Abstract: An ultrasonic device in which a concave transducer, partially surrounded by and insulated from a pair of electrically-grounded shields, focuses a signal and directs it to a limited portion of a second lens which further focuses the signal and directs a highly concentrated signal into a fluid, whereby particles therein can be detected with increased sensitivity, and whereby the composition of a homogeneous fluid can be determined by measuring the amount of the attenuation or the sound velocity of ultrasonic pulses therethrough or by comparing the frequency spectrum of the pulse with known spectra.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for determining the concentration of oil in a recirculating fluid flow for an oil recovery system by detecting the forward-scattering of ultrasonic energy from oil droplets in the flow and comparing the detected information with forward-scattering measurements for flows with known concentrations of oil.

Abstract: A probe for obtaining information about a fluid comprising an electrically-shielded transducer having a lens for focusing energy waves, the transducer being attached to a cable and mounted in a protective sheath supported by a rod, whereby the transducer can be immersed in the fluid and moved around therein to take readings at various locations.

Abstract: A pulse-echo device with an improved signal-to-noise ratio, in which sound-transmitting material adjacent to the device is coated with a sound-absorbing layer, the layer being sound-impedance matched to the material so that much of the spurious ultrasonic energy travelling in the material passes through the layer-material interface into the layer where it dissipates instead of remaining in the material and reflecting back to the device.

Abstract: A method of detecting and identifying particulates in the recirculating fluid flow for an oil recovery system by counting the number of ultrasonic pulses reflected from the particulates and comparing the number counted with the amount of attenuation of ultrasonic energy across the flow.

Abstract: A pulse-echo device for obtaining information about a flowing fluid in which a transducer unit comprises an electrically-shielded transducer with a lens for three-dimensionally focusing energy waves, which unit can be inserted into a hole extending through the sidewall of a pipe so that the energy waves focused by the lens are directed across the flow through the pipe. The transducer is surrounded by two electrically-grounded shields which are insulated from each other and separately grounded to isolated the transducer from stray electrical pulses.

Abstract: A method of identifying discontinuities in a flow by transforming an ultrasonic pulse reflected from an unknown discontinuity into a frequency spectrum and comparing that spectrum with the spectra of known discontinuities.

Abstract: A pulse echo device with a concave transmitter-receiver surface located to direct ultrasonic energy to a focal point spaced therefrom transversely of a conduit, the focal point being a distance transversely of the conduit less than twice the thickness of the conduit.

Abstract: A pulse echo device for obtaining information about matter discontinuities in flowing fluid with a sidewall spaced from and surrounding the walls of a transducer situated with respect thereto in such a way that over half the waves radiating from the transducer walls strike the surrounding sidewall at angles less than 90.degree. thereby improving sensitivity and increasing signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A pulse echo device for obtaining information about matter discontinuities in flowing fluid with a transmitter-receiver lens having a concave surface located to direct ultrasonic energy transversely to the direction of fluid flow and to a focal region and a blind hole surrounded by a ridge with an acoustical transducer therein.