Transit Time Of Acoustic Waves Patents (Class 73/861.27)
  • Patent number: 11917348
    Abstract: A covering structure disposed within a sound producing package includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is configured to form a first sound outlet having a first diameter. The second portion is configured to form a chamber having a second diameter. The third portion is configured to form a second sound outlet having a third diameter. Wherein, the first sound outlet, the chamber and the second sound outlet provide an acoustic pathway, the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and the third diameter is smaller than the second diameter; and wherein, the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: XMEMS TAIWAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hai-Hung Wen, Wei-Yang Li
  • Patent number: 11841254
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer arrangement for a clamp-on ultrasonic, flow measuring point includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, each adapted to radiate ultrasonic signals into the measuring tube and/or to receive ultrasonic signals emerging from the measuring tube, wherein a first group of first ultrasonic transducers is arranged on a first side of the measuring tube, and a second group of second ultrasonic transducer is arranged on a second side of the measuring tube opposite the first side, wherein at least one first/second ultrasonic transducer is adapted to receive ultrasonic signals of at least one second/first ultrasonic transducer, respectively, wherein adjoining ultrasonic transducers of the first group have, in each case, first separations from one another, and wherein adjoining ultrasonic transducers of the second group have, in each case, second separations from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Sascha Grunwald, Oliver Brumberg, Alexander Murray, Andreas Berger, Achim Wiest
  • Patent number: 11815382
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the flow rate or volume of a fluid includes a flow tube shaped to define an internal passageway through which the fluid travels, a set of transducers coupled to the flow tube in fluid communication with the internal passageway, and a core module coupled to the flow tube. The core module comprises a cup-shaped enclosure shaped to define an interior cavity and a top cover mounted on the enclosure to enclose the interior cavity. A disc-shaped partition separates the interior cavity into an upper compartment which receives a printed circuit board assembly and a lower compartment which receives a power supply assembly and a connector assembly. Separating the interior cavity into distinct compartments allows for different waterproofing techniques to be utilized based on the sensitivity and lifespan differential between the various electrical components, thereby minimizing the use of potting material and facilitating component replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SPIRE METERING TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Tianshui Liu, Chang Shen, Murad Laribi
  • Patent number: 11796358
    Abstract: A flow machine having a flow passage and an air flow measurement system comprising a plurality of acoustic sensors. The acoustic sensors comprise at least one acoustic transmitter configured to transmit an acoustic waveform through the airflow passing through the flow passage to an acoustic receiver. At least one of the acoustic sensors is rotatable relative to one or more other acoustic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Vasileios Kyritsis, Kevin Todd Lowe, Maurice Bristow, Peter Loftus
  • Patent number: 11796360
    Abstract: A measuring device for determining the flow rate of a fluid which flows through a pipe portion. The measuring device comprises a measuring pipe with a pipe wall, at least one ultrasonic sensor for transmitting an acoustic signal and/or receiving an acoustic signal having an ultrasonic sensor upper surface and a holding element. In the pipe wall, at least one opening of a first type is provided, into which the at least one ultrasonic sensor can be inserted, and wherein the measuring device has an assembled state in which the holding element surrounds the measuring pipe in an annular manner and is positioned on the at least one ultrasonic sensor inserted into the opening of a first type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Bertram, Andreas Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 11782028
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for monitoring slug flow in subterranean wells. In one aspect, a method includes at a time instant, transmitting an acoustic signal across a cross-section of a pipeline flowing multiphase fluid including gaseous fluid and liquid fluid, wherein a portion of the acoustic signal is carried through the cross-section of the pipeline by the multiphase fluid and determining, at the time instant, a first quantity of the gaseous fluid and a second quantity of the liquid fluid passing the cross-section of the pipeline based, in part, on an energy of the portion of the acoustic signal carried through the cross-section and at least a portion of a total energy of the transmitted acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Talha Jamal Ahmad, Michael J. Black, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 11761805
