Patents Assigned to Micro Motion, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20210080312
    Abstract: A vibratory flowmeter (5) for meter verification is provided, including meter electronics (20) coupled to the first and second pickoff sensors (170L, 170R) and coupled to a driver (180), with the meter electronics (20) configured to: vibrate the flowmeter assembly (10) in a single mode using the driver (180), determine a single mode current (230) of the driver (180) and determine first and second response voltages (231) generated by the first and second pickoff sensors (170L, 170R), respectively, compute frequency response functions for the determined first and second response voltages (231) from the determined single mode current (230), fit the generated frequency response functions to a pole-residue model, and verify proper operation of the vibratory flowmeter (5) using the meter stiffness value (216), residual flexibility (218), and the meter mass (240) in embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Cunningham, David J. Kapolnek, Matthew J. Rensing, Christopher George Larsen
  • Patent number: 10951219
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a synthetic time period output signal for a fork density sensor (601) which produces a consistent and low-noise output signal (705) which is identical in frequency to the frequency at which the fork density meter vibrates. Such a synthetic signal generated by a meter signal prevents any real noise from the pickoffs from propagating to the output meter and removes process noise and interference from the produced output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Kravitz, Craig B. McAnally
  • Publication number: 20210072061
    Abstract: A coil transducer (200) for elevated temperatures is provided. The coil transducer (200) includes a coil portion (210) including a coil (212), the coil (212) being comprised of a conductive wire (212a), and an electrical insulator disposed proximate the conductive wire (212a). The coil (212) is configured to have a repeatable electrical property over a temperature range that is greater than 350 C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Mark LUPIENSKI, Robert Barclay GARNETT
  • Patent number: 10935402
    Abstract: A magnetic flow meter includes electrode sensors generating a sensor signal indicative of flow of a liquid through a conduit. A noise identification module identifies a noise level in the sensor signal and a contaminant identification module uses the noise level to determine whether there is a contaminant in the liquid in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Scot Ronald Foss, Andrew Thomas Kline
  • Publication number: 20210041335
    Abstract: A vibratory meter (5, 200) is provided, having a driver (104, 202) and a vibratory member (103, 103?, 204) vibratable by the driver (104, 202). At least one pickoff sensor (105, 105?, 209) is configured to detect vibrations of the vibratory member (103, 103?, 204). Meter electronics (20) comprise an interface (301) configured to receive a vibrational response from the at least one pickoff sensor (105, 105?, 209), and a processing system (303) coupled to the interface (301). The processing system (303) is configured to measure a drive gain (306) of the driver (104, 202) and determine a solute added to the fluid is substantially fully dissolved based upon the drive gain (306).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Craig HOLLINGSWORTH
  • Publication number: 20210033511
    Abstract: A method of determining vapor pressure of a fluid is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a meter (5) having meter electronics (20), the meter (5) being at least one of a flowmeter and a densitometer, and flowing a process fluid through the meter (5). A pressure of the process fluid is measured. The pressure of the process fluid is adjusted until a monophasic/biphasic boundary is reached. The flowing vapor pressure of the process fluid is determined at the monophasic/biphasic boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Craig HOLLINGSWORTH, Marc Allan BUTTLER, Jason Alan LEAPLEY
  • Publication number: 20210033443
    Abstract: A flowmeter (200) is provided having a flow inlet (210) and a flow outlet (210?). A first conduit (208A) has an inlet leg (212A) fluidly coupled to a central conduit portion (212C), wherein the central conduit portion (212C) is further fluidly coupled to an outlet leg (212?A). A second conduit (208B) has an inlet leg (212B) fluidly coupled to a central conduit portion (212?C), wherein the central conduit portion (212?C) is further fluidly coupled to an outlet leg (212B). The flow inlet (210) is fluidly coupled to a first end of the first conduit (208A) and a first end of the second conduit (208B), and the flow outlet (210?) is fluidly coupled to a second end of the first conduit (208A) and a second end of the second conduit (208B). A manifold (206) is fluidly coupled to the inlet legs (212A, 212B) and the outlet legs (212?A, 212B). A driver (214) is at least partially coupled to the manifold, wherein the driver (214) is operable to vibrate the first and second conduits (208A, 208B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Andrew SCHLOSSER
  • Patent number: 10900348
