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US 4,394,577 AGranted
Displacement measurement device and method
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorsMarvin L. Peterson, Norman W. Hein, Jr., Donald H. Oertle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least two types of reflective or emissive materials are applied in alternating manner to a pile or other object to be moved. Ultraviolet energy is emitted toward the materials and reflections or emissions therefrom are received by appropriate detector elements which convert the different respective reflected or emitted energy spectra into corresponding electrical signals for use by a processor device to determine the distance and rate which the pile or object is being moved. The calculated information is channeled to a suitable display and a permanent recording device.
Claims16
An apparatus for monitoring the displacement of an object, comprising:
- multi-frequency energy source means for providing an output having frequencies within a predetermined spectrum of at least two frequencies;
- detector means for detecting when the output at a first one of said two frequencies has reached the object at a predetermined location thereon and for detecting when the output at a second one of said two frequencies has reached the object at a second predetermined location thereon and at a time later than that time at which the output at said first frequency reached the object;
- and
- means, responsive to said detector means, for monitoring the alternate detection of the outputs at said first and second frequencies reaching the object and for deriving the displacement of the object therefrom.
1 more element
An apparatus for monitoring the displacement of an object, comprising:
- a first plurality of reflectors, disposed in spaced relation on the object, each of said first plurality of reflectors having means for reflecting a first predetermined spectrum of energy;
- a second plurality of reflectors, each being disposed on the object between respective consecutive ones of said first plurality of reflectors whereby an alternating arrangement of said first and second pluralities of reflectors is formed, and each of said second plurality of reflectors having means for reflecting a second predetermined spectrum of energy;
- first detector means for converting said reflected first predetermined spectrum of energy into a corresponding first electrical signal;
- second detector means for converting said reflected second predetermined spectrum of energy into a corresponding second electrical signal;
- and
- means, responsive to the consecutive detection of said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal, for deriving the distance the object has moved.
3 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring the displacement of an object, comprising:
- multi-frequency energy source means for providing energy having frequencies within a predetermined spectrum of at least two frequencies;
- first frequency responsive means, responsive to energy at a frequency within a first portion of said spectrum, for providing a first frequency output;
- second frequency responsive means, responsive to energy at a frequency within a second portion of said spectrum, for providing a second frequency output;
- first detector means for detecting said first frequency output and for providing a first electrical signal corresponding thereto;
- second detector means for detecting said second frequency output and for providing a second electrical signal corresponding thereto;
- and
- means, responsive to said first detector means and said second detector means, for monitoring the alternate detection of said first frequency output and said second frequency output by said first detector means and said second detector means, respectively, and for deriving the displacement of the object therefrom.
4 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring the displacement of an object, comprising:
- source means for emitting ultraviolet energy;
- first reflector means, disposed on the object, for reflecting a first predetermined spectrum of energy in response to said ultaviolet energy impinging upon said first reflector means;
- second reflector means, disposed on the object in spaced relation with said first reflector means, for reflecting a second predetermined spectrum of energy in response to said ultraviolet energy impinging upon said second reflector means;
- first detector means for converting said reflected first predetermined spectrum of energy into a corresponding first electrical signal;
- second detector means for converting said reflected second predetermined spectrum of energy into a corresponding second electrical signal;
- and
- means, responsive to the consecutive detection of said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal, for deriving the distance the object has moved.
4 more elements
A method of monitoring the displacement of an object, comprising:
- marking the object with a first reflective material responsive to ultraviolet energy;
- marking the object, in predetermined spaced relation with the first reflective material, with a second reflective material responsive to ultraviolet energy;
- detecting when the first reflective material initially responds to ultraviolet energy;
- detecting when the second reflective material initially responds to ultraviolet energy;
- preventing the redetection of a response to the ultraviolet energy by the first reflective material after the initial response thereby to ultraviolet energy until after the step of detecting when the second reflective material initially responds to ultraviolet energy;
- and
- calculating, in response to said steps of detecting when the first reflective material initially responds and of detecting when the second reflective material initially responds, the distance the object has moved.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.