Abstract: A system for measuring the flow of a fluid in a pipe that is one of a plurality of different sizes. The system employs a pair of transducers mounted on the pipe in an upstream-downstream relationship, Each transducer is excited by one of a pair of oscillators to transmit a sonic signal though the fluid to the other transducer. Transit times of the sonic signals are measured. A microprocessing network computes the flow rate of the fluid based on the measured transit time in the pipe. The system has a signal transit time between transducers equal to the time elapse of N cycles of the frequency emitted by the oscillators. The value of N, as computed by a microprocessor, relates to the size of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of determining the net volume of water and oil in a flow stream, including the steps of collecting the fluid in a vessel providing a quiescent zone, venting pressure from the vessel to permit at least a portion of dissolved gas to flush from the fluid, repressuring the fluid within the vessel to a superatmospheric pressure to force any remaining entrained gas bubbles back into solution, passing the fluid from the vessel while subjected to a superatmospheric pressure through a sonic apparatus having a sonic path disposed at an angle to the flow stream to measure the upstream and downstream speed of sound transmission of the fluid, calculating from the difference in the upstream and downstream speeds of sound transmission the volume of fluid flow and from the summation of the speeds of sound transmission the fluid composition, and from these calculations the net volume of oil and water flow.

Abstract: A sonic flow meter in the form of a conduit providing a linear fluid flow path and having first and second openings on opposite sides of the conduit displaced in an upstream-downstream relationship providing a sonic path through the interior of the conduit, with sonic transducers elements positioned to transmit and receive energy through the sonic path, and having an upstream and downstream flow straightener for separating the fluid stream into a plurality of reduced-cross-sectional area streams, ends of the flow straightener being in planes paralleling, and adjacent the sonic path.

Abstract: A high-temperature transducer for transmitting and/or receiving sonic energy having a housing with a cylindrical opening, a metallic acoustic window element closing one end of the opening, a cylindrical transducer crystal having one planar surface in engagement with the acoustic window rearward face, a cylindrical dampening member in contact with the crystal rearward face, a first and a second thrust disc received in the cylindrical opening with a thrust transmitting sphere between the discs, and a thrust producing compression screw threadably received in the cylindrical opening supplying pressure against the first of the thrust discs which pressure is applied by means of the sphere to the second thrust disc, to the dampening means and to the crystal rearward face to force the crystal into intimate engagement with the acoustic window for effective sound transmission.

Abstract: An improved dampened ultrasonic transducer for imparting sonic energy to or receiving sonic energy from fluid, having a housing with a cylindrical cavity therein providing a closed end wall at one end and an opening in the opposite end, the housing having internal threads adjacent the opening. A piezoelectric crystal is positioned within the housing, the front face being contiguous to the cavity closed end wall, a cylindrical dampening member positioned within the cavity with the front face contiguous to the crystal rear face, a plurality of spring washers, the forwardmost washer engaging the rearward face of the dampener member, and an externally threaded plug member positioned in the rearward end of the housing and threadably advanced to apply compressive resilient force against the dampening member to maintain firm contact of the dampening member with the crystal and the crystal with the housing closed end wall.

Abstract: An improved sonic flowmeter having a conduit with an inlet and outlet through which fluid flows for rate measurement, a portion of the conduit providing a linear flow path, a first and second spaced apart transducer element positioned to transmit and receive energy traveling through fluid as it traverses the linear flow path, circuitry connected to the transducer elements for detecting the speed of sound transmission between the transducer elements as an indication of the rate of fluid flow through the linear flow path, and dividers within the linear flow path separating the fluid stream into a plurality of reduced cross-sectional area streams, each providing a separate linear flow path through which sound is transmitted between the transducer elements providing means of increasing the linearity and repeatability of the detected rate of fluid flow.

Abstract: A system for detecting the concentration of hydrocarbons (petroleum products) or other pollutants in water having a differential sound velocimeter which compares the velocity of sound in the liquid under study with the velocity of sound in the liquid (largely water) from which the oil or other pollutant has been separated by mechanical and/or solvent extraction means. A suitably calibrated frequency-to-analog converter is utilized to indicate the amount of the oil concentration and/or shutdown the water transporting system if the concentration exceeds a predetermined value.