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US 2002/0170424 A1Published application
Hydraulic piston position sensor
AssigneeRosemont Inc.
InventorsGregory C. Brown, Brian E. Richter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piston position in a cylinder of a hydraulic assembly is measured using microwave pulses. The microwave pulses are launched along a conductor coupled to the piston or cylinder. A sliding member is slidably coupled to the conductor and moves with the piston or cylinder. Position is determined as a function of a reflection from the end of the conductor and the sliding member.
Claims20
An apparatus to measure relative position of a hydraulic piston in a cylinder, comprising:
- a rod extending in a direction of movement of the piston fixedly coupled to one of the piston or cylinder, the rod configured to carry a microwave pulse between a coupling and a distal end of the rod;
- a sliding member slidably coupled to the other of one of the piston or cylinder, the sliding member configured to cause a partial reflection of the microwave pulse;
- microwave transceiver circuitry coupled to the rod configured to generate and receive microwave pulses;
- and
- computation circuitry configured to calculate piston position as a function of reflected microwave pulses from the sliding member and the distal rod end.
2 more elements
An apparatus to measure relative position of a hydraulic piston in a cylinder, comprising:
- at least one conductor extending in a direction of movement of the piston and fixedly coupled to one of the piston or cylinder, the conductor configured to carry a microwave pulse between a coupling and a distal end of the conductor;
- a sliding member slidably coupled to the other of one of the piston or cylinder, the sliding member configured to cause a partial reflection of the microwave pulse;
- microwave transceiver circuitry coupled to the conductor configured to generate and receive microwave pulses;
- and
- computation circuitry configured to calculate piston position as a function of reflected microwave pulses from the sliding member and the distal conductor end.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.