Mass Flow By Imparting Angular Or Transverse Momentum To The Fluid Patents (Class 73/861.351)
  • Patent number: 11772830
    Abstract: This aeronautical equipment for an aircraft, comprising a part configured to be positioned at the level of a skin of the aircraft and means for reheating this part comprising a closed-circuit thermodynamic loop in which a phase-change heat transfer fluid circulates, is wherein it includes means for monitoring the fluid pressure in the loop in order to detect and report a malfunction of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Claude Sarno, Romain Hodot, Philippe Oconte
  • Patent number: 11567476
    Abstract: A gas delivery apparatus is provided, comprising a system controller configured to collect valve position information and sensor information from at least a plurality of the sensors and valves, store the valve position information and sensor information into the monitored gas delivery process data, and execute the discriminative classifier including a first artificial intelligence (AI) model configured to extract features in a first input image of the monitored gas delivery process; a second AI model configured to extract features in a second input image of a golden gas delivery process; and a contrastive loss function configured to calculate a similarity between the first input image and the second input image based on outputs of the first AI model and the second AI model, and output a repeatability confidence value based on a similarity index between the first input image and the second input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward Cocciadiferro
  • Patent number: 11535612
    Abstract: An autonomous device for measuring at least one characteristic of a fluid circulating in a conduit in a flow direction comprises a permanent magnetic field source, a magneto-electric converter and a processing circuit capable of using the electric charges supplied by the converter to supply a measurement of a characteristic of its environment. The source and the converter are placed in a stator and a rotor forming the device. The autonomous device further comprises attachment means allowing the stator to be fixedly placed in the conduit or at one end of the conduit, in a configuration in which the axis of rotation of the rotor is parallel to the flow direction. A control system may employ at least one such autonomous device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Enerbee
    Inventors: Jérôme Delamare, Maxime Vincent, Jeremy Laville, Thibault Ricart, Luc Pouyadou, Guillaume Maj, Vivien Aumelas, Samuel Guilaume
  • Patent number: 10936028
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method for controlling a fan operation are provided. A containing space of the electronic device has a fan module and a deformation sensor. The deformation sensor detects whether a fan housing of the fan module is deformed. The deformation sensor transmits a deformation signal to a controller when detecting that the fan housing is deformed. The controller drives a fan blade of the fan module to stop running after receiving the deformation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Chin Chien, I-Feng Hsu, Ching-Chung Chen, Tse-Yang Lin, Tse-An Chu, Ching-Ya Tu, Chang-Yuan Wu, Hao-Wu Yang, Huan-Yang Yeh, Chin-Hsien Chang, Chin-Yuan Chuang, Chia-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 10718787
    Abstract: A system for an aircraft includes a pneumatic sensor, an optical sensor, and a computer system. The pneumatic sensor is configured to sense a value external to the aircraft. The optical sensor is configured to emit an optical signal external to the aircraft and receive an optical response. The computer system is configured to receive the value and the optical response. The pneumatic sensor and the optical sensor do not extend beyond a boundary layer of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Brent Naslund, Ronald Fritz Liffrig, Jaime Sly, Benjamin John Langemo
  • Patent number: 9557237
    Abstract: A pressure sensing element includes a sensing sub-element disposed on a diaphragm, the element including a shield disposed over the sub-element and configured to substantially eliminate influence of external charge on the sub-element during operation. A method of fabrication and a pressure sensor making use of the pressure sensing element are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark P. McNeal, Douglas B. Strott, Stephen P. Greene
  • Publication number: 20150135854
    Abstract: A pressure sensing element includes a sensing sub-element disposed on a diaphragm, the element including a shield disposed over the sub-element and configured to substantially eliminate influence of external charge on the sub-element during operation. A method of fabrication and a pressure sensor making use of the pressure sensing element are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Mark P. McNeal, Douglas B. Strott, Stephen P. Greene
  • Publication number: 20150135853
    Abstract: A pressure sensing element includes a sensing sub-element disposed on a diaphragm, the element including a shield disposed over the sub-element and configured to substantially eliminate influence of external charge on the sub-element during operation. A method of fabrication and a pressure sensor making use of the pressure sensing element are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Mark P. McNeal, Douglas B. Strott, Stephen P. Greene
  • Publication number: 20150122054
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for verifying a performance of a mass flow controller or mass flow meter on a tool. For example, the disclosed embodiments include a method and a mass flow controller configured to perform, in-situ, by the mass flow controller, a rate of decay measurement during on-line operation of the tool to identify valve leak issues and/or for performing a flow measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Bill Valentine, Chris Ellec, Berwin Banares, John Lull, Anthony Kehoe
  • Patent number: 8997586
    Abstract: A mass flow measuring or controlling device having a base body, a flow channel and a sensor module which comprises a sensor element and which can be coupled to an electronic unit, the flow channel having a measuring channel section which is in fluidic contact with the sensor element is characterized in that the sensor module comprises a sensor support part and a stabilizing element for stabilizing the sensor support part in the region of the measuring channel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Buerkert Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Arnold, Juergen Wiedemann
  • Publication number: 20150027236
    Abstract: An in-line flowmeter for large diameter pipes includes an outer pipe with a diameter equal to that of the pipe to which it is coupled and an inner measuring tube carrying a portion of the flow, the flow through the measuring tube being sensed by a flowmeter associated with the measuring tube and with the total combined flow rate out of the in-line flowmeter calculated from the sensed flow through the measuring tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Jesse Yoder
  • Publication number: 20130291651
    Abstract: A method and a device determines an air mass flow flowing through a ram air channel having disposed therein a feed device adapted in a first operating state of the ram air channel to feed air through the ram air channel and further adapted in a second operating state of the ram air channel to be set in rotation by an air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel. The method includes the step of detecting an actual operational characteristic of the feed device that is characteristic of the air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel in the second operating state of the ram air channel as well as the step of determining the air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel on the basis of the detected actual operational characteristic of the feed device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: JUERGEN KELNHOFER, DARIUSZ KRAKOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20130255399
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. At least one of the first frequency of vibration or the second frequency of vibration is determined. A phase difference between the motion of the conduit at a first point of the conduit and the motion of the conduit at a second point of the conduit is determined. A quantity based on the phase difference and the determined frequency is determined. The quantity includes a ratio between the first frequency during a zero-flow condition and the second frequency during the zero-flow condition. A property of the fluid is determined based on the quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 8511179
    Abstract: An aircraft conduit monitoring system includes conduit that conducts gas from a source to a point of application. A flow sensing device and a pressure sensing device are provided within the conduit. At least one set value of a gas mass flow rate and at least one set value of a pressure are sensed in a learning mode of operation. The set values are compared with sensed actual values in the normal mode of operation. A gas volume flow rate can also be sensed and processed instead of a gas mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kelnhofer, Dariusz Krakowski
  • Publication number: 20130160564
    Abstract: A mass flow measuring or controlling device having a base body, a flow channel and a sensor module which comprises a sensor element and which can be coupled to an electronic unit, the flow channel having a measuring channel section which is in fluidic contact with the sensor element is characterized in that the sensor module comprises a sensor support part and a stabilizing element for stabilizing the sensor support part in the region of the measuring channel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Buerkert Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Buerkert Werke GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130061789
    Abstract: An agricultural implement system is provided including a fluid conduit configured to provide product to a ground engaging tool. The ground engaging tool is configured to deposit the product into soil. The agricultural implement system also includes an air source fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and configured to provide an air flow through the fluid conduit in a downstream direction toward the ground engaging tool. The agricultural implement system further includes a product delivery system fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and configured to transfer the product into the air flow. In addition, the agricultural implement system includes a product flow measurement system configured to determine a mass flow rate of the product based on a pressure drop between an upstream portion of the fluid conduit and a downstream portion of the fluid conduit, a flow rate of the air flow, and a velocity of the air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pana Binsirawanich, Scott David Noble, Jim Henry
  • Patent number: 8353208
    Abstract: Plastic housings that are subjected to internal pressure and comprise a housing upper part, a housing lower part and a closure which connects both parts to one another. At the connecting point, the housing upper and lower part have a plurality of comb-like retaining columns shaped in a complementary manner with respect to one another such that the housing parts can be plugged together. The retaining columns are oriented in a direction in which tensile force between the housing upper part and the housing lower part is oriented when the housing is subjected to internal pressure. Retaining grooves which are oriented transversely to the effective direction of the tensile force are formed in two opposite surfaces of the retaining columns in each case. Retaining bodies which at least partially touch the areas formed by the retaining grooves and thus establish the connection can be introduced into the retaining grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum LLC
    Inventors: Anh Tuan Chu, Ralf Fesser
  • Publication number: 20130000417
    Abstract: A system for treating liquids comprising: a fluidics unit having at least one functional unit; at least one liquid storage unit of the first type; at least one liquid storage unit of second type; a first liquid line; and a second liquid line, wherein a flow of liquid through the first liquid line directed from the fluidics unit to the liquid storage unit of first type is blocked, at least at times, by means of a first valve and a flow of liquid through the second liquid line in the direction from the liquid storage unit of second type to the fluidics unit is blocked, at least at times, by means of a second valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co.
