By Measuring Electrical Or Magnetic Properties Patents (Class 73/861.08)
  • Patent number: 11747182
    Abstract: A device measures the flow rate of a fluid, such as concrete, in a pumping plant connected to a drilling machine provided with a drilling tool. The pumping plant includes a motor pump and a connection pipe to lead fluid from the motor pump to the drilling tool. The device includes a transmitting module, for rigidly and removably mounted on the pumping plant and including an accelerometer and a receiving module, associated with the drilling machine. The transmitting module detects accelerations generated by vibrations of the pumping plant during the pumping of the fluid. The accelerations indicate flow rate of the fluid. The transmitting module wirelessly sends a signal, which is processed based on the detected accelerations, to the receiving module. The receiving module receives the signal from the transmitting module and sends a signal indicating the flow rate of the pumped fluid based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Corrado Collina
  • Patent number: 11740261
    Abstract: A capacitive voltage sensor assembly includes an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis, the electrode having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a tubular shield surrounding and spaced radially outward from a portion of the electrode. The tubular shield includes a plurality of through holes. The sensor assembly also includes a circular sensor element positioned radially inward of the tubular shield and including a first layer made of electrically conductive material and a second layer made of electrically insulating material. The circular sensor element includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: G & W Electric Company
    Inventors: Lorenzo Peretto, Alberto Bauer
  • Patent number: 11702821
    Abstract: A smart reading device for a water meter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The smart reading device includes a fixing component, a casing, an image capturing component, an image analyzing component, and a transmitting component. The fixing component is used to be fixed onto the water meter. The casing is disposed on the fixing component. The image capturing component is disposed in the casing for capturing a numerical display area of the water meter so as to obtain a water consumption image. The water consumption image is analyzed by the image analyzing component or a relay device to obtain a water consumption value. The transmitting component is used for transmitting the water consumption value or the water consumption image to the relay device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: ACER BEING COMMUNICATION INC., Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Chan-Ping Po
  • Patent number: 11598658
    Abstract: A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament is disclosed. The flow sensor sub-assembly includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact. The spring contacts are secured to a base that has a circuit for conducting an electrical signal to and from the spring contacts to a microprocessor. The first spring contact is in electrical communication with a first piezo element and the second spring contact is in electrical communication with a second piezo element. The first spring contact has a first contact force against the first piezo element and the second spring contact has a second contact force against the second piezo element, and the first and second contact forces are equivalent. A circuit board for interfacing to a flow sensor having a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of fluidic medicament is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Wayne DeKalb, Mark Raptis
  • Patent number: 11577394
    Abstract: A deterioration diagnosis apparatus is for a mechanical apparatus including a power transmission mechanism that transmits power via a gear. The deterioration diagnosis apparatus includes: a storing unit that stores, in advance, a trend of change along with the operation of the mechanical apparatus, in consumption rate of an additive contained in lubricant used for the gear; and a determination unit that determines the period to be taken for the consumption rate of the additive to reach a predetermined value, based on the trend of change in the consumption rate of the additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Taguchi, Keiichi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Ryo Yamashita, Osamu Hisamatsu
  • Patent number: 11346828
    Abstract: An optical milk measuring arrangement operative during a milking operation, and including an optical measuring device for measuring optical properties of milk in a measuring region, in which at least part of the milk fed to the measuring arrangement collects. The measuring arrangement includes a main channel and a measuring channel, and these channels are in fluid communication with one another in a region of a common inlet and a common outlet, and the measuring channel has a lower flow velocity than a flow velocity in the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Olaf Suhr, Adib Matty
  • Patent number: 11243103