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow measuring device comprising a meter body having a conduit for the fluid, two phased-array ultrasonic transducer units spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the conduit, which can emit and receive ultrasonic signals at different angles, a control and evaluation unit for driving the ultrasonic transducer units and evaluating the received ultrasonic signals and determining the flow using the transit time of the ultrasonic signals on the measuring paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SICK ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Klemm, Eric Starke, Christian Schulz
  • Patent number: 11761804
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes flow path that has a rectangular cross section and through which a fluid to be measured flows, and partition plate that divides flow path into measurement flow path and non-measurement flow paths. In addition, the ultrasonic flowmeter includes a pair of ultrasonic sensors that are arranged upstream and downstream of a surface forming flow path and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals, and a flow rate calculator that detects a flow rate of the fluid to be measured based on a propagation time. The ultrasonic flowmeter includes openings that connect measurement flow path, non-measurement flow paths, and a space where the ultrasonic sensors is located, and the ultrasonic sensors mainly propagate ultrasonic waves only to measurement flow path through openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihide Takahashi, Hiroshi Nakai, Kenji Yasuda, Takashi Kayaba, Yuki Anan
  • Patent number: 11754428
    Abstract: A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament including a flow tube assembly through which said medicament flows, the flow tube assembly having: a flow tube having a lumen; an inlet fitting; and an outlet fitting; a first transducer arranged at the inlet fitting; and a second transducer arranged at the outlet fitting, wherein a transducer adhesive bonds said first transducer to the inlet fitting and said second transducer to the outlet fitting, and wherein the transducer adhesive dampens at least one of out of phase vibrations and rogue vibrations induced in the inlet and outlet fittings by transmission of sound energy between the first and second transducers and the inlet and outlet fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Wayne DeKalb
  • Patent number: 11740170
    Abstract: A method operates a measuring device used to determine a fluid variable. The measuring devices contains a vibration transducer driven to excite a wave in the fluid due to a test excitation signal. The wave is guided along a propagation path back to the vibration transducer or to an additional vibration transducer, thereby exciting the (additional) vibration transducer to vibrate. An output signal relating to this vibration is acquired, and a frequency of that segment of the output signal that lies in an analysis interval is determined. The analysis interval starts once the driving of the vibration transducer to excite the wave has finished, and/or once a maximum of the amplitude of the vibration is reached. The determination of the fluid variable is performed based on the determined frequency. An error message or a notification is output to a user and/or to a device external to the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Mayle, Andreas Madinger, Alexander Hofmann, Markus Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11733419
    Abstract: Ringdown noise can be estimated and removed from a waveform captured by a downhole tool. Ringdown may be estimated by calculating a median of waveforms from a number of tool firings. The estimated ringdown may then be subtracted from a waveform currently being processed. The resulting waveform contains a more accurate representation of a true echo signal reflected from the borehole wall or formation. In some embodiments, the acoustic transducer's deterministic waveform may be learned by statistical analysis of other waveforms near in time to the presently measured waveform. In other embodiments, the deterministic waveform may be learned via previously acquired waveforms now stored in memory, or through predictive waveforms developed in laboratory testing conditions similar to those experienced downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao Ge, Xiang Wu, Jing Jin
  • Patent number: 11733078
    Abstract: A piezoelectric cell support for an ultrasonic transducer, the support including a front face having formed thereon: a first shoulder that defines a bearing surface and a bottom of a central cavity surrounded by the bearing surface, the bearing surface being suitable for having a piezoelectric cell placed thereon; retention device(s) for holding the piezoelectric cell on the bearing surface and for positioning it angularly; and a rear face having a sloping surface that gives a top portion of the support a first thickness that is less than a second thickness of a bottom portion of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
    Inventor: Abbas Sabraoui
  • Patent number: 11725968
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring a time of flight can involve correlating a signal comprising a reflected signal from a first transducer to a second transducer, or a subsequent reflected signal at the first transducer or the second transducer, with a previously received signal to produce a correlation for a measurement of a time of flight. The signal(s) can include one or more of a pulse train, acoustic sound; ultrasonic sound; or light, and the previously received signal can be a signal that has been reflected one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf Heinrich Schröder genannt Berghegger, Andreas Wuchrer, Tobias Meimberg, Christian Lampe-Jürgens, Norbert Flerage
  • Patent number: 11725842
    Abstract: A flow control device (1) for an HVAC fluid transportation system comprises a flow tube (10) formed in one piece, a flow measurement system (11) integrated with the flow tube (10) and configured to measure a volumetric flow of fluid (?) through the flow tube (10), and an electronic circuit (12) arranged in a fixed fashion on the flow tube (10) and connected electrically to the flow measurement system (11). The flow control device (1) further comprises a control signal output terminal (13) attached to the flow tube (10) and connected to the electronic circuit (12). The electronic circuit (12) is configured to generate and apply on the control signal output terminal (13) an actuator control signal, using the volumetric flow of fluid (?) measured by the flow measurement system (11), for an actuator actuating a valve of the HVAC fluid transportation system (2) arranged outside the flow tube (10) of the flow control device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Daniel Hauser, Benjamin Schönenberger, Pasquale Wintsch, Michael Hediger, Silvio Grogg, Peter Schmidlin
  • Patent number: 11656222
    Abstract: A sensor using ultrasound to detect presence and nature of analyte includes an ultrasonic element and a receptor thereon. The ultrasonic element includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing and spaced apart from the first electrode, an insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a vibrating film between the insulating layer and the first electrode. The vibrating film carries the first electrode. A cavity is formed between the vibrating film and the insulating layer. The receptor is on a side of the first electrode away from the second electrode. The receptor can combine with a target substance in a test analyte. When the first electrode and the second electrode are applied with different voltages, certain ultrasound frequencies are generated as the vibrating film vibrates, and the presence and weight of different target substances are indicated by the changes in resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hua Lin, Wei-Chih Chang, Po-Li Shih, Chao-Chun Yang, I-Min Lu
  • Patent number: 11644355
    Abstract: A device for measuring the mass flow rate, including a flow pipe; a first set of actuators which are arranged in a first plane including a first transverse cross section of the pipe and perpendicular to the fluid flow path, these being configured to move selectively in the first plane; a control circuit configured to control a movement of the first and second actuators so that the cross-sectional area for flow through the pipe in the first plane remains constant; a measurement sensor measuring a force or a stress in a direction perpendicular to the flow path, in the vicinity of the actuators of the first set along the flow path; a computation device configured to calculate the mass flow rate passing through the flow pipe as a function of the force or stress measured by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, SAFRAN
    Inventors: Agustin Palacios Laloy, Jean-Christophe Riou
  • Patent number: 11644477
    Abstract: A method of measuring the speed of a fluid comprising the following steps: generating a plurality of pseudorandom frequencies (fus_n); for each pseudorandom frequency (fus_n), emitting ultrasound signals into the fluid to travel along a path of defined length; receiving the ultrasound signals; for each received ultrasound signal, producing a travel time measurement, so as to generate for each pseudorandom frequency (fus_n) a predefined number of travel time measurements; for each pseudorandom frequency (fus_n), evaluating the accuracy of the measurements; for evaluating the speed of the fluid, making use of the measurements produced for the pseudorandom frequency that presents the greatest accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
    Inventor: Henri Teboulle
  • Patent number: 11566928
    Abstract: A flow meter for calculating fluid flow rate and/or volume includes a flow cell shaped to define an internal passageway through which the fluid travels, and four separate transducer assemblies independently mounted within mounts in the flow cell in fluid communication with the internal passageway. Each transducer assembly includes a transducer, a transducer stud with a recess in its front surface that is dimensioned to receive the transducer, and a sensor plate mounted onto the stud for retaining the transducer in the recess. A bore extends vertically through the transducer stud and into communication with the recess, the bore being dimensioned to receive wiring for the transducer. The separation and independent mounting of the four transducer assemblies in the flow cell minimizes the disruption of normal fluid flow through the internal passageway, thereby enabling greater accuracy of measurements to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SPIRE METERING TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Tianshui Liu, Murad Laribi, Chang Shen
  • Patent number: 11536598
    Abstract: A system for measuring a velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate of a fluid flow passing within a pipe includes a SONAR flow meter configured to determine a measured velocity or volumetric rate of a fluid flow passing within a pipe. The system further includes a CFD analysis device configured to produce a simulated velocity or volumetric rate of the fluid flow passing within the pipe. The system further includes a processing unit in communication with the CFD analysis device and the SONAR flow meter. The processing unit is configured to produce at least one error function based on the measured velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate and the simulated velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate, and is configured to determine an adjusted velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate using the at least one error function and the measured velocity or volumetric fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: EXPRO METERS INC.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Gysling