    Inventors: Michael Hanko, Stefanie Honncher, Axel Fikus
  • Publication number: 20120285263
    Abstract: A diagnostic test for a secondary air system comprising an air pump, a first mass air flow sensor connected to the air pump and a first check valve connected to the first mass air flow sensor. A first testing phase is disclosed comprising a first delay period and a first testing period, wherein the air pump is activated. A second testing phase is disclosed comprising a second delay period and a second testing period wherein the first check valve is opened. A third testing phase comprising a third delay period and a third testing period is disclosed wherein the first check valve is closed. A fourth testing phase is disclosed comprising a fourth delay period and a fourth testing period wherein the air pump is deactivated. An optional fifth testing phase is also disclosed comprising a fifth delay period and a fifth testing period wherein the air pump remains off but the check valve is reopened and engine RPMs are increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Mark S. Kado, Zulfeqar Ali Kosgi
  • Publication number: 20120279283
    Abstract: A method for operating an apparatus which has an oscillatable unit. The oscillatable unit is excited to oscillate by means of a first frequency sweep within a predetermined frequency band with successive, discrete exciter frequencies of increasing or decreasing frequency. A first exciter frequency is ascertained, in the case of which, during the first frequency sweep, at least one predeterminable criterion is fulfilled. The oscillatable unit is excited by means of a second frequency sweep, wherein the frequency band, compared with the first frequency sweep, is run through in the opposite direction. A second exciter frequency is ascertained, in the case of which, during the second frequency sweep, the at least one predeterminable criterion is fulfilled. From the first exciter frequency and the second exciter frequency, via formation of an average, a measuring frequency for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Brengartner, Martin Urban, Michael Siegel
  • Publication number: 20120260743
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly and method for cost-effective in-line NIR measurement, in particular for cost-effective in-line NIR measurement of ingredients, quality parameters or in general product characteristics of cereal grains, inter alia, and constituents thereof in product streams (3) in flour mills or animal feed mills or the like. Using at least one measuring probe (1), the reflection spectra are advantageously recorded on free-flowing product (3) in a flow tube and are transmitted to an evaluating device (2) disposed spatially separately therefrom and having an integrated spectrometer (12). The measured values determined by the evaluating device (2) are transmitted to a control unit (24) or to a management system (22), where they can be used for monitoring and/or regulating the processes or installations. In comparison to NIR systems used until now, the costs per measuring location can be greatly reduced by the simple product presentation and re-use of the evaluating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Martin Hersche, Urs Dübendorfer, Martin Heine
  • Publication number: 20110247432
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft conduit monitoring system comprising a conduit that conducts gas from a source to a point of application. A flow sensing device and a pressure sensing device are provided within the conduit. At least one set value of a gas mass flow rate and at least one set value of a pressure are sensed in a learning mode of operation. Said set values are compared with sensed actual values in the normal mode of operation. A gas volume flow rate can also be sensed and processed instead of a gas mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Kelnhofer, Dariusz Krakowski
  • Publication number: 20110203701
    Abstract: A container is filled to a predetermined target mass of a free-flowing substance with the help of a device that dispenses measured doses of the substance. The dispensing device has a valve for variably adjusting the mass flow rate of the substance from a reservoir into the container. The dispensing device further includes a device to measure the elapsed time from the beginning of the filling process, a balance for determining the mass of the substance in the container, and a controller unit with a valve control module. The controller unit includes an adjusting module, where a predetermined desired mass flow rate is stored. At an elapsed time, if the mass flow rate is smaller or larger than the desired mass flow rate, the flow rate is, respectively, increased or decreased by a flow rate adjustment. An adaptive filter of the controller unit determines the mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Pascal Frei, Guido Schuster
  • Publication number: 20110198197
