US4369652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for measuring the volume of solid bodies and a measuring and/or reference chamber for performing said method
Assignee: De Rijkslandbouwhogeschool
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Filing: 1980-06-05
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Granted: 1983-01-25
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Expires: 2000-06-05
Abstract
Abstract Determination of the volume of solid bodies by plethysmometry: the bodies, such as human beings or animals, are brought into a measuring chamber (1) the volume of which is changed by means of a piston (8) within a cylinder (7). The change in pressure within the chamber (1) is measured and constitutes a measure of the volume of the body to be determined. The measurement may be performed with the aid of a reference chamber (5) in which the volume is also changed, i.e. by simultaneous movement of a piston (11) within a cylinder (10) together with piston (8) within cylinder (7). By comparison of pressures (by means of 17) between the chambers (1 and 5) a more accurate volume measurement is obtained than without reference chamber (5). The invention is based on the recognition that a quick change in volume is conducive also to a change in temperature and that living beings to be measured give off water vapor and heat, thus causing the measurement to be less accurate, and that this problem may be solved by filling the measuring chamber (1) and preferably also the reference chamber (5) for the major part thereof with a solid filler material (2, 6) having a plurality of interconnected cavities.
Inventors
- 👤 Bertus L. Gundlach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/107; A61B5/1073; A61B5/08; A61B5/0806; G; G01; G01F; G01F17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
Method for measuring the volume of solid bodies by plethysmometry, i.e. by measuring the change in pressure caused by changing the volume to a predetermined known extent of a chamber in which the bodies to be measured are taken up, and which is closed from the surroundings, characterized in that, apart from the body to be measured the space within the chamber is filled for at least a major part thereof with a solid filler material having a plurality of interconnected cavities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
Method for measuring the volume of solid bodies by plethysmometry, i.e. by measuring the change in pressure caused by changing the volume to a predetermined known extent of a chamber in which the bodies to be measured are taken up, and which is closed from the surroundings, characterized in that, apart from the body to be measured the space within the chamber is filled for at least a major part thereof with a solid filler material having a plurality of interconnected cavities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
Method according to claim 1, in which the measurement is performed by measuring the pressure differential upon simultaneously quickly changing the volume of both the measuring chamber and of a reference chamber proportionally, characterized in that, the volume of the reference chamber is filled for at least a major part thereof with a filler material having a plurality of interconnected cavities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
Measuring apparatus for measuring the volume of a solid body by measuring the change in pressure resulting from changing the volume of a chamber containing the body by a predetermined amount, said apparatus comprising: a measuring chamber for receiving a body to be measured, the chamber having an opening for positioning the body in the chamber, the opening being closable so that the interior of the chamber is isolated from the ambient environment; a solid material having a plurality of interconnected cavities disposed in the interior of the chamber and filling a large part thereof; means for changing the volume of a space including the interior of said chamber by a predetermined amount; and means for measuring the change in pressure resulting from the change in volume, the change in pressure being representative of the volume of the body being measured.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
Measuring apparatus for measuring the volume of a solid body by measuring the change in pressure resulting from changing the volume of a chamber containing the body by a predetermined amount, said apparatus comprising: a measuring chamber for receiving a body to be measured, the chamber having an opening for positioning the body in the chamber, the opening being closable so that the interior of the chamber is isolated from the ambient environment; a solid material having a plurality of interconnected cavities disposed in the interior of the chamber and filling a large part thereof; means for changing the volume of a space including the interior of said chamber by a predetermined amount; and means for measuring the change in pressure resulting from the change in volume, the change in pressure being representative of the volume of the body being measured.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Measuring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a recess is provided in the solid material for receiving the body to be measured, said recess having a shape roughly corresponding to the shape of the body being measured.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Measuring apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the solid material is agglomerated into a plurality of blocks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Measuring apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said filler material is elastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein interconnected channels are formed in said blocks for rapidly equilibrating pressure in said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
Measuring apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a reference chamber, and wherein said means for changing the volume is positioned so as to simultaneously change the volume of the space including the interior of the measuring chamber and to change by a proportional amount the volume of a second space including the interior of the reference chamber, said means for measuring the change in pressure measuring the pressure differential between said measuring chamber and said reference chamber resulting from the changes of volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Measuring apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising solid filler material having interconnected compartments located in the interior of said reference chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3769834A
Cited
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Cited
GB1543708A
Cited
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Cited
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US4184371A
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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) | 1986-01-24 | 1986-07-26 | 1987-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-07-26 | 1991-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-24 | 1994-07-26 | 1995-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |