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:
Feb. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2000
C. Christopher Klepper, Radford, VA (US);
Robert C. Hazelton, Radford, VA (US);
John Niemel, Radford, VA (US);
Michael D. Keitz, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Caterina Vidoli, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Hy-Tech Research Corporation, Radford, VA (US);
Abstract
A diagnostic method and apparatus includes a pressure gauge member having an enclosed housing, an anode plate, a pair of cathode plates sandwiching the anode plate, an anode connector at an external surface of the gauge, and a lead connecting the anode plate to the anode connector. Each of the anode plate, pair of cathode plates, and lead are confined within the gauge housing. A power supply is provided for supplying power to the anode connector, the power supply including a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A resistor is connected to each of the positive terminal of the power supply and the anode connector of the gauge member. A pair of electromagnets are positioned adjacent the gauge member, each electromagnet having a pole piece formed therein for completing a magnetic circuit outside of the gauge. A power amplifier supplies varying power to the electromagnets, and a feedback circuit is connected to the gauge, the power supply, the said power amplifier for proportionally and selectively changing a strength of the electromagnets upon detecting an opposing change in current discharge from the gauge.