    Abstract: A polymer finishing process including: recovering polymer powder from a polymerization reactor; feeding the polymer powder to an inlet of a mass flow screw conveyor and one or more mass measuring devices for determining a mass of polymer powder within at least a portion of the mass flow screw conveyor; measuring at least one of a mass of the polymer powder in the screw conveyor and a combined mass of the screw conveyor and the polymer powder within the screw conveyor with the one or more mass measuring devices; and determining a mass flowrate of polymer powder through the mass flow screw conveyor based on the at least one of the measured mass of the polymer powder in the mass flow screw conveyor and the measured combined mass. A method of controlling a polymerization process using a mass flow screw conveyor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Blickley, Buddy L. Dearth
  • Publication number: 20110132105
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of measuring mass flow of a first gas component in a gas consisting of one or more known gas components. Typically such methods assume that certain parameters were constant, such as the gas composition, pressure and/or temperature, and likewise the heat capacity, density, etc., of the gas were presumed to be such that they could be determined to have a constant value. However, it has been found that the determination of the mass flow is associated with a comparatively high degree of measurement uncertainty, when it is assumed that the parameters are constant. The core of the invention relies on this discovery and on a method wherein all of the gas parameters that are used in the determination of the mass flow of the first gas component and that may vary considerably as a function of the gas composition, pressure and/or temperature are determined continually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Christian Møller
  • Publication number: 20110116777
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating fluidic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: GAUMER COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Craig S. Tiras
  • Patent number: 7870794
    Abstract: A device for measuring a mass flow (5) with guide means (4) having a surface shaped as a circular arc, across which the mass flow can flow during the measurement, and a force sensor (2), wherein the guide means (4) is supported above the force sensor (2) and the support occurs on a straight line extending through an endpoint of a radius vector TO of a resulting friction force F acting on the mass flow (5) in the direction of the resulting friction force F acting on the mass flow (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Rembe GmbH Safety + Control
    Inventors: Frank Bickmann, Bernhard Penno
  • Publication number: 20100326203
    Abstract: A flow meter (200) includes a flow tube (210) and a balance system (211). The balance system (211) is coupled to the flow tube (210). Both the flow tube (210) and the balance system (211) have a center of mass. The balance system (211) is sized and located such that the combined center of mass (Ccm) of the flow tube (210) and the balance system (211) lies proximate an axis of rotation of the flow tube (210).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Treat Lanham, Christopher A. Werbach
  • Publication number: 20100236459
    Abstract: Method and device for determining the fossil fuel content in a fuel stream fed to an incineration furnace. According to the method, the waste gas is sampled and the amount of “new” and “old” carbon present in the CO2 is determined by the 14C method. When the stream of waste gas varies, an accurate measurement can be achieved by measuring the quantitative throughput of gas using a mass or volume flow meter and relating this to the size of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: STICHTING ENERGIEONDERZOEK CENTRUM NEDERLAND
    Inventors: Fredericus Petrus Bakker, Marco Geusebroek
  • Publication number: 20100229965
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a superior mass flow meter or the like that can flexibly cope with a change of a sample fluid such as a gas kind without requiring a special troublesome labor and that can measure a flow rate with high accuracy. The mass flow meter comprises a sensor section that detects a flow rate of a sample fluid flowing in a flow channel, a setting section that sets a flow rate characteristic function that is intrinsic to each fluid to determine a flow rate based on a flow rate detected value output by the sensor section and an instrumental error correction parameter that is independent from the flow rate characteristic function and common to multiple sample fluids to correct an instrumental error of each mass flow meter, and a flow rate calculating section that calculates a flow rate measurement value of the sample fluid by applying the flow rate characteristic function and the instrumental error correction parameter to the flow rate detected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: HORIBA STEC, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro KASHIMA, Yutaka YONEDA, Yasuhiro ISOBE
  • Publication number: 20100163119
