Other

The United States of America as Represented by the United States

The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Energy

Nelson S Smith

George E Fasching

Carroll E Utt

Hasan T Gencsoy

Frank M Ellison

A real time ultrasonic surface contour mapping system is provided including a digitally controlled phased-array of transmitter/receiver (T/R) elements located in a fixed position above the surface to be mapped. The surface is divided into a predetermined number of pixels which are separately scanned by an arrangement of T/R elements by applying phase delayed signals thereto that produce ultrasonic tone bursts from each T/R that arrive at a point X in phase and at the same time relative to the leading edge of the tone burst pulse so that the acoustic energies from each T/R combine in a reinforcing manner at point X. The signals produced by the reception of the echo signals reflected from point X back to the T/Rs are also delayed appropriately so that they add in phase at the input of a signal combiner. This combined signal is then processed to determine the range to the point X using density-corrected sound velocity values. An autofocusing signal is developed from the computed average range for a complete scan of the surface pixels. A surface contour map is generated in real time form the range signals on a video monitor.

Phased-array ultrasonic surface contour mapping system and method for

A three-axis velocity probe system for determining three-axis positional velocities of small particles in fluidized bed systems and similar applications. This system has a sensor head containing four closely-spaced sensing electrodes of small wires that have flat ends to establish a two axis plane, e.g. a X-Y plane. Two of the sensing electrodes are positioned along one of the axes and the other two are along the second axis. These four sensing electrodes are surrounded by a guard electrode, and the outer surface is a ground electrode and support member for the sensing head. The electrodes are excited by, for example, sinusoidal voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage of up to 500 volts at a frequency of 2 MHz. Capacitive currents flowing between the four sensing electrodes and the ground electrode are influenced by the presence and position of a particle passing the sensing head. Any changes in these currents due to the particle are amplified and synchronously detected to produce positional signal values that are converted to digital form. Using these digital forms and two values of time permit generation of values of the three components of the particle vector and thus the total velocity vector.

Three axis velocity probe system

Three-axis particle impact probes detect particle impact vectors along x-, y-, and z-axes by spherical probe head mounted on the outer end of a shaft that is flexibly mounted in silicone rubber at the top of a housing so as to enable motion imparted to the head upon impact to be transmitted to a grounded electrode secured to the shaft within the housing. Excitable electrodes are mounted in the housing in a fixed position, spaced apart from the ground electrode and forming, with the ground electrode, capacitor pairs. Movement of the ground electrode results in changes in capacitance, and these difference in capacitance are used for measurement or derivation of momentum vectors along each of the three axes. In one embodiment, the ground electrode is mounted at the base of the shaft and is secured to a silicone rubber layer at the top of the housing, providing for cantilevered movement. In another embodiment, the shaft is mounted at its mid point in a flexible bushing so that it undergoes pivotal movement around that point.

Three-axis particle impact probe

An electrical circuit is employed for receiving current from a small battery and converting it into a large intermittent force which will move a heavy load. In the example shown the load is a clock spring which is wound in small increments by the large intermittent force. A capacitor is charged by the battery. The battery and capacitor, therefore, temporarily have a higher output current than the battery alone. The output of the battery and capacitor is applied to a solenoid for attracting an armature and providing the large force. The resulting movement of the armature opens the circuit to the solenoid but the solenoid remains energized temporarily since a small capacitor is across it. When the armature returns to its normal off position it reenergizes the solenoid. The resulting on and off operation of the solenoid continues until the clock spring is fully wound. The combination of the battery and capacitor which is across the battery also operates a second load intermittently and the energization of this second load is controlled by a switch operated by the armature of the solenoid.

Electrical circuit for driving a load with a large force applied

Apparatus automatically feeds coins into a parking meter. The timing clock used in the parking meter operates an external coin feeding mechanism to feed a coin when the time on the parking meter is about to expire. The invention is applicable to parking meters of the type wherein the insertion of the coin rewinds the clock as well as of the type wherein a knob is turned to rewind the clock after the coin is inserted. With the latter form of parking meter a special battery powered circuit is employed to wind the clock in increments after a coin has been automatically inserted.

Growing community of inventors

Morgantown, WV, United States of America

Nelson S Smith