Patents Examined by Jewel Thompson
  • Patent number: 7886615
    Abstract: A method for system- and/or process-monitoring in the case of an ultrasound flow measuring device having a plurality of measuring channels, wherein a medium flows though a pipeline or measuring tube in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the pipeline or measuring tube. Ultrasonic measuring signals are coupled into the pipeline or measuring tube and coupled out of the pipeline or measuring tube in such a way that they travel through the medium along different sound paths. Following passage through the pipeline or measuring tube, the ultrasonic measuring signals are detected in the individual measuring channels, wherein at least one actual quantity describing the ultrasonic measuring signal of each measuring channel is ascertained. The actual quantity is compared with a desired quantity captured under predetermined system- or process-conditions, and a report is output in the case of a difference between the ascertained, actual quantity and the captured, desired quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Andreas Berger, Klaus Bussinger
  • Patent number: 7882749
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining volume- or mass-flow of a magnetically conductive medium flowing through a magneto-inductive, flow-measuring device having a predetermined nominal-diameter, wherein a periodically alternating, magnetic field is caused to pass through the flow-measuring device, the actual rise time, until a constant magnitude of the magnetic field is reached, is ascertained, the actual rise time is compared with a desired rise time ascertained in the case of flow of a reference medium through the flow-measuring device, and, on the basis of a difference between actual rise time and desired rise time, a measurement error is ascertained and the actually measured volume- or mass-flow of the magnetically conductive medium is so corrected, that the measurement error is canceled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Fred Kappertz, Markus Rüfenacht
  • Patent number: 7882735
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a thermal air flowmeter which can reduce a detection error occurring during pulsating air flow due to a difference of response between rising and falling of detected flow or due to air flow dependence of response. A thermal air flowmeter 1 includes a heat-generating resistor 7 which heats liquid, a heating drive circuit 5 which causes current to flow in the heat-generating resistor 7 and thereby controls heating of the heat-generating resistor 7, and a temperature-sensitive resistor 9 which detects a temperature of the fluid heated by the heat-generating resistor 7. The thermal air flowmeter 1 detects a flow Q of the liquid based on the amount of heat of the liquid heated by the heat-generating resistor 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Hanzawa, Yoshihiko Akagi, Takuto Okamoto, Kohei Suseki, Takeshi Morino
  • Patent number: 7882744
    Abstract: There is disclosed flat planar pressure transducer which comprises a planar insulative substrate of a rectangular configuration. Disposed on the substrate is an array of conductive areas which extend from a contact terminal area of said substrate to an end of the substrate. There is a leadless sensor module positioned at said contact terminal area, with the contacts of said leadless sensor contacting contact terminals of said contact terminal area. The leadless sensor is enclosed by an enclosure which is coupled to the substrate and surrounds the sensor. The enclosure has a screen positioned on the top surface to prevent particles from entering or damaging the leadless sensor. The above-noted structure forms a very flat, compact pressure transducer which can be utilized in lieu of flex circuit type devices and provides greater mechanical stability as well as a more accurate output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Kurtz, Scott Goodman
  • Patent number: 7882750
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring at least one parameter associated with a fluid flowing within a pipe includes a single sheet of piezoelectric film material wrapped around at least a portion of the pipe and an array of sensors disposed at different locations on the film material. Each of the sensors provides a signal indicative of pressure within the pipe at a corresponding axial and/or circumferential location of the pipe. The sensors are selectively configurable to provide the pressure signals. The signals are processed to determine the parameter. The array of sensors is configurable in response to different criteria. The criteria includes at least one of the parameter of the fluid to be output, an input signal specifying sensors to be selected, a predetermined configuration based on the parameter to be determined, and in response to a previously determined parameter of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cidra Corporate Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Davis, Mark R. Fernald, Timothy J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7878074
    Abstract: A differential pressure sensor positioned adjacent a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber separated by a nozzle. Flow in a conduit is determined by detecting the pressure on either side of a nozzle. Changes in pressure are proportional to a change in flow. An integrated differential pressure sensor having different pressure detecting portions with strain gauges thereon detects differences in deflection of each pressure sensor portion resulting from change in fluid flow. A bridge circuit detects changes in the signals from the two different pressure sensor portions creating a differential which is proportional to a change in liquid flow. The present invention reduces the need for calibration of pressure sensors and improves the detection of fluid flow. The present invention has many applications and can detect small changes in fluid flow and is particularly applicable to the medical field where in many procedures, small fluid flows must be measured or determined accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Strain Measurement Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Shapiro
  • Patent number: 7874218
