Flow Metering Patents (Class 702/45)
  • Patent number: 9453751
    Abstract: An instrument that directly measures a flow rate and air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas, and from the flow rate and air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, calculates fuel consumption measures the fuel consumption at high response speed and with high accuracy. The instrument is provided with: an ultrasonic flowmeter 2 that measures a flow rate QEX of exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust gas flow path R; and an arithmetic unit 4 that calculates fuel consumption Fe of an engine with use of the exhaust gas flow rate QEX obtained by the ultrasonic flowmeter 2 and an air-fuel ratio AFR obtained by an air-fuel ratio sensor 3 that measures the air-fuel ratio AFR of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow path R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Akita, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9429548
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a flow sensing apparatus including: a fluid channel that allows a fluid to flow in a first direction; a first temperature sensor arranged at a first position along the fluid channel; a second temperature sensor arranged at a second position along the fluid channel and separated from the first sensor by a predetermined distance along the fluid channel; a heating element arranged between the first and second thermoelectric sensors, the heating element being substantially equally spaced from the first and second thermoelectric sensors; a heating element temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the heating element; and a control device configured to maintain the heating element at a substantially uniform temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Geoff C. Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 9400203
    Abstract: A vibratory flow meter (5, 300) is provided. The vibratory flow meter (5, 300) includes a flow meter assembly (10, 310) including at least two vibration sensors (170L and 170R, 303 and 305) that generate at least two vibrational signals and meter electronics (20, 320) that receives the at least two vibrational signals, generate a new time difference (?t) using multiple time difference measurements obtained for a flow material, and determine if the new time difference (?t) is within predetermined bounds of an old time difference (?t0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Patten, Paul J. Hays, Stephanie A. Lane
  • Patent number: 9317502
    Abstract: Systems, software, and methods for improved monitoring and identification systems for items and units to be serviced and reported, such as seal tags and other information from items or units to be serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cartasite, Inc.
    Inventors: David Armitage, Mark Mason
  • Patent number: 9097572
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations resulting from manual operation or ignition state when the appliances are used alone or in combination, and improving appliance identification precision of appliances having similar characteristics with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device identifies the appliances with high precision by extracting characteristics of gas appliances from code sequences into which a differential conversion unit converts, at regular time intervals, differentials by a first calculation unit which calculates differentials at regular time intervals in the flow rates measured by a flow rate measurement unit and by a second calculation unit which calculates differentials at time intervals different from the first calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Kamimura, Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 9091454
    Abstract: A method for controlling a system includes receiving temperature and humidity measurements of supply air to a serviced space, return air from the serviced space, and outside air, wherein the outside air includes air outside the serviced space, calculating a volumetric flow rate of the outside air entering the system using the received temperature and humidity measurements of the supply air, the return air, and the outside air, calculating an air change per hour (ACH) rate in the serviced space using the calculated volumetric flow rate of the air outside the serviced space entering the system and the volume of the serviced space, and controlling the ACH rate in the serviced space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel J. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 9062995
    Abstract: This method comprises taking a first pressurized gaseous phase sample in a flow channel and transferring the first sample in the measuring channel. It comprises activating a second sensor to collect a first piece of information representative of the first pressurized sample. The method comprising taking a second pressurized liquid phase sample, transferring the second sample in the measuring channel and activating the second sensor a second piece of information representative of the second pressurized sample. The method comprises the computation of at least one calibration coefficient connecting the property to the or each piece of information received from the sensor, based on the first piece of information and the second piece of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: David Pierre-Yves
  • Patent number: 9052221
    Abstract: A method and flow measuring device for ascertaining flow of a medium through a measuring tube based on at least a first measurement signal, which depends at least on the flow velocity of the medium in the measuring tube, wherein the first measurement signal is registered, wherein an additional, second measurement signal is registered, which depends on the flow cross sectional area of the medium in the measuring tube and is independent of the flow velocity of the medium in the measuring tube, and wherein flow is ascertained as a function of the first and second measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder, Stefan Heidenblut, Frank Schmalzried, Thomas Sulzer
  • Publication number: 20150149098
    Abstract: A method of detecting E-line loss in a disc stack centrifuge is provided, comprising: collecting data from at least one instrument associated with the centrifuge over a specific time period; calculating one or more indicators by comparing the collected data with expected values from a normally operating centrifuge, the indicators being indicative of a start of an E-line loss event; calculating the probability of E-line loss by applying weighted voting to the indicators to yield a probability value; and activating an alert upon determination that the probability value exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: DARCY DAUGELA, DAVID MUELLER, DANIEL BULBUC, CHRISTINE ENGLER-COOPER
  • Publication number: 20150149097
    Abstract: A delivery server comprises: a reception unit configured to receive sets of meter indication data of a plurality of gas meters; a storage device configured to store the respective sets of meter indication data; a gas usage calculating unit configured to calculate a gas usage on a basis of comparison between corresponding sets of meter indication data; a first rate-of-change calculating unit configured to calculate a rate of change in a past gas usage consumed in each of a plurality of supply facilities on a basis of comparison between a plurality of gas usages in a time of earlier than a meter indication date of the received sets of meter indication data by a predetermined period of time; and a prediction unit configured to modify the gas usage in accordance with the rate of change and predict the modified gas usage as a prospective gas usage to be consumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Shinji Wada, Shingo Dekamo
  • Patent number: 9038480
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a pulse generator to provide an excitation pulse to an output terminal and a comparator to receive a signal in response to the excitation pulse and for comparing the signal to a threshold to produce a comparator output signal corresponding to oscillations in the signal. The integrated circuit further includes a counter to count pulses in the comparator output signal and a discriminator circuit to compare a count value of the counter to a damping threshold and for providing an output signal having a first value when the count value is equal to or exceeds the damping threshold and otherwise having a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Marty L. Pflum, Michael Keith Odland, Kenneth W. Fernald
  • Patent number: 9037430
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to electrical impedance tomography testing systems and methods for non-destructively testing a polycrystalline diamond element (e.g., a polycrystalline diamond table of a polycrystalline diamond compact or a freestanding polycrystalline diamond table) using electrical impedance tomography to locate one or more high-electrical-conductivity regions (e.g., one or more regions of poorly sintered diamond crystals and/or high-metal-solvent catalyst content) and/or one or more low-electrical-conductivity regions (e.g., porosity and/or cracks) in the tested polycrystalline diamond element. Further embodiments relate to a rotary drill bit including at least one polycrystalline diamond compact that has been selectively positioned so that one or more high-electrical-conductivity regions of a polycrystalline diamond table thereof identified using the non-destructive testing systems and methods disclosed herein are not positioned to engage a subterranean formation during drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason K. Wiggins, Kenneth E. Bertagnolli, Gene Bogdanov, Reinhold Ludwig
  • Patent number: 9026381
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations in the flow rate which changes in various ways depending on the state of usage, and improving identification precision of appliances with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device monitors and determines the change in the flow rate measured by a flow rate measurement unit, and extracts and determines codes obtained by a differential conversion unit and appliance characteristic flow rates representing the characteristics of gas appliances, thereby identifying the gas appliances in which appliance characteristics vary depending on the state of usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 9026382
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations resulting from manual operation or ignition state when appliances are used alone or in combination, and improving appliance identification precision with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device monitors and determines the change in a flow rate measured by a flow rate measurement unit, monitors and determines the code obtained by differential conversion unit, extracts appliance characteristic flow rates representing the characteristics of the gas appliances, and compares them with the appliance-specific characteristics, thereby identifying the gas appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 9020765
    Abstract: A system and a method for safe operations of a mass flow sensor in a combustion device, with a gas supply, an air supply, a fan with an electric motor, a burner, and a communication micro processor, wherein the mass flow sensor includes a microprocessor used for communications, the communication micro processor communicates with the micro processor of the one mass flow sensor, and the communications include safety-relevant interrogations of the mass flow sensor in order to secure the mass flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ebm-papst Landshut GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Seebauer
  • Patent number: 9019120
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring water leaks within a home. A home network with various devices monitors these devices with a controller. Information is received from a water flow meter via a transceiver for tracking a total water flow amount through pipelines in the home. By comparing information collected to a predetermined threshold, a leak is determined as present or not within each pipeline. Upon the detection of a leak in the home, a home owner is notified of the condition so that action is taken expeditiously. A shut off valve can be triggered remotely when a request is received from the user, which closes the water pipeline to prevent water damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jay Andrew Broniak, Michael Thomas Beyerle, Joseph Mark Brian, David C. Bingham
  • Patent number: 9014997
    Abstract: Drive techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The drive techniques account for delays caused during digital signal processing of sensor signals that correspond to a motion of a flowtube, as well as drive signals that impart motion to the flowtube. Such delays may be caused by a variety of factors, including delays associated with analog/digital conversion of the signals and/or filtering of the signals. The techniques include open-loop techniques and closed-loop techniques, which can be used separately or together during the start-up and operation of the digital flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mayela E. Zamora
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9014993
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring device simplifies calculation, reduces memory required for calculation, absorbs variations due to manual operation and, depending on the state of ignition, improves the accuracy of appliance identification by extracting features of appliances. The flow rate measuring device includes: a difference value conversion unit that converts into codes difference values of the flow rate measured at constant time intervals by an ultrasonic flowmeter; an appliance feature extraction unit creates an appliance feature code string indicating a feature of each appliance by, for example, making comparison and judgment using a third last code, a second last code, a last code and a current code of the codes obtained at constant time intervals, and by performing code deletion; and an identification unit performs appliance identification by comparing the appliance feature code string with an appliance inherent feature code string indicating the feature code string inherent in each appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Ryuji Iwamoto, Takuhisa Ootani, Kouichi Ueki, Kazutaka Asano, Hajime Miyata, Youichi Itou
  • Patent number: 9002664
    Abstract: A flow counter capable of correctly checking an operating state of the flow counter and leakage and correctly indicating a total amount of flow by allowing the rotation of a pointer to be learned accurately in the form of numerical data. In this flow counter (1), rotation of a flow detection driving gear (5) is transmitted to a flow indication section (4) composed of a plurality of digit wheels (4a1 to 4a8) by a main gear train section (2). The rotation of the flow detection driving gear (5) is also transmitted to a first pointer (6) by a branch gear section (3) branched from the main gear train section (2). The first pointer (6) indicates the operating state of the flow detection driving gear (5). The flow indication section (4) indicates a total amount of flow. A rotation detection member, which is a component of a rotation sensor, is integrally rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft of the first pointer (6). An amount of rotation of the rotating shaft is electrically detected by a rotation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Huiqing Chen
  • Publication number: 20150073731
    Abstract: A flow meter device comprises a flow measuring section (2) for measuring a flow of a fluid in a fluid passage through which the fluid is supplied to a fluid instrument in use; and a measurement data processing section (3) which calculates a slope of a change in a flow difference per unit time which change occurs with time, at a time point when a sign of the flow difference per unit time is inverted, based on the flow of the fluid measured by the flow measuring section, and determines whether or not the fluid instrument in use is a particular fluid instrument based on whether or not the slope falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yokohata, Motoyuki Nawa
  • Patent number: 8973602
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas shutoff device that prevents tampering procurement of gas or tamper due to stealing of the gas shutoff device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yokohata
  • Publication number: 20150066396
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a flow-estimation processor receives one or more flow-depth measurements with each flow-depth measurement having been taken at a respective time. The processor calculates a respective estimated flow rate for each of the times based on the corresponding flow-depth measurement and one or more flow-estimation parameters each set to a respective initial value. The processor outputs the estimated flow rates for presentation via a user interface, and receives via the user interface one or more updated values corresponding respectively to a flow-estimation parameter. The processor calculates an updated estimated flow rate for each of the one or more times, such that each respective updated estimated flow rate is calculated based on the received updated values. The processor then outputs the updated estimated flow rates for presentation via the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Hadronex, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Quist, David A. Drake, Lawrence B. Merchell, Justin H. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8972207
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 8972208
    Abstract: In a flow meter device of the present invention, a time measuring section of the flow meter device includes a first counter which starts counting at a starting point of measurement of propagation time; and a second counter which starts counting at an end point of the measurement of the propagation time, and performs counting at a higher speed than the first counter. A propagation time TO is finally obtained by subtracting time ?t which is measured by the second counter and passes from the end point until the first counter counts up, from time T which is measured by the first counter and passes from a starting point until the first counter counts up after the end point. A flow calculating section calculates a flow with high accuracy using the propagation time TO. Thus, lower electric power consumption can be achieved, and accuracy of measurement of flow can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Takemura, Fumikazu Shiba, Yuji Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8970391
    Abstract: Toilet management systems and methods are provided. In an example system, a central monitoring component compiles usage information from sensors stationed at multiple toilet units and compiles a report of usage patterns. The usage patterns are networked to potential users via a user interface available on a webpage or mobile communications device. The user interface recommends which candidate toilet unit to use based on longest time since last use and/or least number of occupants since last maintenance or cleaning. The user interface may display two visual dials defining, for each toilet unit, amount of time elapsed since last occupancy and number of occupants since last maintenance or cleaning, and other metrics via bar charts. The example system extends a reservation system for a potential user to reserve a toilet unit based on the recommendation or the usage patterns provided over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Edo Vincent Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 8965715
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 8965714
    Abstract: A diagnostic mechanism includes: a flow rate control part configured to control an opening degree of a flow rate control valve provided in a flow passage so that a measurement flow rate value outputted from a flow rate sensor becomes a target flow rate value; an inspection value output part configured to output an inspection value related to a time integral of the measurement flow rate value in a diagnostic period which is defined in correspondence with a part of a period from a time point of closing the flow passage upstream of the flow rate sensor to a time point of expiration of a state that the measurement flow rate value and the target flow rate value are substantially nearly equal; and a diagnosing part configured to compare the inspection value and a predetermined specified value to diagnose whether an abnormality relating to the flow rate sensor is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Horiba STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamaguchi, Masao Yamaguchi, Kentaro Nagai, Toshiyuki Himi
  • Patent number: 8965713
    Abstract: Apparatus (300) and method for providing measurements relating to different phase components of a flowing fluid. The apparatus includes a device (306) configured to obtain, in use, at least one input (302, 304) representing a velocity of flowing fluid produced by at least one measuring device (302, 304) non-intrusively/externally mounted on a conduit (100) containing the flowing fluid. The apparatus also includes a device (306) configured to use the at least one velocity input to calculate (308) a total volumetric flow of the flowing fluid, and a device (306) configured to use the velocity input and the calculated total volumetric flow to compute (310, 312) at least one measurement relating to at least one phase component of the flowing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Able Instruments & Controls Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Paul Skelding
  • Publication number: 20150046101
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to, at the time of directly measuring a flow rate of exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust gas flow path and an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, and on the basis of the flow rate and air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, calculating fuel consumption, reduce a measurement error of the fuel consumption. Also, the invention is a fuel consumption calculation unit that, with use of an exhaust gas flow rate obtained by a flow rate sensor provided in an exhaust gas flow path through which exhaust gas of an engine flows, and an air-fuel ratio obtained by an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in the exhaust gas flow path, calculates fuel consumption of the engine, and on the basis of the air-fuel ratio obtained by the air-fuel ratio sensor, changes a value of exhaust gas density used for the calculation of the fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Masanobu AKITA, Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Ichiro ASANO, Masayuki ADACHI
  • Patent number: 8950274
    Abstract: A method for monitoring oscillation characteristics in a Coriolis, flow measuring device and to a correspondingly formed, Coriolis, flow measuring device in the case of which an excited oscillatory system is simulated with a digital model, which has at least one fittable parameter. The simulating includes, in such case, excitating the digital model in the same manner as the oscillatory system, calculating a simulation response variable of the simulated oscillations according to the digital model, and, performed over a plurality of signal modulations, iterative conforming of the at least one, fittable parameter in such a manner that the simulation response variable interatively approaches the response variable. Furthermore, it is ascertained whether a corresponding limit value is exceeded by the at least one, interatively ascertained parameter value for the at least one, fittable parameter or by at least one variable derived from the at least one, iteratively ascertained parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Remy Scherrer
  • Patent number: 8942929
    Abstract: A method for taking field measurements of a cone type fluid flow meter including a meter body and a cone-type fluid displacement member to determine when to calibrate or replace the fluid flow meter. The method includes taking measurements of dimensions of the fluid displacement member and the meter body, evaluating the dimension measurements and ascertaining whether the dimension measurements are within designated dimension limits. The present method saves significant time and costs by taking measurements in the field determining whether to calibrate or replace the fluid flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: McCrometer, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton Paul Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8938367
