Vortex Shedders Patents (Class 73/861.22)
  • Patent number: 12111195
    Abstract: A Coriolis flow meter (100) comprises a driver (180) coupled to a flow tube (800,900), the driver (180) configured to oscillate the flow tube in a drive direction, a pick-off sensor (170L, 170R) coupled to the flow tube (800,900), configured to measure a movement of the flow tube (800,900), and the flow tube (800,900) comprises a conduit (852) having an interior surface (854), and a plurality of inserts (856a, 856b, 856c, 856d, 956a, 956b), each respective insert of the plurality of inserts (856a, 856b, 856c, 856d, 956a, 956b) being coupled to at least a first position (858) on the interior surface (854) of the conduit (852).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Treat Lanham, Christopher A. Werbach
  • Patent number: 12092501
    Abstract: Flow meters may include a body defining a fluid channel therein. At least one structure may be positioned within the fluid channel, and fixed relative to the body, that is shaped and positioned to produce a flow-induced vibration that varies according to a rate of fluid flow through the fluid channel. A method of measuring a fluid flow rate may include directing a fluid over a first structure located in a first channel, and producing a first flow-induced vibration that varies according to a rate of fluid flow in a first channel with the first structure. The method may further include measuring the vibration of a remote structure coupled to the first channel, and determining the rate of fluid flow in the first channel from the measured vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignees: Paul Marotta, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, University of Idaho
    Inventors: Piyush Sabharwall, Paul Marotta, Richard Christensen, Nicholas Williams, Jason Palmer
  • Patent number: 11906337
    Abstract: An inline transducer meter body can include a channel that can accept a separate core to enable formation of a port to accept a sensor assembly and a notch to help stabilize the sensor assembly in alignment with fluid flow. The inline transducer meter body can include a circular shelf adapted to receive a transducer assembly that interfaces in a complimentary manner with a circular ledge of a circular head section of the transducer assembly, a portal formed between the circular shelf and an inner surface of the housing adapted to interface in a complimentary manner with an alignment section of the transducer, and a notch formed in the inner surface of the flow tube opposite the portal to interface with a positioner formed on and extending from a transducer holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Griffin, Hailab Kubrom, Rodmer Paderes, Conor Hogan, Martin May
  • Patent number: 11815377
    Abstract: A vortex flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid. The meter includes a flowtube, a bluff body, and a vortex sensor. The bluff body, which is positioned in the flowtube, sheds vortices in the fluid when the fluid flows through the flowtube and the vortex sensor detects the vortices and generates a vortex signal representing the detected vortices. A pressure sensor arrangement is configured to detect a differential pressure in the fluid between a first location upstream of at least a portion of the bluff body and a second location downstream of at least a portion of the bluff body and generate a differential pressure signal representing the pressure differential between the two locations. The flowmeter determines the fluid flow rate based on the pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS USA, INC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mattar, Harry DesRosiers
  • Patent number: 11525717
    Abstract: Vibration-based flowmeters are useable in inaccessible nuclear reactor spaces. Pipe-organ-type flowmeters include a passage with an opening constricted, and subsequent widening section. An extension and outlet that create turbulence in the flow at the outlet create a standing wave and vibration in the extension and/or entire flowmeter. A flow rate of the fluid through the flowmeter can be calculated using length of the passage and/or known properties of the fluid. Multiple flowmeters of customized physical properties and types are useable together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Eric P. Loewen, James P. Sineath, Dean D. Molinaro, William C. Dawn, William J. Garcia, Oscar L. Meek, Patrick K. Day
  • Patent number: 11378487
    Abstract: Provided is a method for determining at least one characteristic of a boundary layer a wind turbine rotor blade, including capturing at least one movement of at least one flexible element of at least one sensor being attached to or being part of a surface of the rotor blade, determining the at least one characteristic of the boundary layer based on the at least one captured movement of the at least one flexible element. Further, a sensor device, a wind turbine and a device as well as a computer program product and a computer readable medium are suggested for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Peder Bay Enevoldsen, Moritz Fiedel, Alejandro Gomez Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11274951
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, with a measuring tube that forms a measurement chamber through which the fluid can flow and with at least one bluff body that is disposed in the measurement chamber and wherein, additionally, a measuring body, which can be displaced due to the formation of vortices at the bluff body, is disposed downstream of the bluff body in the measurement chamber. The flow meter has at least one protrusion protruding into the measurement chamber and is formed upstream of the bluff body at an inner wall delimiting the measurement chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SIKA Dr. Siebert & Kühn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Zander
  • Patent number: 11029181
    Abstract: A vortex flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a process fluid, including a vortex generator arranged to generate vortices in a flow of the process fluid, a vortex sensor arranged to sense the vortices in the flow of the process fluid and responsively provide a sensor output related to the flow rate of the process fluid, measurement circuitry configured to receive the sensor output and provide a digital output, a memory configured to store measurements based upon the digital output; and diagnostic circuitry coupled to the memory arranged to detect instability in the flow of the process fluid based upon the measurements stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffry Duane Foster
  • Patent number: 10969258
    Abstract: A vortex flowmeter includes a flow tube configured to receive a flow of process fluid in a first direction. A bluff body is disposed within the flow tube between a first end and a second end. The bluff body is configured to generate vortices in the flow of process fluid. A plurality of sensors are disposed within the bluff body configured to detect deformations within the bluff body resulting from the vortices acting on the bluff body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Micro Motion Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir D. Bogdanov
  • Patent number: 10948322
    Abstract: In a sensor assembly, a deformation body has two oppositely lying surfaces, an outer edge segment and a sensor blade extending from a surface outward. A protective apparatus protects the deformation body from pressure surges or abrupt changes of temperature on its surface. The protective apparatus includes at least one plate, extending radially inwardly so that a cavity is formed, which accommodates a region of the sensor blade adjoining the deformation body and remote from the distal end of the sensor blade, forming a gap between the plate and sensor blade. A sensor formed by the sensor assembly and a transducer element coupled therewith can be used for registering pressure fluctuations in a flowing fluid, such as steam having a temperature of 400 C and/or, a pressure of greater than 140 bar in order to measure flow parameters of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Christian Lais, Andreas Strub, Dominique Wiederkehr
  • Patent number: 10908003
    Abstract: A configuration tool is for a vortex flowmeter having a flowtube, a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid, and a pressure sensor configured to obtain a signal indicative of a time-varying fluid pressure having an oscillation associated with the vortices. The configuration tool includes a processor that determines a type of fluid flowing through the flowtube based on the amplitude of the oscillation. The processor sets a fluid-type setting of the vortex meter to match the determined type of fluid. An alarming system for a control system including such a flowmeter includes a processor that assesses a density of a fluid flowing through the flowtube based on the amplitude and compares the assessed density to a fluid density configuration setting. The processor activates an alarm if the difference between the assessed density and the fluid density configuration setting exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Mattar, Peter Allstrom
  • Patent number: 10788344
    Abstract: A configuration tool is for a vortex flowmeter having a flowtube, a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid, and a pressure sensor configured to obtain a signal indicative of a time-varying fluid pressure having an oscillation associated with the vortices. The configuration tool includes a processor that determines a type of fluid flowing through the flowtube based on the amplitude of the oscillation. The processor sets a fluid-type setting of the vortex meter to match the determined type of fluid. An alarming system for a control system including such a flowmeter includes a processor that assesses a density of a fluid flowing through the flowtube based on the amplitude and compares the assessed density to a fluid density configuration setting. The processor activates an alarm if the difference between the assessed density and the fluid density configuration setting exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Mattar, Peter Allstrom
  • Patent number: 10773796
    Abstract: A wing-lip arrangement couplable with a wing of an aircraft includes a connection region for coupling or integration with the wing end region, at least one tip, at least one upper surface and at least one lower surface, which extend between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the wing-tip arrangement from the connection region to the at least one tip, and at least one vortilon. The local dihedral of the wing-tip arrangement changes between the at least one tip and the connection region, such that at least a part of the wing-tip arrangement projects at an angle relative to the wing. The at least one vortilon includes a vortilon base and a vortilon tip. The vortilon base is attached to at least one of the at least one lower surface of the wing-tip arrangement. The vortilon tip faces in an upstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ian Roy Whitehouse, Thomas Ehlers
  • Patent number: 10724879
    Abstract: A flow measuring device operating on the vortex counter principle, comprises: a measuring tube; a blockage in the form of a bluff body in the measuring tube for bringing about a Karman vortex street with flow dependent vortex frequency; a first pressure fluctuation measuring arrangement for registering vortex related pressure fluctuations and for providing signals dependent on pressure fluctuations; a second pressure fluctuation measuring arrangement for registering vortex related pressure fluctuations and for providing signals dependent on pressure fluctuations. The first pressure fluctuation measuring arrangement is spaced in the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube from the second pressure fluctuation measuring arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
    Inventors: Vivek Kumar, Marc Hollmach
  • Patent number: 10712191
    Abstract: A thermal flowmeter includes a tube, a temperature measuring device disposed on the tube and detecting a first temperature of a fluid, a heating and temperature measuring device disposed on the tube and detecting a second temperature of the fluid, a controller causing the heating and temperature measuring device to generate heat, a power determining unit determining a power consumption of the heating and temperature measuring device, a flow rate obtaining unit converting the power consumption into a flow rate, a flow rate correcting unit correcting the flow rate, a memory unit storing a first zero-point power consumption, a zero-point power ratio calculating unit calculating a zero-point power ratio based on the first zero-point power consumption and a second zero-point power consumption, and a setting unit calculating a correction factor based on the zero-point power ratio and setting the correction factor in the flow rate correcting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10684155
