Patents by Inventor Michael S. Tombs

Michael S. Tombs 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: 11747185
    Abstract: A system for metering flow of a fluid has a vibratable flowtube for receiving a multiphase fluid flow. A driver is configured to vibrate the flowtube. A pair of sensors is configured to detect movement of the flowtube at different locations on the flowtube. Pressure and temperature sensors are configured to measure a pressure of the fluid. One or more processors are configured to use a phase difference between the sensor signals to determine a fluid flow rate through the flowtube. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an amount of dissolved gas in the multiphase fluid using the pressure, the temperature, and the relative amounts the multiple liquids in the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Manus Henry, Richard P. Casimiro, Michael S. Tombs, Alice Anne Probst
  • Publication number: 20210010843
    Abstract: A system for metering flow of a fluid has a vibratable flowtube for receiving a multiphase fluid flow. A driver is configured to vibrate the flowtube. A pair of sensors is configured to detect movement of the flowtube at different locations on the flowtube. Pressure and temperature sensors are configured to measure a pressure of the fluid. One or more processors are configured to use a phase difference between the sensor signals to determine a fluid flow rate through the flowtube. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an amount of dissolved gas in the multiphase fluid using the pressure, the temperature, and the relative amounts the multiple liquids in the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus Henry, Richard P. Casimiro, Michael S. Tombs, Alice Anne Probst
  • Patent number: 10876875
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit such that the conduit vibrates in a major mode of vibration having a major amplitude and a minor mode of vibration having a minor amplitude. The major amplitude is larger than the minor amplitude, the major mode of vibration has a first frequency of vibration and the minor mode of vibration has a second frequency of vibration, and the minor mode of vibration interferes with the major mode of vibration to cause a beat signal having a frequency related to the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration. The frequency of the beat signal is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined based on the determined frequency of the beat signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mihaela D. Duta, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 10837815
    Abstract: A system for metering flow of a fluid has a vibratable flowtube for receiving a multiphase fluid flow. A driver is configured to vibrate the flowtube. A pair of sensors is configured to detect movement of the flowtube at different locations on the flowtube. Pressure and temperature sensors are configured to measure a pressure of the fluid. One or more processors are configured to use a phase difference between the sensor signals to determine a fluid flow rate through the flowtube. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an amount of dissolved gas in the multiphase fluid using the pressure, the temperature, and the relative amounts the multiple liquids in the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Richard P. Casimiro, Michael S. Tombs, Alice Anne Probst
  • Publication number: 20180306622
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit such that the conduit vibrates in a major mode of vibration having a major amplitude and a minor mode of vibration having a minor amplitude. The major amplitude is larger than the minor amplitude, the major mode of vibration has a first frequency of vibration and the minor mode of vibration has a second frequency of vibration, and the minor mode of vibration interferes with the major mode of vibration to cause a beat signal having a frequency related to the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration. The frequency of the beat signal is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined based on the determined frequency of the beat signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mihaela D. Duta, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9995613
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit such that the conduit vibrates in a major mode of vibration having a major amplitude and a minor mode of vibration having a minor amplitude. The major amplitude is larger than the minor amplitude, the major mode of vibration has a first frequency of vibration and the minor mode of vibration has a second frequency of vibration, and the minor mode of vibration interferes with the major mode of vibration to cause a beat signal having a frequency related to the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration. The frequency of the beat signal is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined based on the determined frequency of the beat signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mihaela D. Duta, Michael S. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20180143054
    Abstract: A system for metering flow of a fluid has a vibratable flowtube for receiving a multiphase fluid flow. A driver is configured to vibrate the flowtube. A pair of sensors is configured to detect movement of the flowtube at different locations on the flowtube. Pressure and temperature sensors are configured to measure a pressure of the fluid. One or more processors are configured to use a phase difference between the sensor signals to determine a fluid flow rate through the flowtube. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an amount of dissolved gas in the multiphase fluid using the pressure, the temperature, and the relative amounts the multiple liquids in the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Richard P. Casimiro, Michael S. Tombs, Alice Anne Probst
  • Patent number: 9863798
    Abstract: A system for metering flow of a fluid has a vibratable flowtube for receiving a multiphase fluid flow. A driver is configured to vibrate the flowtube. A pair of sensors is positioned to detect movement of the flowtube at different locations on the flowtube. Pressure and temperature sensors are positioned to measure a pressure of the fluid. One or more processors are configured to use a phase difference between the sensor signals to determine a fluid flow rate through the flowtube. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an amount of dissolved gas in the multiphase fluid using the pressure, the temperature, and the relative amounts the multiple liquids in the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Richard P. Casimiro, Michael S. Tombs, Alice Anne Probst
