A hand held device having a forward open window portion adapted to be pushed downwardly into the frost on a surface, and a rear container portion adapted to receive the frost removed from the window area are described. A graph on a side of the container enables an observer to determine the density of the frost from certain measurements noted. The depth of the frost is noted from calibrated lines on the sides of the open window portion

Huneidi, F.

English

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20546 
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m I '  
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i n v e n t i o n  o f  . . . ' I  
25th 5 Annmsarv 
1958-1983 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19840019949 2020-03-22T09:31:40+00:00Z
United States Patent [191 [111 4,398,412 
Huneidi [45] Aug. 16, 1983 
[54] DEVICE FOR DETERMINING FROST 
[75] Inventor: Farouk Huneidi, Huntsville, Ala. 
[73] Assignee: The United States of America as 
DEPTH AND DENSITY 
represented by the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, Washington, D.C. 
[21] Appl. No.: 359,626 
[22] Filed: Mar. 18, 1982 
[51] Int. Cl.3 ............................................... GOlN 9/00 
[52] U.S. C1. ................................. 73/32 R 73/864.41; 
73/150 R, 73/170 R, 33/169 F, 62/128 
[58] Field of Search .............. 73B64.41, 32 R, 150 R, 
73/170 R, 33/169 F; 62/128 
[561 References Cited 
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
2,519,943 8/1950 Tobey ................................... 62/128 
3,522,858 EA970 Christensen . 
4,156,362 VI979 MacHattie et 
4,304,139 12/1981 Johnson ....... 
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 
54-156588 12/1979 Japan ................................ 73/170 R 
468133 4/1975 U.S.S.R. ............................. 73/32R 
763721 9/1980 U.S.S.R. ........................... 73/864.41 
Primary Examiner-Steven L. Stephan 
Assistant Examiner-Tom Noland 
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. H. Beumer; J. R. Manning; 
L. D. Wofford, Jr. 
1571 ABSTRACT 
A hand held device (12) having a forward open window 
portion (14) adapted to be pushed downwardly into the 
frost on a surface, and a rear container portion (22) 
adapted to receive the frost removed from the window 
area. A graph (FIG. 4) on a side of the container enables 
an observer to determine the density of the frost from 
certain measurements noted. The depth of the frost is 
noted from calibrated lines (28) on the sides of the open 
window portion (14). 
7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 
U.S. Patent Aug. 16, 1983 Sheet 1 of 2 4,398,4 12 
30 
22 
L 
F/G. I 
U.S. Patent Aug. 16, 1983 Sheet 2 of 2 4,398,4 12 
f / G  3 
WATER HEIGHT (HW) - INCH t / p  
r l u .  e 
., 
, . '", 
1 
4,398,412 
2 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION O F  THE DRAWING 
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a device for determining 
frost depth and density. 
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a scraper implement to be 
used with the device shown in FIG. 1. 
FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 and 
scraper of FIG. 2 being utilized on a frost covered 
surface. 
FIG. 4 is a graph appearing on the lower surface of 
the container portion of the device shown in FIG. 1. 
DEVICE FOR DETERMINING FROST DEPTH 
AND DENSITY 
DESCRIPTION 
ORIGIN O F  THE INVENTION 
The invention described herein was made by an em- 
ployee of the United States Government, and may be 
manufactured and used by or for the Government of the 10 
United States of America for Governmental purposes 
without the payment of any royalties thereon or there- 
for. INVENTION 
TECHNICAL FIELD 
5 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 
15 Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a 
ne invention relates to a device for determining the device 12 according to the present invention for mea- 
particularly to a device suitable to establish the frost surface and for determining the frost density. While the 
conditions on the external surface of a tank or pipes of device 12 will be described using terminology relative 
20 to its orientation of parts and use on a frost surface, such large diameter filled with cryogenic liquid. a lower, upper, and side, it should be understood that 
BACKGROUNDART such terms are for ease of explanation and are not limit- 
ing to its orientation with regard to an observer or user In handling of cryogenic liquids such as liquid hydro- of the device. 
gen for spacecraft it is often necessary to determine the The device 12 as shown has a unitary body made of 
extent and Of frost On tanks and transparent hard plastic of about one-eight inch thick. 
plished herebefore by measuring a certain area of the sively secured to abutting members. Obviously, the 
surface Of the frost, measuring the depth Of the frost device 12 could be cast or parts thereof cast as a single 
from within the certain area and weighing it, and then piece SO as to eliminate d l  or most of the joints formed 
calculating the frost density. This Prior technique Was  by abutting members. The transparency of the plates of 