    Abstract: An air flow rate measurement device includes a casing, a flow rate measurement portion, a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The casing is disposed in a main flow passage in which an air flows, and the casing defines a bypass passage therein to take in a part of the air flowing in the main flow passage. The flow rate measurement portion is housed in the casing and measures a flow rate of the air flowing in the bypass passage. The first protrusion protrudes from a side surface of the casing in the main flow passage. The second protrusion protrudes from the side surface of the casing in the main flow passage. The second protrusion is spaced from the first protrusion in a flow direction of the air in the main flow passage. The air flow rate measurement device is capable of limiting a generation of a separated vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kengo Itou
  • Patent number: 10605639
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring device includes a housing having a cross-section perpendicular to a Y-direction and taken at a position of an outlet of the housing. The cross-section includes a widest portion having a maximum width along a Z-direction. The cross-section has a width gradually decreasing from the widest portion toward an upstream side end and has a width gradually decreasing from the widest portion toward a downstream side end. A width of the housing at a middle position of the housing in an upstream area is defined as a width W1. A width at a middle position in a downstream area is defined as a width W2. A length of the housing in the upstream area is defined as a length L1. A length in the downstream area is defined as a length L2. W1>W2 and W1/L1>W2/L2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kengo Itou
  • Patent number: 10574158
    Abstract: The bluff body attaches to an elastic mount and is capable of generate vortex shedding when the elastic mount orients the bluff body in a flow-line traverse to a fluid flow and vibrates in response to the vortex shedding. A harvester is located within the bluff body and is capable of generating power above a specified threshold in response to the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Talha Jamal Ahmad, Muhammad Arsalan, Michael J. Black, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10574157
    Abstract: The bluff body attaches to an elastic mount and is capable of generate vortex shedding when the elastic mount orients the bluff body in a flow-line traverse to a fluid flow and vibrates in response to the vortex shedding. A harvester is located within the bluff body and is capable of generating power above a specified threshold in response to the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Talha Jamal Ahmad, Muhammad Arsalan, Michael J. Black, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10560039
    Abstract: The bluff body attaches to an elastic mount and is capable of generate vortex shedding when the elastic mount orients the bluff body in a flow-line traverse to a fluid flow and vibrates in response to the vortex shedding. A harvester is located within the bluff body and is capable of generating power above a specified threshold in response to the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Talha Jamal Ahmad, Muhammad Arsalan, Michael J. Black, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10560040
    Abstract: The bluff body attaches to an elastic mount and is capable of generate vortex shedding when the elastic mount orients the bluff body in a flow-line traverse to a fluid flow and vibrates in response to the vortex shedding. A harvester is located within the bluff body and is capable of generating power above a specified threshold in response to the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Talha Jamal Ahmad, Muhammad Arsalan, Michael J. Black, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10553046
    Abstract: A system and method of method of carrying out a remedial action in response to a vehicle prognosis, the method including: receiving vehicle feature data from a vehicle; extracting a plurality of feature combination data from the vehicle feature data, wherein each of the feature combination data pertains to a feature combination, wherein each of the feature combinations includes two or more vehicle features; for each extracted feature combination data, then: (i) evaluating the extracted feature combination data using an anomaly detection function based on a multivariate distribution mixture model; and (ii) obtaining an anomaly detection score for each extracted feature combination based on the evaluating step; determining a vehicle subsystem that comprises a portion of vehicle electronics installed on the vehicle and that is likely experiencing a problem or unusual behavior based on the anomaly detection scores; and carrying out a remedial action in response to the determining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Esther Thron, Wallace P. Montgomery, Ravi P. Nudurumati
  • Patent number: 10502601
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a obtaining a first plurality of signals associated with a fluid flow in a pipe, processing, by a processor, the first plurality of signals to obtain a first plot of power associated with first vortices in the fluid flow and a flow rate of the fluid flow in the pipe over a first flow rate range, determining, by the processor, that a maximum value of the power in the first plot corresponds to a maximum value of the flow rate included in the first flow rate range or that the power is increasing as a function of the flow rate towards an end of the first plot, and based on said determining, multiplying, by the processor, values of the first flow rate range to obtain a second flow rate range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Expro Meters, Inc.