    Abstract: Embodiments of a drain monitor of this disclosure monitors an active, horizontal- or vertical-oriented hose, pipe, or drain and allows a draining liquid to pass through or by the monitor without “alarming” if there is no blockage or stoppage of the drain and alarming if there is a blockage or stoppage of the drain. The monitor may include a housing having an open bottom end, a hollow interior, and a plurality of inclined thru ports providing fluid passage to the interior but preventing a draining liquid flowing past the probe from entering the hollow interior. In some embodiments, the monitor may work in reverse, meaning if the pipe or hose is supposed to have a certain level of liquid, the monitor alarms if the liquid falls below that level. A second monitor may be installed in series with the first, alarming if the liquid rises above a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin W. Tillman
  • Patent number: 11159620
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for blockchain based a data transformation. According to one aspect, a series of Internet of Things (IoT) data is received by one or more processing units. And at least one reference data set to the received series of IoT data are attached by one or more processing units. The received series of IoT data attached are processed, by one or more processing units, with at least one transformation module to obtain a processing result of the at least one reference data set. A hash value of the processing result is calculated by one or more processing units. The hash value of the processing result and a hash value of an expected result stored in a blockchain system are compared. In respond to the hash value of the processing result being not matched with the hash value of the expected result, the decision of the at least one transformation module having been tampered with is determined by one or more processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xinlin Wang, Jun Zhu, Zhi Hu Wang, Timothy J Hahn, Peng Ji
  • Patent number: 10927673
    Abstract: A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Frode Hveding, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10648786
    Abstract: A magnetoelastic sensor is provided for analyzing strain induced by a force causing mechanical deformation of a region of a substrate. The sensor includes a substrate that has a non-deformable region and a mechanically deformable region, the mechanically deformable region coupled to the non-deformable region by a linking structure. The sensor also has a transformer having a magnetic flux guide. The flux guide includes a magnetoelastic section having a magnetoelastic subsection configured to be strainable by deformation of the mechanically deformable region. In transformer embodiments, one or more drive coil and/or pickup coil has a width greater than the minimal width of the linking structure. Sensor embodiments include numerous configurations. The sensor is useful in methods for analyzing strain and force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NANOHMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chris W Mann, Sebastian Liska, Joshua C Ruedin
  • Patent number: 10641634
    Abstract: To provide a flow meter capable of easily acquiring, with a simple configuration, an integrated value of a flow rate in every flow of fluid intermittently flowing in a pipe. A flow-rate measuring section 302 measures a flow rate of fluid flowing in a pipe. A value of the flow rate integrated from a point in time when the integration of the flow rate is started to a point in time when the integration of the flow rate is stopped is acquired as an integrated value. A reset section 306 resets the integrated value from a point in time when the integrated value is acquired to a point in time when the next first switching is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Takamasa Koyama, Sotaro Ito
  • Patent number: 10539434
    Abstract: An air flow rate measurement device includes a housing that includes a bypass flow channel, which branches from a main flow channel and then returns to the main flow channel, a flow rate sensor assy that incorporates a flow rate sensor element, which measures a flow rate of air flowing through the bypass flow channel, and a physical quantity sensor assy that incorporates a physical quantity sensor element, which measures a physical quantity of air flowing through the main flow channel. The housing includes a first mount part on which the flow rate sensor assy is mounted, and a second mount part on which the physical quantity sensor assy is mounted. The flow rate sensor assy and the physical quantity sensor assy are attached to the housing from the same direction to be mounted on the first mount part and the second mount part respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Ooga
  • Patent number: 10226440
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rehydration and nutritional products comprising creatine and/or its salts, or analogs or precursors thereof, in ready to use aqueous oral compositions, such as gels, pastes and the like, and products for reconstitution in water, for use by humans and animals, together with processes for their preparation and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Eddie O'Gorman Ltd
    Inventor: Edward O'Gorman
  • Patent number: 10197542
