Patents Assigned to Onicon Inc.
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Patent number: 11860011Abstract: A magnetic insertion meter is disclosed herein. Disclosed insertion meters include in some examples, a sensor head tube cylinder having a textured front surface and at least two electrodes. Disclosed insertion meters include a textured front surface adapted to move the separation point of a fluid flowing over the sensor head tube towards the upstream surface as compared to the same sensor head tube without the textured front surface. Methods of measuring flow are also disclosed herein using example magnetic insertion meters.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: ONICON INC.Inventors: William S. Valentine, Michael Upham, Kevin Holler, Adam Sheppard
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Patent number: 11815378Abstract: Differential pressure airflow sensor devices are disclosed. Disclosed are sensor devices for mounting on a fixed resistance having a low-pressure probe for extending through the fixed resistance from a housing and a high-pressure inlet to the housing. Disclosed are sensor devices having a plurality of pressure transducers.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: ONICON INC.Inventors: Paresh Davé, Matthew Maragos, William J. Sell
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Patent number: 10908004Abstract: Differential pressure airflow sensor devices are disclosed. Disclosed are sensor devices for mounting on a fixed resistance having a low-pressure probe for extending through the fixed resistance from a housing and a high-pressure inlet to the housing. Disclosed are sensor devices having a plurality of pressure transducers.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: ONICON INC.Inventors: Paresh Davé, Matthew Maragos, William J. Sell
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Publication number: 20200033166Abstract: Differential pressure airflow sensor devices are disclosed. Disclosed are sensor devices for mounting on a fixed resistance having a low-pressure probe for extending through the fixed resistance from a housing and a high-pressure inlet to the housing. Disclosed are sensor devices having a plurality of pressure transducers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: ONICON INC.Inventors: Paresh Davé, Matthew Maragos, William J. Sell
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Transit time flow metering probe with repeating pair of ultrasonic transducers connected in parallel
Patent number: 9970797Abstract: A transit time flow sensor is configured as an insertable probe carrying transducers spaced apart along an acoustic path that may be segmented. The transducers are attached to non-wetted surfaces of respective tabs extending outwardly from the probe and functioning as acoustic windows. The tabs are selectively skewed with respect to the probe's flow axis so that acoustic signals from one transducer are detected by another. Directly communicating transducers may be on the same or opposite sides of the probe's flow axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Onicon Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller -
Patent number: 9618372Abstract: A transit time flow sensor is configured as an insertable probe carrying a pair of transducers spaced apart along an acoustic path. The transducers are attached to respective tabs extending outwardly from the ends of a tubular member and skewed with respect to an axis of the tube so that acoustic signals from one of the transducers are reflected from an interior portion of the tube and subsequently detected by the other transducer.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Onicon Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Transducer mounted between two spaced-apart interior surfaces of a cavity in the wall of a flow tube
Patent number: 9470566Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter comprises a cavity disposed in the wall of a flow tube. This cavity is preferably elongated along a direction perpendicular to a flow axis and has a flat interior surface portion proximal an interior surface of a wall of the flow tube. A piezoelectric transducer has a surface bonded to the flat interior surface portion of the cavity so as to transmit and receive acoustic signals through a thin window in the wall of the flow tube. An encapsulant, which may be combined with other elements, such as a mechanical strengthening piece, bonds the second side of the piezoelectric wafer to a second surface of the cavity. In a particular preferred embodiment, the cavity may be a dovetailed groove cut into a wall of the flow tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller -
Patent number: 9418782Abstract: A DC-DC power converter used in an electromagnetic flowmeter supplies a constant current from a capacitive output to an excitation coil during a measurement portion of the operating cycle. During a relatively longer charging portion of the operating cycle the capacitive output is charged from an unregulated supply. When the unregulated supply voltage of the of the DC-DC converter is less than the regulated output voltage repeated high voltage pulses are generated by the excitation coil to charge the output capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Publication number: 20160187171Abstract: Acoustic reflectors in a pipe can aid in defining an ultrasonic beam for a transit time flow measurement. Flow impedance associated with such reflectors can be minimized by using reflectors comprising an array of parallel reflective facets elongated transverse to an axis of the pipe and skewed with respect to the axis of the pipe. These facets may be formed in the wall of the pipe—e.g., by cutting grooves. Alternately, facet arrays may be formed in a separate low-profile body that is then attached to an inner wall of the pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: ONICON, INC.Inventor: Murray F. Feller