    Inventors: Minfu Lu, Michael Sapack
  • Patent number: 10444175
    Abstract: A measurement device includes a bypass housing placed at a position in the intake duct that introduces an intake air to an internal combustion engine and defining a passage through which a part of the intake air flowing through an interior of the intake duct passes, a flowing amount sensor measuring a flowing amount of the intake air passing through the interior of the bypass housing, a humidity detection element measuring a humidity of the intake air passing through a position in the vicinity of the bypass housing, and a heat discharge portion being directly in contact with the intake air and being thermally bonded to the humidity detection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Itakura, Teruaki Kaifu
  • Patent number: 10359410
    Abstract: A measuring rod (1) with a longitudinal axis (A) for insertion in the flow cross section of a tube and for the verification of a flowing medium in this tube having at least one first sender unit (2) for the transmission of a first acoustic or electromagnetic measuring signal (3) and at least one first receiver unit (4) for receiving the first measuring signal, wherein the first sender unit (2) and the first receiver unit (4) define a measuring section, wherein the first sender unit (2) is arranged in such a manner that the first measuring signal (3) crosses the measuring section and wherein the first receiver unit (4) is arranged in such a manner that it, at least during operation without flow, receives the first measuring signal (3) after crossing the measuring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Drenthen, Michael Deilmann, Michael Vogt, Thomas Musch, Stephan Neuburger
  • Patent number: 10247619
    Abstract: A resistance temperature detector (RTD) includes a temperature sensing circuit with a conductive element to receive an input signal and produce an output signal that is a function of temperature. The conductive element is formed from a metal having a temperature coefficient of resistance from about 10 ppm/° F. to about 1000 ppm/° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: VISHAY MEASUREMENTS GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Kieffer, Robert B. Watson
  • Patent number: 10175083
    Abstract: A vortex flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid has a flowtube and a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid when the fluid flows through the flowtube. A sensor is positioned to detect the vortices. A cleaning port is positioned to allow a stream of fluid to be directed into the flowtube through the cleaning port toward the sensor for cleaning material away from the sensor. A method of cleaning the vortex flowmeter includes injecting a fluid into the vortex flowmeter toward the sensor through the cleaning port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Lopera, Wayne A. Dessert, Lou Collins
  • Patent number: 9970797
    Abstract: A transit time flow sensor is configured as an insertable probe carrying transducers spaced apart along an acoustic path that may be segmented. The transducers are attached to non-wetted surfaces of respective tabs extending outwardly from the probe and functioning as acoustic windows. The tabs are selectively skewed with respect to the probe's flow axis so that acoustic signals from one transducer are detected by another. Directly communicating transducers may be on the same or opposite sides of the probe's flow axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Onicon Inc.
