Electronic Scale for Measuring Gas in Pressurized Cylinders Over a Wide Range of Capacities
First Claim
1. A method for calculating a remaining time that gas remains in a cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a weight of said cylinder when empty;
calculating a total weight of said cylinder with said gas;
calculating an actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder using said total weight of said cylinder with said gas and said weight of said cylinder when empty; and
calculating said remaining time said gas remains in said cylinder using a flow rate of said gas and said actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scale for calculating a remaining time that gas remains in a cylinder. An electronic scale calculates an actual tare weight of the gas in the cylinder using the total weight of the cylinder with the gas and the weight of the cylinder when empty. The remaining time that gas remains in the cylinder is calculated by the scale using the flow rate of the gas and the actual tare weight of gas in the cylinder. Further, the scale may calculate a percentage of the gas remaining in the cylinder using the actual tare weight of the gas in the cylinder and the maximum tare weight of the gas for the cylinder. By estimating the remaining time that gas remains in the cylinder in this manner, the scale is able to measure gas in pressurized cylinders over a wide range of capacities.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for calculating a remaining time that gas remains in a cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a weight of said cylinder when empty;
calculating a total weight of said cylinder with said gas;
calculating an actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder using said total weight of said cylinder with said gas and said weight of said cylinder when empty; and
calculating said remaining time said gas remains in said cylinder using a flow rate of said gas and said actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A scale for calculating a remaining time that gas remains in a cylinder, the scale comprising:
-
a hook to hang the cylinder;
analog to digital circuitry coupled to the hook;
circuitry for inputting a weight of said cylinder when empty;
circuitry, coupled to said analog to digital circuitry, for calculating a total weight of said cylinder when it contains said gas;
circuitry for calculating an actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder using said total weight of said cylinder when it contains said gas and said weight of said cylinder when empty; and
circuitry for calculating said remaining time said gas remains in said cylinder using a flow rate of said gas and said actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A scale, comprising:
-
a hook for hanging a gas cylinder;
a memory unit for storing a computer program operable for calculating a remaining time that gas remains in the cylinder;
a processor coupled to said memory unit and said hook, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises;
circuitry for receiving a weight of said cylinder when empty;
circuitry for calculating a total weight of said cylinder with said gas;
circuitry for calculating an actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder using said total weight of said cylinder with said gas and said weight of said cylinder when empty; and
circuitry for calculating said remaining time said gas remains in said cylinder using a flow rate of said gas and said actual tare weight of said gas in said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification