By Measuring Vibrations Or Acoustic Energy Patents (Class 73/861.18)
  • Patent number: 11906338
    Abstract: Methods and systems for flow measurement can involve calculating an absolute-time-of-flight with respect to a flow of a fluid in a flow channel by reflected signals, reflected and unreflected signals, or a pulse train, determining a delta-time-of-flight with a cross correlation of two signals with respect to the flow of the fluid in the flow channel, and calculating the flow rate of the flow of the fluid in the flow channel based on the absolute-time-of-flight and the cross correlation of the delta-time-of-flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tobias Meimberg, Christian Lampe-Jürgens, Ralf Heinrich Schröder genannt Berghegger, Andreas Wuchrer
  • Patent number: 11828635
    Abstract: A method for operating a magnetic-inductive flowmeter includes several steps. In a calibration step, a plurality of noise-removed comparison flow measurement values are determined. A comparison frequency spectrum is determined from at least a part of a plurality of detected, noisy raw measurement signals, on which the calculation of the noise-removed comparison flow measurement values is based. In a measurement operation step, a current noise-removed flow measurement value is calculated from a plurality of detected, noisy raw measurement signals. A current measurement frequency spectrum is determined from at least some of the plurality of detected, noisy raw measurement signals. In a comparison step, the current measurement frequency spectrum is compared with one of the comparison frequency spectra and a deviation value is determined. Depending on the deviation value, the current noise-removed flow measurement value is signaled as unreliable and/or as reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Jan Förster
  • Patent number: 11796354
    Abstract: A measuring device is provided for determining a filling level, a limit level, a pressure, or a flow rate of a material to be measured, including: a main body configured to be disposed above the material to be measured; a measuring body configured to be disposed below the main body, the measuring body including a sensor element configured to detect a measurement signal, and a position sensor configured to detect a position of the measuring body, the main body and the measuring body being formed separately from one another and being coupled to one another; and an evaluation device configured to evaluate the measurement signal detected by the sensor element and/or to evaluate the position of the measuring body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Clemens Hengstler, Stefan Kaspar
  • Patent number: 11752476
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present system describes a system wherein a first fluid is within a tank. An intermittent mixer is used for agitating the first fluid within the tank. At least one data acquisition device within the tank is capable of measuring at least one characteristic within the first fluid. In the embodiment, at least one data analyzer is capable of receiving the characteristics within the first fluid, comparing the characteristics within the first fluid to the characteristics of a second fluid, generating a data packet which contains a calculated operational speed and an operational time needed for the intermittent mixer to agitate the first fluid to obtain the characteristics of the second fluid and transmitting the data packet to the intermittent mixer. In this system the intermittent mixer is capable of altering the first fluid within the tank into the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Luke Schnefke, Victor Cedillo, Patrick David, Matt Clowe
  • Patent number: 11680484
    Abstract: Some implementations provide a tool assembly for monitoring reservoir water salinity and reservoir production performance at a borehole, the tool assembly comprising: a water salinity measuring probe that includes a pair of electrodes, wherein the water salinity measuring probe is mounted at a tip of the tool assembly and configured to measure a water conductivity between the pair of electrodes when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; a spinner tool configured to measure a total flow rate at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the spinner tool is located above the water salinity measuring probe when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; and a temperature probe configured to measure a temperature at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the temperature probe is located above the spinner tool when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11359948
    Abstract: A plug is adapted for connection to an ultrasonic transducer to protect and guide wiring during storage, transportation, and the manufacturing process. The plug protects and orients wires to allow for automated manufacturing and to provide an improved connection between the transducer and an electronic printed circuit board. The plug may include a first portion having wire guide(s) and a second portion configured for attachment to the transducer. The plug includes at least one wire guide to protect wire(s) that connect the ultrasonic transducer to a printed circuit board. A wire extends through a passage defined in each wire guide on a first portion of the plug. The first portion slides with respect to the second portion to expose portions of first and second wires carried within the first and second channels, respectively. Once exposed, the wires can be soldered to a PCB in an automated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Itron Global SARL
    Inventors: Abbas Sabraoui, Michel Bottner, Daniel Catherin
  • Patent number: 11340101
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow amount measuring device includes a pair of tube holding portions respectively connected to a base by a shaft portion so as to be openable and closeable, and ultrasonic transmission and reception units disposed in the tube holding portions so as to face each other in an inclined direction. When the tube holding portions are opened so as to insert a tube between holding concave portions formed in clamping portions and closed so as to clamp the tube, front end surfaces of ultrasonic transmission bodies are in close contact with both sides of a surface of the tube. When measuring a flow amount, an ultrasonic beam is alternatively transmitted and received between the ultrasonic transmission and reception units through the tube. A flow rate is obtained by obtaining a transmission time difference between the travel time and the return time of the ultrasonic beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: RYUSOK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiichi Murakami, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11307070
    Abstract: A flowmeter body assembly includes a flowmeter body, a fluid passage, and multiple angled connectors. The fluid passage extends through the flowmeter body. The angled connectors extend from a sidewall of the flowmeter body. The flowmeter body and the angled connectors form a one-piece structure formed by an additive manufacturing process. Each of the angled connectors is configured to support a respective sensor to enable measurement of a flow rate of a fluid across at least one chordal plane of the flowmeter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Sensia LLC
    Inventors: Emanuel John Gottlieb, Gopalakrishna Srinivasamurthy Magadi
  • Patent number: 11280648
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow-rate measurement device and an ultrasonic flow-rate measurement method capable of accurately measuring a flow rate of a fluid to be measured with a simple configuration are obtained. A reference-sound-pressure distribution waveform holding unit (60) holds a reference sound pressure distribution waveform based on an ultrasonic pulse emitted from a transmitter (10) and incident on at least three receivers (20) in a state where a flow velocity of a fluid (G) to be measured in the pipe (5) is zero. A variable-sound-pressure distribution waveform acquisition unit (70) acquires a variable sound pressure distribution waveform based on the ultrasonic pulse emitted from the transmitter (10) and incident on the at least three receivers (20) in a state where the flow velocity of the fluid (G) to be measured in the pipe (5) is not zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: FLOWBIZ RESEARCH INC.
    Inventor: Yasushi Takeda
  • Patent number: 11243104
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow meter comprising at least two measuring sensors spaced apart from each other, preferably ultrasonic sensors, whose measuring signals are reflected by a deposition-resistant reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: GWF MessSysteme AG
    Inventor: Markus Helfenstein
  • Patent number: 11105705
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are inexpensive, easy-to-install (do-it-yourself/DIY), non-invasive, independently powered automated devices, apparatuses, systems and methods for leak detection, prevention and mitigation, particularly fluid leak detection, prevention and mitigation, as well as water leak detection and water-supply shutoff of domestic and commercial pressurized water-supply networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: LeakSentinel Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory E Lowitz, William Loesch, Vidyabhusan Gupta, Adam L Freund
  • Patent number: 11099054
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a calibration tool for measuring a distance between a transducer and a liquid surface of an open channel, including: a pole; a flat board attached to the pole, configured to reflect a signal from the transducer, wherein the flat board is substantially perpendicular to the pole; a level device provided on the flat board, configured to ensure that the flat board is substantially parallel to a bottom of the open channel during a measurement; and a measuring scale provided on the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Inframark, LLC
    Inventor: Elias Ruiz, II
  • Patent number: 11020793
    Abstract: A system for detection of the level of a liquid metal within a crystallizer of a mold has a detection system. The detection system is based on a transmission of at least one signal transmitted toward a crystallizer having the liquid metal therein and a reception of a reflection of the transmitted signal. A first ultrasonic element transmits a ultrasonic elastic wave and a second ultrasonic element receives the ultrasonic elastic wave. A processor measures a time elapsed between transmission and reception and correlates the elapsed time relative to the level of liquid metal in the crystallizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Stefano De Monte, Stefano Spagnul, Isabella Mazza
  • Patent number: 10845222
    Abstract: A sensor assembly has a deformation body having two oppositely lying surfaces and an outer edge segment as well as a sensor blade extending from the surface to a distal end and having a left side, first lateral surface and a right side, second lateral surface. An overload protection apparatus protects the deformation body against plastic deformation and has a support stirrup led with lateral separation around the sensor blade and a first stop and a second stop located on opposite sides of the sensor blade. The stops are so arranged that an intermediate space formed therebetween receives only a portion of the sensor blade. The deformation body and the sensor blade are excitable to oscillate about a shared static resting position and to be moved in such a manner that the sensor blade executes pendulum-like movements elastically deforming the deformation body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Christian Lais, Andreas Strub, Dominique Wiederkehr
