Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Drahm

Wolfgang Drahm 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: 20240077433
    Abstract: A method for determining a deposit property of a variable deposit on an end face of a first microwave antenna of an assembly for determining a property of a multiphase medium that is to be conveyed, wherein the first microwave antenna is arranged in a first receptacle of the measuring pipe in a medium-contacting manner, wherein the method comprises emitting an excitation signal by means of the first microwave antenna, wherein the excitation signal comprises a sequence of high-frequency signals; receiving a reflected excitation signal by means of the first microwave antenna; determining a first test quantity on the basis of the reflected excitation signal; and determining on the basis of the first test quantity the deposit property of the variable deposit, in particular a variable dependent on a deposit thickness of the variable deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Anne Habermehl, Stefan Pflüger, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Publication number: 20240027367
    Abstract: A method for determining a coating property of a variable coating on an inner circumferential surface of a measuring tube includes emitting an excitation signal from the first microwave antenna, wherein the excitation signal comprises a sequence of high-frequency signals; receiving the excitation signal by the second microwave antenna; determining a first test variable from the received excitation signal and/or from an integral transform of the received excitation signal, wherein the first test variable is characteristic of the propagation of the excitation signal along a first propagation path, wherein the first propagation path describes an at least partial propagation of the excitation signal by the variable coating on the inner circumferential surface; and determining the coating property of the variable coating, in particular a variable dependent upon a coating thickness of the variable coating, based upon the first test variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Anne Habermehl, Stefan Pflüger, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Publication number: 20230213367
    Abstract: A method for operating a magnetically-inductive flowmeter, wherein the magnetically-inductive flowmeter includes: a measuring tube for guiding a flowable medium; at least two measuring electrodes for detecting a flow velocity-dependent measuring voltage induced in the medium; and a magnetic field-generating device for generating a magnetic field passing through the measuring tube, wherein the magnetic field-generating device includes a coil system with at least one coil, includes determining a deviation ? of a reactance of the coil system or of a variable dependent upon the reactance of the coil system from a desired value. A magnetically inductive flowmeter is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Frank Schmalzried, Heinz Rufer, Wolfgang Drahm, Thomas Küng
  • Patent number: 11579060
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining of fat content of milk having variable solids fractions and flowing with variable gas content in a pipeline. The method includes ascertaining a velocity of sound and an average density value for the milk based on eigenfrequencies of at least two bending oscillation wanted modes of measuring tubes of a densimeter arranged in the pipeline. The method further includes ascertaining a static pressure in the pipeline; a gas volume fraction based on the velocity of sound; the average density; the pressure; a density of the milk without gas content based on the average density and the gas volume fraction; and a permittivity of the milk based on a propagation velocity and/or an absorption of microwaves in the milk. The fat fraction is calculated based on the density of the milk without gas content and on the effective permittivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Stefan Pflüger, Wolfgang Drahm, Hao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20230009321
    Abstract: A measuring tube arrangement of a measuring device for detecting a mass flow rate of a flowable medium includes: two measuring tubes for conducting the medium, wherein the measuring tubes each have an inlet and an outlet, wherein the measuring tubes are bent at least once between the inlet and outlet; a coupler arrangement for mechanically coupling the two measuring tubes, wherein the coupler arrangement has at least two coupler elements, wherein one coupler element is arranged at the inlet, and one coupler element is arranged at the outlet; two magnet arrangements, each having at least two magnets, arranged on the measuring tubes, wherein precisely one magnet arrangement is arranged on one measuring tube; and a connecting body configured to mechanically detachably connect the measuring tube arrangement to a carrier unit, wherein the connecting body is connected to the inlet and to the outlet of the respective measuring tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Hao Zhu, Martin Josef Anklin, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Patent number: 11550342
    Abstract: A gas separator for separating a multiphase medium containing a gas and a liquid includes a tubular basic unit having a longitudinal axis, an intake for a gaseous medium, a liquid outlet and a gas outlet. The tubular basic unit has an intake region and a discharge region. The gas separator includes, between the intake region and the discharge region, a weir having a guiding surface, over which the medium can flow to form a shallow water region. The gas contained in the medium can escape from the medium in the shallow water region and be led away from the gas separator through the gas outlet. The disclosure is also directed to an apparatus for registering flow of at least one component of a multiphase medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Guido Horoba, Helmut Zeislmeier, Wolfgang Drahm, Rainer Höcker
  • Patent number: 11543277
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor arrangement on a process installation comprising at least two sensor tiles, wherein each sensor tile comprises a support and a plurality of sensors arranged on the support for determining a physical or chemical variable of a measuring medium, a process characteristic of the measuring medium, and/or a state of the process installation. A first sensor tile comprises a control unit having a transmit and receive module for data exchange with a control unit of a second sensor tile. The first control unit of the first sensor tile and/or a second control unit allocated to the sensor arrangement is designed to weight the values determined by each sensor tile. Weighting may be a function of the measured value variations of the sensor tile, the position of the sensor tile in the process installation, and/or the function of the sensor tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder, Peter Klöfer, Thomas Moore
  • Publication number: 20220333971
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a pipeline and a Coriolis volumetric flow meter for measuring a mass flow rate of a medium flowing through the pipeline. A first pressure sensor is attached at an inlet-side of the pipeline and a second pressure sensor is attached at an outlet-side of the pipeline, or wherein a differential pressure sensor is configured to detect a difference between an inlet-side and an outlet-side. The pressure sensors and/or the differential pressure sensor are configured to measure a media pressure and to determine, for each differential pressure, a volumetric flow velocity of the medium through the pipeline. A first monitoring sensor is attached at an inlet-side portion of the pipeline and a second monitoring sensor is attached at an outlet-side portion of the pipeline, wherein the monitoring sensors are configured to monitor a measurement variable different from the media pressure to identify a static media state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Hao Zhu, Wolfgang Drahm, Andreas Güttler
  • Publication number: 20220099470
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a flowed amount of a medium using a first flow measuring transducer according to a first measuring principle and a second flow measuring transducer according to a second measuring principle. The measured values of the first transducer are more reliable in first states of the medium than measured values of the second transducer, and the second measured values are more reliable in second states than the first measured values. A contribution to the flowed amount is ascertained based on the more reliable measured values. The contribution to the flowed amount based on the second measured values is ascertained by means of a transfer function. An updated version of the transfer function is ascertained when the first measured values are more reliable, and the flowed amount earlier ascertained based on the second measured values is corrected as a function of the updated transfer function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Publication number: 20220082423
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a physical parameter of a liquid, which has a gas charge using a measuring transducer having a measuring tube for conveying the medium. The measuring tube executes oscillations in bending oscillation mode. The method includes: exciting the measuring tube with an eigenfrequency of a bending oscillation mode—or f1-mode, ascertaining a suppressed excitation frequency, at which the oscillation amplitude of the measuring tube is minimum; identifying the frequency as the resonant frequency of the gas-charged liquid; ascertaining a density correction term as a function of the resonant frequency for correcting a preliminary density measured value and/or mass flow correction term as a function of the resonant frequency for correcting a preliminary mass flow rate measured value, and/or ascertaining the velocity of sound in the gas-charged liquid in the measuring tube as a function of the resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder
  • Publication number: 20210396565
    Abstract: A measuring system comprises: a measuring transducer; transmitter electronics; at least one measuring tube; and at least one oscillation exciter. The transmitter electronics delivers a driver signal for the at least one oscillation exciter, and for feeding electrical, excitation power into the at least one oscillation exciter. The driver signal, has a sinusoidal signal component which corresponds to an instantaneous eigenfrequency, and in which the at least one measuring tube can execute, or executes, eigenoscillations about a resting position. The eigenoscillations have an oscillation node and in the region of the wanted, oscillatory length exactly one oscillatory antinode. The driver signal has, a sinusoidal signal component with a signal frequency, which deviates from each instantaneous eigenfrequency of each natural mode of oscillation of the at least one measuring tube, in each case, by more than 1 Hz and/or by more than 1% of said eigenfrequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Hao Zhu, Alfred Rieder, Michael Wiesmann, Patrick Oudoire
  • Patent number: 11073416
    Abstract: A measuring system comprises: a measuring transducer; transmitter electronics; at least one measuring tube; and at least one oscillation exciter. The transmitter electronics delivers a driver signal for the at least one oscillation exciter, and for feeding electrical, excitation power into the at least one oscillation exciter. The driver signal, has a sinusoidal signal component which corresponds to an instantaneous eigenfrequency, and in which the at least one measuring tube can execute, or executes, eigenoscillations about a resting position. The eigenoscillations have an oscillation node and in the region of the wanted, oscillatory length exactly one oscillatory antinode. The driver signal has, a sinusoidal signal component with a signal frequency, which deviates from each instantaneous eigenfrequency of each natural mode of oscillation of the at least one measuring tube, in each case, by more than 1 Hz and/or by more than 1% of said eigenfrequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Hao Zhu, Alfred Rieder, Michael Wiesmann, Patrick Oudoire
  • Publication number: 20210003491
    Abstract: Method for continuous determining of fat content of milk having variable solids fractions and flowing with variable gas content in a pipeline, comprising: ascertaining a value for velocity of sound and an average density value for milk flowing in the pipeline based on eigenfrequencies of at least two bending oscillation wanted modes of measuring tubes of a densimeter arranged in the pipeline; ascertaining a value for static pressure in the pipeline by means of a pressure sensor connected to the pipeline; ascertaining a value for gas volume fraction based on the value for the velocity of sound, the value for the average density and the value for the pressure; ascertaining a value of density of milk flowing in the pipeline without gas content based on the value for the average density and based on the value for the gas volume fraction; ascertaining a value for permittivity of milk flowing in the pipeline based on at least one measuring of propagation velocity and/or absorption of microwaves in the milk by me
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan Pflüger, Wolfgang Drahm, Hao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20200319009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor arrangement on a process installation comprising at least two sensor tiles, wherein each sensor tile comprises a support which can be arranged on the process installation and a plurality of sensors arranged on the support for determining a physical or chemical variable of a measuring medium found in the process installation, a process characteristic of the measuring medium and/or a state of the process installation, wherein a first of the sensor tiles comprises a control and/or evaluation unit having at least one transmit and receive module for data exchange with a first control and/or evaluation unit of a second sensor tile, wherein the first control and/or evaluation unit of the first sensor tile and/or a second control and/or evaluation unit allocated to the sensor arrangement is designed to determine the physical or chemical variable of the measuring medium, the process characteristic of the measuring medium and/or a state of the process installation by weighting the valu
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm, Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder, Peter Klöfer, Thomas Moore
  • Patent number: 10705055
    Abstract: A measuring transducer comprises two flow dividers having, in each case, two tubular chambers separated from one another and adapted for guiding in- and out flowing fluid, of which each has a chamber floor, in which are formed, in each case, two mutually spaced flow openings communicating with a lumen of the chamber, and as well as a tube arrangement having at least four measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers for guiding flowing fluid with parallel flow. Moreover, the measuring transducer comprises an electromechanical exciter mechanism for exciting mechanical oscillations of the measuring tubes as well as a sensor arrangement for registering oscillatory movements of the measuring tubes and for generating at least two oscillation measurement signals representing oscillations of at least one of the measuring tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm, Michael Kirst
  • Publication number: 20200183346
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a field device in the field of automation engineering using an operating appliance with a homogeneously produced, application-specific user interface, the method including: a) connecting the operating appliance to the field device; b) inputting an application-specific request in the operating appliance; c) transmitting the specific request to the interpreter; d) sending data and procedures corresponding to the specific request back to the operating appliance; e) forwarding the data and procedures corresponding to the specific request from the operating appliance to the field device; f) implementing the data and procedures corresponding to the specific request in the field device; and g) the method continues with method steps b) to f), the specific request being determined by the interpreter according to the operator input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Heinz Rufer, Ulrich Kaiser, Nikolai Fink, Hartmut Breithaupt, Martine Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 10497350
    Abstract: An arrangement, comprising a housing wall, an ultrasonic transducer and a damping element with a longitudinal axis, which damping element connects the ultrasonic transducer with the housing wall. The ultrasonic transducer has an end piece with a medium-contacting surface, from which ultrasonic signals are transferred into a gaseous or liquid medium. The damping element is provided for body sound damping between the ultrasonic transducer and the housing wall, and wherein the damping element has at least one, especially a number of, oscillatory nodes, characterized in that there is arranged between the damping element and the housing wall at least a first sealing ring, which is positioned at a height of an oscillatory node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Yaoying Lin, Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm, Michal Bezdek, Pierre Ueberschlag
  • Publication number: 20190196518
    Abstract: A gas separator for separating a multiphase medium containing a gas and a liquid includes a tubular basic unit having a longitudinal axis, an intake for a gaseous medium, a liquid outlet and a gas outlet. The tubular basic unit has an intake region and a discharge region. The gas separator includes, between the intake region and the discharge region, a weir having a guiding surface, over which the medium can flow to form a shallow water region. The gas contained in the medium can escape from the medium in the shallow water region and be led away from the gas separator through the gas outlet. The disclosure is also directed to an apparatus for registering flow of at least one component of a multiphase medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Guido Horoba, Helmut Zeislmeier, Wolfgang Drahm, Rainer Höcker
  • Patent number: 10269336
    Abstract: An arrangement comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a damping element with a longitudinal axis, which damping element connects the ultrasonic transducer with a housing- or measuring tube wall. The transducer has an end piece with a medium-contacting surface, from which ultrasonic signals are transferred into a gaseous or liquid medium. The damping element has at least two annular grooves and an annular mass segment arranged therebetween, characterized in that the damping element has a first eigenfrequency, in which the annular mass segment executes an axial movement parallel to the longitudinal direction of the damping element. This first eigenfrequency is the highest eigenfrequency, in the case that a plurality of eigenfrequencies are present, in the case of which the annular mass segment executes an axial movement parallel to the longitudinal direction of the damping element, and the damping element has a second eigenfrequency, in which the annular mass segment executes a rotary movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Yaoying Lin, Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm, Michal Bezdek, Pierre Ueberschlag
  • Publication number: 20180364081
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magneto-inductive flow measuring device for measuring flow velocity or volume flow of a medium in a pipeline as well as to a method for implementing the magneto-inductive flow measuring device. In such case, the remanent magnetic field of at least one permanent magnet is applied for flow monitoring and flow measurement, wherein the flow measurement is performed upon achievement of criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Nikolai Fink, Frank Schmalzried, Heinz Rufer, Wolfgang Drahm