Turbine, Geared Meter, Pulse Activated, Or Counter Patents (Class 73/1.27)
  • Patent number: 11860009
    Abstract: An automated meter testing system that includes a fluid inlet valve fluidly coupled both to a fluid source and an inlet on the at least one meter. The fluid source provides fluid pressure to move fluid through the at least one meter. A flow control valve is fluidly coupled to the at least one meter opposite the fluid inlet valve. A valve controller that operates the flow control valve. A controller is electrically connected to the valve controller. The controller sends at least one signal to the valve controller to incrementally open or restrict the flow control valve to increase or decrease a flow rate of the fluid through the at least one meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Roberts
  • Patent number: 10648621
    Abstract: A fluid transfer system, including a first stage, including an inlet, a surge tank, and a first cylinder operatively arranged to pump the fluid from the inlet to the surge tank, and a second stage, including an outlet, a knock out tank, and a second cylinder operatively arranged to pump the fluid from the surge tank into the knockout tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: John B. King
  • Patent number: 10450859
    Abstract: A mud pulser system for use in a wellbore includes a pulser assembly disposed in a drill string and through which drilling fluid is metered in order to generate pressure pulses in the drilling fluid. The pulser assembly includes a pulser body having an inlet and an exit. Included in the pulser body is a rotary member having multiple ports formed through the member. The rotary member can be spherically shaped. The ports are formed so that selectively rotating the rotary member registers opposing ends of a one of the ports with the inlet and exit in the body to provide communication between the inlet and exit. An actuator couples with the rotary member for its selective rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Bitswave Inc.
    Inventors: Ce Liu, James Morehead
  • Patent number: 9989379
    Abstract: Disclosed are various systems and methods related to improving the accuracy of resource usage counting of a metered resource by a computing device. The computing device disables interrupts used by the processor to count pulses received from a utility meter on respective first and second wires of a cable. A data level for the first wire attached to the one or more sensors of the computing device is detected and recorded. The data level indicating whether a pulse is presently being received on the first wire. The computing device then disconnects a common ground in the cable between the computing device and the utility meter, and initiates performance of a test of the cable. The computing device then restores the individual interrupts and the common ground in a defined sequence based upon detection of a pulse in one of the two wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thorpe
  • Patent number: 9475687
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel comprises a plurality of inlet valves, each connected in-line with a respective inlet pipe in fluid communication with a respective source of a specific liquid fuel. A plurality of outlet valves are also provided, each connected in-line with a respective outlet pipe. A respective fuel hose is in fluid communication with each of the outlet pipes. The apparatus further comprises a Coriolis mass flow meter located between the inlet valves and outlet valves, the Coriolis mass flow meter providing a flow signal indicative of flow therethrough. A controller is operative to receive the flow signal and control the valves such that selected inputs of specific liquid fuels are dispensed to at least one of the fuel hoses. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the selected inputs of specific liquid fuels may include individual liquid fuels and blended combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Deline
  • Patent number: 9175810
    Abstract: A system includes a custody transfer system configured to transfer a gas fuel from a gas supply to a plurality of gas turbines. The custody transfer system includes a first plurality of flow meters arranged in parallel with each other, wherein each of the first plurality of flow meters is configured to obtain a first measurement of a portion of a flow rate of the gas fuel flowing through the custody transfer system, and a second plurality of flow meters in series with the first plurality of flow meters, wherein each of the second plurality of flow meters is configured to obtain a second measurement of the flow rate of the gas fuel flowing through the custody transfer system, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of flow meters is configured to be blocked or unblocked from receiving the gas fuel based on a number of the plurality of gas turbines in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Victor Hains, John Francis Wodecki, Brian Michael Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20140116106
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a wind indicator device of a wind turbine of the horizontal-axis type in which a shaft has a portion in a nacelle, the wind indicator device being on an exterior of the nacelle. The system comprises a shaft interface adapted to be positioned on the shaft of the wind turbine in a known manner relative to an orientation of the shaft. An extended body is connected to the shaft interface, the extended body projecting from the shaft interface positioned on the shaft to an exterior of the nacelle. An alignment device is connected to the extended body, the alignment device having a visual indicator at the exterior of the nacelle representative of an orientation of the shaft of the nacelle when the shaft interface is positioned on the shaft in the known manner, whereby a calibration of the wind indicator device is achieved using the visual indicator device. A method for calibrating the wind indicator device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GESTION VALEO S.E.C.
    Inventors: Francis PELLETIER, Souheil-Antoine TAHAN
  • Patent number: 8199611
    Abstract: A seismic sensor module includes sensing elements arranged in a plurality of axes to detect seismic signals in a plurality of respective directions, and a processor to receive data from the sensing elements and to determine inclinations of the axes with respect to a particular orientation. The determined inclinations are used to combine the data received from the sensing elements to derive tilt-corrected seismic data for the particular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Nicolas Goujon
  • Publication number: 20100080703
    Abstract: A wind power generation system includes a wind turbine at a wind turbine location, a measuring device for providing a wind condition signal at a test location, a sensor for providing a wind condition signal at the wind turbine, and a controller. The controller is configured for receiving the wind condition signals, using a wind correlation database and the wind condition signal at the test location for providing a wind condition estimation at the wind turbine location, obtaining a difference between the wind condition signal at the wind turbine location and the wind condition estimate at the wind turbine location, and using the difference for adjusting the wind condition signal at the wind turbine location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Weiguo CHEN, Jiyang Xia, Lei Zhao
  • Publication number: 20090263246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the calibration of at least one sensor (11-14) of a wind power plant (10). The invention also relates to a wind power plant (10). The calibration process according to the invention is captured by the at least one sensor (11-14). The measurement value (30, 31), which is a measure for the load of a component (15-17), is evaluated, wherein the wind power plant has at least the moveable component (15, 15?, 15?, 16, 17), wherein the component (15-17) is pivoted or rotated around a predeterminable axis (19, 20). The wind power plant according to the invention is provided with a calibration module for the automatic calibration of at least one sensor (11-14), which measures the load of a movable component (15-17) of the wind power plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Detlef Bolz
  • Patent number: 7552614
    Abstract: A system and method for determining functionality and accuracy of a sensor such that monitoring of a sensor is possible without the provision of redundant sensors. Briefly described, one embodiment is an anemometer operable to detect wind speed adjacent to the wind power installation, a calculating unit operable to calculate a calculated wind speed using data from an operating parameter of the wind power installation, and a comparison device operable to compare the detected wind speed with the calculated wind speed to determine the functionality of the anemometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben
  • Patent number: 7363182
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting measurements of fluid flow using device-specific information to compensate for differences between individual devices of the same design. In one embodiment, a method includes providing device-specific calibration data; sensing a fluid flow; computing a measured fluid flow based on the sensed fluid flow, and correcting the measured fluid flow based on the device-specific calibration data. More particularly, the fluid flow measurement is corrected using correction factors that compensate for the use of a gas that is different from the calibration gas (CF0 (1+aF+bF2+cF3)), for device variations in sensor sensitivity (1+??R), and for variations in the split flow of fluid through the flow meter (1???ADC(Sp/100)2). The sensor and split flow correction factors may be used independently of each other in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Celerity, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart A. Tison, Shiliang Lu
  • Patent number: 7249486
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of monitoring a sensor for sensing the flow speed of a medium. The invention further concerns an apparatus for carrying out that method. In order to be able to monitor the sensor, without providing redundant sensors, the flow speed of the medium, which is specified by the sensor, is correlated with at least one operating parameter of an installation operated with the medium. For that purpose the apparatus according to the invention includes a sensor for detecting the flow speed of a medium, an installation operated with the medium and a correlation device for correlating the flow speed of the medium, which is specified by the sensor, with at least one operating parameter of the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben
  • Publication number: 20070169537
    Abstract: A pulse production interval measurement module (or temporal reconciliation module) for preferred use with a computational flowmeter and/or non-computational flowmeters to thereby temporally reconcile or time shift flowmeter output produced by a volume of fluid flow through the computational flowmeter with the start and stop times of the flow of a calibrated fluid volume through a prover. The pulse production interval measurement module may be implemented with software and/or hardware and operate on stored data or real time or near real time measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Galen Cotton
  • Patent number: 7212953
    Abstract: Systems and associated apparatus, methods, and computer program products, relate to a small, portable diagnostic instrument for checking the correct operation of a gas metering system that include a gas meter, an electronic corrector, and a junction there between. Some embodiments may use calibrated sensors to check the operation of a rotary or other positive displacement type gas meter or turbine meter. For example, reference sensors may be temporarily applied to monitor gas temperature and pressure, as well as the motion of a flow-responsive element (e.g., impellers, turbine, or diaphragm) in the gas meter. Measured volume signals from the gas meter system may be compared to reference volume signals determined from the reference sensors to check operation of the junction, and/or the electronic corrector. Some embodiments may detect other failure mechanisms, such as bearing-related problems in the gas meter, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Roman Leon Artiuch