  • Patent number: 10830625
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water meter platform and a housing component for a water meter platform. The housing component providing a flow tube, a sealable main compartment adapted to house a meter unit for measuring a flow of a fluid flowing through the flow tube and a flow channel interface in fluid communication with the flow tube adapted for mounting additional functional units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Anders Skallebæk, Peter Schmidt Laursen
  • Patent number: 10823322
    Abstract: A device for fastening a measuring apparatus on pipes, in particular a butt weld seam checking measuring apparatus, containing a housing for accommodating the measuring, control, and/or drive units and a clamp, wherein the clamp is designed as a ring segment, wherein the clamp is attached in the radial direction over a pipe external diameter, wherein the clamp has a pre-tension in the installed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
    Inventors: Robert Reiz, Juergen Roesch, Edin Hasific, Marcel Graf
  • Patent number: 10655989
    Abstract: Pressure sensors that may be used in flowrate monitoring or measuring systems, where the pressure sensors may enable simple, low-cost designs that are readily implemented. One example may provide a pressure sensor having a built-in flow path with a dimensional variation. Pressures of a fluid on each side of the dimensional variation may be compared to each other. The measured differential pressure may then be converted to a flowrate through the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SILICON MICROSTRUCTURES, INC.
    Inventors: Holger Doering, Omar Abed
  • Patent number: 10627273
    Abstract: A method for an ultrasonic time-of-flight flow meter (1) includes driving an ultrasonic transducer (2, 3) using a first waveform (V1(t)) for a first duration (?t1), the first waveform (V1(t)) configured to cause oscillation (21) of the ultrasonic transducer (2, 3). The method also includes driving the ultrasonic transducer (2, 3) using a second waveform (V2(t)) for a second duration (?t2). There is a discontinuity between the first waveform (V1(t)) and the second waveform (V2(t)). The second waveform (V2(t)) and the second duration (?t2) are configured to maintain a voltage (VT(t)) across the ultrasonic transducer (2, 3) within a predetermined range (VH, VL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sentec Ltd.
    Inventors: Wenpeng Deng, Jan Bennett, David Healy, Andrew Nicholas Dames, James William Evett
  • Patent number: 10620026
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer with a housing, in which a transducer element for producing and detecting ultrasonic signals and an acoustic transformer are arranged, wherein the acoustic transformer is acoustically and mechanically coupled with the transducer element. The housing includes at least one housing body, which has at least one housing chamber with a housing wall, which housing wall at least partially surrounds the acoustic transformer, wherein the housing is acoustically and mechanically connected with a measuring tube wall or a container wall and wherein the acoustic transformer is connected or connectable mechanically with the housing via a lateral surface of the acoustic transformer by means of a first acoustic insulation, especially an annular first acoustic insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Pierre Ueberschlag, Andreas Berger, Michal Bezdek
  • Patent number: 10612954
    Abstract: A vibratory flowmeter (5) for meter verification is provided, including meter electronics (20) configured to vibrate the flowmeter assembly (10) in a primary vibration mode using the first and second drivers (180L, 180R), determine first and second primary mode currents (230) of the first and second drivers (180L, 180R) for the primary vibration mode and determining first and second primary mode response voltages (231) generated by the first and second pickoff sensors (170L, 170R) for the primary vibration mode, generate a meter stiffness value (216) using the first and second primary mode currents (230) and the first and second primary mode response voltages (231), and verify proper operation of the vibratory flowmeter (5) using the meter stiffness value (216).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Rensing, Christopher George Larsen, Timothy J Cunningham
  • Patent number: 10583239
    Abstract: A fluid flow sensing and bubble detecting apparatus includes a housing comprising a channel configured to receive a tube through which fluid flows; a sensor apparatus disposed within the housing, which includes a first sensor operable to measure flow rate of fluid and to detect bubbles in flowing fluid; and a temperature sensor operable to detect temperature of the flowing fluid; and a processor connected to receive fluid flow rate data obtained by the first sensor, to receive bubble detection data obtained by the first sensor, and to receive fluid temperature data obtained by the temperature sensor, wherein when a tube through which fluid flows is disposed in the channel of the housing, the first sensor measures the flow rate of the flowing fluid and detects bubbles therein, and the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the flowing fluid, and the processor calculates in a short period of time a fluid flow rate corrected for temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: MAQUET CARDIOPULMONARY GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Loderer, Wesley Scott Ashton
  • Patent number: 10571381