  • Patent number: 11518111
    Abstract: Weld seam testing chain for testing a weld seam by means of ultrasound on two plastic tubes welded together at the ends, comprising standard chain links, wherein the standard chain links are hooked together to form the weld seam testing chain, and the chain can be lengthened or shortened individually, a sensor receptacle for accommodating the ultrasonic sensor, and an adjusting unit for the fine adjustment of the weld seam testing chain length, wherein the standard chain links have a hook on one side and a hook receptacle on the opposite side, thereby enabling the individual chain links to be hooked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
    Inventors: Riccardo Barbone, Joerg Wermelinger
  • Patent number: 11473956
    Abstract: Integrated flow meter and control valve (1) including a flow tube (11); a substantially watertight meter housing (12) providing a compartment (121), extending from the flow tube; a metering unit (139 arranged inside the compartment for measuring the flow of a medium flowing though the flow channel, and an electrical valve actuator (18) arranged inside the compartment and adapted to control a flow control element (19) arranged inside the flow channel, wherein that meter housing is formed as an integrated part of the flow tube with the compartment having a primary opening (124) for insertion of the metering unit and a secondary sealable opening (125) for insertion of the electrical valve actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Daniel Beck Rømer, Bjarke Fisker Brogaard
  • Patent number: 11435210
    Abstract: A fluid meter has a housing comprising a flow channel for fluid to be measured and at least one elongate module-receiving opening forming a passage from an outer surface of the housing to the flow channel. At least one fluid-measuring module, prefabricated separately, from the housing with a base section formed as a waveguide for surface acoustic waves, and at least one signal transformer to excite surface acoustic waves in the waveguide and/or receive surface acoustic waves from the waveguide is provided. When inserted into the module-receiving opening, the base section of the fluid-measuring module forms part of the flow channel inner wall and contacts fluid flowing through it. Surface acoustic waves emitted by the signal transformer can be coupled out of the waveguide and can propagate through fluid in the flow channel as bulk acoustic waves and/or bulk acoustic waves can be coupled into the waveguide and received by the signal transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: BUERKERT WERKE GMBH & CO. KG, BURKERT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yannick Fuchs, Bertrand Koenig, Noam Nancy, Manon Drui
  • Patent number: 11422014
    Abstract: A flow meter includes at least two spaced-apart measuring sensors, preferably ultrasonic sensors, wherein the coupling in and out of the measurement signals in or out of a fluid occurs via a coupling part which is inserted into a circumferential wall of a measuring channel produced via hydroforming. Alternatively, the coupling in and out of the measurement signals can also occur through a wall of the measuring channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Markus Helfenstein
  • Patent number: 11346694
    Abstract: A method for measuring a velocity of a fluid, comprising the steps of, acquiring an ultrasonic measuring signal after it has travelled in the fluid over a path of defined length; defining measurement zone of the ultrasonic measuring signal which includes a plurality of measurement lobes; for each measurement lobe, measuring a zero crossing point associated with said measurement lobe; selecting at least two zero crossing points which satisfy a predefined precision criterion; estimating a time of flight for the ultrasonic measuring signal from the selected zero crossing points; utilizing the time of flight to estimate the velocity of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Sagemcom Energy & Telecom SAS
    Inventor: Henri Teboulle
  • Patent number: 11307071
    Abstract: The invention provides a gas flow metering gas chamber and a gas flow meter. The gas flow meter includes the gas flow metering gas chamber, a display device and a housing. The gas flow meter gas cell includes a cavity, a gas inlet, a gas outlet, two ultrasonic transducer mounting holes and a reflection device. The signal emitted by the first ultrasonic transducer installed in the first ultrasonic transducer mounting hole and the signal emitted by the second ultrasonic transducer installed in the second ultrasonic transducer mounting hole intersects with each other to form an L-shaped reflection passage. Compared with V-shaped, W-shaped, and N-shaped reflection structures, the effective distance between the two ultrasonic transducers of the present invention more is increased, the cross section of the cavity is reduced, and the rate of the gas flow is increased, which avoids contamination contained in the measured gas to contaminate the ultrasonic transducers and thereby improves the measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HUBEI CUBIC-RUIYI INSTRUMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Youhui Xiong, Jun Wu, Lipan Song, Mingliang Li