    Abstract: A measuring arrangement, which includes: a sensor, wherein the sensor is embodied to produce a measurement signal correlated with a measured variable, a first interface, an evaluation circuit least one computer system and a memory associated with the computer system, as well as a third interface, especially a third interface embodied as a fieldbus interface, a first superordinated data processing system, with which the evaluation circuit is connected via the third interface, wherein in the memory associated with the computer system of the evaluation circuit a computer program executable by the computer system is stored, wherein the computer program serves for additional processing of the measurement signal as well as serving for transmission of the further processed measurement signal via the third interface to the first superordinated data processing system; and a second superordinated data processing system connected wirelessly, especially via a radio connection, with the evaluation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Tilman Benkert, Bjorn Haase, Gunter Jahl, Stefan Robl
  • Patent number: 9976884
    Abstract: There is provided an electromagnetic flowmeter including a measurement tube through which fluid to be measured flows, a lining which covers an inner side of the measurement tube, electrodes which are respectively inserted into through-holes formed in the lining and which output a detection signal based on an electromotive force generated in the fluid, and a lining wear detection unit which measures a magnitude of a slurry noise included in the detection signal to detect wear of the lining. The electrodes are configured such that a portion in contact with the fluid in a state where the lining has no wear is coated with a porous insulating material. The lining wear detection unit detects the wear of the lining by comparing the magnitude of the measured slurry noise with the magnitude of the slurry noise in the state where the lining has no wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Saito, Yuichi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9933471
    Abstract: A device for measuring an electric field in a conducting medium comprises: two electrodes separated by a volume of an insulating medium; a device for measuring current coupled to said electrodes; and adjustment elements making it possible to vary a quantity on which the electrical conductivity of the field measuring device depends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Mathieu Baicry, Matthieu Le Prado, Christine Lefrou, Laure-Line Rouve
  • Patent number: 9893611
    Abstract: A method for controlling coil current of a magneto inductive, flow measuring device with a first value representing an overvoltage UO and a second value representing a holding voltage UH, wherein the first value is greater than the second value, characterized by steps as follows: setting a first switching point IS for the electrical current level, up to which a coil should be supplied with the overvoltage UO; applying an overvoltage UO until the electrical current level rises to the switching point IS set for the electrical current level; switching from the overvoltage UO to the holding voltage UH, in order to hold the electrical current level at a constant electrical current end value IH. Also intended is a magneto inductive, flow measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Markus Rufenacht, Andre Spahlinger, Thomas Kung
  • Patent number: 9856126
    Abstract: A water dispenser includes a filter unit filtering raw water supplied from a raw water supply unit to produce purified water, a cold water tank assembly cooling purified water to produce cold water, a refrigerating cycle device maintaining cooling water filled in a cooling water accommodation unit at a low temperature, a cooling water flow channel supplying water to the cooling water accommodation unit, a flow rate sensor measuring a flow rate of water supplied to the cooling water accommodation unit, a stirrer to stir the cooling water filled in the cooling water accommodation unit, and a controller determining whether cooling water has been filled up to a reference water level on the basis of a rotation speed of the stirrer per unit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jewook Jeon
  • Patent number: 9773612
    Abstract: A method of fabricating in-plane or out-of-plane thin-film multi-axial magnetic anisotropy devices is provided that includes either depositing a magnetic material with perpendicular or partially perpendicular anisotropy patterned into a multi-directional, curved, or closed path or depositing a thin-film of magnetic material on a piezoelectric material, where the magnetic material is arranged in a pattern, depositing excitation electrodes on the piezoelectric material, where the excitation electrodes are arranged in a pattern, biasing the piezoelectric material, by applying a voltage across the excitation electrodes, where an electric field through the piezoelectric material is generated by the applied voltage across the excitation electrodes, where the piezoelectric material is biased by the electric field to provide stress to the magnetic material, where the stress rotates a magnetization of the magnetic material, and patterning the magnetic material into a multi-directional, curved, or closed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Amal El-Ghazaly, Shan X. Wang