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a motion detecting device is configured to detect whether one or more movement events have occurred. The motion detecting device can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing device having: (1) one or more pressure sensors configured to provide two or more pressure measurements; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the one or more pressure sensors and configured to transmit the two or more pressure measurements to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the two or more pressure measurements to determine whether the one or more movement events have occurred. The sensing device can be configured to be placed in at least one of ductwork of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or an air handler of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Matthew S. Reynolds, Gregory D. Abowd
  • Publication number: 20150019146
    Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring the performance of combined sewer overflow structures is described. The inventive system includes sensors for monitoring the level of sewage in the structure and the operation of valves. A data processing unit collects data and calculates the flow of an overflow event and/or the performance of gate valves. The system may be battery operated and may adaptively change the sensor sampling time to prolong battery lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Luis Montestruque
  • Publication number: 20150019145
    Abstract: A method for equitable allocation of hydrocarbon component yields which uses the output of process modeling of the hydrocarbon processing system with the individual source streams commingled into a single inlet stream to create a differential value table which can be used to provide the allocation of output product to the individual source streams that are accountable for the individual component yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Laurie Sibbald
  • Patent number: 8928490
    Abstract: A meter apparatus, a metering network, and a metering method thereof are provided. The meter apparatus includes a pulse generator, an optical sensor, a spinning disc, and a magnetic sensor. The pulse generator is configured to generate a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource. The optical sensor is configured to detect the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader. The spinning disc is configured to produce an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource. The magnetic sensor is configured to detect the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Neweb Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Peng, Wan-Neng Liu
  • Publication number: 20150006092
    Abstract: A device for determining the mass flow of a fluid includes a line for conducting the fluid in a flow direction to a contact with a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a surface temperature which is constant in the flow direction. The device also includes a first temperature measuring position upstream from the exchanger for determining a first fluid temperature, a second temperature measuring position downstream from the heat exchanger for determining a second fluid temperature, and a third temperature measuring position for detecting the surface temperature of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventor: Steffen Grohmann
  • Patent number: 8924029
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a model associated with production of natural gas from a well, where the well has a choke valve that controls flow of material including natural gas from the well. The method also includes identifying, using the model, a solution that increases an amount of natural gas obtained from the well over a specified time horizon. In addition, the method includes adjusting operation of the choke valve based on the identified solution. The model could be generated using geological data associated with the well and/or historical data associated with natural gas production from the well. A natural gas reservoir can be modeled as a continuous stirred bed with a rock or shale void fraction using mass or volumetric unit balances. Gas content versus pressure for the well can be plotted, and Langmuir adsorption parameters for the well can be identified using the plotted gas content versus pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Nath, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Jeffrey G. Renfro, Betty Jean Stanek
  • Patent number: 8915262
    Abstract: A mass flow controller (MFC), a method for calibrating an MFC, and a method for operating an MFC are disclosed. The MFC may include a valve that is adjustable between a closed position and an open position to control a flow rate of a fluid responsive to a control signal, a thermal mass flow sensor that provides an indication of the flow rate of the fluid, calibration data including data that relates the control signal to the flow rate of the fluid at a plurality of fluid flow rates, and a control system that provides, based upon the calibration data and run time data, an adjustable non-zero starting control signal to the valve when the valve is closed to more quickly respond to a set point signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alexei V. Smirnov
  • Patent number: 8918293
    Abstract: A flow meter for monitoring fluid flow through a pipeline, the flow meter comprising a conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for communication with respective sections of the pipeline; a target element positioned inside the conduit between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the target element being mounted for resilient axial displacement under a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet; an arm secured at an anchor point on one side of the conduit and extending radially across the conduit, the target element being coupled to the arm for applying a load to the arm, upon said axial displacement of the target element, so as to deflect the arm relative to the anchor point; a sensor arrangement for measuring deflection of the arm at a point on the opposite side of the applied load to the anchor point; and a processor configured for providing a signal representative of the steam flow through the conduit in response to said measured deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Richard Quentin Carmichael, Roger Manley, Ben Frisby