  • Patent number: 11274952
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring includes a housing having a measuring channel and ultrasonic transducers. The housing is releasable attached to a pipe such that the measuring channel is capable of receiving the pipe and fixing the pipe with respect to the housing. The ultrasonic transducers emit and receive ultrasonic signals, and include first and second ultrasonic transducers. The first ultrasonic transducers define a first measuring section so as to be capable of exchanging ultrasonic signals, and the second ultrasonic transducers define a second measuring section so as to be capable of exchanging ultrasonic signals. The ultrasonic transducers are aligned such that the first and second measuring sections extend obliquely to a flow direction, and such that a measuring plane is defined by a center axis of the measuring channel and is different from a measuring plane defined by the center axis of the measuring channel and the second measuring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: LEVITRONIX GMBH
    Inventors: Maciej Bober, Edgar Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11268838
    Abstract: A flow sensor sub-assembly includes a flow tube having a lumen, an outside diameter, a first end, and a second end. An inlet fitting includes a conical orifice sized for insertion in either end of the flow tube, such that an internal passage of the inlet fitting is coaxial and concentric with the lumen and the end of the flow tube abuts a shoulder. An outlet fitting includes a conical orifice sized for insertion in either end of the flow tube, such that an internal passage of the inlet fitting is coaxial and concentric with the lumen and the end of the flow tube abuts a shoulder. A first piezo element integrated with the inlet fitting is arranged at an upstream position of the flow tube assembly and a second piezo element integrated with the outlet fitting is arranged at a downstream position of the flow tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Wayne DeKalb
  • Patent number: 11231306
    Abstract: An ultrasound flow measurement apparatus (10) for determining the flow rate of a fluid flowing in a line (12) is provided having at least one measurement path (18) at which a first ultrasonic transducer (16a) and a second ultrasonic transducer (16b) are arranged opposite one another with the flowing fluid between them, and having an evaluation unit that is configured to calculate the flow rate from a time of flight difference of ultrasonic pulses along the measurement path (18) in the direction with the flow (14) and against the flow (14). The ultrasonic transducers (16a-b) here are positioned such that a specific part pulse is isolated in time in a received signal of the respective receiving ultrasonic transducer (16a-b), with the part pulse corresponding to a direct sound, a reflected sound, an axially broken fluid sound, or an azimuthally broken fluid sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SICK ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Nerowski, Henri Kirmse, Martin Oberländer
  • Patent number: 11204269
    Abstract: Fluid meter with a fluid housing and a method for manufacturing the fluid housing, which comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid channel, which extends between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and which is fluidically coupled to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the fluid housing has a side facing the fluid channel, to which a fluid-measuring module is assigned, which is in direct contact with a fluid flowing through the fluid channel at a fluid-side interface, wherein the fluid-measuring module is surrounded by the fluid housing, and wherein the fluid-measuring module is equipped to generate surface acoustic waves which propagate along the fluid-side interface of the fluid-measuring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignees: Buerkert Werke GmbH & Co. KG, Burkert S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yannick Fuchs, Yves Hoog
  • Patent number: 11181406
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method of sensing that includes activating a first emitter to emit at least one incident wave, transmitting the incident wave along a buffer rod having a first axial end abutted to the first emitter and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, reflecting a first echo of the incident wave by a gap defined along a portion of the buffer rod, detecting the first echo, determining a first amplitude of the first echo, reflecting a second echo of the incident wave by the second axial end, detecting the second echo, determining a second amplitude of the second echo, and determining a reflection coefficient based on the first amplitude and the second amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Loren Loos, Gregory Warren Pulley, Michael L. Hahn
  • Patent number: 11150119
    Abstract: A method for measuring a speed of a fluid, comprising measurement phases and detection phases each carried out between two measurement phases, each detection phase comprising the steps of; measuring a spurious ultrasonic signal level; comparing the spurious ultrasonic signal level with a detection threshold capable of assuming a plurality of predefined values; if the measured spurious ultrasonic signal level is less than the detection threshold, reducing the detection threshold, and repeating the measurement step and the comparison step; when the measured spurious ultrasonic signal level becomes greater than or equal to the detection threshold, detecting a disturbance and, depending on the value of the detection threshold, determining if the disturbance originates from an anomaly or from attempted fraudulent activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
