Patents by Inventor Timothy Patten

Timothy Patten 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).

  • Publication number: 20250251268
    Abstract: A method of pressure compensation of a fluid flow parameter is provided. The method comprises receiving a measured pipeline pressure value of a fluid in a pipeline, and determining, based on the measured pipeline pressure value, a pressure for determining a pressure compensated fluid flow parameter value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Anthony William PANKRATZ
  • Publication number: 20250180384
    Abstract: A flowmeter is provided that includes a sensor assembly (10) and a meter electronics (20). The flowmeter further has one or more flow tubes (130, 130?) and a drive mechanism (180) coupled to the flow tubes (130, 130?) and oriented to induce a drive mode vibration therein. A pair of pickoff sensors (170L, 170R) is coupled to the flow tubes (130, 130?), and is configured to measure a vibrational response induced by the drive mechanism (180). At least one strain gage (200A, 200B) is coupled to the sensor assembly (10), and configured to detect a strain in the sensor assembly (10). The meter electronics (20) is connected to the drive mechanism (180) and the strain gage (200A, 200B) in series. The meter electronics (20) is configured to detect frequencies at which changes in strain are occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Allan BUTTLER, Andrew Timothy PATTEN
  • Publication number: 20240263982
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a flowmeter (5) is provided. A process fluid is placed in the flowmeter (5). A temperature of the fluid is measured. A density of the fluid is measured. A velocity of sound (VoS) of the fluid is calculated. A mass flow rate error is calculated, and a corrected mass flow rate of the fluid is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Marc Allan BUTTLER, Paul J. HAYS
  • Publication number: 20240255340
    Abstract: A vibratory meter (5) configured to detect a measurement bias of a reference zero-flow value is provided. The vibratory meter (5) comprises a sensor assembly (10) and a meter electronics (20) communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly (10). The meter electronics (20) is configured to measure a plurality of zero-flow values of the sensor assembly (10) and compare the plurality of zero-flow values to a reference zero-flow value to determine a bias indicator of the reference zero-flow value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Allan BUTTLER, Andrew Timothy PATTEN
  • Publication number: 20240247961
    Abstract: A meter electronics (20) for selecting a zero-verification criteria for performing a zero verification of a vibratory meter (5) is provided. The meter electronics (20) comprises an interface (401) communicatively coupled to a sensor assembly (10) containing a fluid and a processing system (402) communicatively coupled to the interface (401). The processing system (402) is configured to determine a property of a fluid and select, based on the property of the fluid, the zero-verification criteria value for the sensor assembly (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Allan BUTTLER, Andrew Timothy PATTEN
  • Publication number: 20240247969
    Abstract: A meter electronics (20) for determining a zero-verification criteria for a zero-verification of a vibratory meter (5) is provided. The meter electronics (20) comprises an interface (401) communicatively coupled to a sensor assembly (10) containing a fluid and a processing system (402) communicatively coupled to the interface (401). The processing system (402) is configured to determine a property of the fluid and determine, based on the property of the fluid, a zero-verification criteria value for the sensor assembly (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Allan BUTTLER, Andrew Timothy PATTEN
  • Patent number: 11885662
    Abstract: Methods for operating a flowmeter diagnostic tool are provided that comprise interfacing the diagnostic tool with a flowmeter (5) sensor assembly (10). A base prover volume (BPV), a desired number of passes per run, and/or a maximum number of allowed runs may be input into the diagnostic tool. Flowmeter data is received. An estimated total prove time (TPT) necessary to pass a predetermined repeatability requirement, an estimated minimum number of runs needed to achieve the calculated TPT, and/or an estimated minimum BPV may be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Allan Buttler, Andrew Timothy Patten
  • Publication number: 20240019286
    Abstract: A meter electronics (20) for using a Reynolds number to correct a mass flow rate measurement of a fluid is provided. The meter electronics (20) comprises an interface (401) configured to communicatively couple to a sensor assembly (10) containing the fluid and receive sensor signals from the sensor assembly (10) and a processing system (402) communicatively coupled to the interface (401). The processing system (402) is configured to store a Reynolds number-correction relationship, wherein the Reynolds number-correction relationship relates Reynolds number values with Reynolds number-based correction values, calculate a Reynolds number of the fluid using a measured mass flow rate value of the fluid, and determine a Reynolds number-based correction value using the Reynolds number and the Reynolds number-correction relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Aart R. PRUYSEN, Salvatore PITTI, Mark James BELL, Joel WEINSTEIN, Anthony William PANKRATZ
  • Patent number: 11852517
    Abstract: A method for detecting a deviation in a flow meter parameter is provided. The method includes measuring a flow tube temperature in a plurality of locations; and calculating a temperature gradient based on the measured temperatures. The method also includes detecting a deviation in the flow meter parameter if the calculated temperature gradient exceeds a temperature gradient threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Cunningham, Andrew Timothy Patten
  • Publication number: 20230349743
    Abstract: A method (300), system (400), and electronics (20) for correcting a mass flow value in measured using a Coriolis flow meter (100) for temperature effects at a known fluid temperature temp below 0 C are provided. The method comprises receiving a known fluid density ?indic, receiving the fluid temperature temp, receiving a time period Tp, determining a Young's modulus temperature correction for density TFyD based on the known fluid density ?indic, the known fluid temperature temp, and the time period Tp, determining a Young's modulus temperature correction for mass flow TFyM based on a temperature correction constant k and Young's modulus temperature correction for density TFyD, and correcting the mass flow value {dot over (m)} using the Young's modulus temperature correction for mass flow TFyM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Aart R. PRUYSEN, Robert Barclay GARNETT, Andrew Timothy PATTEN
  • Patent number: 11774275
    Abstract: A method for proving or calibrating a first flow meter integrated into a common platform with a second flow meter is provided. The first flow meter comprises a first driver, a first flow tube, and a first meter electronics, and the second flow meter comprises a second driver, a second flow tube, and a second meter electronics. The method includes configuring the first flow meter to vibrate the first flow tube with a first driver voltage at a first default driver voltage amplitude using the first meter electronics, and configuring the second flow meter to vibrate the second flow tube with a second driver voltage at a second standby driver voltage amplitude using the second meter electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Patten, Charles Depenning
  • Patent number: 11740117
    Abstract: Methods for operating a flowmeter diagnostic tool are provided that comprise interfacing the diagnostic tool with a flowmeter (5) sensor assembly (10). A base prover volume (BPV), a desired number of passes per run, and/or a maximum number of allowed runs may be input into the diagnostic tool. Flowmeter data is received. An estimated total prove time (TPT) necessary to pass a predetermined repeatability requirement, an estimated minimum number of runs needed to achieve the calculated TPT, and/or an estimated minimum BPV may be calculated. A standard deviation of the flowmeter sensor assembly flow rate (?) is calculated, and the number of samples used to calculate a is determined. A meter-specific factor (MSF) is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Allan Buttler, Andrew Timothy Patten, James S. Deacy
  • Publication number: 20230243691
    Abstract: A meter electronics (20) for detecting and identifying a change in a vibratory meter (5) is provided. The meter electronics (20) includes a processing system (202) including a storage system (204) configured to store a central tendency value of a meter verification parameter and dispersion value of the meter verification parameter. The processing system (202) is configured to obtain the central tendency value and the dispersion value from the storage system (204) and determine a probability based on the central tendency value and the dispersion value to detect if the central tendency value is different than a baseline value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy J. CUNNINGHAM, Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Mark James BELL
  • Patent number: 11668597
    Abstract: A meter electronics (20) and a method for detecting and identifying a change in a vibratory meter (5) is provided. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) configured to receive sensor signals (100) from a meter assembly (10) and provide information based on the sensor signals (100) and a processing system (202) communicatively coupled to the interface (201). The processing system (202) is configured to use the information to determine a first stiffness change (244) associated with a first location of a conduit (130, 130?) of the vibratory meter (5), determine a second stiffness change (254) associated with a second location of the conduit (130, 130?) of the vibratory meter (5), and determine a condition of the conduit (130, 130?) based on the first stiffness change and the second stiffness change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Cunningham, Andrew Timothy Patten, Mark James Bell
  • Publication number: 20220390262
    Abstract: A method for inferring an inferred speed of sound of a flow fluid is disclosed. The method is conducted by a computer system (200) having a processor (210) and a memory (220), the processor (210) configured to execute instructions from the memory (220) and store data in the memory (220), the memory (220) having a SoS inference module (202). The method includes inferring, by the SoS inference module (202), the inferred speed of sound of the flow fluid based on an inferential relationship between a measured density of the flow fluid and the inferred speed of sound of the flow fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy PATTEN, Anthony William PANKRATZ
  • Patent number: 11486752
    Abstract: A method for determining a mass flow measurement is provided. The method comprises calibrating a flowmeter sensor at a first temperature and flowing a fluid having a second temperature through the flowmeter sensor. A density of the fluid is input into meter electronics. A compensated mass flow value of the fluid is determined by meter electronics, wherein the Modulus of Elasticity of the flowmeter sensor is unknown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Patten, Robert Barclay Garnett
  • Publication number: 20220326060
    Abstract: A method for detecting a deviation in a flow meter parameter is provided. The method includes measuring a flow tube temperature in a plurality of locations; and calculating a temperature gradient based on the measured temperatures. The method also includes detecting a deviation in the flow meter parameter if the calculated temperature gradient exceeds a temperature gradient threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. CUNNINGHAM, Andrew Timothy PATTEN
  • Patent number: 11415447
    Abstract: A method for detecting a deviation in a flow meter parameter is provided. The method includes measuring a differential pressure across at least a portion of the flow meter, calculating a friction factor based on a measured flow rate and the measured differential pressure. The method also includes comparing the calculated friction factor to an expected friction factor based on the measured flow rate and detecting a deviation in the flow meter parameter if the difference between the calculated friction factor and the expected friction factor exceeds a threshold limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Cunningham, Andrew Timothy Patten
  • Patent number: 11226221
    Abstract: A method for operating a flowmeter is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring a fluid flow in the flowmeter, determining at least one fluid characteristic, determining a preferred algorithm of a plurality of algorithms based upon the fluid flow and the at least one fluid characteristic, and applying the preferred algorithm to an operating routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Patten, Anthony William Pankratz, Dean M Standiford, Aart R Pruysen
  • Patent number: 11199431
    Abstract: A method of automatically verifying accurate operation of a flowmeter during field operation is provided that comprises providing a flowmeter having meter electronics with a storage system, and flowing a non-calibration process fluid through the flowmeter. Meter electronics are configured to perform the steps of: detecting a model of the flowmeter as well as retrieving an initial factory calibration factory zero value and a stored zero drift specification from the storage system. A zero value is measured during field operation of the flowmeter and compared with the factory zero value. An error zero value is calculated. Whether the error between the field operation zero value and the factory zero value is within the zero drift specification is determined, and the flowmeter is calibrated if the error is outside the zero drift specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Timothy Patten