The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Ruell Floyd Solberg, Jr, San Antonio, TX (US);
Richard Lorenz, Seguin, TX (US);
Assignee:
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01G / ; G01G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
177-1 ; 177253 ; 73580 ;
Abstract
A method for measuring the masses of objects in any gravity environment, including microgravity or zero gravity. An object is placed on or attached to a platform or holder having a motor for rotating the platform. The object is rotated at an angular velocity and its centrifugal force is measured. Values representing the centrifugal force, the angular velocity, the tare mass of the platform, as well as a radial distance, are used to calculate the mass of the object. Three different variations of the method use different radial distance values.