Patents Examined by Harshad R Patel
  • Patent number: 11650087
    Abstract: An ultrasonic meter (28) for measuring a flow-rate of a fluid is described. The ultrasonic meter (28) includes a flow conduit (5) for the fluid. The flow conduit (5) extends along a first axis (6) between a first opening (7) and a second opening (8). The ultrasonic meter (28) also includes one or more pairs of ultrasonic transducers (2, 3). Each pair of ultrasonic transducers (2, 3) is configured to define a corresponding beam path (9) intersecting the flow conduit (5) within a measurement region (12) of the flow conduit (5). The measurement region (12) spans between a first position (z1) and a second position (z2) spaced apart along the first axis (6). One or more portions of the measurement region (12) which are outside of any of the one or more beam paths (9) correspond to non-sampled volumes (12b). The ultrasonic meter (28) also includes one or more protrusions (34) extending along the first axis (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SENTEC LTD.
    Inventors: Ben Davey, Charlie Paterson
  • Patent number: 11635316
    Abstract: A fluid measuring arrangement with a flow channel for a fluid to be measured having at least two areas of an outer wall forming waveguide parts for surface acoustic waves. The waveguide parts are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the flow channel. A first and/or a second signal converter is arranged at each waveguide part, wherein at least two first signal converters arranged on different waveguide parts or two second signal converters arranged on different waveguide parts are spaced with respect to each other in the axial direction of the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: Buerkert Werke GmbH & Co. KG, Burkert S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yannick Fuchs, Yves Hoog, Bertrand Koenig
  • Patent number: 11635320
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for measuring fill level of a liquid comprising: a measuring tube having a tube wall extending between first and second terminal openings and which surrounds a volume for guiding the liquid, wherein a tube axis extends between the two tube openings; a first conductor extending at least sectionally around the volume and is electrically insulated from the volume; a second conductor extending at least sectionally around the volume and is electrically insulated from the first conductor and from the volume, wherein the two conductors extend essentially in parallel with one another and form a waveguide for microwaves; an HF circuit for in-coupling a microwave signal into the waveguide and for receiving reflected microwave signals out-coupled from the waveguide; an operating and evaluating circuit for determining fill level of the liquid in the measuring tube based on received microwave signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Stefan Pflüger, Winfried Mayer
  • Patent number: 11635317
    Abstract: An ultrasound flow measurement device has a vessel through which a fluid to be measured flows. An ultrasound measurement configuration with an ultrasound transducer is provided for measuring a propagation time of an ultrasound signal containing a plurality of periods along a measurement section that runs partly in a direction of flow. A controller determines a fluid flow on a basis of a propagation time measurement. The controller contains a memory, a first evaluator for determining a period duration of at least one of the periods of an ultrasound signal received after passing through the measurement section, a second evaluator for determining a spread value of a predetermined number of last received ultrasound signals, a comparator for comparing the spread value with a threshold value, and an actioning device for initiating a control action, assigned to the threshold value that has been exceeded, for the ultrasound flow measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Frederik Neder, Marcus Wetzel, Alexander Hofmann, Florian Herrmann, Andreas Madinger
  • Patent number: 11629984
    Abstract: An x-ray mass flow rate sensor uses a low density polymer pipe, an x-ray source, and an x-ray detector. The polymer pipe has a low density (less than 2.8 SG) and a high pressure rating (greater than 5 ksi). By using a low density polymer pipe, the sensor is able to use an x-ray source that does not require a linear accelerator and is less than or equal to 450 kV. The x-ray source and the x-ray detector are mounted on opposite sides of the polymer pipe to form a detection area that passes through the polymer pipe. A real-time calibration of the sensor is performed by detecting gray level values in a calibration region of the detection area for two reference materials placed in the detection area. The sensor may additionally include a mechanical flow rate sensor with a plurality of pistons with springs of varying spring constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Vivek Singhal, Eric Van Oort, Pradeepkumar Ashok
  • Patent number: 11629983
    Abstract: An ultrasonic meter for measuring a flow rate or flow volume includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flow channel arranged between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, two ultrasonic transducers and at least one reflector for ultrasonic signals. Ultrasonic transducers are arranged outside the flow channel, entrance and exit openings for ultrasonic signals, each running obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the flow channel, are provided between the ultrasonic transducers and the flow channel, and the reflector is arranged on the wall of the flow channel opposite the entrance and exit openings such that it reflects ultrasonic signals of the ultrasonic transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Zenner International GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Calmes
  • Patent number: 11624640