    Inventor: Murray F Feller
  • Patent number: 9863783
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to correction of rotation rate measurements are provided. In one implementation, a method may include receiving rotation rate measurements about a first axis and a second axis from first gyroscopic sensors. The method may include receiving a first rotation rate measurement about a third axis from a second gyroscopic sensor. The method may include determining an estimated rotation rate measurement about the third axis based on the rotation rate measurements about the first axis and the second axis. The method may include determining a bias value based on a difference between the first rotation rate measurement about the third axis and the estimated rotation rate measurement. The method may include receiving second rotation rate measurements about the third axis from the second gyroscopic sensor. The method may include correcting the second rotation rate measurements about the third axis based on the determined bias value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Gyrodata, Incorporated
    Inventor: Adrián Ledroz
  • Patent number: 9863974
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining flow conditions for a body immersed in a fluid. The method comprises obtaining flow sensor data downstream of the leading edge stagnation point (LESP) using one or more minimal calibration flow sensors. The method further comprises obtaining at least one normalizing flow parameter value and normalizing the flow sensor data using the at least one normalizing flow parameter value. The method also comprises determining an overall flow condition for the body using the normalized flow sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Tao of Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun S. Mangalam, Siva M. Mangalam
  • Patent number: 9746363
    Abstract: A method of detecting one or more blocked sampling holes in a pipe of an aspirated smoke detector system. The method includes ascertaining the base flow of fluid through a particle detector using a flow sensor; monitoring subsequent flow through the particle detector; comparing the subsequent flow with the base flow; and indicating a fault if the difference between the base flow and the subsequent flow exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Garrett Thermal Systems Limited
    Inventors: Kemal Ajay, Arjun Vinoo Caprihan, Michael Rezny
  • Patent number: 9739651
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring fluid flow in a tubular that includes an obstruction suspended in a path of the fluid flow, and where the obstruction has a conical shape. The obstruction can be conically shaped on its upstream and downstream ends, or can be conically shaped only on its upstream end. When only the upstream end is conically shaped, the downstream end can be substantially planar or shaped like a hemisphere. Optionally, the aspect ratio of the obstruction can be changed by manipulating supports that suspend the obstruction within the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Abdullah M. Al-Otaibi
  • Patent number: 9671263
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic flow switch which can be stably mounted on pipe. A clamp part is mounted on an outer surface of the pipe. A casing part which integrally or independently holds the first and second ultrasonic wave elements is fixed to the clamp part by a sensor fixing screw. The clamp part is configured to restrict displacement of the casing part in an axial direction of the pipe and in a circumferential direction of the pipe and to allow displacement of the casing part in a radial direction of the pipe in a state where the casing part is not fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Otsu, Daishiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9625914
    Abstract: A method of configuring a vortex flow control device 2 comprising a vortex chamber 4, an inlet 6 and an outlet 8 arranged at one end of the vortex chamber 4, wherein the method comprises the steps of: setting a target maximum flow rate FT-MAX through the outlet 8 for a predetermined pressure PT-MAX at the inlet; setting a target vortex initiation flow rate FT-VI through the outlet 8 at which vortex flow within the vortex chamber 4 initiates; determining the actual maximum flow rate FA-MAX through the outlet 8 for the predetermined pressure PT-MAX at the inlet 6; determining the actual vortex initiation flow rate FA-VI through the outlet 8; determining an error parameter E based on at least one of the actual maximum flow rate FA-MAX and the actual vortex initiation flow rate FA-VI and at least one of the target maximum flow rate FT-MAX and the target vortex initiation flow rate FT-VI; comparing the error parameter E against a target condition CT; and, if the error parameter E fails to satisfy the target condit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hydro International plc
    Inventors: Daniel Stuart Jarman, Robert Yaw Gyamfi Andoh, Jeremy Paul Lecornu, Kwabena Osei
  • Patent number: 9523274
    Abstract: A telemetry system including a tubular. A pump in operable communication with the tubular configured to pump a fluid through the tubular; a flow altering arrangement in operable communication with at least one of the pump and the tubular. A flow interacting detail disposed in the tubular; and a load sensor configured to detect forces imposed on the flow interacting detail due to flow through the flow interacting detail and output signals related to the forces detected. Also included is a method of communicating through a tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas J. Zweifel
  • Patent number: 9399199
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a mass flow controller for controlling a flow of a fluid. In one embodiment, the mass flow controller comprises an inlet for receiving the fluid; a flow path in which the fluid passes through the mass flow controller; a mass flow meter for providing a signal corresponding to mass flow of the fluid through the flow path, the mass flow meter having a bypass through which a majority of fluid flows; a turning vane positioned upstream of the bypass for generating a more uniform fluid flow; an adjustable valve for regulating the flow of the fluid out of an outlet of the mass flow controller; and a controller configured to apply a valve control signal to adjust the adjustable valve to a desired valve position to control the flow of the fluid out of an outlet of the mass flow controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Dille, Robert W. Altonji, Guoging Wang