    Abstract: A measuring pipe obtained by applying an insulating resin lining to the inside of a nonmagnetic pipe is employed. A through hole reaching the resin lining is made in the sidewall of the nonmagnetic pipe, and a signal electrode and a guard electrode are arranged in the through hole. The through hole is filled with an insulating vibration absorbing member so as to cover the periphery of the signal electrode and the guard electrode. A gelatinous substance of silicon resin, or the like, is employed as the vibration absorbing member, but liquid such as oil may be employed to liquid seal the signal electrode and the guard electrode in the through hole. Consequently, the electromagnetic flowmeter can be formed compact and its production is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Izumi, Toshimitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7870794
    Abstract: A device for measuring a mass flow (5) with guide means (4) having a surface shaped as a circular arc, across which the mass flow can flow during the measurement, and a force sensor (2), wherein the guide means (4) is supported above the force sensor (2) and the support occurs on a straight line extending through an endpoint of a radius vector TO of a resulting friction force F acting on the mass flow (5) in the direction of the resulting friction force F acting on the mass flow (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Rembe GmbH Safety + Control
    Inventors: Frank Bickmann, Bernhard Penno
  • Patent number: 7870793
    Abstract: Ultrasonic transit time flow meters using transducers mounted on insertion probes spaced apart along a pipe axis provide an economical way to measure fluid flow. The accuracy of these flow meters can be improved by providing additional transducers to measure the current speed of sound of a working fluid; the actual spacing of the probes; and the diameter of the pipe through which the fluid is flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Murray F Feller
  • Patent number: 7870785
    Abstract: A position displacement flowmeter having a pair of non-circular gears in a rolling contact on a pitch line without slippage. The positive displacement flowmeter comprises a casing and a pair of rotors provided in the casing and rotatable around its center axes. The pair of rotors, have a tooth profile curve which is an oval pitch curve itself having a trajectory of contact points on the pitch line, and they satisfy a condition of r1+r2=K=const r1 d?1=r2 d?2, and a moving radius of the oval pitch curve is given by ri=a/(1?b cos n?i) (i=1, 2), where “ri (i=1, 2)” is the moving radius that is a distance from a center of rotation to the oval pitch curve, “a” is a homothetic coefficient, “b” is a flattening, “n” is a number of lobes, and “?i (i=1, 2) is a moving angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Oval Corporation
    Inventors: Seigo Ono, Katsuichi Uchida
  • Patent number: 7866208
    Abstract: A flow measuring device has a flow channel block including a main flow channel whose both ends are open, and an auxiliary flow channel that branches from the main flow channel, a flow amount measurement element provided for the auxiliary flow channel, and a branch entrance and a collection exit that open in a wall surface of the main flow channel, and that communicate to the auxiliary flow channel, so that a part of a gaseous body that flows through the main flow channel is directed to the auxiliary flow channel through the branch entrance, and the gaseous body that has passed through the auxiliary flow channel is directed back to the main flow channel through the collection exit. A holding member containing portion is provided in a depressed manner for an area excluding an area including the branch entrance and an area including the collection exit in a circumference surface of a space of the flow channel block that configures the main flow channel. An orifice is contained within the main flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Naotsugu Ueda, Katsuyuki Yamamoto, Shuji Maeda, Yuji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7866218
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter is described having a pressure containing vessel or conduit through which the fluid to be metered is passed. The pressure containing vessel is formed of first and second sections which are made of respective materials having first and second magnetic permeabilities, such as stainless steel and carbon steel. A single magnetic field generating coil is provided adjacent the first section for generating a magnetic field across the pressure containing vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Limited
    Inventors: David Lincoln, Michael Armitage
  • Patent number: 7861585
    Abstract: A flowmeter includes a flow sensor capable of measuring instantaneous flow rates of forward and backward flows of a fluid, smoothing means for smoothing the measured instantaneous flow rate, an integrating counter for integrating the smoothed flow rate and outputting an integrated flow rate, determination means for monitoring the smoothed flow rate to determine whether or not the fluid is fluctuating, an auxiliary counter for integrating, in place of the integrating counter, the smoothed flow rate while the fluid is judged to be fluctuating by the determination means and when fluctuation of the fluid is detected, and control means for adding an integrated flow rate held by the auxiliary counter to that held by the integrating counter when it is judged by the determination means that the fluid has begun to flow regularly, and causing the integrating counter to restart integrating the smoothed flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Muraoka, Junzou Kimura, Nobuyuki Fukuura, Katsusuke Shimada, Toshinori Fujita, Minoru Seto, Motoi Kanzaki, Masahiko Matsushita, Satoshi Ishitani
  • Patent number: 7861601