  • Patent number: 9632549
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a flowpath through which a liquid flows; a heat-generating body that is cooled by the liquid; a liquid temperature measuring device that measures a temperature of the liquid; a temperature measuring device that measures a temperature of the heat-generating body; a heat generation amount measuring device that measures a heat generation amount of the heat-generating body; a storage apparatus that stores information representing a relationship between a temperature of the liquid, a temperature of the heat-generating body, a heat generation amount of the heat-generating body, and a flow rate of the liquid; and a processing apparatus that calculates the flow rate of liquid from the temperature of the liquid measured by the liquid temperature measuring device, the temperature of the heat-generating body measured by the temperature measuring device, and the heat generation amount of the heat-generating body based on information inside the storage apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Jumpei Kubota
  • Patent number: 9624769
    Abstract: A disclosed measurement system includes a fluid system that circulates a sample fluid exhibiting one or more unknown characteristics and being configured to receive a standard fluid that exhibits a known characteristic corresponding to at least one of the one or more unknown characteristics, an isolation cell fluidly coupled to the fluid system such that the sample fluid and a mixture of the sample fluid and the standard fluid are able to enter the isolation cell, an analyte-sensitive measurement device having one or more sensors associated therewith and being configured to analyze the sample fluid and the mixture and generate response signals corresponding to the one or more unknown characteristics of the sample fluid, and a signal processor configured to receive and perform standard addition calculations on the response signals in order to determine a concentration of the one or more unknown characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Perkins, Christopher Michael Jones, Michael T. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 9541430
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter includes a measurement tube having a flange part, the flange part being configured to be coupled to a piping-side flange by a bolt fastening, a lining material configured to cover an inside of the measurement tube and an inner periphery area having a predetermined diameter of a coupling-side surface of the flange part, and an earth ring configured to be placed between the flange part and the piping-side flange. The earth ring has a ring plate part and a wall part formed along an outer periphery of the ring plate part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamashita, Yoichi Imai, Yoshihiko Kuroki, Koji Omura
  • Patent number: 9417274
    Abstract: The electric circuit evaluation method according to the present invention is characterized in that a designated electric circuit is placed inside a shield structure, a noise signal for a malfunction test is inputted to the designated electric circuit, a short-circuit is established between a ground of the shield structure and a ground of a noise source for inputting a noise signal for a malfunction test to the designated electric circuit, and the ground of the designated electric circuit and the ground of the shield structure are isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Hiraga, Katsunori Kido
  • Patent number: 9395171
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a distance from a probe to an object includes generating a first electric field by applying a first signal across a first pair of electrodes aligned along a first axis and generating a second electric field by applying a second signal across a second pair of electrodes aligned along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. After generating the signals, a first change in the first signal due to the object interacting with the first electric field and a second change in the second signal due to the object interacting with the second electric field is concurrently detected. A distance of the object from the first and second pair of electrodes can be calculated based on a ratio of the first and second changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Nikolai R. Tevs
  • Patent number: 9175990
    Abstract: An axial-flow type impedance water flow sensor comprises a water wheel (3), a cyclone (4), a metal detection needle (7) and a detection circuit. The cyclone (4) is mounted at a water inlet side (5) of a water pipe (1), a bracket (2) is mounted at a water outlet side (6) of the water pipe (1), and the water wheel (3) is movably mounted between the bracket (2) and the cyclone (4). The water wheel (3) is provided with at least two blades (3-2) that are arranged uniformly. An upper end portion and a lower end portion (3-1, 3-4) of a rotation shaft of the water wheel (3) are fixedly connected to a center of the bracket (2) and a center of the cyclone (4) respectively through a bearing. A metal detection needle (7) is mounted on a wall of the water pipe corresponding to the water wheel (3), and has one end surface located on an inner wall surface of the water pipe (1) and the other end being connected to a signal input end of the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Zhaokeng Pan