    Abstract: Coriolis direct wellhead measurement devices and methods are provided. The devices and methods allow for continuous monitoring, more frequent data, and greater accuracy in quantitative and qualitative measurements of well performance. In an embodiment: an entrained gas severity of a wellhead is determined based on a determined drive gain threshold, at least one variable is output based on the determined entrained gas severity, and a respective confidence indicator correlating to the at least one variable is output. One mode of operation includes continually averaging the at least one variable over a predetermined time interval and outputting a respective single averaged data value. Another mode of operation includes outputting at least one instantaneous variable at predetermined and uniform time intervals. Diagnostic information and user alerts are also output to provide reliable decision making information to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Scott Schollenberger, Joel Weinstein
  • Publication number: 20210018354
    Abstract: A method for determining a mass flow measurement is provided. The method comprises calibrating a flowmeter sensor at a first temperature and flowing a fluid having a second temperature through the flowmeter sensor. A density of the fluid is input into meter electronics. A compensated mass flow value of the fluid is determined by meter electronics, wherein the Modulus of Elasticity of the flowmeter sensor is unknown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Robert Barclay GARNETT
  • Publication number: 20210018416
    Abstract: A vibratory meter (5) is provided, having a driver (104) and a vibratory member (103, 103?) vibratable by the driver (104). At least one pickoff sensor (105, 105?) is configured to detect vibrations of the vibratory member (103, 103?). Meter electronics (20) comprise an interface (301) configured to receive a vibrational response from the at least one pickoff sensor (105, 10540 ), and a processing system (303) coupled to the interface (301). The processing system (303) is configured to measure a drive gain (306) of the driver (104), and measure a total density (325) of a multiphase process fluid in the vibratory meter (5), and determine whether the drive gain (306) is below a first threshold. A liquid/liquid phase concentration allocation is determined with the measured total density (325) if the drive gain (306) is below the first threshold, and a flow rate for each liquid phase is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventor: Justin Craig HOLLINGSWORTH
  • Patent number: 10895483
    Abstract: Vibratory meters (5), and methods for their use measuring a fluid are provided. Each vibratory meter includes a multichannel flow tube (300) comprising two or more fluid channels (302), a pickoff (170), a driver (180), and meter electronics (20) configured to apply a drive signal to the driver at a drive frequency ?, and measure a deflection of the multichannel flow tube with the pickoff. In examples, at least one fluid channel has an effective diameter that is related to kinematic viscosity, inverse Stokes number, and drive frequency. In further examples, the driver may apply a drive signal to the driver having a drive frequency proportional to the kinematic viscosity, inverse Stokes number, and effective diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Bell, Joel Weinstein, Mitalee Nayan Desai, Clinton R. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20210013921
    Abstract: An electronics (100, 200) including an electrical isolation is provided. The electronics (100, 200) include a bidirectional isolation circuit (110, 210) separating a first portion (100a, 200a) from a second portion (100, 200b) and a bus transceiver switch (120b, 220b) disposed in the second portion (100b, 200b). The bus transceiver switch (120b, 220b) is communicatively coupled to the bidirectional isolation circuit (110, 210). The bus transceiver switch (120b, 220b) receives from the bidirectional isolation circuit (110, 210) a communication control signal provided by the first portion (100a, 200a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian T. SMITH
  • Patent number: 10890479
    Abstract: A vibratory flowmeter (5) for meter verification is provided, including meter electronics (20) coupled to the first and second pickoff sensors (170L, 170R) and coupled to a driver (180), with the meter electronics (20) configured to: vibrate the flowmeter assembly (10) in a single mode using the driver (180), determine a single mode current (230) of the driver (180) and determine first and second response voltages (231) generated by the first and second pickoff sensors (170L, 170R), respectively, compute frequency response functions for the determined first and second response voltages (231) from the determined single mode current (230), fit the generated frequency response functions to a pole-residue model, and verify proper operation of the vibratory flowmeter (5) using the meter stiffness value (216), residual flexibility (218), and the meter mass (240) in embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J Cunningham, David J Kapolnek, Matthew J Rensing, Christopher George Larsen
  • Patent number: 10890473
