Title: Method and apparatus for displaying active oxygen and sensor temperature

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for displaying at least a pair of physical representations which respectively represent at least a first and a second sensed parameter, comprising the combination of:

input circuit means for receiving a first signal and a second signal which are respectively electrical representations of said first parameter and said second parameter;

first recording means operatively connected to said input circuit means for receiving said first signal representative of said first parameter and for displaying a first physical representation of said signal upon command;

second recording means for receiving said second signal representative of said second parameter and for displaying a second physical representation of said second signal, said second recording means including limiting means responsive to a predetermined level of said second signal for initiating the operation of said second recording means;

sequencing means initially responsive to said limiting means for causing said first recording means to display said first representation of said first parameter; and

a source of power operatively connected to said first recording means and said second recording means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sequencing means (a) operates in response to said limiting means and causes said sequencing means to be operatively connected to said source of power for a predetermined cycle and (b) then causes said first signal to be operatively connected from said input means to said first recording means so that said first recording means displays said first representation of said first signal.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including means responsive to said sequencing means for indicating a predetermined time in said predetermined cycle.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said input circuit means includes a low input resistance and said sequencing means further causes said low input resistance to be removed therefrom so that input circuit means has a high input resistance, said low input resistance being removed after said sequencing means is operatively connected to said source of power and before said first recording means displays said first signal.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first recording means includes read and hold means for causing a physical representation on said first recording means to be retained until released by said sequencing means, said sequencing means causing a previous representation to be released prior to causing said first signal to be operatively connected to said first recording means.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said source of power includes means for providing power from either a conventional a-c source or from batteries, and means for switching therebetween.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes means for charging said battery.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said apparatus further includes means for determining whether said battery needs charging.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input circuit means further includes temperature measuring means for producing said first parameter and dissolved oxygen measuring means for producing said second parameter.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in combination with a solid electrolyte sensor capable of being plunged into liquid metal comprising a small mass of solid oxygen-permeable electrolyte in a refractory insulating tube, an oxygen reference material in contact with said electrolyte and wherein said temperature measuring means includes a plurality of electrodes for providing an emf representative of the temperature of the probe and said dissolved oxygen measuring means includes a plurality of electrodes for providing an emf representative of the dissolved oxygen content of the metal, said electrodes being in circuit with said input circuit means.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further including means for indicating whether said sensor is operatively connected to said apparatus.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further including means for indicating when said sequencing means is operating, indicating that readings from said sensor are being obtained.

13. An apparatus for displaying a physical representation which represents a sensed parameter comprising:

input circuit means for receiving a signal wich is an electrical representative of said parameter;

recording means operatively connected to said input circuit means for receiving said signal and displaying a first physical representation of said signal, said recording means including limiting means responsive to a predetermined level of said signal; and

sequencing means initially responsive to said limiting means for causing said input circuit means to exhibit a high input impedance to said signal.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said sensed parameter is an emf representing the dissolved oxygen content of a liquid metal.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in combination with a solid electrolyte sensor capable of being plunged into liquid metal comprising a small mass of solid oxygen-permeable electrolyte and a plurality of electrodes for providing an emf representative of the temperature of the probe and an emf representative of the dissolved oxygen content of the metal, said electrodes being in circuit with said input circuit means.

16. A method for displaying a first signal representing the temperature of a liquid metal, and a second signal representative of the dissolved oxygen content of the liquid metal, said first signal and said second signal being derived from a sensor capable of being plunged into the liquid metal and comprising a small mass of solid oxygen-permeable electrolyte in a refractory insulating tube, an oxygen reference material in contact with said electrolyte, and a plurality of electrodes for providing said first signal and said second signal, comprising the steps of:

plunging said probe into said liquid metal,

displaying a second physical representation of said second signal when said second signal reaches a predetermined level,

displaying a first physical representation of said first signal in response to said second signal reaching said predetermined level, and

indicating that said first physical representation and said second physical representation have been displayed.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 further including the steps of:

causing a low input impedance to said second signal to be translated into a high input impedance prior to the step of displaying said first physical representation of said first signal.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 further including the step of causing said first physical representation to be retained for a predetermined period of time.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 further including the step of testing to determine whether said probe is operative.

Other info:

Inventors: Fitterer, Charles E. (Allison Park, PA, US)
Cassler, Carl D. (Pittsburgh, PA, US)

Application Number: 303370
Filing Date: 1972-11-03
Publication_date: 1976-01-27
Assignee: Fitterer Engineering Associates, Inc. (Oakmont, PA)
Primary Class(es): 346/45 73/19.07, 340/521, 340/632, 340/635
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3474438	Oct, 1969	Lauher	340/324.
3619381	Nov, 1971	Fitterer	204/1.
3652427	Mar, 1972	Flood et al.	204/195.
3723279	Mar, 1973	Fruehan et al.	204/195.
3758397	Sep, 1973	Rittiger et al.	204/195.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Tung, T.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Lane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems