Abstract: A customizable length averaging pitot tube (APT) probe for insertion into a confined conduit, such as a process pipe, is disclosed. The APT probe includes a probe portion, configured to be inserted into the confined conduit, which includes longitudinally extending upstream, downstream and middle surfaces to form first and second fluid carrying plenums within the APT probe portion. A plurality of longitudinally arranged openings are disposed along the length of the upstream surface with each opening in fluid communication with the first fluid carrying plenum. A plurality of longitudinally arranged openings are disposed along the length of the downstream surface with each opening in fluid communication with the second fluid carrying plenum. A cap is affixed to an end of the APT probe portion to isolate the first and second fluid carrying plenums at the end of the APT probe portion.

Abstract: A pressure measurement system for measuring pressure in a conduit has a bluff body extending into the conduit. The bluff body has an upstream opening and a downstream opening. An upstream pitot tube is slidably engaged within the bluff body and has an open end positioned in the upstream opening. A downstream pitot tube is slidably engaged within the bluff body and has an open end positioned in the downstream opening. A differential pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the upstream pitot tube and the downstream pitot tube to measure a pressure difference between the upstream pitot tube and the downstream pitot tube.

Abstract: A pressure measurement system for measuring pressure in a conduit has a bluff body extending into the conduit. The bluff body has an upstream opening and a downstream opening. An upstream pitot tube is slidably engaged within the bluff body and has an open end positioned in the upstream opening. A downstream pitot tube is slidably engaged within the bluff body and has an open end positioned in the downstream opening. A differential pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the upstream pitot tube and the downstream pitot tube to measure a pressure difference between the upstream pitot tube and the downstream pitot tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a process variable of a process fluid based upon a process variable sensor measurement, includes an elongate spool that provides a spool conduit therethrough adapted to be coupled in line with process piping to receive a flow of process fluid. A meter body is carried in the elongate spool and receives the spool conduit therethrough. The meter body has a primary element opening which extends from the spool conduit to outside of the meter body. A carrier is configured to removably mount to the meter body and includes a primary element in the spool conduit through the primary element opening. A process variable transmitter is coupled to the primary element and is configured to measure the process variable of process fluid. The meter body is preferably configured to receive different types of primary elements carried on the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring flow of a process fluid includes an elongate spool providing a spool conduit therethrough adapted to be coupled in line with process piping to receive the flow of process fluid. A meter body is carried by the elongate spool and receives the spool conduit therethrough. The meter body includes a flow measurement component opening which extends from the spool conduit to outside of the meter body. A flow component is configured for placement in the flow measurement component opening of the meter body. A carrier is configured to removably mount to the meter body and couple the flow measurement component to the spool conduit through the flow measurement component opening. A flow measurement transmitter couples to the flow measurement component to measure the flow of process fluid based upon an interaction between the process fluid and the flow measurement component.

Abstract: An apparatus and rodding method is disclosed for cleaning particulant matter from the interior high and low pressure fluid conducting conduits of a valve manifold and its mounting neck that are components of a process fluid flow or mass flow measuring assembly. High and low pressure fluid conducting conduits run through the longitudinal length of the manifold body with laterally extending diversion channels that conduct the high and low pressure fluid to a pressure transducer mounted on the back side of the valve manifold. Following shut down of the process fluid flow, plugs at the terminal end of the fluid channels are removed, permitting cleaning rods to be inserted into the fluid channels, without having to remove the pressure transducer and associated data transmitter from the assembly.

Abstract: A process fluid pressure measurement system is provided. The system includes a process fluid pressure transmitter having a pair of process fluid ports disposed coplanar with one another on a bottom surface thereof. The process fluid pressure transmitter is configured to measure a differential pressure between the pair of process fluid ports and provide an indication of the measured differential pressure over a process communication loop. A process fluid flange has a first surface configured to mount to the surface of the process fluid pressure transmitter, a second surface opposed to the first surface, and at least one lateral sidewall extending between the first and second surface. A plurality of fins are disposed proximate the lateral surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the mounting mode of a bluff body inserted into a fluid carrying conduit by detecting and displaying the natural frequency of vibration of the bluff body caused by the pressure of the flowing fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the point at which the distal end of the bluff body sensor of an averaging pitot tube makes anchoring contact with the inside wall of a fluid conducting conduit during insertion of the bluff body into the conduit, which method includes monitoring the amplitude of vibrations generated in the bluff body in response to the fluid flowing in the conduit by the use of an accelerometer carried by the bluff body and an associated readout instrument connected to the output of the accelerometer for displaying data responsive to the output of the accelerometer and specifically indicating a change in the sensed amplitude values which change advises that the support mode of a bluff body inserted into the conduit has altered.

Abstract: A tool for supporting and centering a flat circular orifice plate flow meter between two pipe flanges that have circumferentially spaced apart circular flange bolt holes that lie on a bolt circle and receive circular flange bolts for interconnecting the flanges, comprising a flat plate having a first edge which includes at least two points that lie on a line of curvature having a radius equal to the radius of the circular orifice plate, and at least one set of at least two tool holes sized to receive two of the bolts that interconnect the flanges.

