US4719799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Head for a bubble tube
Assignee: SCI-TEC INSTRUMENTS Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-30
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Granted: 1988-01-19
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Expires: 2006-06-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for sensing hydrostatic pressure in a fluid, forming a head for a bubble tube for immersion into the fluid. The head is formed of a plate having a flat lower surface for horizontal disposition within a liquid, a first orifice for introducing a gas under pressure from above the plate whereby the gas can form a bubble under the plate within the liquid. The effect of the plate is as a surface on which a stable sessile bubble of a variable size can be grown. This results in a bubble having a substantially increased radius of curvature at its interface, that is, the gas/liquid interface, on the underside of the bubble than previously obtainable. A pressure gauge measuring the gas pressure in the tube determines the pressure at the end of the tube within the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas B. Wicks
- 👤 Dennis W. Johnson
- 👤 William S. C. Brooks
- 👤 Terry J. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L7/00; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; G01F23/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A head for a bubble tube comprising a plate having a flat lower surface for horizontal disposition within a liquid, the plate having a first orifice for introducing gas under pressure from above the plate whereby the gas can form a bubble under the plate within the liquid and means for supplying said gas to said orifice above the plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A head for a bubble tube comprising a plate having a flat lower surface for horizontal disposition within a liquid, the plate having a first orifice for introducing gas under pressure from above the plate whereby the gas can form a bubble under the plate within the liquid and means for supplying said gas to said orifice above the plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 1, in which the lower surface of the plate is formed, or has an outer layer, of material having wetting characteristics by the liquid such that the contact angle of said bubble with said plate or outer layer is less than 90 degrees.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 1 in which the plate contains a second orifice a predetermined distance from the first orifice for facilitating breakage of the bubble when the bubble grows to reach the second orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 3 including a hollow housing surrounding and descending below said plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 3, in which the liquid is gasoline, the gas is air and said lower surface or outer layer is Teflon™.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 5, in which said second orifice is a slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 6, in which said slot has an axis which is located a constant distance from the first orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 3, in which the lower surface of the plate is formed, or has a flat outer layer, of material having wetting characteristics by the liquid such that the contact angle of said bubble with said plate or outer layer is less than 90 degreees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 8, including a hollow housing surrounding and depending below said plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 8, in which the liquid is gasoline, the gas is air and said lower surface or outer layer is Teflon™.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 10, in which said second orifice is a slot having an axis which is located a constant distance from the first orifice.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A head for a bubble tube as defined in claim 11, further including a fastener for a pipe fixed to said first orifice.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
A pressure sensor comprising a tube, means for applying gas pressure to the tube, means for measuring gas pressure within the tube, and a plate fixed and sealed to the end of the tube having a flat lower surface for horizontal disposition within a liquid, the plate having an orifice communicating with the interior of the tube, whereby said plate can be horizontally disposed at a predetermined depth within a liquid, a bubble can be formed at the end of the tube supported by the plate, and the gas pressure can be measured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A pressure sensor comprising a tube, means for applying gas pressure to the tube, means for measuring gas pressure within the tube, and a plate fixed and sealed to the end of the tube having a flat lower surface for horizontal disposition within a liquid, the plate having an orifice communicating with the interior of the tube, whereby said plate can be horizontally disposed at a predetermined depth within a liquid, a bubble can be formed at the end of the tube supported by the plate, and the gas pressure can be measured.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pressure sensor as defined in claim 13, in which the plate contains a second orifice a predetermined distance from the first orifice for facilitating breakage of the bubble when the bubble grows to reach the second orifice.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A pressure sensor as defined in claim 14, in which the lower surface of the plate is formed, or has an outer layer, of material having wetting characteristics by the liquid such that the contact angle of said bubble with said plate or outer layer is less than 90 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pressure sensor as defined in claim 15, including a hollow housing surrounding and descending below said plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1964253A
Cited
US3922915A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-01-18 | 1991-07-20 | 1992-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-18 | 1995-07-20 | 1996-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-18 | 1999-07-20 | 2000-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |