US5399016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for continuously and non-destructively monitoring variation in the thickness of shaped sections
Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
•
Filing: 1992-09-30
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Granted: 1995-03-21
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Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A device for non-destructively and continuously measuring and monitoring the thickness of a shaped section includes an extruder for extruding a thermoplastic material to form a shaped section having a temperature variation extending along a length of said section, at least one unit for measuring and detecting radiation emitted by the section during movement of the shaped section from the extruder and at least one unit for causing the radiation detecting and measuring unit to scan the entire outer surface of the shaped section. The detecting and measuring unit being connected to a computer system including imaging processing software, a radiation recording unit and a display screen for determining a variation in the thickness of the shaped section based on a variation of emitted radiation detected by the detecting and measuring unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for non-destructively and continuously measuring and monitoring a variation in the thickness of a shaped section made of a thermoplastic material, which comprises: a) an extruder means for extruding the thermoplastic material to form the shaped section, said extruder means heating the thermoplastic material to generate a thermal variation within the shaped section moving continuously from the extruder means; b) at least one means for detecting and measuring energy radiation emitted by the heated shaped section during movement of said section from the extruder means; c) at least one means for causing said radiation detecting and measuring means to move around the shaped section to scan the entire outer surface of the section and to thereby determine variation in the radiation emitted from the surface of the shaped section; and d) means operatively associated with the radiation detecting and measuring means for determining the thickness of the shaped section based on the variation in the radiation emitted from the surface of the shaped section.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for non-destructively and continuously measuring and monitoring a variation in the thickness of a shaped section made of a thermoplastic material, which comprises: a) an extruder means for extruding the thermoplastic material to form the shaped section, said extruder means heating the thermoplastic material to generate a thermal variation within the shaped section moving continuously from the extruder means; b) at least one means for detecting and measuring energy radiation emitted by the heated shaped section during movement of said section from the extruder means; c) at least one means for causing said radiation detecting and measuring means to move around the shaped section to scan the entire outer surface of the section and to thereby determine variation in the radiation emitted from the surface of the shaped section; and d) means operatively associated with the radiation detecting and measuring means for determining the thickness of the shaped section based on the variation in the radiation emitted from the surface of the shaped section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for recording the radiation emitted from the shaped section, said recording means being connected to said detecting and measuring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radiation detecting and measuring means includes an infrared camera connected to at least one display screen and a computer system including an image processing software.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computer system includes a means for storing at least one of the images supplied by the infrared camera and the results provided by the image processing software.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extruder means provides forward movement of the shaped section away from an outlet of the extruder means; said device further comprising at least one means allowing synchronization of this said forward motion with a scanning motion of the radiation detecting and measuring means around the shaped section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one alarm means which is actuated automatically when a measured thickness of the shaped section is at least at one point, outside a predetermined thickness range.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for non-destructively and continuously measuring and monitoring the thickness of a shaped section made of a thermoplastic material, which comprises: extruding the thermoplastic material to form the shaped section, the shaped section having a variation in temperature along a length of the shaped section moving continuously from the extruder means; and detecting and measuring on the entire outer surface of said shaped section, a variation of energy radiation emitted by said section whereby the thickness of the shaped section is determined based on the variation of the detected radiation emitted from said shaped section.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for non-destructively and continuously measuring and monitoring the thickness of a shaped section made of a thermoplastic material, which comprises: extruding the thermoplastic material to form the shaped section, the shaped section having a variation in temperature along a length of the shaped section moving continuously from the extruder means; and detecting and measuring on the entire outer surface of said shaped section, a variation of energy radiation emitted by said section whereby the thickness of the shaped section is determined based on the variation of the detected radiation emitted from said shaped section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shaped section is heated in the extruder means to such a temperature that it emits infrared radiation having a wavelength substantially ranging between 2 and 25 micrometers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising recording the infrared radiation emitted by the shaped section, and displaying and processing the radiation by means of a computer system including an image processing software.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of automatically actuating an alarm by the computer system when a measured thickness of the shaped section is, at least at one point, outside a predetermined thickness range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising recording the infrared radiation emitted during forward movement of the shaped section through synchronized scanning of the entire outer surface of the shaped section by the radiation detector moving around the shaped section.
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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) | 1998-03-20 | 1998-09-19 | 1999-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-20 | 2002-09-19 | 2003-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-20 | 2006-09-19 | 2007-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |