Claims
- 1. A method for displaying magnitude changes of a property within an enclosed vessel externally, comprising the steps of:
(a) mounting a magnetic field source for rotation within the vessel providing a magnetic field having an axis of symmetry rotating in a particular plane; (b) rotating the magnetic field source in opposite directions responsive to increasing and decreasing changes in magnitude of the property within the vessel, respectively; (c) passively sensing orientation of the axis of symmetry of the magnetic field source outside the vessel with a planar display located in a plane parallel and proximate to the plane of rotation of the magnetic field source, the planar display having a plurality of pixels formed by magneto-optic materials each providing a visual effect representative of orientation of the axis of symmetry of the magnetic field; and (d) correlating the orientation of the axis of symmetry of the magnetic field sensed to increases and decreases in magnitude of the property within the vessel.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein each pixel formed by the magneto-optic materials comprises in combination,
(i) a top light polarizing layer; (ii) an intermediate magneto-optic layer mixture composed of liquid crystal materials having dichroic (polarization dependent) light absorption properties; and (iii) a bottom light reflecting layer, and (iv) a source of light illuminating the planar display.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein each pixel formed by the magneto-optic materials further includes,
(v) a bottom light polarizing layer interposed between the bottom light reflecting layer and the intermediate magneto-optic layer mixture.
- 4. The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the liquid crystal materials are from types of liquid crystal materials classified as smectic and nematic.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the liquid crystal materials further include a property of classes of properties described as discotic and chiral.
- 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the magneto-optic layer mixture composed of liquid crystal materials further includes a ferronematic compound.
- 7. A method as recited in claim 1 or 3 wherein the vessel is a pneumatic tire and a wheel rim for a vehicle and the magnetic field source is rotated in opposite directions responsive to increasing and decreasing changes in pressure.
- 8. A method as recited in claim 7 the planar display provides a visual warning of insufficient pressure.
- 9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the planar display provides a visual warning of excessive pressure.
- 10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the planar display provides a visual indication of pressure within the container in a plurality of discrete ranges.
- 11. A method for displaying a magnetic field direction comprising:
a) providing a magnetic field having a particular direction; b) locating a magneto-optical material within the provided magnetic field; c) providing a source of light for transmission through the magneto-optical material; d) measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical material in relation to changes in orientation of the magneto-optical material within the provide magnetic field.
- 12. A method for displaying a magnetic field direction comprising:
a) providing a magnetic field having a particular direction; b) locating a magneto-optical material within the provided magnetic field; c) providing a source of light for transmission through the magneto-optical material; is this necessary; d) measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical material in relation to changes in orientation of the provided magnetic field.
- 13. A method as recited in claim 11 or 12 wherein the magneto-optical material is a liquid crystal having dichroic (polarization dependent) light absorption properties.
- 14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the magneto-optical liquid crystal material from types of liquid crystal materials classified as smectic and nematic.
- 15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the liquid crystal materials further include properties of classes described as discotic and chiral.
- 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the magneto-optical material further includes ferronematic compounds.
- 17. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical material further includes the steps of:
e) polarizing light entering the magneto-optical liquid crystal material in a first direction with a first polarizer; f) polarizing light transmitted by the magneto-optical material in a second direction with a second polarizer, wherein light transmitted by the second polarizer provides an observable bright field.
- 18. The method according to claim 13 wherein measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical material further includes the steps comprising,
e) polarizing light entering the magneto-optical liquid crystal material in a first direction with a first polarizer; f) reflecting light transmitted by the magneto-optical liquid crystal material back through magneto-optical liquid crystal material and polarizer wherein reflected light transmitted provides an observable bright field.
- 19. The method according to claim 13 the step of locating a magneto-optical material within the provided magnetic field further includes the step of
(i) creating a planar display composed of pixel elements each formed from the magneto-optic liquid crystal material; (ii) orienting the planar display in a plane parallel the particular direction of the provided magnetic field.
- 20. The method according to claim 19 and further including the steps of:
(i) orienting each pixel element within the planar array for providing at least a visual image relative to coordinates of the planar display, (ii) successively orienting the planar display within the magnetic field for producing the visual image.
- 21. An apparatus for displaying magnitude changes of a property within an enclosed vessel externally, comprising in combination:
(a) a magnetic field source mounted for rotation within the vessel, the magnetic field source providing a magnetic field having an axis of symmetry rotating in a particular plane upon rotation of the field source; (b) means within the vessel for rotating the magnetic field source in opposite directions responsive to increasing and decreasing changes in magnitude of the property within the vessel, respectively; (c) a planar display located in a plane parallel and proximate to the plane of rotation of the magnetic field source outside the vessel, the planar display having a plurality of pixels formed by magneto-optic materials each passively providing a visual effect representative of orientation of the axis of symmetry of the magnetic field; and (d) correlating the orientation of the axis of symmetry of the magnetic field sensed to increases and decreases in magnitude of the property within the vessel.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each pixel formed by magneto-optic materials comprises in combination:
(i) a top light polarizing layer; (ii) an intermediate magneto-optic layer mixture composed of liquid crystal materials having dichroic (polarization dependent) light absorption properties; and (iii) a bottom light reflecting layer, and (iv) a source of light illuminating the planar display.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein each pixel formed by the magneto-optic materials further includes,
(v) a bottom light polarizing layer interposed between the bottom light reflecting layer and the intermediate magneto-optic layer mixture.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22 wherein the liquid crystal materials are from types of liquid crystal materials classified as smectic and nematic.
- 25 The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the liquid crystal materials further include a property of classes of properties described as discotic and chiral.
- 26 The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the magneto-optic layer mixture composed of liquid crystal materials further includes a ferronematic compound.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the vessel is a pneumatic tire and a wheel rim for a vehicle and the magnetic field source is rotated in opposite directions responsive to increasing and decreasing changes in pressure.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the planar display provides a visual warning of insufficient pressure.
- 29 The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the planar display provides a visual warning of excessive pressure.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the planar display provides a visual indication of pressure within the container in a plurality of discrete ranges.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means within the vessel for rotating the magnetic field source in opposite directions responsive to increasing and decreasing changes in magnitude of the property within the vessel, respectively, comprises a pressure actuated bladder mechanism mounted within the pressure vessel coupled for rotating the magnetic field source responsive to changes in fluid pressure within the vessel.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the pressure actuated bladder mechanism comprises in combination,
(i) a fixed radius outer cylindrical wall integral with an inner wall of the vessel; (ii) a variable radius flexible inner cylindrical wall; (iii) flexible annular end walls radially between the fixed radius outer cylindrical wall and the variable radius flexible inner cylindrical wall; the outer cylindrical wall, the flexible inner cylindrical wall and the flexible annular end walls defining a hermetic, annular bladder chamber; (iv) a bladder fluid establishing a reference fluid pressure within the bladder chamber; (v) means coupling between the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber and the magnetic field source, whereby, increasing changes in fluid pressure within the vessel increase radius of the inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber rotating the magnetic field source in a first direction, and decreasing changes in fluid pressure within the vessel decrease radius of the inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber rotating the magnetic field source in a second direction opposite the first direction.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the means coupling between the between the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber and the magnetic field source comprise in combination,
(vi) a shaft longitudinally aligned within, surrounded by the annular bladder chamber having the magnetic field source secured at a proximate end adjacent the inner wall of the vessel; (vii) a plurality of spiral spokes coupled to and radially winding around the shaft each spoke having a distal end coupled to the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber, increases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber unwinding the spiral spokes from around the shaft, rotating the shaft in the first direction, decreases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber winding the spiral spokes around the shaft, rotating the shaft in the second direction.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the means coupling between the between the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber and the magnetic field source comprise in combination,
(vi) a shaft longitudinally aligned and journalled for rotation within, and surrounded by the annular bladder chamber having the magnetic field source secured at a proximate end adjacent the inner wall of the vessel; (vii) a spiral spoke coupled to and radially winding around the shaft having a distal end coupled to the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber, increases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber of the bladder unwinding the spoke from around the shaft, rotating the shaft in the first direction, decreases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber winding the spiral spoke around the shaft rotating the shaft in the second direction.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 33 or 34 wherein each spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to expand the spiral increasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 33 or 34 wherein each spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to contract the spiral decreasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein:
at least one spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to expand its spiral unwinding from around the shaft increasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder, and at least another spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to contract its spiral winding around the shaft, decreasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder.
- 38. A pressure actuated bladder mechanism comprising in combination,
(i) a fixed radius outer cylindrical cup integral with an inner surface of a wall of a closed vessel; (ii) a hermetic, annular bladder chamber having expandable, flexible, inner radius and outer radius cylindrical walls and expandable, flexible end walls confined within the fixed radius outer cylindrical cup integral with the inner surface of a wall of the closed vessel; (iv) a bladder fluid establishing a reference fluid pressure within the annular bladder chamber; (v) a shaft aligned longitudinally within, surrounded by the annular bellow chamber, and (vi) means coupling between the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber and the shaft, increasing changes in fluid pressure within the closed vessel increase radius of the inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber rotating the shaft in a first direction, and decreasing changes in fluid pressure within the closed vessel decrease radius of the inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber rotating the shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction.
- 39. The pressure actuated bladder mechanism of claim 38 wherein the means coupling between the between the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber and the shaft comprise in combination therewith,
(vii) a plurality of spiral spokes coupled to and radially winding around the shaft each spoke having a distal end coupled to the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber, increases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the annular bladder chamber unwinding the spiral spokes from around the shaft, rotating the shaft in the first direction, decreases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the annular bladder chamber winding the spiral spokes around the shaft, rotating the shaft in the second direction, the spiral spokes supporting the shaft for rotation longitudinally aligned within, surrounded by the annular bladder chamber.
- 40. The pressure actuated bladder mechanism of claim 38 wherein the shaft is longitudinally aligned within, supported and journalled for rotation within the cylindrical cup integral with the inner surface of the wall of the closed vessel, and further comprising in combination therewith,
(vii) a spiral spoke coupled to and radially winding around the shaft having a distal end coupled to the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the annular bladder chamber, increases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber of the bladder unwinding the spoke from around the shaft, rotating the shaft in the first direction, decreases in radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder chamber winding the spiral spoke around the shaft rotating the shaft in the second direction.
- 41 The pressure actuated bladder mechanism of claim 39 or 40 wherein each spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to expand the spiral increasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder.
- 42. The pressure actuated bladder mechanism of claim 39 or 40 wherein each spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to contract the spiral decreasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder.
- 43. The pressure actuated bladder mechanism of claim 39 wherein:
at least one spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to expand its spiral unwinding from around the shaft increasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder, and at least another spiral spoke has a spring constant and tends to contract its spiral winding around the shaft, decreasing the radius of the flexible inner cylindrical wall of the bladder.
- 44. The pressure actuated bladder mechanism of claim 38 and further including:
(vii) a helically coil spring having a spring constant and tending to radially expand confined circumferentially inside the hermetic, annular bladder chamber supporting and expanding the walls of the annular bladder chamber within the fixed radius outer cylindrical cup integral with the inner surface of the wall of the closed vessel.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application is a continuation of Provisional Application No. 60/228,941 filed Aug. 30, 2000..
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60228941 |
Aug 2000 |
US |