Abstract: A gas meter comprising a meter housing with a gas inlet with associated connecting piece for a gas supply line and a gas outlet with associated connecting piece for a gas discharge line, wherein the meter housing (2) is a bellows gas meter housing in which a measuring device (12) comprising a housing (13) with an integrated micro-thermal flow measuring sensor (20) is arranged on the gas outlet (11), which housing (13) is connected in a gas-tight manner to the connecting piece (10) on the outlet side or to the meter housing (2) in the area of the gas outlet (11).

Abstract: A liquid flow monitoring device for monitoring the supply of liquid to a spray nozzle including a deflectable check valve in a liquid supply passage to the spray nozzle, a light sensing device having a light emitter and a light receiver disposed on opposite sides of the check valve, the check valve being deflectable into at least partially obstructing relation to a light beam directed from the light emitter to the light receiver as an incident to liquid flow through the monitoring device to the spray nozzle, and a control system for receiving signals from the sensing device.

Abstract: A diaphragm for use in a gas meter that includes an expansion section having a series of convolutions. During repeated use of the diaphragm, the expansion section flexes to allow the center section of the diaphragm and the attached diaphragm disk to move between a retracted position and extended position. The convolutions formed in the expansion section include a series of curved peaks and curved troughs joined by web sections. The multiple convolutions in the expansion section allows for more consistent and repeatable movement and volume displacement of the diaphragm between the extended and retracted positions. The action of the convolutions also contributes to extended life by eliminating wrinkling of the diaphragm material.

Abstract: Electrostatic capacitance measurements are used to detect chemical or biological analytes, or chemical interactions, with great sensitivity. A diaphragm is coated with a material capable of selectively interacting with an analyte of interest, and interaction of the analyte with the coating exerts stresses tangential to the diaphragm's surface. These stresses cause diaphragm displacements that are sensed as varying capacitance.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a leakage measurement apparatus includes a volume metering device having a diaphragm which is displaced in accordance with a change in volume of the measurement medium leaked from an object and transmitted to the diaphragm. The volume of the leakage is calculated based on the change of the displaced amount of the diaphragm. In this way, the amount of leakage can be measured directly from the change in volume of the measurement medium. Further, the volume of the leakage can be measured without being affected by a change in pressure, and the accuracy of measurement can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely measuring and logging the flow rate of groundwater seepage into surface water bodies. As groundwater seeps into a cavity created by a bottomless housing, it displaces water through an inlet and into a waterproof sealed upper compartment, at which point, the water is collected by a collection bag, which is contained in a bag chamber. A magnet on the collection bag approaches a proximity switch as the collection bag fills, and eventually enables the proximity switch to activate a control circuit. The control circuit then rotates a three-way valve from the collection path to a discharge path, enables a data logger to record the time, and enables a pump, which discharges the water from the collection bag, through the three-way valve and pump, and into the sea. As the collection bag empties, the magnet leaves the proximity of the proximity switch, and the control circuit turns off the pump, resets the valve to provide a collection path, and restarts the collection cycle.

Abstract: A fluid flow meter has a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and defining therebetween a fluid flow path. The flow meter has a flexible membrane having a inlet end mounted at an inlet region of the fluid flow path and a outlet end mounted at an outlet region of the fluid flow path. The flexible membrane produces undulating motion in response to fluid flow in the fluid flow path. Fluid flow rate is measured by sensing the undulating motion of the membrane. Performance of the meter is enhanced by laminating a layer of material to the membrane.

Abstract: The fluid flow meter includes a flexible membrane clamped between upstream and downstream centering springs to enhance membrane behavior and extend the fluid flow measurement range by automatically adaptively moving the apparent clamping points in response to flow rate. Adaptation of the clamping span alters the relative effective excess membrane length within the clamping span to adapt membrane behavior to flow rate. The upstream centering spring includes a long leaf spring pair cantilevered into the clamping span from the clamping region. The long leaf spring pair is sandwiched within a shorter leaf spring pair active at higher flow rates and formed as part of a guide extending to the chamber surface. The membrane ends are narrowed upstream and downstream of the clamping span to reduce flutter while the upstream intake is split into even laminar flows. The fluid direction is substantially changed at the outlet to minimize membrane distortion.