  • Patent number: 9389629
    Abstract: A method for generating an output signal and measuring arrangement for determining at least one measured variable use at least one sensor device (2) and at least one signal output (3) for outputting at least one output signal, wherein the output signal transmits information about the measured variable and/or a state of the measuring arrangement using at least one predetermined value of the current. The measuring arrangement ensures reliable outputting of an error signal indicating the presence of an erroneous state is achieved in that a first adjusting unit (4) and a second adjusting unit (5) are provided that set the value of the current of the output signal to a predetermined desired value. The first adjusting unit (4) sets a fixed current value and the second adjusting unit (5) sets a variable current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Kolonko, Steffen Dymek, Martin van der Linde
  • Patent number: 9366556
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting an orifice meter includes providing an orifice fitting body having a bore, an orifice plate, a plurality of tap holes, and a plurality of pressure sensors installed in the plurality of tap holes. The method further includes removing the orifice plate and the plurality of pressure sensors from the orifice fitting body and installing a plurality of transducers into the plurality of tap holes. At least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to generate a signal and at least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to receive the signal. Additionally, the method includes measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the bore based on an output of each of the plurality of transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
    Inventor: Darren Scott Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9295410
    Abstract: An airway adapter comprising a flow channel configured to carry a respiratory gas, and a body comprising a surface at least partially coated with a luminophore that is excited by received radiation, wherein the luminophore emits luminescent radiation indicative of oxygen concentration of the respiratory gas when the luminophore is in contact with the respiratory gas, wherein the body comprises a transparent radiation path surrounded by the surface, the body being configured to guide at least one of the received radiation and the luminescent radiation emitted by the luminophore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Kurt Weckstrom
  • Patent number: 9285255
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a flow meter comprising a flow target arranged to be disposed in a fluid flow path in a conduit; a beam coupled to the flow target and arranged to extend outside of the conduit; a sensor having a moveable sensor part coupled to the beam at a position which in use is outside of the conduit, and a static sensor part, wherein displacement of the moveable sensor part with respect to the static sensor part generates a signal. In use, fluid flow acting on the flow target causes displacement of the moveable sensor part, thereby generating a signal which is representative of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SPIRAX-SARCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Nashtara Islam, Ben Frisby, Grant Needham
  • Patent number: 9279706
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to configurations for reducing the flow area for fluids traveling through a Vortex flowmeter. Such configurations may establish a minimum required Reynolds number consistent with optimized performance of the Vortex flowmeter. Various configurations for achieving optimized performance may include inserting one or more segments or a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body into a bore of a meter body of the Vortex flowmeter to block a certain cross-sectional area of the bore. By reducing the cross-sectional area of the bore, the Reynolds number of fluids may be increased to the optimized level. Another configuration may include reducing the diameter of the bore of the meter body. Any of these configurations may be implemented to achieve a desired Reynolds number, and hence, optimized performance. Certain embodiments herein also relate to determining or calculating precise or near precise sizes for segment insertions, torpedo body diameters, and diameters of the meter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Yokogawa Corporation of America
    Inventor: Mohamed Khalifa
  • Patent number: 9250108
    Abstract: A differential pressure flow measurement system includes a pressure sensor coupled to measurement circuitry. An elongate probe is configured to be inserted into a conduit which carries a flow of process fluid. The pressure sensor senses a pressure difference in the fluid flow generated as the fluid flows past the probe. A vortex shedding stabilizer is positioned proximate the elongate probe and in the flow of process fluid. The vortex shedding stabilizer is configured to stabilize vortex shedding in the flow of fluid proximate the elongate probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: David Eugene Wiklund
  • Patent number: 9222817
    Abstract: Systems and method for flow sensing are provided. One system includes a flow conduit configured to allow fluid flow therethrough, a flow disturber disposed in the flow conduit and configured to impart a flow disturbance to the fluid flow and an actuator operably connected to the flow disturber to control the flow disturber to impart the flow disturbance to the fluid flow. The system further includes a plurality of sensors disposed in the flow conduit that are configured to have a geometrical and functional relationship with the flow conduit and the flow disturber, wherein the plurality of sensors are responsive to flow characteristics in the flow conduit. The system also includes a processor operably coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured to determine a flow rate of the fluid flow in the flow conduit using timing characteristics to select a processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Amphenol Thermometrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, Michael Klitzke, Nannan Chen, Cheng-Po Chen, Yizhen Lin