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Patent number: 8997584Abstract: An edge of a piezoelectric disk transducer is biased into an external wall of a flow passage by a spring. The disk is then driven at a radial mode resonant frequency to project acoustic energy into fluid flowing in the passage. This arrangement is compatible with several types of fluid flow sensors such as transit time, Doppler, and vortex shedding flow meters.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8851744Abstract: A calibrator for calibrating a compatible heat transfer meter comprises a temperature controlled reference thermowell and a reference temperature sensor. The reference thermowell is similar in dimensions to thermowells usable for measuring inlet and outlet temperatures of a heat exchanger so that the reference temperature sensor is selectively insertable into any of the thermowells. The calibrator also comprises temperature measurement circuitry operable to generate a temperature reading from an output of the reference temperature sensor; and control circuitry operable to control the temperature of the reference thermowell.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8746032Abstract: A flow measurement in a conduit is combined with a thermal flow measurement made in a bypass channel to provide an increased range of flows over which an accurate measurement can be made. The thermal flow sensor in this combination is responsive only to a modulated component of the flow and thus provides a means of calibrating the zero of the composite instrument.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8683873Abstract: A vortex-shedding flowmeter uses two ultrasonic transducers to generate an acoustic beam at a selected carrier frequency. Vortices generate fluid oscillations that are detected when they pass through the beam and induce phase changes representative of fluid flow rate. In an improved vortex-shedding flowmeter each of the transducers is connected to a separate transformer and the outputs of the two transformers are interconnected to yield the phase change.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8650946Abstract: A thermal flow sensor is responsive only to a modulated component of the flow. At zero flow the modulated component disappears, except for an artifact caused by motion of the modulator. This artifact is minimized by reducing the extent of modulator motion and by sampling the modulated signal at a quiescent part of the modulator's operating cycle. This results in a thermal flow sensor with a very stable zero.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Onicon Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8590361Abstract: Zero and calibration drift errors in a magnetic flow meter can be detected and automatically corrected. A zero error can be detected by measuring an amplifier output when the meter's electromagnet is inactive. Automatic calibration of the span can be done by adding a signal to a measured electrode voltage at an amplifier input, subtracting the expected amplified value of that signal at the output and adjusting the amplifier gain responsive to the difference in signal magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8578787Abstract: Vortex-shedding flow meters are operated at a sampling frequency high enough to detect each vortex multiple times. Using a fixed sampling frequency high enough for a maximum rate of vortex generation oversamples the vortices generated at low flow rates. Adjusting the sampling rate to accord with the flow rate being measured significantly reduces electric power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8544342Abstract: A vortex flowmeter has a flow conditioning structure entirely inside a flow tube and an externally mounted pair of ultrasonic transducers for detecting vortices generated by vortex shedding structures within the flow tube. The flow conditioning structure can be installed within a short flow tube section retaining the shedder and providing a flow passage having a desired shape. The use of external transducers, coupled with a selectable flow conditioning structure allows many calibration and maintenance tasks to be performed without having to shut down flow and access the passive components inside the tube.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8464596Abstract: Vortex-shedding flow meters provide an output signal having a frequency representative of fluid flow rate. At high flow rates the vortices are larger and easier to detect. Adjusting the gain of an output amplifier responsive to the output frequency extends the operating range, or turndown ratio, of a vortex flow meter.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8448526Abstract: A paddlewheel flow sensor has two independently rotating paddlewheels in a flow passage. The spacing between the wheels can be selected to respond to most of the flow while simultaneously tolerating trash carried by the flowing fluid. Each wheel has its own rotation sensor, and an average of the two rotation sensor outputs can be used to determine flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Onicon, Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller
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Patent number: 8408071Abstract: A vortex-shedding flowmeter uses two flow obstacles to provide stable generation of vortices that are detected as they pass through an ultrasonic beam between two transducers. The deleterious effects of acoustic signals reflected from the obstacles are minimized both structurally and electronically. The shapes of the obstacles are selected to reflect incident acoustic signals away from the beam between the transducers. Ultrasonic signals are generated simultaneously by two phase-opposed transducers and are detected in a time-windowed fashion in which the time window excludes extraneous reflected signals that have a longer path length.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Onicon Inc.Inventor: Murray F Feller