  • Patent number: 7155956
    Abstract: A novel medium, method and system for proving a turbine meter for use with natural gas. The novel test medium is a gas having the following characteristics: (a) Density>2×Density of Natural Gas; (b) Dynamic Viscosity<Dynamic Viscosity of Natural Gas; and (c) Ideal gas behavior for approximately 15° C.<T<25° C. and 1 bar<P<50 bar. The method and system make use of the novel test medium. Also disclosed is a novel method and system for cooling a test medium circulating in a turbine meter prover system involving injecting liquefied test medium into said circulating test medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Terasen Gas Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Tang
  • Patent number: 6910364
    Abstract: A diagnosis method is for detecting ageing symptoms in a steam turbine. The efficiency and the steam flow rate of an aged steam turbine is compared to the efficiency and the steam flow rate of a relatively new steam turbine. The efficiency and the steam flow rate are calculated using readings at several operating points on the steam turbine. The time history of the efficiency and steam flow rates applied in contrast to parameters such as the peripheral. Mach number, pressure figure and adjustment of the inlet valve provide information on the extent of ageing of the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Paul Girbig
  • Publication number: 20040244461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for compensating for the measurement deviation of an air flow rate sensor, which is disposed in a flow conduit, on the basis of soiling or aging. To compensate for the measurement error, it is proposed that the sensor be acted upon by an air surge and that the response time of the sensor be evaluated. The sensor error caused by the deposit of soil or by aging is finally corrected as a function of the response time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Lenzing, Uwe Konzelmann
  • Patent number: 6823275
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an edge detector, a memory and a pulse-input engine. The edge detector is configured to receive an input signal and a counter signal. The edge detector is further configured to send a set of time values based on the input signal and the counter signal. Each time value from the set of time values is uniquely associated with a detected edge transition from the input signal. The memory is coupled to the edge detector. The memory is configured to receive from the edge detector the set of time values. The memory is configured to store the set of time values. The pulse-input engine is coupled to the memory. The pulse-input engine is configured to measure a set of pulse-to-pulse delays based on the set of the time values stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Brown, Matthew C. Meyer, Ajay P. Mishra, Jeffrey A. Norris, David C. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6711513
    Abstract: A measurement system and method for determining a revolution rate of a rotating gear is described. Such a rotating gear can be, for example, a turbine or compressor. The described measurement system and method, for example, can perform highly accurate measurements and can be a fault tolerant system providing high reliability. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an edge detector, a memory and a pulse-input engine. The edge detector is configured to receive an input signal and a counter signal. The edge detector is further configured to send a set of time values based on the input signal and the counter signal. The pulse-input engine is configured to measure a set of pulse-to-pulse delays based on the set of time values stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ivensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Brown, Matthew C. Meyer, Ajay P. Mishra, Jeffrey A. Norris, David C. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6505134
    Abstract: A single meter blending fuel dispensing system utilizing a pair of proportional flow control valves each having a pressure transducer positioned aft of the valve flow control mechanism. A computer controller is used to program a desired fuel mixture by varying the pressure for each flow control valve. A pressure decrease in one valve produces a corresponding pressure increase in the other valve. A third pressure transducer can be situated downstream of the valves and is set such that the pressure it receives cannot exceed that of the two valve pressures. Flow meters can be substituted for the pressure sensors. A calibration method for calibrating the positive displacement meter is also disclosed. At installation the positive displacement meter is at its most accurate and is synchronized with the less accurate pressure sensors or flow meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Poleshuk, Joseph D. Long
  • Patent number: 6474132
    Abstract: Precalibrated flow meters which include electronic modules that contain, in a storage memory thereof, a plurality of calibration factors that correspond to a plurality of different fluids. The calibration factors can be chosen during field operations using a touch pad on the face of the meters. The precalibrated flow meters monitor current and accumulative totals of fluid volumes. The precalibrated flow meters can be used in conjunction with air flow compensators which sense the flow of air through a fluid flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Tuthill Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Hathaway, Stephen R. Lund, Robert N. Mansur, Kraig J. Schlosser, John D. Buskirk
  • Patent number: 6367306
    Abstract: An instrumental error compensating method has super precision measurement function, even in a condition having only micro temperature changes, by utilizing a computer which compensates for flow rate errors instantaneously and sends signals for indicating corrected values. Flowmeter (1) of the type having elliptical gears or roots type rotor has temperature sensor (5) mounted thereon and a rotation sensor (6) for indicating temperature and rotational speed of rotor. The signals from the sensors as fed to microcomputer (100). The errors can be caused by wear temperature changes, and viscosity chanter, for based on flow rate and temperature of the fluid detected by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Akitoshi Kitano