    Abstract: A vibrating member adapted for use in a vibrating densitometer is provided. The vibrating member comprises a base and a vibrating tube portion affixed to the base. The vibrating tube portion comprises an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter is axially shifted from the outer diameter such that the inner diameter is not concentric with the outer diameter, and wherein the axial shift increases a frequency separation between vibration modes in the vibrating tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Attila Farkas, Megan Casey, Roman Alexandru-Vlad
  • Patent number: 10460847
    Abstract: A gravity-based, non-invasive method of measuring a level of fluid in a container comprises use of at least one gravity meter located as proximate a center of mass of the fluid as possible. In a nuclear reactor system a method for monitoring the level of fluid in a nuclear reactor module, a report of a loss or gain of fluid within a cylindrical module may be generated from capturing a time series of gravity data from a first gravity meter mounted as an upper gravity meter and a second gravity meter mounted as a lower gravity meter, for example, proximate a cylindrical nuclear reactor module so as not to require any invasive conduit through, for example, a containment pressure vessel (CPV) or a reactor pressure vessel (RPV). In one embodiment, the upper and lower gravity meters are mounted on stable mounts as close to the fluid in the module as possible within a coolant pool or a structure containing cooled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Information Systems Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Harris Bloom, Daniel Adam Prelewicz, Jeffrey Richard Ridgway
  • Patent number: 10444043
    Abstract: A vehicle detection device with thief-proof features includes a detector configured to detect a car above and a case configured to receive the detector. The detector is provided with a plurality of latches, and the case defines a plurality of channels. Each channel includes an embedded path and an encoding path adjacent to the embedded path. The embedded path guides one of the plurality of latches of the detector inserted into one of the plurality of channels, and the encoding path guides the latch to move through the channel to slidably install the detector into the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun-Hsin Hsiao, Hsien-Huan Chiu, Wu-Jen Lo
  • Patent number: 10365137
    Abstract: A transit time flow meter apparatus for determining a flow rate of a flowing fluid using a time difference between upstream and downstream acoustic transmissions in the fluid, the flow meter including a pair of segmented transducers to be arranged in spaced relation on a flow tube, wherein respective ones of the segmented transducers include at least two portions, wherein at least one of the two portions is an active transducer portion separated from the or each other portion by one of an expansion gap or gaps, or a deformable element, whereby to enable fluctuations in a flow tube dimension to be accommodated without damage being caused to the active transducer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Titan Enterprises Limited
    Inventor: Trevor Forster
  • Patent number: 10345270
    Abstract: Methods for quantitatively determining the time (TNI) between (1) the application of this method and (2) the time at which an out-of-service internal inspection of a steel, field-erected, aboveground storage tank (AST) containing a petroleum product or water should be performed. These methods combine in-service measurements of the thickness, integrity, and corrosion rate of the tank bottom with an empirical corrosion rate cumulative frequency distribution (CFD) for the tank of interest to develop a Bayesian tank bottom survival probability distribution to determine TNI. During this entire TNI time period, the risk of tank bottom failure is less than at the time these methods were applied. If available, the results of a previous out-of-service API 653 internal inspection are also used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Vista Precision Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Maresca, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10215603
    Abstract: An ultrasonic consumption meter includes two ultrasonic transducers for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a flow channel, an electronic circuit for operating the meter, and a housing for the ultrasonic transducers and the electronic circuit. The housing is locked in position relative to the flow channel by a locking mechanism, and the flow channel has two holes for allowing the housing to get into contact with a media flowing in the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Apator Miitors ApS
    Inventor: Jens Drachmann
  • Patent number: 10175130
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a method of performing a measurement using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device that includes a plurality of MEMS sensors having different resonant frequencies. The method includes applying an excitation signal to a first port of the MEMS device such that each of the plurality of the MEMS sensors is stimulated by the excitation signal. The method further includes measuring a signal at a second port of the MEMS device and determining a measured value based on the measuring the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Athanasios Kollias, Matthias Friedrich Herrmann, Christian Ebner, Ernesto Romani, Stephan Mechnig, Joseph Hufschmitt, Andreas Wiesbauer, Christian Jenkner
  • Patent number: 10161770