    Inventor: Henri Teboulle
  • Patent number: 11139799
    Abstract: A circuit includes a filter, a first inverter, and a second inverter. The filter is coupled to an input of the first inverter. The second inverter includes an input and an output. The input of the second inverter is coupled to the output of the first inverter. The output of the second inverter is coupled to the input of the first inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eeshan Miglani, Shagun Dusad
  • Patent number: 11099055
    Abstract: A computer program product includes program instructions executable by a processor to perform various operations. The operations include obtaining data from a flow meter having ultrasonic transducer pairs arranged about a conduit to establish measurement paths, wherein the flow meter data includes ultrasonic pulse transmission and detection data from first and second ultrasonic transducers for each path included in a set of the paths. The operations further comprise determining a first flow rate using the data for each path in the set of the paths, determining a second flow rate using the data for each path in a subset of the paths, wherein the subset of the paths includes fewer paths than in the set of the paths and only paths included in the set of the paths, and determining whether a difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate is greater than a difference setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RMG MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: John Lansing, Torsten Dietz
  • Patent number: 11073417
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for visualizing uncertainty in flow measurements is provided. A non-limiting exemplary method includes reading, by a processor, a plurality of fluid flow measurements having a magnitude, a direction, and a location. The method plots a plurality of points on a first polar graph, each point representing the difference in fluid flow measurements between two of the plurality of fluid flow measurements at different locations and calculates an uncertainty boundary line based on the plurality of plotted points. The method filters, by the processor, the plurality of plotted points to remove plotted points outside of the uncertainty boundary line leaving only remaining plotted points and defines at least one cluster of remaining plotted points based on similar behavior of a subset of the remaining plotted points. The method may use the remaining plotted points to provide adaptive setup to tune a response in the fluid flow measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alvaro Bueno Buoro, Paul Borrel, Daniel Specht Menezes
  • Patent number: 11035708
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a clamp-on ultrasonic sensor for an ultrasonic flow rate measuring device and to an ultrasonic flow rate measuring device comprising at least one clamp-on ultrasonic sensor according to the present disclosure. The clamp-on ultrasonic sensor is designed to generate at least one lamb wave mode in a measuring tube wall of a measuring tube of the ultrasonic flow rate measuring device. To ensure the use of the clamp-on ultrasonic sensor on different types of measuring tubes, the clamp-on ultrasonic sensor comprises a coupling element, which coupling element is adapted to a respective type of measuring tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Achim Wiest, Sascha Grunwald
  • Patent number: 10989578
    Abstract: An ultrasonic meter for recording a flow quantity dependent on a flow of a fluid, has a control device, a measuring tube having a plurality of side walls, mutually adjacent side walls being at an angle to one another, and through which the fluid can flow in a longitudinal direction of the measuring tube, and first and second ultrasound transducers which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction on the measuring tube. The first and second ultrasound transducers respectively contain one transducer element or a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of transducer elements. The ultrasound transducer can be driven by the control device in order to excite an acoustic wave conducted in a side wall of the measuring tube, and conducted through the fluid to the other ultrasound transducer and recorded there by the control device to determine a signal time of flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Mayle, Peter Ploss
  • Patent number: 10928230
    Abstract: A self-checking ultrasonic flow meter for measuring fluid flow in a conduit which includes a plurality of transducers engaged with the conduit. The flow meter includes a signal processor in electrical communication with the transducers which produces a measurement of flow rate and an associated estimate of uncertainty due to changes that have affected the accuracy of the measured flow rate. The transducers form multiple transducer pairs positioned to form acoustic transmission paths that are co-located in two or more chordal measurement planes. A plurality of axial velocity measurements are made in each chordal plane. A method for measuring fluid flow in a conduit with an ultrasonic flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sensia LLC
    Inventors: Gregor J. Brown, Donald R. Augenstein
