Telemetering system
First Claim
1. A system for automatically preparing digital data to describe changing liquid levels, comprising:
- shaft means;
a support for the shaft means;
means coacting for rotating the shaft means in response to linear motion of the changing liquid level;
a magnet fixed eccentrically for rotation relativve to the shaft means;
three sensors (A, B, and C) capable of switching an electric circuit in response to magnetic flux from said magnet;
said support including means for supporting the sensors relative to the shaft means, so that they are positioned equidistantly from the shaft means and sufficiently close thereto to respond to proximity of the magnet as it is rotated by the shaft means;
three flip-flops, each having an R input, an S input, and an output, the R input of each flip-flop being connected to one of the sensors and the S input being connected to one different sensor, so that, when one of the sensors switches the circuit, the inputs of two flip-flops are changed and, hence, the outputs of two flip-flops are changed, but the output of a third flip-flop remains unchanged, whereby the outputs of the three flip-flops can provide a three digit, binary code capable of distinguishing clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the shaft means, since one digit of each code is determined by the previous switch;
three AND gates, each having two inputs and one output, each input being connected to two adjacent flip-flop outputs, as arranged in circular sequence;
an OR gate having three inputs and an output, each input connected to an output of a different one of the AND gates; and
an up-down counter connected at its up-down input to the output of the OR gate and operatively at its increment input to the sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A small, permanent magnet is eccentrically supported on a shaft that is rotated by some means, such as gears, in response to linear change in some quantity, e.g. accumulated water from rainfall. A float on the surface of the water in a receptacle transmits the motion to the gears. At least three sensors, responsive to magnetic flux, are mounted in a circle concentric about the shaft so that the rotating magnet will produce a response as it passes each sensor. Each sensor is connected to an input terminal of two of a plurality of flip-flops (one for each sensor), so that the resultant stored bit of information in each flip-flop is determined by two different sensors. This stored bit comprises a digit of a three digit binary code that is changed whenever a sensor responds. It is available at the output terminal of each flip-flop, which is connected to an AND-OR inverter containing at least three two-input AND gates and an OR gate. Each flip-flop output is connected to one input terminal of two different AND gates, so that the output of each AND gate is determined by the stored bit of two different flip-flops. Each AND gate simplifies the three-digit, binary code that is supplied to the OR gate, to which outputs of the AND gates are connected. The sequence of response of the sensors (or direction of shaft rotation) is determined according to the combination of signals received from the AND gates. The OR gate, which is connected to a counting and memory device, produces a positive or negative signal that causes the counting device to count positively or negatively. At the same time, the signal pulse from the AND-OR inverter is fed to the counting device via clock means, and, optionally, wave-shaping means. This counting and memory device is in turn connected to radio means that automatically transmits any signal that represents an informational change in the previous broadcast.
19 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for automatically preparing digital data to describe changing liquid levels, comprising:
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shaft means; a support for the shaft means; means coacting for rotating the shaft means in response to linear motion of the changing liquid level; a magnet fixed eccentrically for rotation relativve to the shaft means; three sensors (A, B, and C) capable of switching an electric circuit in response to magnetic flux from said magnet; said support including means for supporting the sensors relative to the shaft means, so that they are positioned equidistantly from the shaft means and sufficiently close thereto to respond to proximity of the magnet as it is rotated by the shaft means; three flip-flops, each having an R input, an S input, and an output, the R input of each flip-flop being connected to one of the sensors and the S input being connected to one different sensor, so that, when one of the sensors switches the circuit, the inputs of two flip-flops are changed and, hence, the outputs of two flip-flops are changed, but the output of a third flip-flop remains unchanged, whereby the outputs of the three flip-flops can provide a three digit, binary code capable of distinguishing clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the shaft means, since one digit of each code is determined by the previous switch; three AND gates, each having two inputs and one output, each input being connected to two adjacent flip-flop outputs, as arranged in circular sequence; an OR gate having three inputs and an output, each input connected to an output of a different one of the AND gates; and an up-down counter connected at its up-down input to the output of the OR gate and operatively at its increment input to the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automatic, system for measuring changes in water levels and for preparing the resulting data in digital form, comprising:
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a receptacle for water; a vertical tube communicating with the receptacle, so that it contains the same water level as the receptacle; a float in the tube, to be supported on water therein; a counterweight to balance the float; a perforated, nonstretchable tape connecting the float to the counterweight; a sprocket having teeth that mesh with the tape perforations, so that longitudinal movement of the tape rotates the sprocket; a support for the sprocket, spaced relative to the tube; a shaft held by the support; means for transmitting rotational motion of the sprocket to the shaft; a magnet mounted eccentrically on the shaft; three magnetic reed switches equally spaced apart and equidistant from the shaft, but near enough to the circle described by the rotating magnet to be closed by proximity of the magnet; three flip-flops, each having an R input, and S input, and an output, the R input of each flip-flop being connected to one of the sensors and the S input being connected to one different sensor, so that, when one of the sensors switches the circuit, the inputs of two flip-flops are changed and, hence, the outputs of two flip-flops are changed, but the output of a third flip-flop remains unchanged, whereby the outputs of the three flip-flops can provide a three digit, binary code capable of distinguishing clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the shaft means, since one digit of each code is determined by the previous switch; three AND gates, each having two inputs and one output, each input being connected to two adjacent flip-flop outputs, as arranged in circular sequence; an OR gate having three inputs and an output, each input connected to an output of a different one of the AND gates; and an up-down counter connected at its up-down input to the output of the OR gate and operatively connected at its increment input to the sensors.
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Specification