Patents Examined by Jewel V. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9103706
    Abstract: The disclosed flow measurement structure used in a flow measurement device is provided with a conduit through which gas to be measured flows, and a diverter which diverts gas flowing through the conduit and conducts the diverted gas to a detection element for measuring the flow amount of said gas. An inlet of the diverter is provided in the periphery of the conduit. The conduit is provided with an inclined section which, provided upstream of the inlet, guides the gas towards the center of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Naotsugu Ueda, Katsuyuki Yamamoto, Satoshi Nozoe, Shuji Maeda, Yuji Tsukuma
  • Patent number: 9097566
    Abstract: A flowtube assembly for a magnetic flowmeter is provided. The flowtube assembly includes a flowtube configured to receive a flow of process fluid therethrough. A magnetic core is mounted relative to the flowtube and includes a stem extending from the flowtube to a pair of arms. Each of the arms extends away from the stem. A spool having a plurality of magnetic windings is disposed about the stem and spaces the plurality of windings from the flowtube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Bruce Rogers, Michael John Mayer, Samuel Ethan Messenger, Michael Jeffrey Mikolichek
  • Patent number: 9097567
    Abstract: An ultrasonic, flow measuring device, including a measuring tube a transmitter a receiver and at least a first reflection surface. An acoustic signal incident on a first reflection surface and an acoustic signal reflected on the first reflection surface travel, in each case, along a straight subsection of the first signal path. The transmitter, the receiver and the first reflection surface are so oriented with respect to one another and arranged in or on the measuring tube that the acoustic signal on the first signal path from the first transmitter to the first receiver is so reflected on the first reflection surface that the sum of all lengths of all subsections as projected on a measuring tube axis, extending in a first plane parallel to the measuring tube axis, and having a predetermined separation other than zero from the measuring tube axis has a predetermined value different from zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Achim Wiest, Andreas Berger, Sascha Grunwald
  • Patent number: 9091575
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow-meter of the present invention includes a partition plate which partitions a passage of a target fluid into a measurement passage and a non-measurement passage, a pair of ultrasonic transducers which is disposed in the measurement passage, a measuring unit which measures a propagation time of an ultrasonic wave between the pair of ultrasonic transducers, and a calculating unit which calculates a flow rate of the target fluid. Further, the calculating unit has a computing unit which computes at least one of a flow velocity and a flow rate of the target fluid in the measurement passage based on the propagation time and an estimating unit which estimates the flow rate of the target fluid in the passage based on the flow velocity or the flow rate in the measurement passage. As a result, an ultrasonic flow-meter which highly accurately measures a target fluid by using a simple configuration can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihisa Adachi, Masato Satou, Aoi Watanabe, Hajime Miyata
  • Patent number: 9080902
    Abstract: A gas meter of the present invention includes a flow measuring section for measuring a flow value of a gas flowing through a fluid passage connected to a gas instrument at each specified time interval; a measurement flow memory for storing the measured flow value; and a fuel cell determiner section for determining that the instrument using a gas is a fuel cell, when a condition A and a condition B are satisfied, in which the condition A is such that a maximum value of determination target flow values is equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the determination target flow values being a predetermined number of flow values measured before and after a reference flow value which is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value and is closest to the first predetermined value, the determination target flow values being included in stored flow values, and the condition B is such that a difference value derived by subtracting from each of all of the determination target flow values, an average val
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagatomo, Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 9075075
    Abstract: Average pitot-tube type flow meter according to the present invention has a total pressure tube and a static pressure tube. The total pressure tube and the static pressure tube are spaced from each other. Across the total pressure tube and the static pressure tube, a rectifying device and a connection case are installed as they are integrated into one body. The rectifying device is positioned in advance of total pressure holes and the total pressure hole and a static pressure hole are positioned inside the connection case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dae Han Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hie Han, Seung June Song
  • Patent number: 9074916
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid turbine flow meter including a rotatable longitudinal body of a turbine equipped with longitudinal blades and regularly distributed support arms of the blades connecting the blades to the rotatable body of the turbine, where each blade has on the support arm a plurality of separate longitudinal thrust members the cross sections of which are adapted to receive the thrust of the fluid jet when the blade is active and to allow circulation of fluid between the thrust members when the blade is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SAPPEL
    Inventor: Bruno Denner
  • Patent number: 9074917
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurement of airflow in a duct are described. The apparatus combines a Pitot tube, sensing apparatus, control apparatus, a display, control switches and carry apparatus arranged into a unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Russell P Secor
  • Patent number: 9068870
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for ultrasonic flow metering of viscous fluids. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic flow metering system includes an ultrasonic flow meter, a flow conditioner, and a reducer. The ultrasonic flow meter includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers arranged to exchange ultrasonic signals through a fluid stream flowing between the transducers. The flow conditioner is disposed upstream of the ultrasonic flow meter. The reducer is disposed between the flow conditioner and the ultrasonic flow meter to reduce the cross sectional area of the fluid stream flowing from the flow conditioner to the ultrasonic flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Paththage Jayampathi Anuradha Priyadarshana, Drew Shine Weaver, Peter Syrnyk, Dale Goodson
  • Patent number: 9068869
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter includes a pipe with a non-conductive PTFE liner, magnetic coils to generate a magnetic field, and electrodes in contact with the fluid on opposite sides of the pipe. The electrodes comprise conductive PTFE patch electrodes bonded to the non-conductive PTFE liner so that an inner end of each patch electrode is exposed to fluid flowing through the interior pipe and an outer end of each patch electrode is aligned with an electrode hole in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Alan Smith, Stephen Richard Yingst, Nelson Mauricio Morales
