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US4592663A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Resonator temperature transducer

Assignee: Avery Weigh Tronix Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-05-10
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Granted: 1986-06-03
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Expires: 2004-05-10
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Abstract

Abstract A vibratory temperature transducer includes a pair of elongate, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end in a type of tuning fork arrangement. The bars each have a thickness of t, a width of w and a length between free and fixed ends of L. The distance between the free end and the point where the bars are coupled together is m. Apparatus is provided to cause the bars to vibrate in torsional opposition, where the frequency of vibration is generally a function of temperature. Apparatus is also provided for determining the frequency of vibration of the bars so that when the bars are subjected to a change in temperature, the temperature can be readily determined by simply determining the magnitude of the frequency change. By careful determination of the dimensions L, m, t and w, spurious modes of oscillation of the transducer, which cause a reduction in the mechanical Q and thus an erroneous reading of temperature, are avoided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Errol P. Eernisse
  • 👤 Robert B. Wiggins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/32

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 251 words
A resonator temperature transducer comprising a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, and said bars being made of a material so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section formed integral with the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bar being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that ##EQU5## where A an =3.05, 18.99, 51.92 for n=1, 2 and 3 A bn =8.57, 41.82, 96.97 for n=1, 2 and 3 A pn =3.91, 22.12, 59.09, 114.1, 189.9, 281.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A wn =4.96, 30.91, 71.82, 89.80, 143.4, 180.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ##EQU6## f an , f pn , f bn and f wn are the frequencies of vibration of spurious modes of the transducer, where n is the order of the mode, P is the density of the material and S 55 and S 66 are shear compliances and E is Young's Modulus of the material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 251 words
A resonator temperature transducer comprising a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, and said bars being made of a material so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section formed integral with the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bar being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that ##EQU5## where A an =3.05, 18.99, 51.92 for n=1, 2 and 3 A bn =8.57, 41.82, 96.97 for n=1, 2 and 3 A pn =3.91, 22.12, 59.09, 114.1, 189.9, 281.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A wn =4.96, 30.91, 71.82, 89.80, 143.4, 180.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ##EQU6## f an , f pn , f bn and f wn are the frequencies of vibration of spurious modes of the transducer, where n is the order of the mode, P is the density of the material and S 55 and S 66 are shear compliances and E is Young's Modulus of the material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 1 wherein t, w, m and L are further selected so that f.sub.T /f.sub.an ≠2 f.sub.T /f.sub.pn ≠2 f.sub.T /f.sub.bn ≠2, and f.sub.T /f.sub.wn ≠2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 2 wherein m and L are further selected so that 1.1≦L/m≦1.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 3 wherein t, w, m and L are further selected so that 0.1≦t/w≦1, and 4≦m/w≦25.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 2 wherein said vibration causing means includes an oscillator means which provides an oscillatory signal which follows the frequency of vibration of the bars.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 5 further comprising means coupled to said oscillator means and responsive to the oscillatory signal for providing a read out of the temperature indicated by the frequency of vibration of the bars.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 324 words
Resonator temperature measuring apparatus comprising a pair of elongate, spaced-apart generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, said bars comprised of piezoelectric material with the crystallographic axes oriented such that when the bars are stimulated to vibrate in the torsional mode 180 degrees out of phase, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of the temperature to which the bars are exposed, a support structure to which the joined ends of the bars are attached, where the distance from the support structure to the free ends of the bars is L, electrodes placed on the bars and responsive to oscillatory signals for causing the bars to resonate in the torsional mode 180 degress out of phase, means for applying oscillatory signals to said electrodes to cause the bars to resonate in the torsional mode at a frequency f T , means for producing an oscillatory signal having frequencies which follow the frequency of vibration of the bars, and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that the following representations do not approach within about three percent of equaling one or two: ##EQU7## where A an =3.05, 18.99, 51.92 for n=1, 2 and 3 A bn =8.57, 41.82, 96.97 for n=1, 2 and 3 A pn =3.91, 22.12, 59.09, 114.1, 189.9, 281.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A wn =4.96, 30.91, 71.82, 89.80, 143.4, 180.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ##EQU8## f an , f pn , f bn and f wn are the frequencies of vibration of spurious modes of the transducer, where n is the order of the mode, P is the density of the material and S 55 and S 66 are shear compliances and E is Young's Modulus of the material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 324 words
Resonator temperature measuring apparatus comprising a pair of elongate, spaced-apart generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, said bars comprised of piezoelectric material with the crystallographic axes oriented such that when the bars are stimulated to vibrate in the torsional mode 180 degrees out of phase, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of the temperature to which the bars are exposed, a support structure to which the joined ends of the bars are attached, where the distance from the support structure to the free ends of the bars is L, electrodes placed on the bars and responsive to oscillatory signals for causing the bars to resonate in the torsional mode 180 degress out of phase, means for applying oscillatory signals to said electrodes to cause the bars to resonate in the torsional mode at a frequency f T , means for producing an oscillatory signal having frequencies which follow the frequency of vibration of the bars, and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that the following representations do not approach within about three percent of equaling one or two: ##EQU7## where A an =3.05, 18.99, 51.92 for n=1, 2 and 3 A bn =8.57, 41.82, 96.97 for n=1, 2 and 3 A pn =3.91, 22.12, 59.09, 114.1, 189.9, 281.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A wn =4.96, 30.91, 71.82, 89.80, 143.4, 180.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ##EQU8## f an , f pn , f bn and f wn are the frequencies of vibration of spurious modes of the transducer, where n is the order of the mode, P is the density of the material and S 55 and S 66 are shear compliances and E is Young's Modulus of the material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said bars include an enlarged mounting section at the end where the bars are joined, and where the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars is L.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein L and m are selected so that 1.1≦L/m≦1.5.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 175 words
A resonator temperature transducer comprising a pair of elongated, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, and said bars being made of quartz crystal with the crystallographic axes oriented so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section joined to the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that 0.2≦t/w≦0.5, 10≦m/w≦16 1.35≦L/m≦1.45, and f.sub.T /f.sub.p4 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.a2 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.w5 ≠1, where ##EQU9## E is Young's Modulus of the material, and P is the density of the material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 175 words
A resonator temperature transducer comprising a pair of elongated, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, and said bars being made of quartz crystal with the crystallographic axes oriented so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section joined to the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that 0.2≦t/w≦0.5, 10≦m/w≦16 1.35≦L/m≦1.45, and f.sub.T /f.sub.p4 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.a2 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.w5 ≠1, where ##EQU9## E is Young's Modulus of the material, and P is the density of the material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 10 wherein t, w, m, and L are further selected so that f.sub.T /f.sub.p3 ≠2, f.sub.T /f.sub.b2 ≠2, f.sub.T /f.sub.w3 ≠2, where ##EQU10##
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 175 words
The resonator temperature transducer comprising a pair of elongated, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, and said bars being made of quartz crystal with the crystallographic axes oriented so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section joined to the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that 0.4≦t/w≦0.8, 12≦m/w≦18, 1.35≦L/m≦1.45, and f.sub.T /f.sub.p4 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.a3 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.b3 ≠1, where ##EQU11## E is Young's Modulus of the material, and P is the density of the material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 175 words
The resonator temperature transducer comprising a pair of elongated, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, and said bars being made of quartz crystal with the crystallographic axes oriented so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section joined to the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , and wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that 0.4≦t/w≦0.8, 12≦m/w≦18, 1.35≦L/m≦1.45, and f.sub.T /f.sub.p4 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.a3 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.b3 ≠1, where ##EQU11## E is Young's Modulus of the material, and P is the density of the material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 30 words
A resonator temperature transducer as in claim 12 wherein t, w, m, and L are further limited so that f.sub.T /f.sub.p3 ≠2, f.sub.T /f.sub.w5 ≠1, f.sub.T /f.sub.w3 ≠2, where ##EQU12##
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 314 words
Resonator temperature measuring apparatus comprising a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, said bars comprised of a piezoelectric material with the crystallographic axes oriented so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section formed integral with the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , means for providing an indication of the frequency of vibration of th bars, wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that the following ratios do not approach with about three percent of equaling one or two: f T /f an , f T /f pn , f T /f bn , and f T /f wn , and wherein m and L are further selected so that 1.1≦L/m≦1.5, where ##EQU13## A an =3.05, 18.99, 51.92 for n=1, 2 and 3 A bn =8.57, 41.82, 96.97 for n=1, 2 and 3 A pn =3.91, 22.12, 59.09, 114.1, 189.9, 281.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A wn =4.96, 30.91, 71.82, 89.80, 143.4, 180.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ##EQU14## f an , f pn , f bn and f wn are the frequencies of vibration of spurious modes of the transducer, where n is the order of the mode, P is the density of the material and S 55 and S 66 are shear compliances and E is Young's Modulus of the material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 314 words
Resonator temperature measuring apparatus comprising a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end, said bars each having a thickness t and width w, with the distance from the location at which the bars are coupled together to the free ends of the bars being m, said bars comprised of a piezoelectric material with the crystallographic axes oriented so that when the bars are caused to vibrate in the torsional mode, the frequency of vibration varies as a function of temperature, an enlarged mounting section formed integral with the bars at said one end, with the distance from the mounting section to the free ends of the bars being L, means for causing said bars to vibrate in the torsional mode 180° out of phase at a frequency f T , means for providing an indication of the frequency of vibration of th bars, wherein t, w, m and L are selected so that the following ratios do not approach with about three percent of equaling one or two: f T /f an , f T /f pn , f T /f bn , and f T /f wn , and wherein m and L are further selected so that 1.1≦L/m≦1.5, where ##EQU13## A an =3.05, 18.99, 51.92 for n=1, 2 and 3 A bn =8.57, 41.82, 96.97 for n=1, 2 and 3 A pn =3.91, 22.12, 59.09, 114.1, 189.9, 281.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A wn =4.96, 30.91, 71.82, 89.80, 143.4, 180.8 for n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ##EQU14## f an , f pn , f bn and f wn are the frequencies of vibration of spurious modes of the transducer, where n is the order of the mode, P is the density of the material and S 55 and S 66 are shear compliances and E is Young's Modulus of the material.

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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) 1989-06-02 1989-12-02 1990-06-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-06-02 1993-12-02 1994-06-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-06-02 1997-12-02 1998-06-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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