Abstract: An element of an averaging orifice plate fluid flow meter for measuring the volumetric rate of fluid flow in a conduit having an interior circumference for carrying a flow of fluid comprising, a planar flow impedance plate for disposition transversely across the interior of the conduit and perpendicular to the fluid flow, a plurality of spaced apart orifices disposed in the plate where the profile of each orifice is a segment of a circle on an arc where the arc is coincident with a portion of the interior circumference of the conduit.

Abstract: A bottoming indication system indicates contact between an inner wall of a fluid conducting conduit and a tip of a differential pressure measuring probe. The system includes a piezoelectric device and an indicator. The piezoelectric device is affixed to the tip of the differential pressure measuring probe so that pressure exerted on the piezoelectric device by contact between the piezoelectric device and the inner wall of the conduit produces a voltage difference across the piezoelectric device. The indicator is in electrical communication with the piezoelectric device so that a voltage difference across the piezoelectric device activates the indicator to indicate contact between the inner wall of the conduit and the tip of the differential pressure measuring probe.

Abstract: A process flow device includes a self-averaging pitot tube type of primary flow element for measuring, by a differential pressure process, the volumetric rate of fluid flow at a point in a fluid carrying conduit where the velocity profile of the fluid is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The improved flow element comprises an annulus having a central opening and a pitot tube type flow-impeding device disposed transversely across the central opening and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The pitot tube type flow-impeding device includes a plurality of total pressure ports in an upstream facing surface, a plurality of static pressure ports in a downstream facing surface, and total and static pressure plenums connected in fluid communication respectively to the total and static pressure ports.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for strain gage measurement of differential pressure across a body inserted into a flowing fluid where the body includes an exterior upstream facing portion, an exterior downstream facing portion and interior surfaces. At least one first electrically resistive strain gage having connecting terminals is disposed on one or more of the interior surfaces of the upstream facing portion and at least one second electrically resistive strain gage having connecting terminals is disposed on one or more of the interior surfaces of the downstream facing portion. The first and second strain gages are electrically connected to form the legs of a full Wheatstone Bridge, the electrical output of which is directly related to the differential pressure across the inserted body.

Abstract: A venturi type of primary flow element comprising a tubular body defining a flow path having open ends and walls and including in series, a converging section, a cylindrical throat section, and a diverging section, where the bottom walls of each of said sections are in alignment and present a smooth unangled surface to flowing fluid therein.

Abstract: A process flow device that includes a self-averaging orifice plate type of primary flow element for measuring, by a differential pressure process, the volumetric rate of fluid flow at a point in a fluid carrying conduit where the velocity profile of the fluid is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The improved flow element comprises a planar flow-impeding plate disposed transversely across the interior of the conduit and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. The plate includes at least three circular apertures eccentrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit to create static pressure averaging on the downstream side of the plate. Upstream and downstream static pressure sensing ports are respectively provided on opposite sides of the flow impeding plate.

Abstract: A primary flow measuring element comprising a cylindrical body having an axis and an interior surface defining a fluid flow path and having at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body with high and low pressure sensing ports disposed in said cylindrical body on the upstream and downstream sides of the at least one segmental wedge respectively and having at least one conditioning segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body at a position upstream from the at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge.

Abstract: A process flow device includes a self-averaging pitot tube type of primary flow element for measuring, by a differential pressure process, the volumetric rate of fluid flow at a point in a fluid carrying conduit where the velocity profile of the fluid is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The improved flow element comprises an annulus having a central opening and a pitot tube type flow-impeding device disposed transversely across the central opening and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The pitot tube type flow-impeding device includes a plurality of total pressure ports in an upstream facing surface, a plurality of static pressure ports in a downstream facing surface, and total and static pressure plenums connected in fluid communication respectively to the total and static pressure ports.

Abstract: A differential pressure measuring probe with an improved signal to noise ratio is provided. The probe includes a substantially flat longitudinally extending impact surface that is configured to create a dome of high pressure in the impacting fluid. The dome of high pressure provides an increased stagnation area on the impact surface to reduce noise in the measurement of impact pressure. A non-impact surface is provided with non-impact apertures to measure a non-impact pressure such that differential pressure between the impact surface and the non-impact surface can be calculated.

Abstract: A device and method provide improved measurement of flow through an enclosed channel, such as a pipe. A flow measurement device, such as a differential pressure sensing pitot tube, includes a pressure sensing probe that is inserted into the pipe for measuring the rate of fluid flow therein. A compressible or elastic barrier is attached to the distal end of the sensing probe to fill the space between the tip end of the sensing probe and the nearby portion of the inside wall of the fluid carrying pipe. The resilient barrier prevents undesirable fluid flow between the tip end of the sensing probe and the inside wall of the pipe.