Patents by Inventor Ben Frisby

Ben Frisby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9816846
    Abstract: System and methods for determining a non-condensable gas parameter relating to the amount of non-condensable gas within a variable flow rate fluid flow containing both non-condensable gas and condensate are disclosed. An apparatus may include a measurement tube for receiving the fluid flow and arranged such that the fluid flow through the measurement tube comprises alternating sections of non-condensable gas and condensate; a flow sensor for generating a flow rate signal relating to the flow rate of the fluid flow in the measurement tube; a phase sensor for monitoring over time the alternating sections of non-condensable gas and condensate flowing through the measurement tube and arranged generates a phase signal characteristic of the said sections monitored; and a non-condensable gas determining unit configured to determine a non-condensable gas parameter relating to the amount of non-condensable gas in the fluid flow based on the flow rate signal and phase signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Peter Usher, Ben Frisby, David Oliver
  • Patent number: 9588083
    Abstract: A method of determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The vibration signal is analyzed to determine a first energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a first frequency band, and a second energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a second frequency band; and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the first and second energy parameters. An apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Ben Frisby, Nashtara Islam, Peter Usher, Mitchell Kane
  • Patent number: 9285255
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a flow meter comprising a flow target arranged to be disposed in a fluid flow path in a conduit; a beam coupled to the flow target and arranged to extend outside of the conduit; a sensor having a moveable sensor part coupled to the beam at a position which in use is outside of the conduit, and a static sensor part, wherein displacement of the moveable sensor part with respect to the static sensor part generates a signal. In use, fluid flow acting on the flow target causes displacement of the moveable sensor part, thereby generating a signal which is representative of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SPIRAX-SARCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Ben Frisby, Grant Needham
  • Patent number: 9194730
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that relate to determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including determining a flow velocity parameter which is related to the flow velocity of the fluid flow in the fluid line using a flow sensor and obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The signal may be analyzed to determine an energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a frequency band, and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the flow velocity parameter and the energy parameter. An apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Ben Frisby, Jeremy Miller
  • Publication number: 20150128724
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a flow meter comprising a flow target arranged to be disposed in a fluid flow path in a conduit; a beam coupled to the flow target and arranged to extend outside of the conduit; a sensor having a moveable sensor part coupled to the beam at a position which in use is outside of the conduit, and a static sensor part, wherein displacement of the moveable sensor part with respect to the static sensor part generates a signal. In use, fluid flow acting on the flow target causes displacement of the moveable sensor part, thereby generating a signal which is representative of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Ben Frisby, Grant Needham
  • Publication number: 20150082910
    Abstract: System and methods for determining a non-condensable gas parameter relating to the amount of non-condensable gas within a variable flow rate fluid flow containing both non-condensable gas and condensate are disclosed. An apparatus may include a measurement tube for receiving the fluid flow and arranged such that the fluid flow through the measurement tube comprises alternating sections of non-condensable gas and condensate; a flow sensor for generating a flow rate signal relating to the flow rate of the fluid flow in the measurement tube; a phase sensor for monitoring over time the alternating sections of non-condensable gas and condensate flowing through the measurement tube and arranged generates a phase signal characteristic of the said sections monitored; and a non-condensable gas determining unit configured to determine a non-condensable gas parameter relating to the amount of non-condensable gas in the fluid flow based on the flow rate signal and phase signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Peter Usher, Ben Frisby, David Oliver
  • Patent number: 8966995
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a flow meter comprising a flow target arranged to be disposed in a fluid flow path in a conduit; a beam coupled to the flow target and arranged to extend outside of the conduit; a sensor having a moveable sensor part coupled to the beam at a position which in use is outside of the conduit, and a static sensor part, wherein displacement of the moveable sensor part with respect to the static sensor part generates a signal. In use, fluid flow acting on the flow target causes displacement of the moveable sensor part, thereby generating a signal which is representative of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Ben Frisby, Grant Needham
  • Patent number: 8918293
    Abstract: A flow meter for monitoring fluid flow through a pipeline, the flow meter comprising a conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for communication with respective sections of the pipeline; a target element positioned inside the conduit between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the target element being mounted for resilient axial displacement under a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet; an arm secured at an anchor point on one side of the conduit and extending radially across the conduit, the target element being coupled to the arm for applying a load to the arm, upon said axial displacement of the target element, so as to deflect the arm relative to the anchor point; a sensor arrangement for measuring deflection of the arm at a point on the opposite side of the applied load to the anchor point; and a processor configured for providing a signal representative of the steam flow through the conduit in response to said measured deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Richard Quentin Carmichael, Roger Manley, Ben Frisby
  • Publication number: 20140069168
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The vibration signal is analysed to determine a first energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a first frequency band, and a second energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a second frequency band; and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the first and second energy parameters. There is also disclosed an apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Ben Frisby, Nashtara Islam, Peter Usher, Mitchell Kane
  • Publication number: 20130228020
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a flow meter comprising a flow target arranged to be disposed in a fluid flow path in a conduit; a beam coupled to the flow target and arranged to extend outside of the conduit; a sensor having a moveable sensor part coupled to the beam at a position which in use is outside of the conduit, and a static sensor part, wherein displacement of the moveable sensor part with respect to the static sensor part generates a signal. In use, fluid flow acting on the flow target causes displacement of the moveable sensor part, thereby generating a signal which is representative of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: SPIRAX-SARCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Ben Frisby, Grant Needham
  • Publication number: 20130068035
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that relate to determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including determining a flow velocity parameter which is related to the flow velocity of the fluid flow in the fluid line using a flow sensor and obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The signal may be analysed to determine an energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a frequency band, and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the flow velocity parameter and the energy parameter. An apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SPIRAX-SARCO LIMITED
    Inventors: BEN FRISBY, JEREMY MILLER
  • Publication number: 20110213573
    Abstract: A flow meter for monitoring fluid flow through a pipeline, the flow meter comprising a conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for communication with respective sections of the pipeline; a target element positioned inside the conduit between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the target element being mounted for resilient axial displacement under a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet; an arm secured at an anchor point on one side of the conduit and extending radially across the conduit, the target element being coupled to the arm for applying a load to the arm, upon said axial displacement of the target element, so as to deflect the arm relative to the anchor point; a sensor arrangement for measuring deflection of the arm at a point on the opposite side of the applied load to the anchor point; and a processor configured for providing a signal representative of the steam flow through the conduit in response to said measured deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: SPIRAX-SARCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Quentin Carmichael, Roger Manley, Ben Frisby