摘要:
This disclosure teaches a new electrical resistance element construction and a method of making same. The elements are commonly used for resistance thermometer construction wherein the electrical resistance of a material, normally a fine metallic wire, changes with respect to temperature. The resistance wire is wound onto an electrically insulated or insulative mandrel and is subsequently shielded and protected with an outer shell. A cavity (which is purposely left between the mandrel and the outer shell) is sealed at one end and then filled with a liquid, normally very pure water. If necessary, the unit is centrifuged to insure that the water fills all of the air pockets in the cavity. A container is then placed around the outer shell and a plug (if the inner mandrel is hollow) inserted inside the mandrel thus extending and enlarging the cavity beyond the extremes of the unit. The extended cavity is then filled with a very finely powdered dielectric material and water slurry. The unit is again centrifuged and the heavier dielectric material (normally alumina) will replace the water originally centrifuged into the cavity between the mandrel and the outer shell and will be compacted tightly around the resistance wire. The unit is then removed from the centrifuge and dried in an oven to evaporate any of the liquid (water) which may still be present in the unit. The open end of the cavity is then sealed and the element is ready for use. Suitable lead wires are attached prior to centrifuging and means are provided for maintaining the resistance wire wrapped around the mandrel in position so that it does not electrically short out to the mandrel or the adjacent winds of the wire do not short to each other during centrifuging. As shown, one way of doing so is to affix portions of the wire to the mandrel, or the mandrel can contain grooves which will hold the wire from longitudinal displacement during centrifuging. An alternate approach, utilizing the above described centrifuging technique is also employed. That is, a resistance element of any volume is mounted within an outer shell of any volume slightly larger than the element volume. The remaining cavity is then filled with material by centrifuging as previously described thus producing a completely supported and contained resistive element.
摘要:
A LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR, PARTICULARLY SUITABLE AS A TIDE GAUGE, INDICATES THE MEAN LEVEL OF A LIQUID. A NUMBER OF SENSING ELEMENTS, E.G. CAPACTIVE ELECTRODES OR DONCUTIVITY SENSORS, SPACED VERTICALY, SENSE THE PRESENCE OR ABSNCE OF LIQUID AT EACH ELECTRODE AND GIVE SIGNALS WHICH MAY BE CONVERTED TO A BINARY DIGITAL NUMBER INDICATING THE INSTANTANEOUS LEVEL. THIS DIGITAL OUTPUT SIGNAL CONTROLS A SERIES OF AND GATES TO PASS PULSES WHICH, FOR EACH GATE, ARE AT A RATE CORRESPONDING TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE APPROPRIATE DIGIT. THE PULSES ARE NON-COINCIDENT PULSES OBTAINED BY DIVIDING DOWN THE OUTPUT OF AN OSCILLATOR. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PULSES FROM ALL THE GATES OVER A PREDETERMINED PERIOD IS FED TO A COUNTER WHICH INDICATES THE MEAN LEVEL OVER THAT PERIOD. BY USING PULSE TRAINS, THE LEVEL IS AVERAGED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME ENABLING THE MEAN LEVEL TO BE DETERMINED TO AN ACCURACY BETTER THAN THE ELECTRODE SPACING.