  • Patent number: 8909485
    Abstract: A method of measuring a pumping amount of groundwater by using water level fluctuation, a water level measuring sensor including an arithmetic operation unit for calculating a pumping amount by using the method, and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining groundwater level data according to a measurement time by measuring fluctuation of a groundwater level for a predetermined period continually at time intervals; comparing groundwater level formed in a full pumping period including an initial stage a quasi-balance period, and a recovery period calculates a total time when pumping has been performed, by using a measurement time of the sorted data; and calculates a total pumping amount by using the total pumping time calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resource (KIGAM)
    Inventors: Hee-Jun Suk, Kyung-Seok Ko
  • Patent number: 8909486
    Abstract: A flow measuring device includes a flow rate detecting part, an analog/digital conversion part, and a signal processing part. The flow rate detecting part detects a flow rate of air flowing through the passage, and outputs a flow voltage signal, which is a voltage in accordance with the flow rate. The analog/digital conversion part converts the flow voltage signal from the flow rate detecting part into digital data, which is flow digital data. The signal processing part performs calculation processing upon the flow digital data, which includes averaging of a predetermined number of consecutive pieces of the flow digital data, and outputs the averaged flow digital data as a flow rate signal. The predetermined number is equal to or larger than two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Kohno, Takao Ban, Akitoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8909487
    Abstract: An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Adamo, Scott McLean, Chad C. Smutney, John M. Polidoro, Carl R. Sahi
  • Patent number: 8909482
    Abstract: A device for measuring power consumption and performance relative to the environment of a power-consuming unit is disclosed. The device includes a data introduction module, a keyboard for inputting data of waste production in the power-consuming unit, a computing device, and a display screen. The computing device receives the data from the data introduction module and the keyboard. The computing device is also provided with a processor that includes a calculation algorithm of an ecological parameter indicative of the performance relative to the environment of the power-consuming unit. The ecological parameter is calculated as an adjusted mean of the sum of the deviations of each power consumption value with respect to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Alberto Maso Portabella
  • Patent number: 8907810
    Abstract: An example water usage monitoring system includes at least one sensor communicating at least one parameter relating to water usage. At least one microcontroller represents a location with each microcontroller in communication with at least one of the sensors and having at least one input for selectively receiving said parameters, a counter, an accumulator that utilizes said counter and said parameters received from the at least one input for a discrete count to create a data packet in response to a change in at least one of said parameters, and a transmitter for wirelessly sending said data packet. The system also includes a data collection device configured to receive and combine at least one data packet from the at least one microcontroller into an information set. The data collection device is configured to transmit the information set. A storage device is configured receive the information set from the data collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Masco Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Belz, Craig W. Selover
  • Publication number: 20140359313
    Abstract: An approach is described for implementing an air tube button in a computing system. An associated apparatus may include an air tube having an aperture located on a panel of the computing system. The apparatus further may include an airflow sensor located in the air tube and a fan configured for facilitating airflow though the air tube. The airflow sensor may be an anemometer, an air pressure gauge, or a mass flow meter. The apparatus further may include a service processor subsystem connected to the airflow sensor. The service processor subsystem may be configured for implementing a virtual signal having a default logical high value. The service processor subsystem further may be configured for establishing a baseline value by determining average airflow detected by the airflow sensor over a unit of time and commencing sampling of the airflow sensor to obtain airflow values at uniform time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Keith M. CAMPBELL, William M. MEGARITY, Luke D. REMIS, Gregory D. SELLMAN
  • 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: 8892370
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 8892369
    Abstract: A predicting apparatus includes an obtaining unit and a predicting unit. The obtaining unit included in the predicting apparatus obtains actual measurements of data about a fan being rotated at a predetermined revolution frequency N [rpm]. The predicting apparatus then predicts data about the fan to be rotated at a revolution frequency N? that is different from the predetermined revolution frequency N based on the actual measurements of the data thus obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Furuya, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Nitta, Tadashi Katsui
  • Patent number: 8886471
    Abstract: A sensing system and method. A coded wheel is configured to generate a signal that varies with rotation of the coded wheel. A sensor is configured to sense the varying signal and output a corresponding signal. A correction module is configured to receive the signal output by the sensor and compare the received signal to a stored signal and detect a defect in the coded wheel in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Simon Hainz, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Ernst Katzmaier