    Abstract: A natural gradient, single well, tracer dilution non-continuous mixing apparatus and method for measuring flow of liquids through porous media are described. The method has been applied to concentrations of Light Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) in monitoring wells to measure the rate of LNAPL flow through the wells and through the adjacent formation. Similar measurements were made for concentrations of water in other formations. A LNAPL-soluble fluorescing tracer was added to LNAPL in the wells, and a water-soluble fluorescing tracer was added to water in the wells. The tracer is initially uniformly-mixed into the LNAPL or water in the well, and the tracer concentration is measured using a fiber optic cable and a spectrometer. The LNAPL or water with dissolved tracer is then allowed to flow from the well without any mixing. At a later time, the LNAPL or water and tracer in the well are mixed to a uniform tracer concentration, and the tracer concentration is remeasured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Colorado State University Research Foundation, Chevron Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sale, Timothy J. Smith, Mark Lyverse
  • Patent number: 7861586
    Abstract: A method for measuring an air mass flow flowing in a main flow direction, and a hot-film air mass meter by which the method is able to be realized. The method and the hot-film air mass meter are especially suitable for use in the induction tract of an internal combustion engine. The hot-film air mass meter includes a sensor chip having a chip surface across which an air mass flow is able to flow. The chip surface in turn has a measuring surface, the measuring surface including a central hot-film air mass meter circuit having at least one central heating element and at least two temperature sensors. The method is implemented so that the at least one central heating element is periodically heated using a frequency ?. With the aid of at least two temperature sensors, at least two measuring signals are detected. The measuring signals and/or at least one differential signal of the at least two measuring signals are modulated using the frequency ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernard Opitz, Ulrich Wagner, Axel Franke, Carsten Raudzis
  • Patent number: 7861600
    Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring fill level and/or flow of a medium in a containment, including: at least one antenna, which radiates and/or receives high frequency signals according to a predetermined radiation characteristic along a main radiating axis in the direction of the surface of the medium; a control/evaluation unit, which evaluates the reflected high frequency signals and determines fill level on the basis of the travel time of the high frequency signals and/or flow on the basis of a Doppler frequency of the reflected high frequency signals; and at least one lens located between the antenna and the medium and having a first focal length in the direction of the antenna and a second focal length in the direction of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Winfried Mayer, Michael Mirbach
  • Patent number: 7856891
    Abstract: A method including: at least one oscillation measurement signal serving as primary signal of first class representing vibrations of a measuring tube, through which medium to be measured is momentarily flowing; and at least one oscillation measurement signal serving as primary signal of second class representing vibrations of at least one measuring tube, especially of the same measuring transducer, and orbiting around the axis of rotation of a carousel-type filling machine orbiting, but not containing flowing medium. Furthermore, based on both the primary signal of first class as well as also the primary signal of second class, at least one measured value, representing a measured variable, especially a mass flow rate and/or an integrated mass flow and/or a density of medium to be measured, is generated. Additionally, an apparatus is provided suited for reducing the method to practice and/or embodied as a carousel-type filling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Michael Kirst, Jörg Herwig
  • Patent number: 7856874
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a fluid microflow velocity within a capillary conduit, comprises: a) at least one thermoelectric cooler having a heating and a cooling surface, said heating surface being suitable for heating a fluid flowing over it and said cooling surface being suitable for cooling said fluid; and b) a capillary conduit through which said fluid flows, said capillary conduit passing through said at least one thermoelectric cooler in heat-exchanging positioned relationship with its heating and cooling surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: G.R.T. Development Ltd.
    Inventor: Nikolay Tsypko
  • Patent number: 7856892
    Abstract: A measurable flow-rate range is increased to enhance usability. A flow-rate measuring method for measuring the flow rate of a fluid inside a tube is provided. This method uses a thermal-marker generator that heats the fluid flowing through the tube from the outside thereof to generate a thermal marker in the fluid inside the tube and a thermal-marker detector disposed downstream of the thermal-marker generator and configured to detect the thermal marker in the fluid inside the tube generated by the thermal-marker generator, so as to measure the flow rate on the basis of the distance between the thermal-marker generator and the thermal-marker detector, a time period between a point at which the thermal marker in the fluid inside the tube is generated by the thermal-marker generator and a point at which the thermal marker is detected by the thermal-marker detector, and the cross-sectional area of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Ohtake
  • Patent number: 7854175
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the velocity of a fluid flow provides electrical charge carriers that are emitted into the fluid flow from an emitter electrode, and wherein an electrical signal caused by this is measured at a sensor electrode. The projection of the envelope of the cross-sectional area of that part of the sensor electrode which projects into the fluid flow into the cross-sectional plane of the fluid flow is small in comparison with the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow at this point, if present at all. The measured current of the sensor electrode is used to serve as a characterizing feature of the velocity of the fluid flow in accordance with a defined allocation function. The measurement method has virtually no delay and can be used in a high temperature and velocity range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Gunytronic Gas Flow Sensoric Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Güenter Weilguny, Wasner Wolfgang, Michael Naderhirn