    Abstract: A method is provided comprising the steps of exciting a vibration mode of a flow tube (130, 130?), wherein first and second drivers (180L, 180R) are amplitude modulated out of phase from each other, and wherein a drive command provided to the first and second drivers (180L, 180R) comprises a sum of N+1 independent signals. The first and second drivers (180L, 180R) are excited with a plurality of off-resonance frequencies and the effective phase between a modal response and the drivers (180L, 180R) at each of the off-resonance frequencies is inferred. A left eigenvector phase estimate is generated for each of the off-resonance frequencies. A phase of a left eigenvector at a resonant drive frequency is estimated based on off-resonance frequency phase estimates. The method also comprises measuring the phase between a first pickoff (170L) and a second pickoff (170R) and determining a phase of a right eigenvector for the flow tube (130, 130?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Joseph Rensing
  • Patent number: 10876874
    Abstract: A method for improving flowmeter (5) reliability is provided. The flowmeter (5) has at least one flow tube (130, 130?), at least one pickoff sensor (170L, 170R) attached to the flow tube (130, 130?), at least one driver (180L, 180R) attached to the flow tube (130, 130?), and meter electronics (20) in communication with the at least one pickoff sensor (170L, 170R) and driver (180L, 180R). The method includes the steps of vibrating at least one flow tube (130, 130?) in a drive mode vibration with the at least one driver (180L, 180R), and receiving a sensor signal based on a vibrational response to the drive mode vibration from the at least one pickoff sensor (170L, 170R). At least one flow variable is calculated. A pickoff sensor voltage is measured, and it is determined whether the pickoff sensor voltage is below a predetermined voltage threshold (304). The at least one flow variable is corrected during periods wherein the pickoff sensor voltage is below the predetermined voltage threshold (304).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Dutton
  • Patent number: 10866178
    Abstract: A vibratory cavity density meter (100-300) is provided. The vibratory cavity density meter (100-300) includes a pipe (110-310) extending from a first end (110a-310a) to a second end (110b-310b). The first end (110a-310a) includes an aperture (114-314) configured to receive a material from a container (10) and the second end (110b-310b) is self-enclosed so as to contain the material in the pipe (110-310). The vibratory cavity density meter (100-300) also includes at least one transducer (118, 218) coupled to the pipe (110-310), the at least one transducer (118, 218) configured to one of induce and sense a vibration in the pipe (110-310) to measure a property of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Kravitz, Martin Andrew Schlosser, Mark James Bell
  • Patent number: 10855310
    Abstract: A data translation system (100) for performing a non-linear data translation on a digitized AC signal is provided. The non-linear data translation system (100) includes an input for receiving the digitized AC signal, an output for outputting a non-linearly translated signal, and a processing system (104) coupled to the input and to the output. The processing system (104) is configured to receive the digitized AC signal, non-linearly translate the digitized AC signal using a predetermined transfer function to create the non-linearly translated signal, and transfer the non-linearly translated signal to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Stig Lindemann, Mads Kolding Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10837374
    Abstract: A method of characterizing a mixed fuel flow period is provided. The method includes flowing a mixed fuel, the mixed fuel being comprised of at least a first fuel type and a second fuel type, the mixed fuel flow period being determined where the fuel is switched from the first fuel type to the second fuel type, determining a density of the first fuel type and a density of the second fuel type, and determining a total flow, the total flow being determined from the density of the first fuel type and the density of the second fuel type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick John Zimmer, Taylor Robert Scott
  • Publication number: 20200355542
    Abstract: A meter electronics (20) and a method for detecting and identifying a change in a vibratory meter (5) is provided. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) configured to receive sensor signals (100) from a meter assembly (10) and provide information based on the sensor signals (100) and a processing system (202) communicatively coupled to the interface (201). The processing system (202) is configured to use the information to determine a first stiffness change (244) associated with a first location of a conduit (130, 130?) of the vibratory meter (5), determine a second stiffness change (254) associated with a second location of the conduit (130, 130?) of the vibratory meter (5), and determine a condition of the conduit (130, 130?) based on the first stiffness change and the second stiffness change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. CUNNINGHAM, Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Mark James BELL
  • Patent number: 10801871
    Abstract: A flow conduit assembly (300), a method for making the same, a brace bar (304), and a vibrating flowmeter including the flow conduit assembly are provided. The flow conduit assembly includes a first flow tube (302), a second flow tube (303), and a first brace bar (304) coupled to the first flow tube, wherein the first brace bar does not enclose the first flow tube and the second flow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Bell, Joel Weinstein, Mitalee Nayan Desai, Clinton R. Griffin