  • Patent number: 9068871
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring device includes: a flow rate sensor; a physical property sensor having a micro heater and a thermopile; and a sub-flow path portion having a physical property detecting flow path in which the physical property sensor is disposed. The micro heater and the thermopile are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of a fluid to be measured, and the flow rate sensor is disposed at a position except for the physical property detecting flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Yamamoto, Naotsugu Ueda
  • Patent number: 9068867
    Abstract: An aspect provides a flow metering apparatus, comprising: a fluid conduit having a differential pressure producer therein; at least one pressure port angled between 0 and 90 degrees in a wall of the fluid conduit; and at least one other pressure port; wherein the at least one pressure port and the at least one other pressure port provide pressure signals. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: McCrometer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Steven Ayers, Gerald E. Davis, Clinton Paul Hobbs, Eric Dahl Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 9057632
    Abstract: A water meter of the present invention may accurately measure a flow rate and reduce power consumption. The water meter includes a body including an inlet unit and an outlet unit, an impeller unit provided to rotate due to a fluid flowing in the body, a cover member that covers one side of the impeller unit and includes a guide groove formed therein, and sensors that are provided on one side and the other side of the cover member and are spaced apart from each other to face each other. The impeller unit includes blades interfering with the fluid, a shaft forming a rotational center of the blades, and a cut-off unit that extends from one side of the plurality of blades to be inserted into the guide groove, and selectively cuts off signal transmission between the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ONE-TL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Sam Park, Byeong Hak Kang, Hun Cha
  • Patent number: 9052217
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a sense element for sensing a sensed parameter. The sense element may provide a sense element output signal that is related to the sensed parameter. A control block may include a first input port for receiving the sense element output signal, a second input port for receiving a scale input adjustable by a user, and an output port for providing a sensor assembly output signal. The control block may be configured to take in the sense element output signal via the first input port and produce the sensor assembly output signal at the output port, wherein the sensor assembly output signal at the output port is related to the sense element output signal and corresponds to a user selected range of the sensed parameter. The user selected range may be determined, at least in part, by the scale input received via the second input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Milley, Richard C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9051823
    Abstract: Fluid flow measurement device and method. In one embodiment, a tool comprises a rotating arm with a sensor pad to measure fluid flow into or out of the casing wall. The arm maintains the sensor pad in close proximity to the casing inner wall. The tool diameter is variable to allow the tool to traverse variable diameter casings and pass obstacles. The sensor pad comprises flow channels to direct the flow of fluid by electromagnetic sensors configured to detect conductive fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: REM Scientific Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Maute, Feroze J. Sidhwa
  • Patent number: 9046396
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring flow of a process fluid includes an elongate spool providing a spool conduit therethrough adapted to be coupled in line with process piping to receive the flow of process fluid. A meter body is carried by the elongate spool and receives the spool conduit therethrough. The meter body includes a flow measurement component opening which extends from the spool conduit to outside of the meter body. A flow component is configured for placement in the flow measurement component opening of the meter body. A carrier is configured to removably mount to the meter body and couple the flow measurement component to the spool conduit through the flow measurement component opening. A flow measurement transmitter couples to the flow measurement component to measure the flow of process fluid based upon an interaction between the process fluid and the flow measurement component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Dieterich Standard, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Strom, Paul Timothy Deegan, Oluwadamilola Peter Dipo-Ajayi, Alan Kempner
  • Patent number: 9046401
    Abstract: A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Maria Jesus De LaFuente
  • Patent number: 9046394
    Abstract: A fire hydrant water meter having a flow restricting device that creates back pressure to restrict the flow of water through the fire hydrant water meter. The flow restricting device includes a plurality of flexible vanes that combine to define a variable orifice. As the flow of water through the meter increases, the individual flexible vanes move away from each other to expand the size of the flow orifice. The flow restricting device provides a source of back pressure to water flowing through the meter to restrict the flow rate of water and thus protect the metering device contained within the fire hydrant water meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9046542
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for an anemometer configured to provide thrust and axial load protection and reduce exposure to potentially degradative debris and/or contaminants. The bearing assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft and bearings, wherein the bearings are configured to rotate about at least the first shaft while enclosed within a portion of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to isolate the bearings from any air flow through the anemometer and debris and/or contaminants carried therewith. The bearing assembly further includes a damping member configured to reduce forces imparted upon the bearings, thereby providing protection and preventing premature damage to the bearings from loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: NRG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Emir Heco, Travis Jones, Carolyn Turk West, Henry Bush, R. Paul Smith, Timothy R. Hoopes
  • Patent number: 9032790
    Abstract: A gas meter comprising a meter housing with a gas inlet with associated connecting piece for a gas supply line and a gas outlet with associated connecting piece for a gas discharge line, wherein the meter housing (2) is a bellows gas meter housing in which a measuring device (12) comprising a housing (13) with an integrated micro-thermal flow measuring sensor (20) is arranged on the gas outlet (11), which housing (13) is connected in a gas-tight manner to the connecting piece (10) on the outlet side or to the meter housing (2) in the area of the gas outlet (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HYDROMETER GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Braun, Ulrich Eff, Steffen Lacher