Abstract: A system for measuring the flow of a fluid in a pipe that is one of a plurality of different sizes. The system employs a pair of transducers mounted on the pipe in an upstream-downstream relationship, Each transducer is excited by one of a pair of oscillators to transmit a sonic signal though the fluid to the other transducer. Transit times of the sonic signals are measured. A microprocessing network computes the flow rate of the fluid based on the measured transit time in the pipe. The system has a signal transit time between transducers equal to the time elapse of N cycles of the frequency emitted by the oscillators. The value of N, as computed by a microprocessor, relates to the size of the pipe.

Abstract: A transducer for use in measuring the sound velocity characteristics of a fluid medium formed of a transducer body having an access end and an opposed active end, the body having spaced apart first and second cylindrical openings therein extending from the access to the active end, a first and second acoustic window member sealably closing each of the cylindrical openings in the body at the active end, first and second transducer crystal elements within, respectively, the first and second openings and in sonic contact with the respective window acoustic members, a sound reflector affixed to the transducer body at the active end providing a first target surface coincident with the cylindrical axis of the first opening and providing a second target surface coincident with the cylindrical axis of the second openings, the target surfaces being spaced from the body active end and each being in a plane inclined toward the other defining a sonic path from the first acoustic window member to the first target surface,

Abstract: An improved transducer for transmitting and receiving sonic energy, the transducer having a housing with a cylindrical opening, an acoustic end member closing one end of the opening, and providing an acoustic window, a crystal element having one planar surface in engagement with the acoustic end member rearward face, a thrust producing compression screw threadably received in the cylindrical opening, and a spring between the compression screw and crystal element to maintain a substantially steady force of the crystal element against the acoustic end member rearward face. In one embodiment particularly adapting the transducer for sanitary environments the end member includes an integrally formed reflector portion with provision for fluid to flow freely between the sonic window portion and the reflector portion.

Abstract: A high pressure transducer for transmitting and/or receiving sonic energy, the transducer having a housing with a cylindrical opening, a metallic acoustic window element closing one end of the opening, a cylindrical transducer crystal having one planar surface in engagement with the acoustic window rearward face, a thrust producing compression screw threadably received in the cylindrical opening supplying pressure through dampening means to the crystal rearward face to force the crystal into intimate engagement with the acoustic window, the acoustic window having a thickness of about N times 1/2 of the wavelength of crystal produced sound in the acoustic window, N being the least whole number providing an acoustic window having strength to withstand the pressure to which the transducer is subjected without significant deformation.

Abstract: A method of determining the net volume of water and oil in a flow stream including the steps of measuring the gross volume of fluid flowing in the stream, periodically collecting from the stream samples of the oil and water mixture, treating each sample of the oil and water mixture to cause any entrained gas bubbles to be absorbed in the mixture or reduced to selected maximum size and entrained emulsion droplets are reduced in size, passing the treated sample of oil and water mixture through a sonic apparatus, measuring the speed of sound transmission of the mixture within the sonic apparatus and determining from the speed of sound transmission the relative composition of water and oil in the mixture, and calculating the gross volumetric oil and water utilizing the measurements obtained from the sonic apparatus and from the measurement of the gross volume of fluid.

Abstract: A timing means for determining the time of travel of ultrasonic pulses between a transmitter and a receiver immersed in a fluid. The first time instant is determined when the transmitter transmits an ultrasonic pulse in the fluid. A second time instant is determined when the ultrasonic wavelet has been detected, converted to electrical signal, and the zero crossing time of the electrical wavelet after a selected positive peak is determined. Timing means are provided to determine the time interval between the first and second time instants. This is done by having a coarse time clock and counter. The number of full clock periods before the second instant is determined, and a ramp of voltage is generated having a known rate of rise. The ramp is negatively biased and the bias voltage is varied until the ramp voltage reaches zero at the second instant. The transmitter upstream is fired, and the wavelet is detected at the downstream transducer.

Abstract: A method of determining the net volume of water and oil in a flow stream, including the steps of collecting the fluid in a vessel providing a quiescent zone, venting pressure from the vessel to permit at least a portion of dissolved gas to flush from the fluid, repressuring the fluid within the vessel to a superatmospheric pressure to force any remaining entrained gas bubbles back into solution, passing the fluid from the vessel while subjected to a superatmospheric pressure through a sonic apparatus having a sonic path disposed at an angle to the flow stream to measure the upstream and downstream speed of sound transmission of the fluid, calculating from the difference in the upstream and downstream speeds of sound transmission the volume of fluid flow and from the summation of the speeds of sound transmission the fluid composition, and from these calculations the net volume of oil and water flow.

Abstract: A sonic flow meter in the form of a conduit providing a linear fluid flow path and having first and second openings on opposite sides of the conduit displaced in an upstream-downstream relationship providing a sonic path through the interior of the conduit, with sonic transducers elements positioned to transmit and receive energy through the sonic path, and having an upstream and downstream flow straightener for separating the fluid stream into a plurality of reduced-cross-sectional area streams, ends of the flow straightener being in planes paralleling, and adjacent the sonic path.

Abstract: A high-temperature transducer for transmitting and/or receiving sonic energy having a housing with a cylindrical opening, a metallic acoustic window element closing one end of the opening, a cylindrical transducer crystal having one planar surface in engagement with the acoustic window rearward face, a cylindrical dampening member in contact with the crystal rearward face, a first and a second thrust disc received in the cylindrical opening with a thrust transmitting sphere between the discs, and a thrust producing compression screw threadably received in the cylindrical opening supplying pressure against the first of the thrust discs which pressure is applied by means of the sphere to the second thrust disc, to the dampening means and to the crystal rearward face to force the crystal into intimate engagement with the acoustic window for effective sound transmission.