In this section, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
"variable" (as a noun) means a feature or property (e.g., a dimension, a physical condition such as temperature, a quality such as density or colour) which, in respect of a particular entity (e.g., an object, a quantity of a substance, a beam of light) and at a particular instant, is capable of being measured; the variable may change, so that its numerical expression may assume different values at different times, in different conditions or in individual cases, but may be constant in respect of a particular entity in certain conditions or for practical purposes (e.g., the length of a bar may be regarded as constant for many purposes).
Attention is drawn to the definitions of terms or expressions used, appearing in the notes of several of the classes in this section, in particular those of "measuring" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01 and "control" and "regulation" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05.
Classification in this section may present more difficulty than in other sections, because the distinction between different fields of use rests to a considerable extent on differences in the intention of the user rather than on any constructional differences or differences in the manner of use, and because the subjects dealt with are often in effect systems or combinations, which have features or parts in common, rather than "things", which are readily distinguishable as a whole. For example, information (e.g., a set of figures) may be displayed for the purpose of education or advertising (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09), for enabling the result of a measurement to be known (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01), for signalling the information to a distant point or for giving information which has been signalled from a distant point (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08). The words used to describe the purpose depend on features that may be irrelevant to the form of the apparatus concerned, for example, such features as the desired effect on the person who sees the display, or whether the display is controlled from a remote point. Again, a device which responds to some change in a condition, e.g., in the pressure of a fluid, may be used, without modification of the device itself, to give information about the pressure (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01L) or about some other condition linked to the pressure (another subclass of class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01, e.g., Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01K for temperature), to make a record of the pressure or of its occurrence (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G07C), to give an alarm (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08B), or to control another apparatus (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05).
The classification scheme is intended to enable things of a similar nature (as indicated above) to be classified together. It is therefore particularly necessary for the real nature of any technical subject to be decided before it can be properly classified.
This class covers, in addition to "true" measuring instruments, other indicating or recording devices of analogous construction, and also signalling or control devices insofar as they are concerned with measurement (as defined in Note 2 below) and are not specially adapted to the particular purpose of signalling or control.
In this class, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
"measuring" is used to cover considerably more than its primary or basic meaning. In this primary sense, it means finding a numerical expression of the value of a variable in relation to a unit or datum or to another variable of the same nature, e.g. expressing a length in terms of another length as in measuring a length with a scale; the value may be obtained directly (as just suggested) or by measuring some other variable of which the value can be related to the value of the required variable, as in measuring a change in temperature by measuring a resultant change in the length of a column of mercury. However, since the same device or instrument may, instead of giving an immediate indication, be used to produce a record or to initiate a signal to produce an indication or control effect, or may be used in combination with other devices or instruments to give a conjoint result from measurement of two or more variables of the same or different kinds, it is necessary to interpret "measuring" as including also any operation that would make it possible to obtain such a numerical expression by the additional use of some way of converting a value into figures. Thus the expression in figures may be actually made by a digital presentation or by reading a scale, or an indication of it may be given without the use of figures, e.g. by some perceptible feature (variable) of the entity (e.g. object, substance, beam of light) of which the variable being measured is a property or condition or by an analogue of such a feature (e.g. the corresponding position of a member without any scale, a corresponding voltage generated in some way). In many cases there is no such value indication but only an indication of difference or equality in relation to a standard or datum (of which the value may or may not be known in figures); the standard or datum may be the value of another variable of the same nature but of a different entity (e.g. a standard measure) or of the same entity at a different time.
In its simplest form, measurement may give merely an indication of presence or absence of a certain condition or quality, e.g. movement (in any direction or in a particular direction), or whether a variable exceeds a predetermined value.
Attention is drawn to the Notes following the title of section G, especially as regards the definition of the term "variable".
In many measuring arrangements, a first variable to be measured is transformed into a second, or further, variables. The second, or further, variables may be (a) a condition related to the first variable and produced in a member, or (b) a displacement of a member. Further transformation may be needed. [6]
When classifying such an arrangement, (i) the transformation step, or each transformation step, that is of interest is classified, or (ii) if interest lies only in the system as a whole, the first variable is classified in the appropriate place. [6]
This is particularly important where two or more conversions take place, for instance where a first variable, for example pressure, is transformed into a second variable, for example an optical property of a sensing body, and that second variable is expressed by means of a third variable, for example an electric effect. In such a case, the following classification places should be considered: the place for the transformation of the first variable, that for sensing the condition caused by that variable, subclass Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01D for expression of the measurement, and finally the place for the overall system, if any. [6]
The measurement of change in the value of a physical property is classified in the same subclass as the measurement of that physical property, e.g. measurement of expansion of length is classified in subclass Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01B.
MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (means structurally associated with lightning or other overvoltage discharging apparatus for recording the operation thereof Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01R; displaying information in general Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09F; recording in a way which requires playback through a transducer Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G11B)
G01D
Note(s)
This subclass covers:
devices for indicating or recording the results of measurements, not peculiar to variables covered by a single other subclass;
analogous arrangements but in which the input is not a variable to be measured, e.g. a hand operation;
details of measuring instruments, which are of general interest;
measurement transducers not adapted solely for the measurement of a single specified variable and not provided for elsewhere, i.e. means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting;
Maximum indicating or recording apparatus, i.e. where the tariff for a period is based on a maximum demand within that period
G01D 4/12
· ·
Apparatus for indicating or recording progressive maximum
G01D 4/14
· ·
Fixed-demand indicating or recording apparatus, i.e. where indication is made when a predetermined quantity has been consumed during a time interval greater or less than a predetermined time interval
G01D 4/16
·
Apparatus for indicating or recording maximum or minimum load hours
G01D 4/18
·
Apparatus for indicating or recording overconsumption with opposing torque which comes into effect when a predetermined level is exceeded, e.g. subtraction meters
The subgroups of this main group are distinguished by the means which is of major importance. Thus the mere application of other means for giving a final indication does not affect the classification.
For a combination of two or more of the means specified, the first applicable one of the subgroups below takes precedence over any others of these groups.
Classification is made in this group only if no other group can be selected as being predominantly applicable.
G01D 5/56
· ·
using electric or magnetic means
G01D 5/58
· ·
using optical means, i.e. using infra-red, visible or ultra-violet light
Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
G01D 7/04
· ·
using a separate indicating element for each variable
G01D 7/06
· · ·
Luminous indications projected on a common screen
G01D 7/08
· ·
using a common indicating element for two or more variables
G01D 7/10
· · ·
giving indication in co-ordinate form
G01D 7/12
·
Audible indication of meter readings, e.g. for the blind [2]
G01D 9/00
Recording measured values
G01D 9/02
·
Producing one or more recordings of the values of a single variable
G01D 9/04
· ·
with provision for multiple or alternative recording
G01D 9/06
· · ·
Multiple recording, e.g. duplicating
G01D 9/08
· · · ·
giving both graphical and numerical recording
G01D 9/10
· ·
the recording element, e.g. stylus, being controlled in accordance with the variable, and the recording medium, e.g. paper roll, being controlled in accordance with time
G01D 9/12
· · ·
recording occurring continuously
G01D 9/14
· · · ·
with provision for altering speed of recording medium in accordance with the magnitude of the variable to be recorded
G01D 9/16
· · ·
recording occurring at separated intervals, e.g. by chopper bar
G01D 9/18
· · · ·
recording element actuated only upon change in value of variable
G01D 9/20
· ·
the recording element, e.g. stylus, being controlled in accordance with time and the recording medium, e.g. paper roll, being controlled in accordance with the variable
G01D 9/22
· · ·
recording occurring continuously
G01D 9/24
· · ·
recording occurring at separated intervals, e.g. by chopper bar
G01D 9/26
· ·
either the recording element, e.g. stylus, or the recording medium, e.g. paper roll, being controlled in accordance with both time and the variable
there being a separate recording element for each variable, e.g. multiple-pen recorder
G01D 9/32
· ·
there being a common recording element for two or more variables
G01D 9/34
· · ·
the variables being recorded in predetermined sequence
G01D 9/36
· · · ·
in separate columns
G01D 9/38
·
Producing one or more recordings, each recording being produced by controlling the recording element, e.g. stylus, in accordance with one variable and controlling the recording medium, e.g. paper roll, in accordance with another variable
G01D 9/40
·
Producing one or more recordings, each recording being produced by controlling either the recording element, e.g. stylus, or the recording medium, e.g. paper roll, in accordance with two or more variables
G01D 9/42
·
Recording indications of measuring instruments by photographic means, e.g. of counters
Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments (in general Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...F16M; specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, see the relevant subclasses)
G01D 13/00
Component parts of indicators for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable