Patents Examined by Jewel V Dowtin
  • Patent number: 10823594
    Abstract: A magneto-inductive flow measuring device is disclosed that includes a measuring tube with a measuring tube axis and two measuring electrodes arranged diametrally opposite one another on the measuring tube and from which a signal is tapped for ascertaining a flow. The flow measuring device includes four other electrodes in pairs arranged diametrally opposite one another on the measuring tube, forming second and third electrode axes that intersect the measuring tube axis, where the two electrode axes are arranged offset from a parallel projection of the first electrode axis onto the second cross-sectional plane by a clockwise or counterclockwise angular measure. The flow measuring device further includes an evaluation unit for detecting a flow profile based on measurement signals tapped from the electrodes of the two electrode axes. A further aspect of the disclosure includes a method for compensating a flow profile related measurement error in a flow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser FLowtec AG
    Inventor: Thomas Budmiger
  • Patent number: 10823593
    Abstract: An engine exhaust flow meter and method of measuring engine exhaust flow rate includes a flow tube and a differential pressure meter that is adapted to measure differential pressure in exhaust flow through the flow tube. A computer samples the differential pressure meter at a rate that is greater than the pulsation of exhaust flow to obtain a differential pressure signal. The computer is responsive to the differential pressure signal to compute a mean differential pressure value. The computer is responsive to the differential pressure signal to compute a mean magnitude of pressure pulses. The computer determines a compensation factor as a function of the mean magnitude of pressure pulses and adjusts the mean differential pressure value as a function of the compensation factor to obtain an engine exhaust flow value that is flow pulsation compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl D. Ensfield, David R. Booker
  • Patent number: 10816375
    Abstract: In an apparatus and method for measuring air flow in a duct, e.g. in a ventilation duct, the apparatus includes a sensor fittable into connection with the duct at a certain distance from an interference source, the sensor including an ultrasound transmitter and at least two ultrasound receivers, and a control unit to which the ultrasound transmitter and ultrasound receivers are connectable. The control unit is adapted to measure the phase difference of the ultrasound signal received at the same moment in time by at least two ultrasound receivers fitted into connection with the duct and, based on the measured phase difference, to determine the flow velocity and/or flow direction of the air. The control unit is adapted to compensate the determined flow velocity and/or flow direction of the air with a coefficient that is formed on the basis of the diameter of the duct, the type of interference source and the distance between the sensor and the interference source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FLÄKTGROUP SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Jari Hokkanen, Jari Mikkonen, Teuvo Sillanpää
  • Patent number: 10816417
    Abstract: A force detector includes a support, fluid bags, a contact portion, a detector, and a computer. The contact portion is opposite to a side on which the fluid bags are in contact with the support and is adjacent to the fluid bags. The computer obtains information regarding the internal pressures of the fluid bags from the detector. Upon application of an external force to the contact portion from an object, the computer calculates a force acting in a tangential direction on a contact surface between the object and the contact portion based on a difference between the internal pressures of the fluid bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD., OMRON CORPORATION, THE RITSUMEIKAN TRUST
    Inventors: Minoru Taniguchi, Chisato Tawara, Masao Shimizu, Tsuyoshi Hamaguchi, Sadao Kawamura, Hye Jong Kim, Yuki Sugano
  • Patent number: 10816376
    Abstract: A thermal flowmeter includes: a first thermal resistive element disposed on a pipe and sensing a first temperature of a fluid; a second thermal resistive element disposed on the pipe downstream relative to the first thermal resistive element and sensing a second temperature thereof; a control unit causing the second thermal resistive element to generate heat so that the second temperature is kept higher than the first temperature by a predetermined value; a power measurement unit measuring a power supplied to the second thermal resistive element; a temperature difference gradient calculation unit calculating a gradient of a difference between the second and first temperatures; a power compensation unit compensating the measured power based on the gradient of the difference and a value of the power when no fluid is in the pipe; and a flow rate calculation unit calculating a flow rate of the fluid based on the compensated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusei Yanagawa, Yoshio Yamazaki, Shinsuke Matsunaga, Wataru Hasebe
  • Patent number: 10816380
    Abstract: An air flow meter capable of rapidly following a change of a pulsation state of an input signal includes: an air flow rate detection element that generates an input signal Qsen relating to an air flow rate to be measured; and a calculation unit that performs calculation to generate an output signal Qout in response to the input signal Qsen. The calculation unit includes: the output signal calculation unit that performs calculation including exponentiation of raising the power of the output signal Qout by more than one; the input signal calculation unit that performs calculation on the input signal Qsen; the subtractor that obtains the difference between the calculation results by the output signal calculation unit and the input signal calculation unit; and the integrator that integrates the difference obtained by the subtractor, and the output signal Qout is generated based on the output from the integrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOBILE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Akira Uenodan
  • Patent number: 10801870
    Abstract: A mass flow sensor includes: a vibratory measurement tube bent in a tube plane; a vibration exciter for exciting bending vibrations in a bending vibration use-mode; two vibration sensors for sensing vibrations; a support system having a support plate, bearing bodies on the inlet and sides; and a sensor housing, wherein: the support system has support system vibration modes which include elastic deformations of the support plate; the measurement tube is connected fixedly to the support plate by the bearing body on the inlet side and by the bearing body on the outlet side; and the support plate has a number of spring-loaded bearings exposed through cut-outs in the support plate by which the support plate is mounted on the sensor housing with degrees of vibrational freedom, the natural frequencies of which are lower than a use-mode natural frequency of the bending vibration use-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Christof Huber, Christian Schütze, Dieter Mundschin, Benjamin Schwenter, Severin Ramseyer, Marc Werner
  • Patent number: 10799170
    Abstract: An apparatus to measure isometric muscle strength has a table section having a top surface adapted to allow a person to sit thereon. An upright frame section is movably attached to the table section and spans the top surface and includes an open area sized to allow the person's legs and thighs to extend therethrough when the person is seated on the top surface. A cradle is attached to the frame section and holds a force-measuring device that is acted upon by the person's body segment when the person is seated on the top surface. Movement-impeding devices allow or prevent movement of the frame section. Belts and/or straps are attached to the table section and adapted to be secured to various parts of the person's body to stabilize the person on the top surface and to isolate muscle groups that are to be tested for isometric muscle strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Jessica B. Schindler, Stephen C. MacIntosh, James J McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 10794741
    Abstract: Flow measurement inserts replace standard orifice plates within single or dual-chamber orifice fittings. Flow measurement inserts are described which have insert bodies are shaped and sized to reside within the flow bore insert chamber of standard orifice fittings. An exemplary flow measurement insert includes an insert body with an opening formed therein which will align with the flow bore of the orifice fitting when the flow measurement insert is disposed within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BELL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joel David Bell, Zaki Din Husain
  • Patent number: 10794744
    Abstract: A flowmeter (5) is provided. The flowmeter (5) has a wetted assembly (200) comprising one or more conduits (208, 208?), and at least one driver magnet (218, 218?) attached to the one or more conduits (208, 208?). A dry assembly (202) houses a driver coil (224), and meter electronics (20) are in electrical communication with the driver coil (224). A case (236) at least partially covers the wetted assembly (200) and the dry assembly (202). The dry assembly (202) is removably attachable to the wetted assembly (200). The driver coil (224) is in magnetic communication with the at least one driver magnet (218, 218?) when the dry assembly (202) is attached to the wetted assembly (200), and the driver coil (224) is configured to provide a vibratory signal to the at least one driver magnet (218, 218?) when the dry assembly (202) is attached to the wetted assembly (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: David Skinkle
  • Patent number: 10794740
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor assembly for rotary gas meters includes a counter module electronic volume corrector (“EVC”). In one aspect, the assembly includes a magnetic sensor probe configured to be releasably secured within an aperture of a first gas meter body. The sensor probe may alternatively be positioned within an adapter sleeve. The adapter sleeve is configured to be releasably secured within an aperture of a second gas meter body. In another aspect, the counter module EVC includes a base coupling member, and the assembly includes first and second magnetic sensor probes, the probe being configured to be releasably secured within apertures of first and second gas meter bodies, respectively. Each probe has a probe coupling member that is releasably engagable with the base coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: ROMET LIMITED
    Inventors: Xinmin Wang, Lin Lezhong, Andrew Smich
  • Patent number: 10788343
    Abstract: A flow meter system for detecting the flow of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet. A top plate is coupled to the inlet and the outlet and a sensor is configured to detect the fluid flowing therebetween. A main module is coupled between the inlet and the outlet and has a main rotor configured to be rotated by the fluid flowing through the main module. An output shaft is coupled to the main rotor such that rotation of the main rotor causes rotation of the output shaft. A first spacer is removably coupled between the main module and the outlet. The first spacer is rotorless. The top plate defines an opening that receives the output shaft. The first spacer ensures alignment between the output shaft and the opening defined in the top plate. The sensor senses rotation of the output shaft to detect the flow of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum LLC
    Inventors: Daniel W. Peace, Michael S. McCracken
  • Patent number: 10786706
    Abstract: A cycling shoe for measuring power includes a sole having a pocket in the bottom of the sole. A sensor platform having a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor on a top of the sensor platform and at least one sensor on the bottom of the sensor platform, is inserted into the pocket. A platform cover and a cleat are attached to the sole over the sensors. Force applied to a pedal clipped to the cleat is measured and processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent M. Smith
  • Patent number: 10782163
    Abstract: An autonomous, low-power turbine flow meter and an assembly of at least one flow meter and at least one signal receiving device configured to receive signals, preferably in a wireless manner, produced and transmitted by the flow meter. The invention further relates to a method for measuring at least one flow characteristic, in particular the flow rate, of a fluid flowing through a flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: KINETRON B.V.
    Inventors: Frans Vromans, Geert Maria Van Den Brekel, Joris Paul Lodewijk Jansen, Bernardus Johannes Meijer, Koen Jacob Weijand
  • Patent number: 10780502
    Abstract: A method of repairing an air data probe includes assessing an air data probe for a damaged portion. The method includes depositing a material on the air data probe to repair the damaged portion of the air data probe. An air data probe includes a probe body including a sense port inlet defined through a wall of the probe body. At least a portion of the wall surrounding the sense port inlet is defined by a deposited material having a different microstructure than a material defining another portion of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas Golly, Paul Robert Johnson, Greg Allen Seidel, Ryan Chou, Rudy Pitera, Scott Wigen
  • Patent number: 10782166
    Abstract: A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament includes a flow tube having a flow tube inlet and a flow tube outlet, and an acoustical transmission rate. The medicament flows through the flow tube. A first piezo element is arranged at an upstream position of the flow tube and a second piezo element is arranged at a downstream position of the flow tube, such that the first piezo element and the second piezo element are mounted apart a pre-selected distance from each other. An absorber sheath encircles the flow tube. The absorber sheath has an upstream end and a downstream end. The absorber sheath is comprised of a material with an acoustical transmission rate different than the flow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Wayne DeKalb
  • Patent number: 10782169
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter has oscillators 1, 2, a transmitter 31 for transmitting burst waves BURST, amplifiers 34, 35 for amplifying a received signal, a first comparator 36 for checking whether the crest of the amplified signal falls within a predetermined range, a second comparator 37 for checking whether the amplified signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, a third comparator 38 for detecting zero-cross points in the amplified signal, and a controller 40 including a time counter for measuring the propagation time from when the burst waves are transmitted until when the amplified signal reaches a zero-cross point. The time counter has a low-speed clock, a mid-speed clock whose frequency is calibrated with the low-speed clock and whose propagation time is shorter than that of the low-speed clock, and a high-speed clock whose frequency is calibrated with the mid-speed clock and whose propagation time is shorter than that of the mid-speed clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Niwa
  • Patent number: 10775217
    Abstract: Example systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed sensing a flow of fluid using a thermopile-based flow sensing device. An example apparatus includes a flow sensing device comprising a heating structure having a centerline. The flow sensing device may further comprise a thermopile. At least a portion of the thermopile may be disposed over the heating structure. The thermopile may comprise a first thermocouple having a first thermocouple junction disposed upstream of the centerline of the heating structure. The thermopile may further comprise a second thermocouple having a second thermocouple junction disposed downstream of the centerline of the heating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Higashi, Scott Edward Beck, Yong-Fa Wang, Ian Bentley, Bill Hoover
  • Patent number: 10775214
    Abstract: This invention provides an insertion type ultrasonic flow meter, flow measuring system and method, which related to the field of flow measuring and metering. The insertion type ultrasonic flow meter includes a first insertion type sensor and a second insertion type sensor. The first insertion type sensor is equipped with a first ultrasonic transducer; the second insertion type sensor is equipped with a second ultrasonic transducer. The first insertion type sensor and the second insertion type sensor are installed at upstream and downstream of the pipeline respectively. The first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer are equipped face-to-face. Compared to current technology, the insertion type ultrasonic flow meter provided by this invention has better signal receiving capability and smaller channel noise, therefore lower power consumption that can be powered with battery. It can also conduct accurate measurement to low velocity and flow rate of water in pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Spire Metering Technology LLC
    Inventor: Chang Shen
  • Patent number: 10768032
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor for a thermal flow measuring device, to a thermal flow measuring device, as well as to a method for the manufacture of such a sensor. The sensor includes a sensor thimble, wherein a defined separation of a sensor element from a thimble floor of the sensor thimble is provided by spacers so that a temperature transfer between the sensor and a liquid flowing around the sensor is provided. Thermal contact between the thimble floor and the sensor element is provided by a solder layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Hanno Schultheis, Alexander Grün, Stephan Gaberthüel