    Abstract: In order to improve a measurement accuracy of a mass flow meter, the mass flow meter comprises a flow rate calculating section that obtains an output signal from a sensor section having a thermosensitive resistive element arranged in a flow channel where a sample gas flows and that calculates a flow rate of the sample gas, a pressure measuring section that measures a primary side pressure in the flow channel, and a flow rate correcting section that corrects the measured flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculating section by the use of the primary side pressure obtained by the pressure measuring section and a gas coefficient determined by an isobaric specific heat of the sample gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: HORIBA STEC, CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Isobe, Osamu Horinouchi, Yuki Tanaka, Masao Yamaguchi, Yukimasa Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7690268
    Abstract: A method for the continuous gravimetric metering of flowing materials for burner systems, in which the instantaneous mass flow is determined and metering occurs by means of a metering unit can be achieved by means of determination of the type of flowing material. The instantaneous heat output for the flowing material is determined from the type of flowing material and the heat capacity thereof and the mass flow determination. The output from the metering device is regulated to match the set feed rate, depending on the instantaneous heat output. In addition, a device for the continuous gravimetric metering of flowing materials for burner systems comprises a metering unit by means of which the flowing material can be metered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pfister GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Wolfschaffner
  • Publication number: 20090301220
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mass flow meter (1) for measuring the mass flow of a material supply flow of fluent particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: KATOEN NATIE
    Inventors: Steven Smets, Philippe Jans
  • Patent number: 7610801
    Abstract: A method and device allows determination of the flow rate of solids material, under gravity, in an elongate vertical pipe; the device comprises a flow head chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, an elongate tubular neck extending from the outlet end, the neck having an exit port remote from the outlet end, and the head chamber having an interior wall means converging from the inlet end to the outlet end, and the chamber being in flow communication with the elongate tubular neck such that in a vertically oriented configuration with the inlet end uppermost, the exit port lowermost and the elongate tubular neck disposed downwardly, solids material housed in the device may flow under gravity from the chamber into the elongate tubular neck towards the exit port; in one embodiment the device has plug means adapted to releasably engage the exit port to temporarily close the exit port; in another embodiment the chamber has a volume capacity for the solids material which permits the device to deliver at least
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lafarge Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Brian O'Hearn, Nils Steward
  • Publication number: 20090235758
    Abstract: A device for measuring a mass flow (5) with guide means (4) having a surface shaped as a circular arc, across which the mass flow can flow during the measurement, and a force sensor (2), wherein the guide means (4) is supported above the force sensor (2) and the support occurs on a straight line extending through an endpoint of a radius vector rT0r of a resulting friction force F acting on the mass flow (5) in the direction of the resulting friction force F acting on the mass flow (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: REMBE GMBH SAFETY + CONTROL
    Inventors: FRANK BICKMANN, BERNHARD PENNO
  • Patent number: 7555397
    Abstract: A Coriolis mass flow meter and method for compensation of transmission errors of its input circuit, wherein a high accuracy of measurement is achievable by determining the transmission error of the input circuit of at least two input branches on the basis of at least one reference signal, which travels simultaneously through all input branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Matthias Roost, Robert Lalla
  • Publication number: 20090158859
    Abstract: The current invention generally relates to Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) thermal mass flow sensors for measuring the flow rate of a flowing fluid (gas/liquid) and the methods of manufacturing on single crystal silicon wafers. The said mass flow sensors have self-cleaning capability that is achieved via the modulation of the cavity of which the sensing elements locate on the top of the cavity that is made of a silicon nitride film; alternatively the sensing elements are fabricated on top of a binary silicon nitride/conductive polycrystalline silicon film under which is a porous silicon layer selective formed in a silicon substrate. Using polycrystalline silicon or the sensing elements as electrodes, an acoustic wave can be generated across the porous silicon layer which is also used for the thermal isolation of the sensing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: SIARGO LTD.
    Inventors: Liji Huang, Chih-Chang Chen, Yahong Yao, Gaofeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20090133507
    Abstract: According to the invention, a method for the continuous gravimetric metering of flowing materials for burner systems, in which the instantaneous mass flow is determined and metering occurs by means of a metering unit (8), can be achieved by means of determination of the type of flowing material. The instantaneous heat output for the flowing material is determined from the type of flowing material and the heat capacity thereof and the mass flow determination. The output from the metering device (8) is regulated to match the set feed rate, depending on the instantaneous heat output. Also disclosed is a corresponding device (1), for the continuous gravimetric metering of flowing materials for burner systems (40), comprising a metering unit (8), by means of which the flowing material can be metered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2004
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Hubert Wolfschaffner
  • Patent number: 7503226
    Abstract: A method of assessing the effect of a conduit section (11) on flow characteristics of a first fluid in a first conduit system (1). A first fluid is caused to flow through the first conduit system (1). A transverse flow parameter of the first fluid in the first conduit system (1) downstream of the conduit section (11) is detected. At least one transverse flow characteristic of the first fluid is determined from the detected transverse flow parameter. The effect of the conduit section (11) is then assessed from the determined flow characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Tayside Flow Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: John Graeme Houston, Peter Arno Stonebridge, John Bruce Cameron Dick, Robert Gordon Hood, Allana Johnstone, Christophe Emmanuel Sarran, Craig McLeod Duff
  • Patent number: 7479606
    Abstract: The invention aims at obtaining a simplified and compact construction of a gravimetric metering device (1) for bulk products, comprising a large discharge section per activation zone (A) and transfer zone (F) for supplying the bulk product into a rotor (2) rotated in a horizontal plane, with transfer tools (3) (I,E.; impeller blades ) extending mainly in the radial direction, an emptying station (E) offset relative to the transfer zone (F), and a weighing platform (W) arranged therebetween in the peripheral direction, provided with a force measuring device (20) for determining the weight of the bulk product transported. The invention is characterized in that the transfer tools (3) are mounted so as to be uncoupled from one another in at least one degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Pfister GmbH
    Inventor: Hans W. Häfner
  • Publication number: 20080190214
    Abstract: A cutback flow straightener comprises a plurality of flow straightener vanes positioned in a flow duct. The flow straightener vanes are cut back as a function of a radius of the flow duct, such that an axial length of the vanes decreases with the radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ubowski, Bogdan Marcu
  • Patent number: 7353717
    Abstract: To conduct a fluid, the transducer has a flow tube which in operation is vibrated by an excitation assembly and whose inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations are sensed by means of a sensor arrangement. To produce shear forces in the fluid, the flow tube is at least intermittently excited into torsional vibrations about a longitudinal flow-tube axis. The transducer further comprises a torsional vibration absorber which is fixed to the flow tube and which in operation covibrates with the torsionally vibrating flow tube, thus producing reactive torques which at least partially balance torques developed in the vibrating flow tube. One of the advantages of the transducer disclosed is that it is dynamically balanced to a large extent even in the face of variations in fluid density or viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Publication number: 20080034889
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of measuring mass flow of a first gas component in a gas consisting of one or more known gas components. Typically such methods assume that certain parameters were constant, such as the gas composition, pressure and/or temperature, and likewise the heat capacity, density, etc., of the gas were presumed to be such that they could be determined to have a constant value. However, it has been found that the determination of the mass flow is associated with a comparatively high degree of measurement uncertainty, when it is assumed that the parameters are constant. The core of the invention relies on this discovery and on a method wherein all of the gas parameters that are used in the determination of the mass flow of the first gas component and that may vary considerably as a function of the gas composition, pressure and/or temperature are determined continually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Christian Moller
  • Publication number: 20080016956