  • Patent number: 10852167
    Abstract: Method for measuring a speed of a fluid, implemented by an ultrasonic flow meter including a reflector mirror positioned between two transducers. The measuring method includes measurement phases in which: one of the two transducers emits an ultrasonic measurement signal; the other of the two transducers receives the ultrasonic measurement signal after it has completed a measurement trip; evaluate the speed of the fluid depending on a measurement trip time. The measurement method furthermore includes compensation phases in which: one of the two transducers emits an ultrasonic compensation signal; the transducer receives the ultrasonic compensation signal after it has completed a compensation trip during which it was reflected by the reflector mirror; compensate for a measurement drift of the transducer by adjusting the measurement trip time depending on a compensation trip time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Sagemcom Energy & Telecom SAS
    Inventor: Henri Teboulle
  • Patent number: 10852170
    Abstract: A method determines a fluid quantity relating to a fluid flowing in a measuring device. The measuring device has a measuring tube which receives the fluid, and first and second oscillation transducers. An excitation of a total wave, which is conducted through a wall of the measuring tube, by the first and/or second oscillation transducer, by wave components which are conducted in the wall being excited by the oscillation transducers in a plurality of excitation regions. These wave components are superposed to form the total wave. A distance between the centers of the excitation regions and the excitation frequency are selected such that an oscillation mode to be attenuated is quenched by destructive interference of the wave components in a propagation direction. Excitation of a compression oscillation of the fluid by the total wave occurs. Measurement data relating to the compression oscillation is used to determine the fluid quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Mayle, Peter Ploss
  • Patent number: 10845225
    Abstract: To improve installation work on piping for a clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter including a damping member. A damping member is provided in a state of being in contact with piping, and the damping member is a sheet-shaped molded article which has moderate flexibility and a predetermined thickness. In addition, the damping member has viscoelasticity and has adhesion and peelability to the metal piping. The damping member is fixed to the piping by a damping fixture surrounding an outer periphery of the damping member, and the damping member is pressed against the piping by the damping fixture. A flow sensor body is fixed on the damping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10837816
    Abstract: A method for operating a measuring device determining a fluid quantity relating to fluid or fluid flow uses a measuring tube receiving the fluid or conducting the flow and oscillation transducers spaced along the tube. A first flight time is recorded, then an ultrasound signal excited by a first transducer, after travel on a propagation path including only components of the measuring device to a second transducer, is recorded at a second transducer. A second flight time is recorded, then an ultrasound signal excited by the second transducer, after travel on the propagation path to the first transducer, is recorded at the first transducer. Then fulfillment of a report condition depending on a difference between flight times is checked. Upon fulfillment, a report is output to a user or a report message is sent to an external device or a correction parameter for determining the fluid quantity is adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Mayle, Peter Ploss, Andreas Benkert
  • Patent number: 10775212
    Abstract: A method of reducing a phase error of a flow rate measurement in an ultrasonic flow meter is disclosed. The flow meter has a flow path for a fluid to be measured, a first ultrasonic transducer having a characteristic quantity and a second ultrasonic transducer having a second characteristic quantity. The method comprises repeatedly measuring the first and second characteristic quantities of the ultrasonic transducers and determining a relation between the characteristic quantities, estimating a phase error value indicative of the phase error from the determined relation between the characteristic quantities, and using the estimated phase error value for correcting a difference between transmission times measured by the ultrasonic flow meter. An output is provided indicative of the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path with reduced phase error from the corrected difference between transmission times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: APATOR MIITORS APS
    Inventor: Jens Drachmann
  • Patent number: 10677624
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and unique apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a fluid flow passing through a pipe that is channelized causing flow variations in the fluid flow; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a fluid flow characteristic of the fluid flow that depends on the flow variations caused in the fluid flow channelized, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may be configured to provide the corresponding signaling, including where the corresponding signaling contains information about the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid flow channelized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Kersey, Douglas H. Loose, Alex M. Van Der Spek