Abstract: A coronary artery graft flow-meter apparatus for insertion into a delivery line for solution to be perfused through a graft after the graft is anastomosed to a coronary artery is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a flow-meter chamber having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having an inflow port and the lower end having an outflow port. The chamber includes a plastic bag positioned therein which is adapted to communicate with a volumetric container containing the solution. The solution flows from the volumetric container to the plastic bag thereby providing a measurement of the flow rate of the solution through the graft.

Abstract: The fluid flow meter includes a flexible membrane formed of a flexible material and containing an apparatus for providing the membrane with resilience for undulation. The membrane is mounted in the fluid flow path such that the pair of faces simultaneously define with the housing fluid impermeable seals at least two different locations along the flow path. The membrane flexes so as to permit passage of discrete quanta of fluid, each having a known volume. The flow meter generates electrical signals corresponding to flexure of the membrane, and the electrical signals are monitored for determining a fluid flow rate.

Abstract: A fluid flow meter comprising a housing having a pair of fluid ports and defining therebetween a fluid flow path; a flexible membrane defining a pair of opposing faces and being mounted in the fluid flow path such that the pair of faces simultaneously define with the housing fluid impermeable seals at at least two different locations along the flow path, the membrane being operative to flex so as to permit passage therepast of discrete quanta of fluid, each having a known volume; apparatus for generating electrical signals corresponding to flexure of the membrane; and monitoring apparatus for receiving the electrical signals and thereby determining a fluid flow rate along the flow path.

Abstract: A gas meter includes a housing made of thermoplastic material having an inside wall defining two measuring chambers and a deformable membrane disposed between the two measuring chambers. The deformable membrane is formed from a film of thermoplastic elastomer material bonded to a synthetic fiber sheet. The periphery of the membrane is hot-welded to the wall between the two measuring chambers to form a gastight seal between the chambers. A mechanical drive train includes at least one lever having a hinged portion made from a thermoplastic material which is hot-welded to the middle of the membrane. The train rives a mechanical distributor disposed outside the housing.

Abstract: A gas meter includes a housing made of thermoplastic material having an inside wall defining two measuring chambers and a deformable membrane disposed between the two measuring chambers. The deformable membrane is formed from a film of thermoplastic elastomer material bonded to a synthetic fiber sheet. The periphery of the membrane is hot-welded to the wall between the two measuring chambers to form a gas-tight seal between the chambers. A mechanical drive train includes at least one lever having a hinged portion made from a thermoplastic material which is hot-welded to the middle of the membrane. The train drives a mechanical distributor disposed outside the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting leaking valves in a volumetric fluid delivery system. The system employs a volumetric chamber divided into two compartments by a moveable membrane, with each compartment having a valved inlet and a valved outlet. In the system, fluid is delivered in discrete increments by alternately opening an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides of the membrane. Between such delivery periods, all valves are closed, and then only a single valve is opened. The membrane is monitored to detect movement while the single valve is opened, indicating a closure failure in one of the supposedly closed valves.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fluid meter incorporating a bi-stable resilient member positioned in a housing. Fluid flow into and out of the housing causes the bi-stable member to oscillate in a single oscillatory mode. Since each oscillation of the member is proportional to fluid flow into and out of the housing, a mechanism is provided to count the number of oscillations to provide an indication of fluid flow.

Abstract: A system for sensing flow faults in a membrane system for intravenous fluid introduction is provided. A scanner is pulsed to generate reflected energy signals representative of the position of a membrane within a chamber. The scanner is pulsed both before and after the membrane is commanded to move within the chamber. The signals are then compared by an electronic circuit to determine the difference between them. If there exists a sufficiently large difference between the signals, this indicates that the membrane is moving in response to the command signals and the system is functioning properly. If there exists little or no difference between the signals, this indicates that there is a flow fault in the system, and an alarm is sounded.

