Non-invasive measurement system

• US 7,278,310 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Scheid, James Eric, Rice, Brett A., Andreas, Travis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US11/311,583
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/239
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92019 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92085 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92104 Flow or feed rate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92152 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/9218 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92209 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92361 Extrusion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92438 Conveying, transporting or storage of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92647 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/00 Apparatus for measuring by volume and delivering fluids or fluent solid materials, not provided for in the preceding groups

Abstract

A non-invasive piston-cylinder measurement system of a cylinder and a piston mounted for axial movement within the cylinder. The cylinder comprises a non-magnetic cylinder wall. A magnet is mounted within the piston. A plurality of magnetically activated switches, such as read switches, is mounted outside of the non-magnetic cylinder wall so as to be activated by piston movement. The measurement system provides a non-invasive means for measuring fluid extruded from a piston-cylinder extruder.

Claims

1. A dispenser and measurement system comprising:

a non-magnetic cylinder adapted to receive, store and extrude a predetermined quantity of high viscosity material;

a piston mountable within said cylinder for movement therein along an axis adapted to displace said high viscosity material;

a magnet mounted within said piston;

a plurality of magnetically activated switches mounted outside of said cylinder;

a magnetic flux guide coupled to said piston adapted to control a magnetic field emanating from said magnet to limit magnetic field interaction with said plurality of magnetically activated switches; and

a flow and quantity indicator section adapted to receive a signal from one or more of said plurality of magnetically activated switches and display a volume remaining and flow data associated with each of said magnetically activated switches.

2. The measurement system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of magnetically activated switches is positioned in response to an axial position of said piston.

3. The measurement system of claim 1 further comprising a circuit board securable to the cylinder, said plurality of magnetically activated switches being mounted on said circuit board.

4. The measurement system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plurality of magnetically activated switches are a plurality of reed switches.

5. The measurement system in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a plurality of resistors mounted on said circuit board, said plurality of magnetically activated switches and said plurality of resistors comprising a network which is operable to produce a network signal output corresponding to a relative axial position of said piston within said cylinder.

6. The measurement system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said circuit board is aligned with an axis of movement of said piston.

7. A method of making a piston-cylinder measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a non-magnetic cylinder adapted to receive, store and extrude a predetermined quantity of high viscosity material;

providing a piston mountable within said cylinder for movement therein along an axis adapted to displace said high viscosity material;

providing a plurality of sensors mounted outside of a wall of the cylinder which are aligned with an axis of movement of said piston within the cylinder;

providing that said plurality of sensors responsive to a pre-determined physical phenomena;

positioning and adapting a physical phenomena generator on the piston such that the pre-determined physical phenomena is directed radially outwardly;

activating respective of said plurality of sensors;

indicating the relative position of the piston within the cylinder; and

providing a flow and quantity indicator section adapted to receive a signal from one or more of said plurality of sensors and display a volume remaining and flow data associated with each of said plurality of sensors.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said activating step is induced by magnetic components of the sensors acting on the physical phenomena generator comprising a magnet.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of mounting a magnetic flux guide on the piston and guiding magnetic flux from the physical phenomena generator radially outwardly.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of digitally displaying the position of the piston.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of utilizing said piston and cylinder within an extruder and providing a digital display operable for displaying a weight of extruded material.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein magnet components are switches.