  • Patent number: 9027413
    Abstract: A circuit board has a hollow space partitioned with a detection film on the front side exposed in a passage. The circuit board is accommodated in a recess of a support member and opposed to a bottom surface of the recess on the rear side. The bottom surface of the recess has a groove on one side in both the X-axis and Y-axis directions relative to the detection film. The groove inclines airflow in the groove relative to both the X-axis and Y-axis directions to guide the airflow toward the rear side of the detection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Junzo Yamaguchi, Takao Ban
  • Publication number: 20150122050
    Abstract: Technology capable of suppressing performance variation for each flow sensor and enhancing the performance is provided. According to a flow sensor of an embodiment, a local cavity CAV is provided on an upper surface SUR (MR) of a resin MR to generate an eddying current in a counterclockwise direction, so that an advancing direction of gas (air) that collided to an exposed side surface of a semiconductor chip CHP1 can be changed to an eddying direction instead of a direction toward an upper side of the semiconductor chip CHP1 differing by 90 degrees. Therefore, according to the flow sensor of the embodiment, the flow of the gas (air) at an upper side of the flow sensing unit FDU can be stably made smooth without being disturbed, whereby a flow sensing accuracy in the flow sensing unit FDU can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kono, Keiji Hanzawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Shinobu Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8991255
    Abstract: A grammage detection sensor which detects a grammage of a recording medium using an ultrasonic wave includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the ultrasonic wave and a receiving unit including a first vibration member configured to receive the ultrasonic wave that is transmitted from the transmitting unit and passes through the recording medium. The receiving unit includes a guide member configured to guide the ultrasonic wave that passes through the recording medium to the first vibration member. A length from a surface of the first vibration member to a plane including an end plane of the guide member along a line that passes through a center of the first vibration member and is perpendicular to the first vibration member is approximately n times of one-half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting unit where n is an integer of one or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ishida
  • Publication number: 20150082904
    Abstract: An industrial process variable transmitter includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the process variable sensor and provides a measured output as a function of the process variable. Output circuitry includes a loop connection configured to couple to a process control loop. An optical sensor receives the measured output from the measurement circuitry. A switching device applies pulses to the process control loop in response to an output from the optical sensor. Power supply circuitry powers the optical sensor, a comparator, and/or the switching device with power received from the process control loop and loop connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Allan Hunter, Jordan Dennis Lucht, Jared James Dreier, Bruce David Rovner
  • Publication number: 20150068322
    Abstract: A method (e.g., for characterizing a fluid) includes rotating an electrode assembly in a fluid at a rotation speed. The electrode assembly includes first and second electrodes. Rotation of the electrode assembly draws at least a portion of the fluid to move across the first and second electrodes. The method also includes measuring a potential difference between the first and second electrodes as the at least a portion of the fluid moves across the first and second electrodes due to rotation of the electrode assembly, and determining a streaming potential of the fluid using the potential difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Kinlen, Ofer Alves
  • Publication number: 20150059492
    Abstract: An electronic arrangement for analyzing fluid flow, includes a measuring entity for obtaining indications of power or energy consumption associated with fluid flow relative to a predetermined element, at multiple time instants, during measurement periods, each measurement period occurring between similar subsequent maintenance operations affecting the energy consumption of the element, wherein the measurement indications for the period are utilized for modeling, with reference to the true operating time of the element and excluding non-operating time potentially between active periods, a modeling entity for maintaining a regression model constructed based on indications for measurement periods, the model including a response variable for providing an indication of power or energy consumption during a measurement period and an explanatory variable for representing time, and wherein the model regarding the previous measurement period between the second-last maintenance and the last maintenance is taken as a sta