cumbersome because Of the requirement of various the body Serves as an aid in its operation when making 
tools and measuring devices which were confusing to measurements. 
the layman. The unitary body of the device 12 has a forward part 
35 14 having four planar sides 16,17,18 and 19 arranged in 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION a rectangular or square configuration so as to define an 
The present invention is a simple and practical hand opening or window. The window sides 16,17,18 and 19 
held device which enables a quick determination to be have a height greater than the anticipated depth of the 
made of the depth and density of the frost on the exter- frost to be measured, and the rear side 19 is slightly 
nal surface of the tank pipe, or other object. 40 slanted outwardly from its lower to its upper edges as 
area window defined by rectangular arranged sides dow sides 16,17,18 and 19 are beveled along their outer 
which when placed against the frost surface and having rims to Present a sharp lower edge* 
downward pressure applied thereto sinks readily to the 
occupy the open window space within the rectangular 
depth and density of frost, snow, and the like, and more suring the depth of frost on an underlying supporting 
pipes holding the cryogenic fluid* This was accom- As illustrated the body is made of various plates adhe- 
The device is a unitary body having a forward fixed shown best in FIG. 3. Also, the lower parts Of the Win- 
The rear portion Of the unitary body is a 
surface allowing the frost to 45 rectangular container or collector 22 having its lower 
Plate 24 joined to the rear window Side 19 adjacent the 
sides. Calibrated lines or scales are provided on the 
window sides to enable an observer to read the depth of 
upper edge Ofthe side l9 so the Container portion 22 
presents a Offset from the which is 
front window portion 14 and parallel to the bottom 
50 edge of the window portion. The forward end 25 of the 
container 22 is open and above the rear side 19. The 
short triangular parts 26 to join with the upper edges of 
The container has calibrated lines along its upper side shifted from the window opening into the 
whereby when the frost melts, the height of the water container 21 from spilling Over the ring sides 17, 18 as 
therefrom may be easily read by an observer. A graph is will be discussed, and also serves to strengthen the 
applied to the lower side of the container which corre- entire structural arrangement. Calibrated lines 28 one- 
l a m  for the mer the depth of the frost and the height of 60 eight inch apart are integrally grooved or etched on the 
the melt (water) to the density of the frost. outer vertical surface of the window sides 16,17,18 and 
Accordin!$Y, it is an object of the Present invention 19 parallel to the rear plate 32 of the container 22 and 
to provide a device for quickly determining the depth measured from the forward surface of the rear plate 32. 
and density of frost, snow, and the l i e  on a surface. FIG. 3 illustrates the device placed on a frost covered 
Another object is to provide an easily manipulated 65 surface 35. Initially, the device is placed against the 
device of a unitary construction for measuring the upper surface of the frost 34 and the user applies a 
depth of frost, snow, and similar substances, and for downward force to cause the front window portion 14 
quickly determining its density. to slice through the frost 34 to the underlying support- 
the frost. 
The rear portion of the unitary body is a container 
rear portion of the fixed area window. The frost occu- 
having a front entry Opening adjacent and above the longitudinal vertical side plates 20 ofthe container have 
PYing the 'pace within the window is Pushed Or scraped 
backwards into the the corresponding longitudinal window sides 17, 18. entry opening* 55 The triangular parts 26 prevents the frost that is being through 
25 
30 
4,398,412 
3 4 
ing surface 35. The lower sharp edges of the window 
plate sides 16, 17, 18 and 19 allow the window portion 
to push through the frost 34 easily. The frost 34, as the 
window portion sinks through it, occupies the inner 
space defined by the window, and the frost height may 5 
be directly noted by the user by counting the calibrated 
lines 28 adjacent the lower edge of the window sides to 
the frost surface. 
Following the height measurement of the frost, the 
frost within the inner space of the window portion 14 is 
pushed rearwardly through the entry opening 25 of the 
container portion 22 by using a scraper 36, shown in 
FIG. 2 or other suitable device. In FIG. 3, half of the body is made of transparent material to 
frost within the window portion 14 is shown as being 15 depth and water height determinations using the 
pushed into the container portion 22. The slanted rear brated lines to be easily made. 
plate 19 Of the window portion iS useful h the sliding Of 3. A device as defined by claim 2 wherein said open 
frost from the window into the container portion. window portion is constructed of planar sides arranged 
