Patents by Inventor Christopher B. Laird
Christopher B. Laird 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).
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Patent number: 9926952Abstract: A flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter having a first portion adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second portion adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first portion. The second portion extending inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe. A method for affecting fluid flow in a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Inventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Publication number: 20160281751Abstract: A flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter having a first portion adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second portion adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first portion. The second portion extending inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe. A method for affecting fluid flow in a pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Applicant: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Patent number: 9366274Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Publication number: 20150211553Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Patent number: 9003895Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Publication number: 20140190272Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Inventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Patent number: 8347733Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Publication number: 20120096948Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventors: Christopher B. Laird, Gregor Brown
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Patent number: 6973833Abstract: A wafer for placement in a pipe. The wafer includes a housing having an outer surface and an orifice adapted to allow fluid flowing in the pipe to pass through the housing. The housing has at least a first port extending into the housing from the outer surface for holding a first acoustic transducer. The wafer includes means for attaching the housing to the pipe. A method for obtaining information about fluid in a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2002Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Caldon, Inc.Inventors: Donald Ginesi, Donald R. Augenstein, Keith Bergstrom, Calvin R. Hastings, Christopher B. Laird, Benjamin Lane, Brian Lipford
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Publication number: 20030172737Abstract: A wafer for placement in a pipe. The wafer includes a housing having an outer surface and an orifice adapted to allow fluid flowing in the pipe to pass through the housing. The housing has at least a first port extending into the housing from the outer surface for holding a first acoustic transducer. The wafer includes means for attaching the housing to the pipe. A method for obtaining information about fluid in a pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: Caldon, Inc.Inventors: Donald Ginesi, Donald R. Augenstein, Keith Bergstrom, Calvin R. Hastings, Christopher B. Laird, Benjamin Lane, Brian Lipford
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Patent number: 6244289Abstract: A vent assembly for a double case, rotary positive displacement meter permits venting of the outer housing chamber and inner mechanism chamber simultaneously through a single port in the outer housing to prevent damage to the rotor of the inner mechanism. A float/reed switch assembly can be provided to provide an indication of the need for venting if the vent is manually operated, or to automatically vent if an electrically operated valve is used.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Inventors: Helmut W. Hopfe, Christopher B. Laird, William H. Noble
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Patent number: 4241354Abstract: Apparatus for indicating unauthorized delivery of liquid product for use in connection with a Veeder-Root Counter-Printer is characterized by a timer arrangement adapted to measure the time duration of an interruption in liquid product flow and to prime the printer's sale sequence number for incrementation if the duration of the interruption exceeds a predetermined time interval. If flow is resumed before the same ticket is removed from the printer, a nonsequential sale sequence number is imprinted on the ticket when it is removed, thereby providing an indicia that flow has been interrupted for at least the predetermined interval.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1979Date of Patent: December 23, 1980Assignee: Geosource Inc.Inventor: Christopher B. Laird