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: TRENDIWELL OY
    Inventors: Seppo Rausio, Juha Rausio
  • Publication number: 20150059491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining a mass flow rate of a fluid in a conduit, for instance a milk flow through a tube. The device includes a measuring member for determining an electrical conductivity of the fluid; an additional measuring member for determining the electrical conductivity of the fluid at an additional position; and a processing unit for determining the mass flow rate of the fluid in the conduit on the basis of the determinations, wherein the specific resistance can be determined per cross-sectional area in the flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Antonius Cornelis Johannes Kromwijk, Bram Visser
  • Patent number: 8966994
    Abstract: Method for monitoring a body inserted in pipe conducting a fluid flow, the body being positioned in a distance from the pipe wall providing a gap between the body and the pipe wall, the gap constituting an electromagnetic, e.g. microwave, resonator, at least one coupling probe being positioned close to said gap, the method comprising the steps of applying an electromagnetic signal, monitoring the frequency response of the resonator through the probe, and analyzing the frequency response to provide a measure of movements, e.g. vibrations induced by a turbulent flow, of the body. The invention also relates to an insert with support structure especially shaped to avoid influence on the resonance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Roxar Flow Measurement AS
    Inventors: Roberto Gentile, Rune Sørhus, Ebbe Gustaf Nyfors
  • Patent number: 8943889
    Abstract: A MEMS/MOEMS sensor and method for using such sensor to detect a person's breath or other fluid for purposes of controlling a user interface of an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Pierre Bonnat
  • Patent number: 8931352
    Abstract: A cleaning quality control device to automatically determine cleaning quality as to whether or not cleaning has been completed from a detection signal of the electromagnetic flow meter, the cleaning quality control device includes, an S/N ratio measuring unit to measure an S/N ratio of the detection signal, and a cleaning completion determining unit which is provided with an S/N ratio•electric conductivity determining table in which outputs of the S/N ratio measuring unit and respective electric conductivities of detergent drains are previously made correspondent using the detergent drains with predetermined electric conductivities, and which outputs cleaning completion when an obtained electric conductivity thereof becomes not more than a predetermined electric conductivity, and obtains the electric conductivity of the detergent drain from a value of the S/N ratio of the electromagnetic flow meter, and thereby automatically determines the cleaning quality as to whether or not cleaning has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takuya Iijima
  • Patent number: 8875586
    Abstract: A method and a gas flow meter for measuring gas flow. A cylinder is supported in the flow meter with a horizontal orientation. A piston is disposed movably within the cylinder, the piston having a surface which forms a clearance seal with a surface of the cylinder. The piston may have a low-friction coating such as diamond-like carbon. A gas flow to be measured is received at a gas inlet, and directed to the cylinder so as to move the piston within the cylinder. The gas flow is directed by valves and conduits alternately to the two ends of the cylinder, for measuring the gas flow in both directions of the cylinder. From the detected movement of said piston electrical signals representative of the gas flow are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mesa Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Albert Morrell
  • Publication number: 20140318267
    Abstract: An axial-flow type impedance water flow sensor comprises a water wheel (3), a cyclone (4), a metal detection needle (7) and a detection circuit. The cyclone (4) is mounted at a water inlet side (5) of a water pipe (1), a bracket (2) is mounted at a water outlet side (6) of the water pipe (1), and the water wheel (3) is movably mounted between the bracket (2) and the cyclone (4). The water wheel (3) is provided with at least two blades (3-2) that are arranged uniformly. An upper end portion and a lower end portion (3-1, 3-4) of a rotation shaft of the water wheel (3) are fixedly connected to a center of the bracket (2) and a center of the cyclone (4) respectively through a bearing. A metal detection needle (7) is mounted on a wall of the water pipe corresponding to the water wheel (3), and has one end surface located on an inner wall surface of the water pipe (1) and the other end being connected to a signal input end of the detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Zhaokeng Pan
  • Publication number: 20140238703
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the accuracy of a foam addition system on a firefighting vehicle are disclosed. The methods may include measuring the amount of a test water stream flowing through a foam metering device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: E-One, Inc.