Abstract: In a flow meter of the traveling wave type having a flexible undulating membrane, velocity detecting means is utilized to determine the velocity of propagation of the traveling wave associated with the undulating flexible membrane between at least two known locations on the flexible membrane. The velocity of propagation is proportional to the volumetric flow rate of fluid through the flow meter.

Abstract: A traveling wave flow meter having a generally wave shaped member which is fabricated from a flexible material and which is disposed within a channel for conducting fluid. The flexible member undulates in response to a flow of fluid through the channel, and the frequency of the undulating flexible member is a function of the volumetric flow rate of the fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring gas volume delivered at rapidly varying flow rates, over wide ranges of frequency of variation in flow rates, having a chamber with an outlet, means for varying the chamber volume to cause a volume of gas to be delivered from the outlet, and means for measuring changes in the pressure in and volume of the chamber during the varying, so that the volume of gas delivered therefrom can be derived.

Abstract: A novel, low-friction, low-inertia flexible diaphragm containing a magnet formed as an integral part of the diaphragm is mounted in a chamber (preferably cylindrical). The chamber comprises part of the flow meter in a flow control system. One or more sensing devices are mounted on the walls of the chamber to sense the instantaneous position of the diaphragm. A novel electronic control circuit processes the data from the one or more sensing devices to provide measures of the flow rate during the displacement of the diaphragm along the cylinder. Signals are generated by the electronic control circuitry for switching a pair of three-way valves (one valve comprising the input valve and the other valve comprising the output valve) such that during one-half of a cycle the intput valve transfers fluid into the cylinder on one side of the diaphragm and, during the other half of the cycle, transfers fluid into the cylinder on the other side of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A volumeter, in particular for use in liquid chromatography comprises a metering chamber for the volume to be measured. Another chamber is separated from the metering chamber by a resilient diaphragm and forms an electric capacitor. The capacitance of this capacitor is changed in accordance to deviations of the diaphragm from its true position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely monitoring air leakage in communication cables. Improved volume flow meters are remotely attached at the air inlet to manhole mounted manifolds for supply of dehumidified air to telephone cables. Dehumidified air passes through the remote meters into the manifolds and then interior of a sheath of a communication cable wherein the discrete conduits can be kept dry and under air pressure. The remote volume flow meter at each manifold includes a diaphragm having an air flow conduit mounted in movable opposition to a variable area orifice. The diaphragm actuates a variable resistor, which preferably includes a tailored neutral density wedge. This wedge moves with the diaphragm towards and away from a position between a light source and a photo sensor. The volume flow meter receives its power through and also has its output communicated through a single pair of wires.

Abstract: The fluid flow meter includes a flexible membrane formed of a flexible material and containing an apparatus for providing the membrane with resilience for undulation. The membrane is mounted in the fluid flow path such that the pair of faces simultaneously define with the housing fluid impermeable seals at least two different locations along the flow path. The membrane flexes so as to permit passage of discrete quanta of fluid, each having a known volume. The flow meter generates electrical signals corresponding to flexure of the membrane, and the electrical signals are monitored for determining a fluid flow rate.

Abstract: A fluid flow meter comprising a housing having a pair of fluid ports and defining therebetween a fluid flow path; a flexible membrane defining a pair of opposing faces and being mounted in the fluid flow path such that the pair of faces simultaneously define with the housing fluid impermeable seals at at least two different locations along the flow path, the membrane being operative to flex so as to permit passage therepast of discrete quanta of fluid, each having a known volume; apparatus for generating electrical signals corresponding to flexure of the membrane; and monitoring apparatus for receiving the electrical signals and thereby determining a fluid flow rate along the flow path.