Abstract: A flow rate measuring apparatus includes a measuring pipe in which a fluid to be measured flows, a flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of the fluid to be measured flowing in the measuring pipe, and a cleaning flow generator for removing an adhesive substance in the measuring pipe by using the fluid to be measured, thereby correctly performing flow rate measurement by the measuring pipe. The cleaning generator removes adhesive substances by charging a high-pressure gas into the flow path of the fluid to be measured.

Abstract: A method of operating a solid state image sensing device having a plurality of electron transfer channels; first and second photodiodes; and first, second, third and fourth electrodes disposed on the electron transfer channels and surrounding the first and second photodiodes. The method includes the step of applying a first potential to the first electrode to transfer electrons from the second photodiode to an electron transfer channel and simultaneously applying a lower potential to the second, third and fourth electrodes to prohibit the electron transfer from the second photodiode to the transfer channel. The method also applies the first potential to the third electrode to transfer electrons from the first photodiode to the electron transfer channel and simultaneously applies the lower potential to the first, second and fourth electrodes to prohibit the electron transfer from the first photodiode to the electron transfer channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring time-averaged static or ambient pressure and turbulence intensity in a turbulent stream involve placing a plurality of probes in the stream. Each probe responds in a different manner to characteristics of the fluid stream, preferably as a result of having varying cross sections. The responses from the probes are used to eliminate unwanted components in the measured quantities for accurate determination of selected characteristics.

Abstract: A non-intrusive mass flow measuring apparatus includes a sensor unit and a processor unit. The sensor unit includes a sensor conduit, a heating element, and three separate temperature sensor elements. The three temperature sensor elements are spaced out along the length of the sensor conduit from the heating element. The middle, compensating temperature sensor element, enables the coefficient of conductive heat transfer along the conduit to be decoupled from the coefficient of convective heat transfer from the fluid, from which mass flow may be derived. A processor uses the temperatures sensed by the three sensors to determine a normalized temperature parameter related to the coefficient of convective heat transfer, and then utilizes temperature data and the normalized temperature parameter in a preferably empirically determined relationship to determine a mass flow value.

Abstract: An apparatus for defining the free surface of a moving column of a fluid in vertical pipe to enhance the accuracy of measurements of transient rate of flow of the fluid using electromagnetic flowmeter is described. It provides a neutrally buoyant plug which stays in contact with the free surface of the column of the fluid at all times and thus defines the free surface of the fluid moving in the vertical pipe accurately and reduces the oscillations of the free surface of the fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for electronically controlling charge coupled device (CCD) light sensitivity. The present invention controls CCD light sensitivity by electrically controlling a CCD such that the CCD discharges charge for a percentage of a field integration period. In other words, the present invention electronically varies the CCD's exposure time. The present invention operates as follows. First, the present invention calculates a new exposure time for a field integration period. Second, the present invention electrically causes the CCD to discard charge accumulated by the CCD during the field integration period except during a portion of the field integration period defined by the new exposure time.

Abstract: A solid state microanemometer is micromachined from a crystal to a shape with four thick external sides that define an outer rectangle, four thin sections that define an inner rectangle and four diagonally directed branches interconnecting the corners of the outer rectangle to the inner rectangle. Four semiconductor resistors located on the four inner sections form a sensing bridge. Each external side has a pair of electrical contacts that are electrically interconnected, via conductive leads that extend along the diagonal branches and partially along the inner sections, to one of the semiconductor resistors. The physically connected semiconductor resistors and external sides form a rugged solid state device, while thermal and electrical isolation of the resistors from each other permits higher operating temperatures and improved fluid flow sensing capability.

Abstract: A micromachined mass air flow sensor comprises a silicon substrate with an air flow opening formed therethrough. One or more silicon members carrying a thin film resistor extend over the air flow opening. The silicon members are thermally isolated from the silicon substrate frame about the air flow opening by thermal isolation zones of porous silicon oxide.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for inclusion in a Coriolis meter that substantially eliminate temperature induced measurement errors which might otherwise be produced by performance differences existing between the separate input channels contained in the meter. Specifically, two pairs of input channels are used in the meter. In operation, the meter repetitively measures the internal phase delay of each of these pairs and then subtracts the delay associated with each pair from actual flow based measurement data subsequently obtained therefrom. While one channel pair is measuring actual flow, the other channel pair is measuring its internal phase delay, with the channels being continuously cycled between these functions.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hot-electrical-resistance type gas flow meter wherein a deterioration of a gas-cooled hot-electrical-resistance is prevented at the maximum flow rate, a decrease of sensitivity is prevented at the minimum flow rate and a wide dynamic range is achieve, and a structural feature of such gas flow meter is that the gas flow meter includes auxiliary path flow resistance changing means for changing a flow resistance of the auxiliary path so that the larger the flow rate of the flow is, the larger the flow resistance of the auxiliary path is.

