Measuring and testing – Fluid pressure gauge – Vibration type
Patent
1994-01-05
1995-10-17
Chilcot, Richard
Measuring and testing
Fluid pressure gauge
Vibration type
737291, G01L 700
Patent
active
054579996
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of force and pressure measurement instrumentation and devices, particularly to force and pressure transducers for force and pressure measurement by means of changes in tension in an elastic, vibrating member. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus having a pressure deformable member that is under tension when linked to the vibrating member and exposed to external pressure. The invention additionally relates to a method and apparatus having multiple pressure deformable members under tension, rigidly linked by an internal linkage, for the measurement of force or pressure differentials between two or more sources.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Pressure or force transducers, as they are commonly called, are part of our everyday life. The most prevalent form of transducer is perhaps the telephone. It translates electrical energy into mechanical energy or sound and vice versa. Other examples of everyday transducers are thermometers, loudspeakers and microphones, phonograph cartridges, and even an automobile. Every transducer converts one form of energy to another.
The present invention is directed to the field of transducers, but more particularly to the field of precision force and pressure measuring transducers. The primary uses for devices designed to precisely measure forces or pressures are in construction, manufacturing, and research. These devices generally have three main identifiable components or assemblies: a force or pressure sensing assembly that receives or collects an applied force or pressure; a force translating assembly that applies the mechanical motion or reaction of the force or pressure sensing assembly to a component responsive thereto; and a transducer means that converts the mechanical energy of the responsive component into a desired form, usually electrical energy. Various devices may combine two or all assemblies, depending upon the application and design considerations.
In the field most applicable to the invention, there are two parameters that are commonly measured. One is fluid pressure and the other is mechanical force. The type of force sensing assembly that is used is usually dedicated to measuring forces of a particular type while selection of the type of force translating assembly or transducer is largely a matter of preference. Some applications may choose one form while others may choose a different form. In other words, design considerations largely choose the form of force translating assembly and form of transducer means and not the type of force (fluid or mechanical) being measured.
A predominant form of transducer in this field has been and continues to be the vibrating member transducer. By subjecting a thin vibrating member to tension and inducing it to vibrate, analysis of its frequency of vibration can inform an observer of the amount of tension in the member. In practice, these devices usually had a movable object which was responsive to externally applied forces to which one end of a thin metal wire was attached. The other end of the wire was attached to a rigid, immovable object. When a force was applied to the movable object, a corresponding increase or decrease in tension was imparted to the wire by way of a force translating assembly. A transducer means, usually comprising an electromagnetic coil, induced the wire to vibrate at its fundamental frequency and in turn, converted the mechanical oscillation into electrical signals that contained the needed frequency information.
To interpret these signals, it was necessary to first obtain the frequency of vibration of the member without an external force and then with an applied external force. By applying the well known formula for oscillatory motion of a vibrating wire, the change in tension of the vibrating member was determined. From knowledge of the change in tension of the wire and the physical configuration of the force sensing assembly, it was then determined the amount of force that was presented to the device.
The
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Biegel Ronald L.
Chilcot Richard
Evans Stephen M.
Garrison David L.
The Slope Inidcator Company, Inc.
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