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a device for measuring a fluid parameter of fluid flow in a channel, including: a transmitter; at least one receiver; a processor operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver; a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to: transmit, using the transmitter, directed energy carrying a signal toward a surface of a fluid in a fluid channel, so as to produce one or more reflections from the fluid surface; detect, by the at least one receiver, one or more received signals associated with the one or more reflections so produced; determine, based upon a measurement beam comprising characteristics of the transmitted and received signals, one or more fluid parameters to be measured using a processor of the device; and associate, using a processor of the device, the one or more fluid parameters with a channel segment. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: OTT Hydromet GmbH
    Inventors: David L. Rick, Martin Kennerknecht, Stefan Siedschlag, Fabian Kratz, Leon Audergon
  • Patent number: 10113891
    Abstract: A flow rate measurement device includes a turbulence reduction component having opening portions and disposed between a measurement channel and a pair of hole portions across which a pair of ultrasonic transceivers are disposed from the measurement channel. The pair of opening portions of the turbulence reduction component each have frame pieces which are substantially identical in width. This makes it possible to reduce, with small attenuation of ultrasound, the occurrence of turbulence that is attributable to entrained flows in the pair of hole portions and is a cause of measurement error, thereby ensuring measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakai, Kenji Yasuda, Masato Satou, Hideaki Morihana, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 10012521
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for ultrasonic flow metering of viscous fluids. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic flow metering system includes an ultrasonic flow meter, a flow conditioner, and a reducer. The ultrasonic flow meter includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers arranged to exchange ultrasonic signals through a fluid stream flowing between the transducers. The flow conditioner is disposed upstream of the ultrasonic flow meter. The reducer is disposed between the flow conditioner and the ultrasonic flow meter to reduce the cross sectional area of the fluid stream flowing from the flow conditioner to the ultrasonic flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Paththage Jayampathi Anuradha Priyadarshana, Drew Shine Weaver, Peter Syrnyk, Dale Goodson
  • Patent number: 9933291
    Abstract: An ultrasonic consumption meter includes two ultrasonic transducers for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a flow channel, an electronic circuit for operating the meter, and a housing for the ultrasonic transducers and the electronic circuit. The housing is locked in position relative to the flow channel by a locking mechanism, and the flow channel has two holes for allowing the housing to get into contact with a media flowing in the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: APATOR MIITORS APS
    Inventor: Jens Drachmann
  • Patent number: 9897471
    Abstract: A coupling element for an ultrasonic transducer, which comprises a first recess provided for the arrangement of a piezoelectric element and comprising a terminal base surface in which an ultrasound signal generated by the piezoelectric element can be fed into the coupling element. The coupling element comprising inside the first recess one or a plurality of stops, each of which comprises at least one stop surface which extends along a plane, the plane extending parallel to the base surface of the first recess, and there being defined between this plane and the base surface a space for accommodating material for an acoustic adaptation layer. The invention further concerns an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Achim Wiest, Andreas Berger, Sascha Grunwald
  • Patent number: 9853394
    Abstract: A pressure-blocking feedthru that is exposable to varying temperatures and pressures includes various components. For example, the pressure-blocking feedthru might include pressure-blocking assemblies that each include a respective pressure-barrier shell and insulated pin assembly. The pressure-blocking feedthru also includes an interface assembly that couples the pressure-blocking assemblies to one another. The interface assembly includes a double-ended socket for coupling the insulated pin assemblies and a sleeve that circumscribes the doubled ended socket and at least part of the first and the second ceramic pin assemblies. In addition, the pressure-blocking assemblies might each be connected to a cable-connection assembly that employs a pressure-balanced cable termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Hamilton-Gahart, Charles Owen Campbell, Roger C. Williams
  • Patent number: 9810563
    Abstract: A flow meter includes a meter body including a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, and a fluid passageway therethrough, and a plurality of electronics housings supported on the meter body by an enclosure assembly, wherein the enclosure assembly includes a base supported by the meter body, a tubular member having a passage for the passing of a transducer cable, a bracket member coupled to the tubular member, the bracket member having a pair of longitudinally extending sides, a pair of laterally extending sides at longitudinal ends of the bracket member, and a conduit member extending between the longitudinally extending sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Padmanabh Jagadish Joshi, Randeep Grewal
  • Patent number: 9678091
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a system comprising a data processor, a gas conducting device, and a sensor. The gas conducting device is submerged and transports a gas. The sensor is connected to the gas conducting device, is also submerged, and is operative to determine a characteristic of the gas conducting device or the gas. The sensor is further operative to transmit data representing the characteristic to the data processor. In one or more non-limiting embodiments, the system comprises a wastewater treatment system, and the gas conducting device comprises a pipe or a diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventors: Eric D. Duden, Marc D. Kessman, Thomas E. Frankel, Seoungil Kang, Todd D. Ritter
  • Patent number: 9551603
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter device comprises a fluid passage forming section including a measurement fluid passage, and an opening facing a bottom surface of the measurement fluid passage; a pair of ultrasonic transducers which transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave via the opening; a partition plate which partitions the measurement fluid passage; and an identification section provided on an end surface of the partition plate and used to identify an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the partition plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Satou, Hidetomo Nagahara, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 9451787
    Abstract: An ozone-based disinfecting device is provided comprising a mixer having a generally hollow body with a water inlet for water under pressure, a spray nozzle for generating a generally conical spray of water introduced by way of the water inlet, a contact chamber communicating with a gas inlet for ozone rich gases, and an outlet aperture from the contact chamber that is coaxial with the spray nozzle and spaced apart therefrom. An electronic flow sensing device senses the extent of the flow of water through the spray nozzle according to vibration caused by water flowing through the mixer. The electronic flow sensing device is preferably located in a pocket formed in the mixer and preferably comprises a piezoelectric sensor embedded at least around its periphery in a settable material. A preferred construction of the mixer is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Arcaqua (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventors: Crispin Miles Russell, Mark Gregory Marshall, Clint Les Foster, Derek Hedley Rowles
  • Patent number: 9448092
    Abstract: The clamp-on ultrasonic fluid flow meter system is an apparatus that includes structures that filter out a pipe structure-borne ultrasonic wave component. The clamp-on ultrasonic fluid flow meter system provides pipes that are modified to rely on Bragg resonance to attenuate the pipe structure-borne ultrasonic wave component. In a first embodiment, the fluid flow pipe is modified with corrugations so that the periodicity of the corrugations defines a pipe wall corrugation wavelength that is one-half the wavelength of the structure-borne ultrasonic wave component, satisfying Bragg's condition and preventing propagation of structure-borne noise that might interfere with the ultrasonic fluid flow meter. In a second embodiment, a pipe clad material having periodic corrugations as described above is adhesively or magnetically attached to the fluid flow pipe. In a third embodiment, alternating materials at a periodic rate satisfying Bragg's condition are attached to the exterior of the fluid flow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Muhammad A. Hawwa, Uthman Baroudi
  • Patent number: 9410830
    Abstract: A flowtube assembly for a magnetic flowmeter is provided. The flowtube assembly includes a tube extending from a first mounting flange to a second mounting flange. Each of the first and second mounting flanges has a pipe flange facing surface for mounting to a respective pipe flange. A coil chamber is disposed outside the tube, between the first and second mounting flanges. The coil chamber has at least one coil located inside that is configured to generate a magnetic field within the tube. A liner/electrode module is positioned within the tube and has a non-conductive liner, at least one electrode and at least one electrode conductor. The non-conductive liner extends from the first mounting flange to the second mounting flange. The at least one electrode is positioned in the non-conductive liner to interact with a conductive process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Rovner, Steven B. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9392815
    Abstract: An ozone-based disinfecting device is provided comprising a mixer (2) having a generally hollow body with a water inlet for water under pressure, a spray nozzle (8) for generating a generally conical spray of water introduced by way of the water inlet, a contact chamber (7) communicating with a gas inlet (5) for ozone rich gases, and an outlet aperture (12) from the contact chamber. The outlet aperture is coaxial with the spray nozzle and axially spaced apart therefrom. The diameter of the outlet aperture corresponds substantially to the diameter of the conical spray at that position so that substantially no free space exists between the outside of the conical spray and the periphery of the outlet, in use. The contact chamber generally has a larger cross-sectional size than the diameter of the outlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Arcaqua (Pty) Ltd
    Inventors: Crispin Miles Russell, Mark Gregory Marshall
  • Patent number: 9395223
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. At least one of the first frequency of vibration or the second frequency of vibration is determined. A phase difference between the motion of the conduit at a first point of the conduit and the motion of the conduit at a second point of the conduit is determined. A quantity based on the phase difference and the determined frequency is determined. The quantity includes a ratio between the first frequency during a zero-flow condition and the second frequency during the zero-flow condition. A property of the fluid is determined based on the quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9389109
    Abstract: An inline ultrasonic transducer assembly is disclosed. The transducer assembly can include a body having a cylindrical flow passage and a transducer mounting space having a track on along which at least one transducer chassis can be slidingly engaged. The transducer chassis can include at least one piezo member oriented at an angle with the axial centerline of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, Jason A. Woolard, Darrell B. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9335192
    Abstract: An ultrasound flow meter unit, e.g. a unit forming part of a flow meter for ultrasonic measurement of a fluid flow. The unit comprises two ultra-sound transducers 206, a circuit board 202 with an electronic circuit 204 arranged for operating the ultrasound transducers 206, and a common protection membrane 132, such as a sheet of metal, for protecting the transducers 206. The common protection membrane 132 forms part of a water-tight casing, such as an IP68 class casing. The two ultrasound transducers 206 and the circuit board 202 with the electronic circuit 204 are positioned within the water-tight casing and thus protected against damaging humidity. A glass sealed feed-through 128 can be used to provide external electrical contact to the electronic circuit 204, i.e. for outputting an electric flow rate signal. Such flow meter unit is highly versatile within many applications since it provides a compact and robust unit. The unit can be used with or integrated in many types of devices, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventor: Søren Tønnes Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9304023
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flow meter for a pipe or open channel. The flow meter has a longitudinal member adapted to be inserted into the pipe or open channel but free of any internal wall of the pipe or open channel. The longitudinal member has a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers located there around, with each pair of acoustic transducers having a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer. The transmitting transducer sends an acoustic signal to an internal wall of the pipe or open channel and the receiving transducer receives the reflected acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Rubicon Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Damien Vernon Pearson, Kevin Hooper
  • Patent number: 9212637
    Abstract: An intake pipe structure for an internal combustion engine is provided. The intake pipe structure includes an air flow meter arranged in an intake pipe and a pair of flow regulating plates. The air flow meter has an entrance and exits. The flow regulating plates are located at positions separated from the air flow meter and extend in a direction of flow of intake air to cover the exits of the air flow meter from opposite sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryusuke Kimura, Chihori Matsutani, Shinichi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9134156
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for monitoring flow meter operation. In one embodiment, a flow metering system includes a flow meter and a condition monitor. The flow meter is configured to measure the volume of fluid flowing through the flow meter. The condition monitor is coupled to the flow meter is and configured to monitor a parameter of operation of the flow meter, and to record values of the parameter over a predetermined time interval. The condition monitor is further configured to determine reference values for the parameter based on the recorded values, and to apply the reference values to values of the parameter acquired after the predetermined time interval to validate operation of the flow metering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventor: Lawson Hamilton Ramsay
  • Patent number: 9127975
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a non invasive and mobile device to detect and quantify water consumption in domestic or public water systems, wherein detection is achieved by a piezoelectric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventor: Fergus Jordan
  • Patent number: 9041558
    Abstract: A parking sensor device has a casing, a front cover, a sensor module and an assembling clamp. The casing has two first hooking elements. The front cover is mounted on the casing. The sensor module is mounted in the casing and the front cover. The assembling clamp detachably engages the casing and has two second hooking elements. The second hooking elements selectively hook the first hooking elements of the casing respectively. The casing and the assembling clamp are engaged quickly with each other, thereby facilitating the easy fabrication of the parking sensor device and improving the convenience of maintenance of the parking sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Tung Thih Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiun-Hua Chang, Yih-Jyh Lin
  • Patent number: 9038481
    Abstract: Apparatus configured detect a physical quantity, for example a density, of a flowing fluid, the apparatus including: a sensor body (2) configured to extend into the flowing fluid, the sensor body comprising a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of a fiber Bragg grating sensor (3, 7, FBG), for generating a detector signal relating to vibration of at least part (2B) of the sensor body (2); and a processing unit, configured to process the detector signal, and to determine the physical quantity based on detected vibration at a mechanical eigenfrequency of the flexible part (2B) of the sensor body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Wouter Schiferli