  • Patent number: 9194729
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to configurations for reducing the flow area for fluids traveling through a Vortex flowmeter. Such configurations may establish a minimum required Reynolds number consistent with optimized performance of the Vortex flowmeter. Various configurations for achieving optimized performance may include inserting one or more segments or a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body into a bore of a meter body of the Vortex flowmeter to block a certain cross-sectional area of the bore. By reducing the cross-sectional area of the bore, the Reynolds number of fluids may be increased to the optimized level. Another configuration may include reducing the diameter of the bore of the meter body. Any of these configurations may be implemented to achieve a desired Reynolds number, and hence, optimized performance. Certain embodiments herein also relate to determining or calculating precise or near precise sizes for segment insertions, torpedo body diameters, and diameters of the meter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Mohamed Khalifa
  • Patent number: 9046395
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to vortex shedding flow meters with enhanced sensitivity for sensing and measuring vortex frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Spirax Sarco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg Pulley, Vaibhav Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 9032815
    Abstract: A flow system based on pulsating mechanism that has better accuracy compared to conventional vortex meters due to the fact that the pulsations generated have increased signal response and lower frequency, both of which are favorable for a high accuracy measurement. Certain embodiments include a housing, a bluff body, an orifice plate, and means for detecting a pulsating frequency of pulsating flow and determining the fluid flow rate based on the detected pulsating frequency. In certain embodiments, the housing can include an outer shell, an inlet, and an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Mohamed Nebil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 9016138
    Abstract: A flanged vortex flowmeter is connected to a flanged piping system that has a diameter larger than the diameter of the measurement section of the vortex flowmeter border. The vortex flowmeter has an inlet flange that reduces diameter from the inlet to the measurement section. A bluff body positioned in the measurement section produces vortices that alternate at a frequency proportional to the flow rate of fluid through the flowmeter. A length from inception of vortex shedding at the bluff body to a first expansion of the flow passage downstream of the bluff body is greater than a vortex wavelength of the vortices produced by the bluff body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Jon Brand
  • Patent number: 9016139
    Abstract: A system for detecting velocity airflow in a duct includes a plurality of vortex shedders arranged within the duct for inducing the shedding of vortices at a corresponding plurality of selected locations at a frequencies related to the airflow in the duct and a sound-sensing location on each vortex shedder. A plurality of microphones, each microphone being coupled acoustically with each sound-sensing location senses sounds generated by said shedding of vortices in a corresponding passage and provides an information signal indicative of said vortex shedding sounds. A processing unit performs a Fast Fourier Transform on the information signals to determine frequency of maximum amplitude within the information signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Accutrol, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Newton, Joseph Michael DiBartolo, Jerome G. Issa
  • Patent number: 9010197
    Abstract: A system includes a body disposed in a flow field and a flow disturbance device configured to induce tuned and controlled flow fluctuations in the flow field that are coupled into and amplified by a boundary layer of the body and the flow field. The flow disturbance device is located on, within, or separated from the body. The body may be a bluff body or an airfoil and may be cylindrical in shape. The flow field is a fluid or plasma having a sub-critical flow rate. The flow disturbance device may be stationary or vibrating. The flow fluctuations are tuned to a frequency within an instability frequency band of the boundary layer. The frequency band may be a frequency band that naturally amplifies the flow fluctuations and alters the body's downstream vortex shedding pattern such that vortex-induced vibration characteristics experienced by the body are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Wayne P. Liu
  • Publication number: 20150068323
    Abstract: An installation hole, in which a detector is accommodated, is formed in a substantially central portion of a body of a vortex flowmeter. A first ring is formed on an annular wall that forms a boundary between a first aperture portion and a second aperture portion of the installation hole. In the detector, a detecting element made up from a piezoelectric element is accommodated in a holder. A pair of second rings is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the holder. By inserting the detector in the installation hole, the second rings are placed in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the installation hole, and the first ring comes into abutment with a boundary region of the holder. Consequently, a seal is formed between the detector and the body by the first and second rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Tadashi UCHINO