Abstract: A single-transducer fluid meter is adapted to measurement the flow of a fluid (e.g., water or natural gas). A transducer sends an ultrasonic signal within a flow pipe through which the fluid flows within the fluid meter. In the example, the ultrasonic signal is reflected twice, thereby traveling in a triangular path that starts and ends at the transducer. A time-of-flight of an ultrasonic acoustic signal is measured. The time-of-flight starts when an electrical signal excites the transducer, and ends when the acoustic signal returns to the transducer. The time-of-flight of the ultrasonic signal can be used (with the speed-of-sound of the fluid) to calculate a flowrate of the fluid. In a first example, a faster flowrate of the fluid can result in a shorter time-of-flight (e.g., if the ultrasonic signal moves with the fluid flow). A slower flowrate of the fluid can result in a longer time-of-flight.

Abstract: A multi-piece static fluid meter includes a register and a separate meter body. The register includes a first housing including a cavity which contains an ultrasonic transducer assembly and electronic component(s) of the static fluid meter. The meter body includes a second housing. When assembled, the first housing comprises a first portion of a flow passage and the second housing defines a second portion of the flow passage. The first and second housings can be formed of a thermoplastic and thermoplastically welded together. In some examples, one or more reflectors may be disposed in the flow passage and configured to reflect signals from the ultrasonic transducer assembly through a flow of water or other fluid to be measured. The register can include multiple mating surfaces configured to mate with different meter body configurations, allowing a single register design to be used with multiple meter body configurations.

Abstract: Detection and measurement of transient pressure events in a water (or other fluid) supply system are described herein. A water meter may have upstream and downstream piezo transducers that measure flowrate and overall water consumption. The transducers operate for very short periods (e.g., milliseconds) at intervals (e.g., a second). During the substantial periods during which the piezo transducers are not measuring flowrate, one of the transducers may be used to detect transient pressure events. An output signal of the transducer is compared to a pressure threshold to determine if a transient pressure event has occurred. The comparison may include either a number of times that the threshold was exceeded during a time period, or the time that the threshold was exceeded during the time period. If a transient pressure event was detected, a dedicated transient event sensor can be turned on to better assess the situation.

Abstract: An example pressure-sensing device includes a pipe or conduit having upstream and downstream connectors for respective upstream and downstream transducers to measure fluid (e.g., water) flow. The conduit may be made at least in part of a resiliently deformable material. A deformable electrode of a capacitor may be mounted in contact with a dry-side surface of an area of the resiliently deformable material. The wet-side surface of the area may define part of a pathway for a flow of the fluid. In operation, the area of the resiliently deformable material changes a location and/or a shape of the deformable electrode in response to changes in fluid pressure. A fixed electrode of the capacitor is separated by a dielectric material (e.g., air or an insulator) from the deformable electrode, and a circuit determines a pressure of the fluid based at least in part on a capacitance between the deformable electrode and the fixed electrode.

Abstract: An example pressure-sensing device includes a pipe or conduit having upstream and downstream connectors for respective upstream and downstream transducers to measure fluid (e.g., water) flow. The conduit may be made at least in part of a resiliently deformable material. A deformable electrode of a capacitor may be mounted in contact with a dry-side surface of an area of the resiliently deformable material. The wet-side surface of the area may define part of a pathway for a flow of the fluid. In operation, the area of the resiliently deformable material changes a location and/or a shape of the deformable electrode in response to changes in fluid pressure. A fixed electrode of the capacitor is separated by a dielectric material (e.g., air or an insulator) from the deformable electrode, and a circuit determines a pressure of the fluid based at least in part on a capacitance between the deformable electrode and the fixed electrode.

Abstract: A turbine water meter includes plural spinner blades rotatably mounted in a chamber. The respective blades have cross-sections with semi-parabolic edges, with each blade having respective elements connected together by mechanical reinforcing elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spinner (1) for a fluid meter, in particular a water meter, the spinner being designed to be mounted to rotate in a cylindrical chamber (2) of a meter vessel and comprising a plurality of blades (10), each blade presenting a cross-section with semi-parabolic edges and having a free tip (10?) shaped to be tangential to the wall of said chamber. According to the invention, each blade is constituted by two semi-parabolic walls connected together by mechanical reinforcement elements (10A, 10B, 10C).