Photo tachometer for a digital multimeter

• US 20030040883A1
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GSLE Subco, LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Ermer, Corey, Tusa, David, Kochie, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,622,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/145
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/486 delivered by photo-electric detectors

Abstract

A apparatus for determining the rotational speed of an object or an assembly. The apparatus includes a device that emits a light as well as detect the light reflected from the measured object. A reflective surface is attached to the object to enable it to reflect the light from the device. The device is connected to an analyzer that reads the detected signal and display the results.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the rotational speed of an object, comprising:

an analyzer comprised of a display device and a plurality of receptacles for inserting a plurality of devices for measuring data;

a device emitting a light in the direction of a rotational assembly, said device is linked to said analyzer through said receptacles, said light is reflected from said rotational assembly towards said device where it is detected;

said detected light is transmitted to said analyzer to determine the rotational speed; and

a reflective surface that is attached to said rotational assembly, said surface reflects said light towards said device where it is detected.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said analyzer is a digital multimeter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said analyzer is an automotive tester.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device is an optical transducer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface is reflective tape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacles are female prong receptors.

7. An apparatus for determining the rotational speed of an object comprising:

means for analyzing comprising a display means and a means for connecting data measuring devices;

means for emitting and detecting a light, said means for emitting directs said light in the direction of a rotating assembly, said light is reflected from said rotating assembly and detected by said means for detecting; and

means for reflecting attached to said rotating assembly, said means for reflecting reflects said light in the direction of said means for detecting.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for analyzing is a digital multimeter.

9. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for analyzing is a digital automotive tester.

10. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for detecting and the means for emitting is an optical transducer.

11. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for reflecting is reflective tape.

12. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for connecting are female receptacles.

13. A method for determining the rotational speed of an object comprising:

emitting a light towards a rotational assembly, said light is emitted by a device that emits and detects said light, said device is connected to an apparatus comprising a display device and a plurality of receptacles, said device is connected to said apparatus through said receptacles; and

reflecting said light by a reflective surface, said reflective surface is attached to said rotational assembly and directs said light towards said device.

14. The method as in claim 13 wherein said device is an optical transducer.

15. The method as in claim 13 wherein said apparatus is a digital multimeter.

16. The method as in claim 13 wherein said apparatus is a digital automotive tester.

17. The method as in claim 13 where said reflective surface is reflective tape.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said receptacles are female receptacles.

19. A plug-in apparatus for a digital tester that determines rotational speed comprising:

a device emitting a light in the direction of a rotational assembly wherein said device is linked to said digital tester, said light is reflected from said rotational assembly towards said device, said reflected light is detected by said device and transmitted to said digital tester;

a reflective surface that is attached to said rotational assembly, said surface reflects said light towards said device.

20. The plug-in apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said device is an optical transducer.

21. The plug-in apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said reflective surface is reflective tape.