    Abstract: An example optical measurement system includes: a first light source configured to emit a first light beam; a first optical sensor configured to output first measurements based on detecting the first light beam; a second light source configured to emit a second light beam; a second optical sensor configured to output second measurements based on detecting the second light beam, wherein the first measurements and the second measurements comprise variable components; a third optical sensor configured to output third measurements based on detecting the second light beam or a third light beam, wherein the third measurements comprise a first steady state component; and a compensation circuit configured to control a first light output of the first light beam and a second light output of the second light beam by controlling current to the first light source and the second light source based on the third measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Krakhman
  • Patent number: 11624638
    Abstract: A flow measuring device detecting a fluid volume quantity since a start of a measurement includes a processing device determining a current flow rate parameter at measurement times using measurement data of a sensor, to increase a volume quantity based on a current flow rate parameter when operating in a first operating mode, and to keep the volume quantity constant when operating in a second mode. The processing device stores the current flow rate parameter for each measurement time in a data memory, resulting after several measuring times in storing previous flow rate parameters determined at these measuring times. Upon satisfying a switchover condition, depending on the current flow rate parameter, during operation in the second mode, the processing unit switches over to the first mode, and the volume quantity increases as a function of the current flow rate parameter and a predefined number of previous flow rate parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Herrmann, Alexander Hofmann, Marcus Wetzel, Frederik Neder
  • Patent number: 11619528
    Abstract: Flow velocity of a fluid is measured using a measuring sensor comprising a conduit with a conduit wall, and at least two ultrasonic transducer units (20, 22), each of which consists of an array of individual ultrasonic transducers (30-x, 32-x) and defining a measuring path (24) between them in the conduit (14). The ultrasonic transducer units emit ultrasonic signals and received ultrasonic signals are evaluated to determine the flow velocity. The individual ultrasonic transducers are driven with different phase, so that the ultrasonic transducer units provide a phased array. In order to achieve the most accurate measurement results possible, the ultrasonic transducer units contact the outside of the conduit wall (16), and the conduit wall (16) is formed in the area of the contact with a wall thickness (w) that is less than half the wavelength of the transverse wave (?Rohr) of the ultrasound in the conduit wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SICK ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Klemm, Christian Schulz, Eric Starke
  • Patent number: 11619532
    Abstract: A Coriolis flow sensor includes a metal flow tube and an enclosure. The enclosure encloses the flow tube and is constructed at least partially from a gamma transparent material. The metal flow tube may be constructed from stainless steel. The gamma transparent material and the flow tube are thin enough to permit sterilization of an interior of the flow tube by gamma irradiation of the flow tube through the gamma transparent material. The enclosure is also shaped to facilitate locking and unlocking the Coriolis flow sensor in place on a mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Malema Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Deepak Bhagwan Malani, Jayasekar Rajagopalan, Claus Waldersdorff Knudsen, Renato De Castro
  • Patent number: 11619534
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a flow of saturated steam can include a temperature sensor that measures process temperature, and one or more pressure sensors that measure pressure including differential pressure and static pressure. A flow of saturated steam can be calculated from two sets of measurements, one measurement using the differential pressure and the static pressure and a second measurement using the differential pressure and the process temperature. Redundant flow measurements can be provided with respect to the flow of saturated steam in case of failure of the temperature sensor or the pressure sensors. In addition, a deviation between the flow of the saturated steam as calculated from the process temperature and the differential pressure compared to a flow of saturated steam as calculated from the differential pressure and the static pressure can provide an indication of degradation of the temperature sensor or the pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pane, Usha Kuloor, Siva Sagar Kuricheti, Augustene Manohar Shyam Pasala
  • Patent number: 11619535
    Abstract: A body for an acoustic resonance fluid flow speed sensor or an acoustic resonance fluid flow sensor comprising such a body, the body comprising a reflector surface with at least one section that is more hydrophilic than a surrounding section of the reflector surface to promote movement of water from a centre toward an edge of the reflector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: FT Technologies (UK) Ltd
    Inventors: Tanmoy Maitra, Sven Hirons
  • Patent number: 11614352
    Abstract: A consumption meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid comprising: a tube with two transducer holes in a wall of the tube; a meter housing arranged at the tube, comprising two transducer housings and a main housing; first and second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the transducer housings for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid; a control circuit arranged in the meter housing for operating the first and second ultrasonic transducers to generate a signal according to the flow rate of the fluid. The transducer housing comprises: an internal transducer housing element arranged at an inner surface of the tube and an external transducer housing element arranged at an outer surface of the tube to extend through the transducer hole in the wall of the tube such that the transducer housing is fixated to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Nordlund Borring, Peter Schmidt Laursen