After all the frost within the window portion 14 has in a substantially rectangular configuration, the sides 
been placed into the container 22, the device is removed 20 adjacent their lower edges being beveled to form a 
from the frost covered surface and the frost within the sharp lower edge. 
container is allowed to melt. At this time the device 4. A device as defined by claim 3 wherein: 
should be tilted in a position that places the rear bottom said calibrated lines along the sides of the window 
plate 32 downwardly so as to prevent the spilling of the portion are parallel to their bottom edges and 
water from the container 22. The height of the melt or 25 spaced in equal hCrements therefrom; 
water from the rear bottom plate 32 is then noted by the said calibrated lines along a side of the container 
user by counting the calibrated lines 30 from the rear portion are parallel to the rear of the container 
plate 32. portion and spaced in equal increments therefrom. 
A graph is shown in FIG. 4 which is affixed or etched 5. A device as defined by claim 4 wherein said graph 
30 depicts water height values along an abscissa axis, frost on the outer surface of the bottom plate 24 of the con- density values along an ordinate axis, and various line tainer. The graph is derived from the mathematical plots of frost depth. relationships of container and window dimensions to 6. A device as defined by claim wherein =id rear 
correlate the water height as the abscissa axis and the part of the window portion is the rear planar side and 
frost density as the ordinate axis with various line plots 35 said rear planar side is slanted outwardly from its lower 
of frost depth or thickness. The plot shown was derived to upper edges to enable the frost occupying the open 
from a window portion 14 that has an inside square window to be easily slid into the front entry opening of 
length of three inches at its lower side edge and a con- said rear container portion. 
tainer 22 with a length and width of three inches and a 7. A device for determining the density and thickness 
depth of one inch. 
The device 12 is particularly useful for operation by a a unitary body having a forward portion with plate 
layman because it does not require specific calculations sides defining an open rectangular window config- 
or knowledge of formulas to obtain a density reading or uration; 
the use of special measurements on the frost surface. said unitary body having a rear portion in the form of 
The user merely has to make two readings, and with 45 a container having a front entry opening; 
those two readings read from the graph the density of Said container having a lower Plate secured at a front 
the frost. end thereof to a rear plate side of said forward 
Modifications could be made to the device without portion whereby said front entry opening of the 
departing from its essential characteristics. container is above the rear plate side of said for- 
I claim: 
1. A device for d e t e m g  the density and depth of said plate sides of said forward portion having their 
lower outer surface beveled inwardly to form 
sharp bottom edges; 
the rear plate side of said forward portion slanting a unitary body having a forward open window por- 
calibrated lines along the plate sides of said front 
portion, said calibrated lines parallel to bottom 
edges of the plate sides; 
said container having a plate with calibrated lines 
another plate of said container have a graph correlat- 
ing the height of water in said container resulting 
only from the meIting of frost of the like moved 
therein from said open window and the height of 
the frost or the like within said open window to the 
density of said frost or the like. 
calibrated lines along a side of the open window 
portion to enable an observer to note the depth of 
the frost; 
calibrated lines along a side Of the container portion 
to enable an observer to note the height of the 
water therein, water resulting only from the melt- 
ing of said frost therein scraped from the window 
portion; and 
a graph on another side of the rear container portion 
to enable an observer to correlate the depth of the 
frost and the height of the water noted to the den- 
sity of the frost. 
2. A device as defined by claim 1 wherein said unitary 
the frost 
10 
40 of frost or the like on a surface comprising: 
50 ward portion; 
frost on a surface, comprising: 
tion adapted to be Placed against the frost surface 55 outwardly from its lower edge to its upper edge; 
and adapted to have downward pressure 
thereto so as to cause it to sink readily to the under- 
lying supporting surface whereby the frost will 
occupy the open space within the window; 
said unitary body having a rear container portion 
With a lower Plate secured at a front end thereof to 
an upper edge of a rear part of the window portion; 
said rear container portion having a front entry open- 
ing above the lower plate of said rear container 
portion and rearward of the upper edge of said 65 
window portion for receiving the frost scraped 
from the open window; 
to its rear and 
e * * * *  


Device for determining frost depth and density

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