    Inventors: Leroy C. Stephens, Rickie W. White
  • Patent number: 8806956
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter sensor includes two sensor faces, a conduit, a liner lining the conduit, and mechanical fasteners. The sensor faces are on each end of the sensor for connecting the sensor to the process fluid flow. The conduit connects the two sensor faces for conducting the process fluid flow through the sensor. The liner extends across at least a portion of each sensor face at each end of the flowmeter sensor to form a planar sealing surface on each end of the sensor. The liner includes holes through which the mechanical fasteners pass to mechanically attach the liner to the flowmeter sensor to prevent shifting of the liner. The mechanical fasteners do not extend beyond the planar sealing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mikolichek, Steven Bruce Rogers
  • Publication number: 20140216572
    Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of a fluid from a source to a load includes a source. An on/off type of control valve communicates with the source. A micro-electric mechanical system communicates with the on/off type of control valve. A consuming device communicates with the micro-electric mechanical system. An electronic controller that communicates with the consuming device and the source. The electronic controller measures a change in a parameter of the micro-electric mechanical system that results from the flow of fluid through the micro-electric mechanical system to sense a flow of fluid through a micro-electric mechanical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ZHEJIANG DUNAN HETIAN METAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Parthiban Arunasalam, Arvind Rao
  • Patent number: 8770041
    Abstract: A fluid meter includes a housing which comprises a cavity that defines a flow bore through which a fluid to be metered is directed, a rotor which is rotatably supported in the cavity and is set into rotation by the fluid flowing through the flow bore, a first magnet which is connected to the rotor, a second magnet which is magnetically coupled to the first magnet, a cap member which is positioned over the first magnet and separates the second magnet from the cavity, and a rotary encoder which is operatively coupled to the second magnet. Rotation of the rotor is magnetically transmitted through the cap member from the first magnet to the second magnet and is detected by the rotary encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Smith, Jeffrey W. Lantz, James C. Breter
  • Publication number: 20140174196
    Abstract: A cleaning quality control device to automatically determine cleaning quality as to whether or not cleaning has been completed from a detection signal of the electromagnetic flow meter, the cleaning quality control device includes, an S/N ratio measuring unit to measure an S/N ratio of the detection signal, and a cleaning completion determining unit which is provided with an S/N ratio•electric conductivity determining table in which outputs of the S/N ratio measuring unit and respective electric conductivities of detergent drains are previously made correspondent using the detergent drains with predetermined electric conductivities, and which outputs cleaning completion when an obtained electric conductivity thereof becomes not more than a predetermined electric conductivity, and obtains the electric conductivity of the detergent drain from a value of the S/N ratio of the electromagnetic flow meter, and thereby automatically determines the cleaning quality as to whether or not cleaning has been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takuya IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20140118162
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for measuring gas flow. A gas flow meter can include a plurality of sensors to detect a gas flow at various flow rates in the meter. A first sensor can detect a gas flow at a low flow rate and a second sensor can detect a gas flow when the flow rate is sufficient to produce an oscillating jet. The first sensor can be disposed parallel to the gas flow and detect the flow rate and the temperature of the gas flow. When the flow rate of the gas is below a predetermined threshold, power is supplied to the first sensor to detect gas flow. When the gas flow rate is high enough such that the gas flow produces an oscillating jet of fluid, power is supplied to the second sensor. The second sensor can detect the frequency of the oscillating jet flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: ITRON, INC.