  • Patent number: 11614460
    Abstract: An electronic device for measuring a speed of flow of a fluid that includes at least two electroacoustic transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals through the flow of the fluid, the electronic device being adapted for determining a measurement of the speed of flow of the fluid from the characteristics of an acoustic signal emitted and one or more acoustic signals received, these received acoustic signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: UNIVERSITE DU MANS, ASSOC TRANSFERTS TECHNOLOGIES MANS, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)
    Inventors: Jacques Emery, Mohammed Tabellout, Charfeddine Mechri
  • Patent number: 11609243
    Abstract: A method of health management and assessment for an air data probe comprises performing a calibration process for the air data probe prior to installation of the air data probe on a vehicle; performing an operational process after the air data probe is installed on the vehicle; computing residuals for individual pressure channels of the air data probe and an aggregated response function, based on outputs from the calibration process and the operational process; storing and trending the residuals over time; evaluating a trendline for the residuals against one or more threshold values; and announcing a message when one or more of the threshold values is exceeded, indicating that the health of the air data probe is compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Morris G. Anderson, Grant A. Gordon
  • Patent number: 11585825
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wind speed sensor based on a flexible inductor and a silicon-based inductor, which relates to a MEMS device and belongs to the field of measurement and testing technologies. The wind speed sensor is a double-layer inductor structure composed of a flexible inductor and a silicon-based inductor. A metal layer of the flexible inductor and a metal layer of the silicon-based inductor face to each other and form, between them, an air cavity sufficient for mutual induction of electromotance. A contact block constituting a measuring port is deposited in the metal layer of the silicon-based inductor. The present invention has a light structure, and implements wind speed detection based on the Bernoulli effect and the coil mutual inductance effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhenxiang Yi, Yu Wang, Wenjun Deng, Lifeng Wang, Ming Qin, Qingan Huang
  • Patent number: 11585826
    Abstract: An air date probe includes a base portion, a strut portion extending from the base portion, and a tube assembly secured to an extending from the strut portion. One or more of the tube assembly or the strut portion includes a sleeve member having a sleeve outer surface positioned at a sleeve frustum angle relative to a sleeve member axis. A thin film heater is positioned at the sleeve outer surface, and the tin film heater and the sleeve member are positioned in a housing member. The housing member has a housing inner surface having a housing frustum angle such that the thin film heater is retained by compression between the housing member inner surface and the sleeve member outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Robin Jacob, Guru Prasad Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 11585689
    Abstract: A gas meter structure includes a box-shaped body, an inlet mouth and an outlet mouth suited to allow the passage of a gas flow and defined on the box-shaped body, wherein inside the box-shaped body there are a metering device suited to measure one or more parameters for the determination of the gas flow rate, and a filter suited to filter the gas flow. The filter comprises a dust deposit chamber for the dust present in the gas flowing in, the dust deposit chamber having an inlet opening communicating with the inlet mouth of the box-shaped body, a dust collection bottom and a filtering outlet wall provided with through openings; the dust deposit chamber is configured in such a way that the gas flows into it through the inlet opening and flows out of it through the through openings of the filtering outlet wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Pietro Fiorentini S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mario Vianello, Marcello Ghidina, Claudio Imboccioli
  • Patent number: 11579003
    Abstract: A pressure sensor assembly and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The pressure sensor assembly includes a contoured sensing insert. The contoured sensing insert includes an outer sensing insert having an open interior through-hole and a top contoured surface configured to be secured at least partially within the fluid flow container. The top contoured surface has a surface contour corresponding with an interior wall contour of the fluid flow container. The contoured sensing insert also includes an inner sensing medium defined within the through-hole of the outer sensing insert. The inner sensing medium defines a conforming contoured surface at least substantially matching the surface contour of the top contoured surface. A corresponding method of manufacturing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Huntzinger
  • Patent number: 11573117
    Abstract: A gas meter is configured for diagnostics using differential pressure (DP) measurements. The configurations include executable instructions to actively manage the DP sensor. These instructions active the DP sensor only during stable flow and, where applicable, for a defined test time period. This feature manages power consumption to maintain battery life with acceptable standards or regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventors: Roman Leon Artiuch, Jeff Thomas Martin, Paul Stephen Hooks