  • Publication number: 20160252380
    Abstract: A system for metering flow of a fluid has a vibratable flowtube for receiving a multiphase fluid flow. A driver is configured to vibrate the flowtube. A pair of sensors is positioned to detect movement of the flowtube at different locations on the flowtube. Pressure and temperature sensors are positioned to measure a pressure of the fluid. One or more processors are configured to use a phase difference between the sensor signals to determine a fluid flow rate through the flowtube. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an amount of dissolved gas in the multiphase fluid using the pressure, the temperature, and the relative amounts the multiple liquids in the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Richard P. Casimiro, Michael S. Tombs, Alice Anne Probst
  • Patent number: 9395223
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. At least one of the first frequency of vibration or the second frequency of vibration is determined. A phase difference between the motion of the conduit at a first point of the conduit and the motion of the conduit at a second point of the conduit is determined. A quantity based on the phase difference and the determined frequency is determined. The quantity includes a ratio between the first frequency during a zero-flow condition and the second frequency during the zero-flow condition. A property of the fluid is determined based on the quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9234780
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9091581
    Abstract: A first apparent property of a multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube. One or more apparent intermediate values associated with the multi-phase process fluid are determined based on the first apparent property. A measure of wetness of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on a mapping between one or more of the apparent intermediate values and the measure of wetness. A second apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid is determined using the differential pressure flowmeter. One or more phase-specific properties of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the measure of wetness and the second apparent property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9014994
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20140373639
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20140366644
    Abstract: A first apparent property of a multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube. One or more apparent intermediate values associated with the multi-phase process fluid are determined based on the first apparent property. A measure of wetness of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on a mapping between one or more of the apparent intermediate values and the measure of wetness. A second apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid is determined using the differential pressure flowmeter. One or more phase-specific properties of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the measure of wetness and the second apparent property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 8892371
    Abstract: A first apparent property of a multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube. One or more apparent intermediate values associated with the process fluid are determined based on the first apparent property. One or more corrected intermediate values are determined based on a mapping between the apparent intermediate values and the corrected intermediate values. One or more phase-specific properties of the multi-phase process fluid are determined based on the corrected intermediate values. A measure of wetness of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the one or more phase-specific properties that are determined based on the corrected intermediate values. A second apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid is determined using the differential pressure flowmeter. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the measure of wetness and the second apparent property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 8862412
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 8855948
    Abstract: A first apparent property of a multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube. One or more apparent intermediate values associated with the multi-phase process fluid are determined based on the first apparent property. A measure of wetness of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on a mapping between one or more of the apparent intermediate values and the measure of wetness. A second apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid is determined using the differential pressure flowmeter. One or more phase-specific properties of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the measure of wetness and the second apparent property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20140238149
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit such that the conduit vibrates in a major mode of vibration having a major amplitude and a minor mode of vibration having a minor amplitude. The major amplitude is larger than the minor amplitude, the major mode of vibration has a first frequency of vibration and the minor mode of vibration has a second frequency of vibration, and the minor mode of vibration interferes with the major mode of vibration to cause a beat signal having a frequency related to the first frequency of vibration and the second frequency of vibration. The frequency of the beat signal is determined, and the second frequency of vibration is determined based on the determined frequency of the beat signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mihaela D. Duta, Michael S. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20140202228
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. At least one of the first frequency of vibration or the second frequency of vibration is determined. A phase difference between the motion of the conduit at a first point of the conduit and the motion of the conduit at a second point of the conduit is determined. A quantity based on the phase difference and the determined frequency is determined. The quantity includes a ratio between the first frequency during a zero-flow condition and the second frequency during the zero-flow condition. A property of the fluid is determined based on the quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Tombs