    Abstract: The mechanical synchronized time-based mass flow controller can control the flow rate easily and precisely. The mechanical synchronized time-based mass flow controller includes a reservoir 1a, 1b, an inlet line 14, an outlet line 24, a valve 3 and a control unit. The valve 3 has a passage 3a through which the fluid passes and operates in a mechanical cycle which includes an inlet line open period when the passage 3a is communicated with the inlet line 14 and the inlet line 14 is in an open state and an outlet line open period when the passage 3a is communicated with the outlet line 24 and the outlet line 24 is in an open state according to change of position of the passage 3a, the inlet line open period and the outlet line open period coming out of phase with each other so that the inlet line 14 can be opened when the outlet line 24 is in a closed state and the outlet line 24 can be opened when the inlet line 14 is in a closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Young-Chul Chang
  • Publication number: 20070193371
    Abstract: Strain gauges A, B for a bending portion cross each other and are stuck to a strain gauge sticking portion 7 for a bending portion located in a portion applying centrifugal force or centripetal force of a fluid thereto in a bending portion 4 in a bending circular tube 1 formed by bending a tube circulating the fluid therein. Further, strain gauges C, D for compensating static pressure and temperature cross each other and are stuck to a strain gauge sticking portion 11 for a straight tube portion located in a straight tube portion 8 connected to the bending portion 4 in the bending circular tube 1. Detecting signals of strain gauges A, B for a bending portion and strain gauges C, D for compensation are guided to an opposite position of a bridge circuit 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Takashi Yamane, Ryo Kosaka
  • Patent number: 7110899
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the phase of a signal in a measurement device having a digital signal processor are described. The signal is digitised and the digitised signal, or a signal derived therefrom, is numerically correlated with a numerically generated reference signal. In one embodiment, the reference signal has a predetermined phase. In a further embodiment, the numerically generated reference signal has a reference phase and the phase is determined from the result of the correlation. The techniques described herein may reduce the amount of information lost in determining the signal phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Limited
    Inventor: Troy Wray
  • Publication number: 20060037187
    Abstract: A process for producing a tube suitable for microfluidic devices. The process uses a uniformly-doped first material having a first portion into which a channel is etched partially through the first material between second and third portions of the first material. The first material is then bonded to a second material so that a first portion of the second material overlies the first portion of the first material and encloses the channel to define a passage. The second and third portions of the second material and part of the second and third portions of the first material are then removed, and the first portion of the second material is bonded to a substrate such that the passage projects over a recess in the substrate surface. The second and third portions of the first material are then removed to define a tube with a freestanding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: INTEGRATED SENSING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Sparks, Nader Najafi
  • Publication number: 20040173031
    Abstract: A method of measuring mass flow of a material comprising the steps of passing said material across a platform driven by a vibratory drive, oscillating the platform by the drive to obtain a predetermined amplitude of oscillation, at resonance, measuring the frequency of the oscillation and correlating the frequency to a mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Shlomo Gicza, Bruno Pross
  • Patent number: 6782325
    Abstract: Flow meter electronics are described for providing a flow rate of a material flowing through a flow meter sensor of a Coriolis flow meter. The flow meter electronics comprise a processing system and a single output port. The processing system receives pick-off signals from the flow meter sensor and processes the pick-off signals to determine the flow rate. The processing system receives an instruction for a frequency output signal or a digital communication protocol signal. If the instruction is for a frequency output signal, then the processing system processes the flow rate to generate a frequency output signal and transmits the frequency output signal over the single output port. If the instruction is for a digital communication protocol signal, then the processing system processes the flow rate to generate a digital communication protocol signal and transmits the digital communication protocol signal over the single output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Hays, William Michael Mansfield
  • Patent number: 6698644
    Abstract: A single-tube Coriolis mass flow sensor includes a stainless steel sleeve having an unplated interior surface and a titanium member having a cylindrical end inserted into the stainless steel sleeve. The exterior surface of the titanium cylindrical end forms a joint with the unplated interior surface of the stainless steel sleeve. The titanium cylindrical end is brazed to the unplated interior surface of the stainless steel sleeve at the joint, and the stainless steel sleeve exerts compressive stress on the titanium cylindrical end at the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Rainer Lorenz