    Inventor: Ibne Soreefan
  • Patent number: 8681586
    Abstract: Devices for sensing gradients are constructed from material whose properties change in response to gradients. One embodiment of the device is a transducer (200) for sensing gradients that includes the material (210) and two or more electrodes (240, 270) coupled to the material. In one embodiment, gradients in a surrounding medium (110) modify the energy gap of the material in the transducer (130) producing a diffusion current density (150). The material is configured to connect to a current or voltage measurement device (520, 530, 540) where a measurement is used to determine the gradient in the medium (160). The devices can be used to measure pressure, temperature, and/or other properties. The transducer can be built on the same substrate as complementary circuitry. A transducer made of Indium. Antimonide is used in marine seismology to measure pressure gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Hallock, Mark A. Meier
  • Patent number: 8671773
    Abstract: An electronic flow meter includes a magnetic sensor, phase-A and phase-B drivers, a phase-A comparator, a phase-B comparator, a two-phase encoder, and a rotational speed timer. The two-phase encoder determines a normal/reverse direction where the impeller is rotated based on event signals sampled by the phase-A and the phase-B comparators, respectively, causing a counter to count up or to count down according to the normal/reverse direction as determined, thereby outputting an event count signal. The rotational speed timer calculates a rotational frequency of the impeller from the event count signal outputted by the two-phase encoder and sets frequencies of respective sampling signals of the phase-A and the phase-B comparators at a time when the rotational frequency of the impeller is measured next, and respective drive periods of the phase-A and the phase-B drivers in accordance with the rotational frequency of the impeller as calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Ono, Osamu Karino, Yoshihiro Shimizu, Yoshihiro Miyagawa, Hiroyuki Kawajiri, Takehiro Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20130312536
    Abstract: A flowrate sensor (10) for a duct (1), the sensor comprising a first and a second portion (23,24) that can be mounted to the duct so that such portions respectively protrude inside and outside the duct, wherein a sensors means is provided comprising a probe (40) that is constrained to the first portion (23) and has an engagement member (54) for receiving a fluid dynamic thrust (P) from the fluid, responsive to the flowrate, and is arranged to perform a corresponding measurable displacement (18) from a rest position to a corresponding measuring position, and the sensor also comprising a load cell (30) constrained to the second portion, the load cell that is arranged to receive a force (F) from the probe (40) responsive to the measuring position and configured to maintain a corresponding electric measurement signal, as well as data output means for exporting flowrate data obtained from the signal, where the first and the second portion are fluid-tightly separated by a wall (21), and the probe (40) and the load
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Piero Rindi
  • Patent number: 8590396
    Abstract: This velocimeter for measuring the speed of flow of an electrically conducting fluid comprises: —two sensors (16, 19) disposed in such a way that, in the absence of flow of the electrically conducting fluid (4), the difference between the current strengths measured by the two sensors (16, 19) is non zero, —a processing unit (18) is able to calculate the speed of flow of the fluid in a direction parallel to the first measurement direction (7) on the basis of the difference between the current strengths measured by the two sensors (16, 19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Pinton, Nicolas Plihon, Gautier Verhille, Sophie Miralles
  • Patent number: 8590361
    Abstract: Zero and calibration drift errors in a magnetic flow meter can be detected and automatically corrected. A zero error can be detected by measuring an amplifier output when the meter's electromagnet is inactive. Automatic calibration of the span can be done by adding a signal to a measured electrode voltage at an amplifier input, subtracting the expected amplified value of that signal at the output and adjusting the amplifier gain responsive to the difference in signal magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Onicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Murray F Feller
  • Publication number: 20130305838
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter sensor includes two sensor faces, a conduit, a liner lining the conduit, and mechanical fasteners. The sensor faces are on each end of the sensor for connecting the sensor to the process fluid flow. The conduit connects the two sensor faces for conducting the process fluid flow through the sensor. The liner extends across at least a portion of each sensor face at each end of the flowmeter sensor to form a planar sealing surface on each end of the sensor. The liner includes holes through which the mechanical fasteners pass to mechanically attach the liner to the flowmeter sensor to prevent shifting of the liner. The mechanical fasteners do not extend beyond the planar sealing surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ROSEMOUNT INC.
    Inventors: Michael Mikolichek, Steven Bruce Rogers
  • Patent number: 8573065
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid flow measuring device. The device includes a fluid flow having at least one of a volume flow rate and a mass flow rate. At least one spring element is included, which is exposed to the fluid flow, such that the spring element is elastically displaceable in at least one of a ferromagnetic and an electrically conductive mobile region depending on the dynamic pressure acting thereon with an eddy current sensor arranged stationarily. The eddy current sensor generates a measurement signal that is correlated with a distance between the eddy current sensor and the mobile region. The distance varies with the dynamic pressure-related displacement of the mobile region, and at least one temperature sensor is included, the temperature sensor measures an actual temperature of the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Moritz Krämer, Hartmut Sauter, Holger Christian Schönekess, Hartmut Sohla