  • Patent number: 10663332
    Abstract: Disclosed are a structure of a flow measurement sensor based on time-of-flight and a method for installation thereof, the structure comprises at least one pair of a first flow measurement sensor and a second flow measurement sensor vertically installed on a pipeline wall, a beam transmit-receive end both provided respectively at a bottom of the first flow measurement sensor and the second flow measurement sensor and is capable of emitting and receiving beams, a beam straight line formed between a first beam transmit-receive end and a second beam transmit-receive end does not intersect with an axis of the pipeline, and forms, with the axis of the pipeline, an included angle less than 90° .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU PHOTIME INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fenghua Liu
  • Patent number: 10627274
    Abstract: Flow measurement system comprising a flow tube for the fluid whose flow rate is to be determined, wherein said system comprises at least three ultrasound transducer circuitry, wherein each circuitry comprises an ultrasound transducer arranged for transmitting ultrasound signals through said fluid in a transmitting phase, and for receiving transmitted signals from another of said at least three ultrasound transducers in a receiving phase, multiple receiving circuits, wherein each receiving circuit is arranged for reading out one of said at least three ultrasound transducers in a corresponding receiving phase thereof, and multiplexer circuitry ground arranged for selectively connecting each of said multiple receiving circuits to a different one of said at least three ultrasound transducers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: BERKIN B.V.
    Inventors: Gert Jan Snijders, Eduard Dieter Van Hattum, Coen Adriaan Robert Tom Bruggeman
  • Patent number: 10612949
    Abstract: A method of measuring temperature and velocity of a fluid flow passing through a device of a plant includes the step of positioning at least two sensors in the device. For each sensor, a traveling path for an acoustic signal received from another sensor is determined. Each sensor emits an acoustic signal at a frequency that differs from a frequency of an acoustic signal to be emitted by the other sensor(s) in the fluid flow. A velocity profile and temperature profile for the fluid flow based on the acoustic signals received by the sensors is determined. A measurement system can include sensors and a computer device that can determine a velocity profile and temperature profile for a fluid flow passing through a device based on the acoustic signals received by the sensors. A plant can be configured to implement the method or include an embodiment of the measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Ken Yves Haffner, Dominique Heinis, Pascal Decoussemaeker
  • Patent number: 10591327
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring steam mass flow in a conduit by simultaneously measuring absorbance and variable steam patterns by light detectors receiving coherent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Nokomis, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel B Rovner
  • Patent number: 10393568
    Abstract: A system and method to detect and quantify integration errors in a transit time ultrasonic flow meter uses dissimilar integration methods or schemes employed simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, a number of chordal paths are arranged in a single meter body such that at least two dissimilar chordal integration schemes can be used to determine the flow rate. At least one of the chordal paths is common to both integration schemes. The total number of chordal paths needed in any chordal measurement plane is less than the sum of the chordal paths used in each of the integration schemes (as is the sum of the planes), thereby reducing hardware requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Gregor J. Brown
  • Patent number: 10359305
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter includes a meter housing, a first ultrasound transducer, a second ultrasound transducer, an electronic control arrangement for operating the ultrasonic flow meter, and a connection arrangement being arranged between the electronic control arrangement and the ultrasound transducers. The connection arrangement includes an electrically insulating support arrangement, and a set of elastic connectors for electrically connecting the electronic control arrangement with the first and second ultrasound transducers. The insulating support arrangement mechanically fixates the set of elastic connectors and maintains electrical separation between the set of elastic connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Apator Miitors APS
    Inventor: Jens Drachmann
  • Patent number: 10324075
    Abstract: A measurement device includes a transmitter configured to transmit an interrogation signal. The measurement device also includes a receiver configured to receive the interrogation signal that has been reflected within a container. The received reflected interrogation signal corresponds to a fill level of the container. A protective barrier covers at least the transmitter or the receiver. If the protective barrier covers the transmitter, the transmitter transmits the interrogation signal through the protective barrier and the transmitter and the protective barrier are separated by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Nectar, Inc.
    Inventors: Prabhanjan C. Gurumohan, Aayush Phumbhra, Samuel Bae