Abstract: A Coriolis type flowmeter is described having 12 parallel flow tubes joined to a hub whose geometry is chosen to also perform the function of an inlet and outlet manifold. Plates are provided to interconnect and average the motion of the flow tubes as well as providing a platform for sensing Coriolis induced motion and inducing harmonic oscillations. Because of its symmetric geometry and balanced characteristics, the flowmeter is insensitive to vibration in any axis perpendicular to the axial axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A flow meter is provided which employs a thermal flow sensor and a correcting flow meter, for example, a Karman vortex flow meter such that the output from the thermal flow sensor is corrected by the Karman vortex flow meter, thereby making it possible to accurately and stably measure the flow rate of fluids in a wide range even if the composition of fluids changes.

Abstract: A flow meter for determining the flow rate of a stream of material such as a fluid stream or a stream of particles comprising a guide for guiding the material to be measured along a predetermined path and having an entry end and an exit end. A transducer is operatively associated with the exit end of the guide and includes a mechanical column connected between a load cell and the exit end of the guide means. The load cell produces an electrical output signal proportional to the flow rate of the material on the guide.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods of image information processing are disclosed which extend the operational coverage of an image system to higher velocity to height ratio scenarios while optimizing image resolution. The invention typically is implemented by a time delay and integrate charge-coupled device. In conjunction with an image variable row scan rate, a novel method of clocking the device is used to adjust the number of cycles of clocking performed in one row read out time, and to simultaneously transfer pixel information located in a plurality of rows of an imaging array having a predetermined row relationship. The relationship between the variable row scan rate, the predetermined row relationship and the number of cycles of clocking is adjusted so that the scan rate can increase above a maximum base scan rate by a factor of (AB)/(B-1), where A is the number of cycles of clocking performed and B is an integer corresponding to the predetermined row relationship.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for inclusion in a Coriolis meter for measuring and updating a mechanical zero value for the meter using only zero flow measurements that have a sufficiently low noise content. Specifically, the meter produces zero flow measurements while no fluid is flowing through the meter. If a standard deviation of these zero flow measurements is less than a pre-defined limit value, then a resulting mechanical zero value, based on those measurements, is subsequently subtracted from the flow based measurement data.

Abstract: A disconnectable flow connector is formed of (a) a frusto-conical taper pin having a longitudinal bore through which the end portion of a flow tube of a mass flow sensor is inserted and secured and (b) a connector base containing a matched frusto-conical taper bore. The taper pin can be press-fit into the taper bore to form a fluid flow passage having a leakage level less than about 10.sup.-9 scc/sec helium. with a series of spaced apart, transverse grooves separated by lands in sealing engagement with the matched taper bore.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf putter with a true balance includes the steps of designing or selecting a particular shape and style of putter head and then providing a putter shaft with a substantially straight handle portion and a substantially straight neck portion which are integral with each other and arranged so as to define an included angle therebetween. With the putter and shaft defined, the front-to-rear and end-to-end center of gravity cutting planes are accurately determined as well as their line intersection. The point of attachment for the shaft to the head is then determined so that the longitudinal axis of the handle portion of the shaft passes through the line intersection of the two center of gravity cutting planes. Once the shaft is joined to the head with a slow-setting adhesive, the putter is set on a very flat and level test bed in order to test to see if there is any turning or rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow sensor, particularly a fluid flow meter, comprising a cylindrical housing wherein, at least locally, near a rotor mounted in said housing, a helicoidally moving fluid flow is created by at least one jet propulsion activating element, characterized in that said jet propulsion activating element is formed in relief on a part of the inner wall of said housing (1) and is manufactured together with the latter in one step, and further characterized in that said housing (1) is closed by a stop plate (6), except for at least one passage (10), however, between the outer circumference of the stop plate and the inner circumference of said housing (1).

Abstract: A mass flowmeter comprises a pair of conduits disposed in a side by side arrangement and flexurally vibrated relative to one another by an electromagnetic vibrator included at the midsection of the combination of the pair of conduits wherein each of the pair of conduits includes two flexible sections respectively included in the two opposite halves thereof, wherein a pair of relative motion sensors respectively measuring the relative flexural vibration between the first halves of the pair of conduits and the relative flexural vibration between the second halves of the pair of conduits provide two electrical signals including a difference therebetween that varies as a function of mass flow rate of media moving through the pair of conduits.

Abstract: A hot wire air flow meter for producing a pulse output includes the combination of a hot wire element, for detecting air flow, a cold wire element, for detecting air temperature and an electronic circuit for controlling the current flowing through the hot wire so that the temperature thereof is maintained constant. The output characteristic of the hot wire element is compensated and modified by a zero/span circuit and the output voltage from the circuit is applied to a voltage-frequency conversion circuit which is adapted to provide a pulse output indicative of the air flow rate detected by said hot wire element. The invention resides in mounting the constant temperature control circuit, the zero/span circuit and the voltage-frequency conversion circuit on a common semiconductor chip to form an integrated circuit.