated base body, a photosensitive element located near said first end of the elongated base body for sensing light passing through the elongated base body in parallel with said ray of non-divergent light emitted by said light-emitting means, and a transparent glass member having a refractive index value of not less than 1.5 sealingly connected to said second end of the elongated base body, said glass member including only two light-contacting surfaces which consist of (a) a reflector surface which is positioned and inclined such that said ray of non-divergent light emitted from said light-emitting means will strike the reflector surface, and (b) an incident light surface positioned such that the light reflected by said reflector surface will strike the incident light surface and be divided into a light portion entering the solution in which the optical instrument is partly immersed and a reflected portion which is directed towards said photosensitive element in parallel with the ray of non-divergent light emitted from said lightemitting means; said reflector surface including a reflective coating enabling 100% of the light hitting said reflector surface to be redirected towards said incident light surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said elongated base member includes two parallel passageways therethrough, one for the passage of said ray of nondivergent light emitted from said light-emitting means towards said reflector surface and one for the passage of the light reflected from said incident light surface towards said photosensitive element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 8, wherein a light ray-limiting means is positioned in the passageway through which the ray of non-divergent light from said lightemitting means passes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said light ray-limiting means comprises a focusing lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said light ray-limiting means comprises a tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical instrument as claimed in claim 8 wherein said light ray-limiting means controls the divergence of the ray of light passing therethrough such that it has an expansion angle of not more than 1.5°, the optical instrument being thereby adapted to measure a specific weight of about 1.000 to 1.320 of sulfuric acid.
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) | 1985-03-15 | 1985-09-14 | 1986-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-03-15 | 1989-09-14 | 1990-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-03-15 | 1993-09-14 | 1994-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |