With Restriction Patents (Class 73/861.52)
  • Publication number: 20100071478
    Abstract: An upstream hole is formed at the upstream end of a detector main body of a liquid flow detector for detecting liquid flow, and a downstream hole is formed at the downstream end, with a liquid flow channel comprising a liquid flow detection channel, discharge channel, and, optionally, intermediate flow channel, being formed between the upstream hole and downstream hole. A mobile body which is optionally, spherical, moves with the flow of liquid, and is arranged inside the liquid flow channel. The diameter of the liquid flow detection channel is smaller than the diameter of the discharge channel, and the diameter of the mobile body is slightly smaller than the diameter of the liquid flow detection channel. The shape of the peripheral edge part of the upstream hole and the downstream hole is optionally elliptical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 7681461
    Abstract: An adapter for a pipe is disclosed where the adapter changes the effective inside diameter of the tube to increase the airspeed flowing through the area where the adapter is placed. The adapter is utilized in automobiles where to adjust engine parameters based upon the requirements from the various sensors. This allows original sensors to be used in pipe while providing the overall appearance of a larger section of pipe. A kit including a number of nesting adapters is provided to allow altering of the cross sectional area of the pipe. The location of the sensor is maintained in the center of the pipe and the adapter(s) engage, nest, or connect to cause a progressive reduction of the pipe diameter until the optimal air flow speed is achieved based upon the requirements of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventors: Amir Rosenbaum, Pilun Alan Chen
  • Patent number: 7672796
    Abstract: A method for providing a system for establishing a control valve performance in a process operation. The system includes establishing an expected flow rate for a control valve by measuring a differential pressure between an upstream and downstream position of a control valve of interest and using the formula Q = Cv × ? ? ( x ) × ? ? ? P G , measuring an actual flow rate across the control valve, comparing the actual flow rate with the expected flow rate to determine the difference in value between the actual and expected flow rate, determining if the difference is within an acceptable range of values from the expected flow rate and establishing the performance of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Ching Hua Lee, Sharad Vishwasrao, Naveen Kashyap, Emelin Ornelas
  • Patent number: 7654154
    Abstract: An element of an averaging orifice plate fluid flow meter for measuring the volumetric rate of fluid flow in a conduit having an interior circumference for carrying a flow of fluid comprising, a planar flow impedance plate for disposition transversely across the interior of the conduit and perpendicular to the fluid flow, a plurality of spaced apart orifices disposed in the plate where the profile of each orifice is a segment of a circle on an arc where the arc is coincident with a portion of the interior circumference of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Dieterich Standard, Inc.
    Inventors: John Everett Garnett, Stephen Arthur Ifft
  • Patent number: 7650799
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for investigating a gas-liquid fluid mixture as it is conveyed in a conduit having a first constriction region providing a reduced conduit cross section. The method and system include inducing the mixture to exhibit swirling flow in the first constriction region, thereby separating the liquid from the gas, and determining one or more properties of the fluid in the first constriction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Atkinson, John Sherwood, Cheng-gang Xie
  • Patent number: 7637167
    Abstract: An apparatus (and corresponding method) for characterizing the fluid properties of a two phase fluid includes a restriction element (e.g., orifice plate or nozzle) along the flow path of the two phase fluid. At least one temperature sensor measures temperature of the two phase fluid flowing through the restriction element. A pressure sensor measures the pressure downstream of the restriction element. Time-of-flight measurements of pulses passing through the two phase fluid are made. The speed of sound within the two phase fluid is calculated from the time-of-flight measurements. At least one fluid property (e.g., a vapor phase fraction) of the two phase fluid is calculated from the measured pressure, the measured temperature, and the calculated speed of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Franck Bruno Jean Monmont, Herve Ohmer, Gary Martin Oddie, Allan Peats
  • Patent number: 7631562
    Abstract: A high mass-flow sensing apparatus and method of forming the same, comprising a flow tube bypassed in a flow path defined by a flow channel, through which a fluid flows. A flow sensor can be disposed in the flow tube for measuring a flow rate of the fluid in the flow channel. A set of narrow rectangular flow restrictors can be molded into the flow tube and adjacent to the flow sensor. Each flow restrictor can include several rectangular cutouts that are molded into upstream and/or downstream portions of the flow tube in order to limit the flow rate of the fluid across the flow sensor. The flow restrictors can laminarize the flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube and thereby reduce flow turbulence and lead to optimal sensing performance of the flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Jamie Speldrich
  • Patent number: 7610817
    Abstract: Provided are an orifice member, and a differential-pressure flow meter and a flow-regulating device using the orifice member, that allow purging to be carried out easily when changing the fluid to be circulated, that are less likely to cause contamination and leaching of impurities to the circulated fluid, and that can be easily produced. The flow-regulating device includes a first pressure-measuring device (object to be connected to) that is connected to one end of the orifice member, and a second pressure-measuring device (object to be connected to) that is connected to the other end of the orifice member, and a flow-regulating valve that is connected to the downstream side of the differential-pressure flow meter, which includes the above-mentioned units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Igarashi, Yoshihiro Ushigusa, Masahiro Hasunuma
  • Patent number: 7591192
    Abstract: A pipe coupling flange (16) comprising a central bore and having first and second ports for receiving valves and a plurality of channels, wherein a take-off channel links the first port with the central bore, a feed channel links the first port directly or indirectly with the second port; and wherein the second port links directly or indirectly with the exterior of the flange. Across two pipe flanges (16), an fixed directly to the periphery of each flange there may be a Bridge (30). The bridge (30) may be capable of having process media (24) monitoring devices fixed directly to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: David Williams
  • Patent number: 7574925
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents several embodiments for metering devices some of which also have pumping capability. The devices utilize one or more pistons located within a cylindrical rotor. As the cylindrical rotor is turned by a suitable torque/power source, a first face of each piston is exposed to an inlet supplying a fluid to be metered. The piston is then moved within the associated channel or bore within the rotor, allowing the volume of the channel to be filled with fluid. The continuing rotation of the rotor then removes the piston from the fluid supply and moves the channel through an angular displacement. The piston is then moved—either through applied power for active pistons or the force of the fluid supply for passive pistons—in the opposite direction, forcing the fluid out of the channel. In this way, a precise amount of fluid can be metered from each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventor: Behrokh Khoshnevis
  • Publication number: 20090183548
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus utilize a rate of drop in pressure upstream of a gas flow controller (GFC) to accurately measure a rate of flow through the GFC. Measurement of the gas flow through the many gas flow controllers in production use today is enabled, without requiring any special or sophisticated pressure regulators or other special components. Various provisions ensure that none of the changes in pressure that occur during or after the measurement perturb the constant flow of gas through the GFC under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: PIVOTAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph R. Monkowski, Jialing Chen, Tao Ding, James MacAllen Chalmers
  • Publication number: 20090183549
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus utilize a rate of drop in pressure upstream of a gas flow controller (GFC) to accurately measure a rate of flow through the GFC. Measurement of the gas flow through the many gas flow controllers in production use today is enabled, without requiring any special or sophisticated pressure regulators or other special components. Various provisions ensure that none of the changes in pressure that occur during or after the measurement perturb the constant flow of gas through the GFC under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: PIVOTAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph R. Monkowski, Jialing Chen, Tao Ding, James MacAllen Chalmers
  • Patent number: 7559256
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring device has a flow channel including: a pair of first and second centrifugal chambers each having a curved wall surface; a first guiding flow channel allowing a first secondary flow channel to communicate with one end of the wall surface of the first centrifugal chamber; an intermediate flow channel allowing the other end of the wall surface of the first centrifugal chamber to communicate with one end of the wall surface of the second centrifugal chamber; a second guiding flow channel allowing the other end of the wall surface of the second centrifugal chamber to communicate with a second secondary flow channel; a first flow dividing channel communicating with the first centrifugal chamber; a second flow dividing channel communicating with the second centrifugal chamber; and a detection space portion, in which a detection element is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Naotsugu Ueda, Satoshi Nozoe
  • Patent number: 7533581
    Abstract: Flow measurement systems and techniques may allow flow information to be wirelessly transmitted. The systems and techniques may include a meter index cover and a wireless meter transmitter adapter. The meter index cover may be configured and arranged to house a meter index and include a mounting member configured and arranged to couple to a variety of wireless meter transmitter adapters. The wireless meter transmitter adapter may be configured and arranged to couple to the mounting member and to couple to a wireless meter transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Sallee
  • Publication number: 20090093774
    Abstract: The present invention includes an ambulatory medical fluid delivery system, which may comprise a fluid flow path for communicating between a source and a patient. The system may also comprise a reusable controller, which may be operable to control fluid flow in the path and include a module interface station, and a disposable fluid flow delivery set, which may include a flow control module adapted to be removably received by the module interface station. Such flow control module may include a flow valve which is operably associated with the path. Such valve may be operably controlled by the reusable controller in response to sensed flow rates of fluid flow in such path. The present invention may alternatively include an ambulatory reusable controller that is provided for use with a disposable medical fluid flow delivery set. The present invention may further alternatively include a differential pressure sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicants: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A.
    Inventors: JONG H. WANG, Siddharth B. Desai
  • Publication number: 20090090195
    Abstract: A differential pressure system and a gas meter arrangement for precisely measuring a gas consumption by a gas meter is provided. A previously known gas meter is disposed in a bypass comprising a differential pressure system in the gas pipe for measuring a volumetric flow rate inside the gas pipe. The differential pressure system includes flow ducts having decreasing diameters as the radial position increases starting from a central axis of the differential pressure system. Examples of execution include inlet ports and/or outlet ports of the flow ducts which are provided with a specific countersink angle (?), and an equidistant, concentric arrangement of flow ducts on the cross-sectional area of the differential pressure system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Matter, Thomas Kleiner, Beat Kramer
  • Publication number: 20090084193
    Abstract: In an apparatus for measuring an exhaust gas recirculation flow through an exhaust gas recirculation line of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas recirculation line has a constriction region and a flange structure integrally formed therewith, said communication line extending from the constriction region to the flange structure on which a differential pressure sensor is disposed and being formed into the wall of the exhaust gas recirculation line so as to be in communication with the differential pressure sensor mounted on the flange structure for determining the exhaust gas flow through the recirculation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Victor Cerabone, Harald Gieb
  • Patent number: 7500405
    Abstract: Fluid flow apparatus, such as a fluid flow meter, a fluid mixing device or a fluid dispersing device, includes a fluid displacement member removeably mounted in a conduit and a pipe or tube extending through the wall of the conduit and having a portion extending through the displacement member to its downstream face for sensing flow conditions at the axis of the conduit downstream of the displacement member. The displacement member is removeably and replaceably mounted on the pipe or tube so that one displacement member can be replaced by one or more displacement members and thereby accommodate a very broad range of flows of various fluids, fluid suspensions and slurries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: McCrometer, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyann Gongaware, legal representative, Robert J. W. Peters, Floyd McCall
  • Patent number: 7484426
    Abstract: A process variable transmitter is operably coupleable to a source of multiphasic process fluid flow. The process variable transmitter is configured to obtain information relative to temperature, a reference pressure, and differential pressure across a differential pressure producer in the multiphasic process flow. The process variable transmitter is configured to calculate and/or correct for overreading based upon the reference pressure, the differential pressure and the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Russell N. Evans, John E. Garnett
  • Patent number: 7484425
    Abstract: A mass flow meter device utilizing a housing having a wall portion forming a chamber with an entrance and exit for passing fluid through the same. A body is located within the chamber and is composed of a first conical portion, a second conical portion, and a cylindrical portion positioned intermediate the first and second conical portions. The body is held within the chamber in a standard or reverse direction. A first pressure probe or sensor measures the fluid pressure at the apex of the first conical portion while a second pressure probe or sensor obtains a second pressure measurement at the cylindrical portion of the body. The comparison of the first and second pressure measurements serves as an indication for the mass flow of fluid through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Fluid Energy Conversion, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hughes, Leon Shaw
  • Patent number: 7464611
    Abstract: A differential pressure system and a gas meter arrangement for precisely measuring a gas consumption by a gas meter is provided. A previously known gas meter is disposed in a bypass comprising a differential pressure system in the gas pipe for measuring a volumetric flow rate inside the gas pipe. The differential pressure system includes flow ducts having decreasing diameters as the radial position increases starting from a central axis of the differential pressure system. Examples of execution include inlet ports and/or outlet ports of the flow ducts which are provided with a specific countersink angle (?), and an equidistant, concentric arrangement of flow ducts on the cross-sectional area of the differential pressure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: EMS-Patent AG
    Inventors: Daniel Matter, Thomas Kleiner, Beat Kramer
  • Patent number: 7461563
    Abstract: A bi-directional orifice plate assembly is disclosed. In an embodiment, the orifice plate assembly includes a first ring member, a second ring member, an orifice plate disposed between the first and second ring members, a first seal assembly disposed between the first ring member and the orifice plate, and a second seal assembly disposed between the second ring member and the orifice plate. The first ring member includes a first plurality of arms having latching portions, and the second ring member includes a second plurality of arms having latching portions. Both ring members include latch-receiving recesses. The latching portions of the arms of the first ring member engage the latch-receiving recesses of the second ring member, while the latching portion of the arms of the second ring member engage the latch-receiving recesses in the first ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Junmei Peng, Gregory Theron Jay, Gary Allen Tatum
  • Patent number: 7454984
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring a flow rate of a flow of a fluid includes a housing member including a first section configured to matingly couple with a second section. The flow meter further includes an integrally formed laminar flow member removably held within at least a portion of the first section of the housing member. The laminar flow member includes a body and a plurality of channels integrally formed within the body, wherein each of the plurality of channels is substantially continuous in the longitudinal direction and substantially continuous in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Ross, Loren M. Thompson, Paul G. DeDecker
  • Patent number: 7437951
    Abstract: A flowmeter is provided that comprises a leadframe assembly (140) and a body (144) disposed at least partially around the leadframe assembly (140). The body (144) has a flow passage therethrough that comprises a first channel (178) having a first port (166), a second channel (180) having a second port (168), and a flow altering element (182) disposed within the second channel (180). First and second pressure sensors (174 and 176) are disposed within the body (144) and coupled to the leadframe assembly (140) for measuring a first pressure within the first channel (178) and a second pressure within the second channel (180), respectively. An integrated circuit (155), which is coupled to the leadframe assembly (140), to the first pressure sensor (174), and to the second pressure sensor (176), is configured to determine the rate of flow through the flow passage from the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. McDonald, David J. Monk
  • Patent number: 7434479
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) for the determination of the mass flow and of the gas/liquid ratio in a multiphase mixture during conveying includes—in the conveying direction (9)—a first venturi nozzle (5.1), a pump (1) and, after the pump, a second venturi nozzle (5.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventor: Johann Gülich
  • Publication number: 20080247907
    Abstract: A dual inlet microchannel device and a method for using the device to perform a flow-through kinetic assay are described. A microplate having an array of the dual inlet microchannel devices and in particular their specially configured flow chambers is also described. Several embodiments of the dual inlet microchannel devices and specially configured flow chambers are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Bergman, Mark A. Lewis, Cheng-Chung Li, William J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7431045
    Abstract: A flow restrictor with a first disk having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a flow path and a second disk having no flow path. The first disk and the second disk being stacked together. A mass flow controller comprising with an input, an output, a flow path, a pressure transducer and the above flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Horiba Stec, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Mudd, William W. White, Virginia Miller, Christopher Davis, Kimura Miyoshi, Tadahiro Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20080216587
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the volume of fluid flowing through the meter includes an inner cylindrical tube through which the fluid flows and an outer cylindrical tube tending over the inner cylindrical tube. The outer cylindrical tube is radially spaced from the cylindrical inner tube to provide an annular cylindrical space between the inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube. A seal between the inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube closes the annular cylindrical space adjacent ends of the annular cylindrical space. The inner cylindrical tube further defines at least one opening in a wall of the inner cylindrical tube to balance the fluid pressure in the annular cylindrical space with the pressure in the inner cylindrical tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Joel David Bell
  • Patent number: 7415895
    Abstract: A rectifying module is arranged on an upstream side of a flow passage containing a flow velocity sensor. The rectifying module includes mesh members each having a plurality of circular small holes and ring-shaped spacers, wherein the mesh members and the spacers are alternately stacked in an axial direction and integrally joined to one another by means of thermal diffusion bonding. The mesh members have identical structures, in which the plurality of small holes are arranged concentrically at angles of separation of 60 degrees in the circumferential direction about the center of a reference small hole. The small holes are formed over the entire surface of the mesh member continuous with adjoining other small holes. The small holes of one mesh member and another mesh member adjacent thereto in the axial direction are arranged so as to have a phase angle difference of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Kurisaki, Koichi Katsumata
  • Patent number: 7415894
    Abstract: A magnetic inductive flowmeter having a measuring distance that is surrounded by a wall; a magnetic field generating device, and; an electrode device, which has at least one electrode on the inside of the wall and an electrode connection on the outside of the wall. The electrode connection is connected to the electrode by a plug-type connection, and the electrode connection fixes the electrode to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Søren Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7406880
    Abstract: A process flow device includes a self-averaging pitot tube type of primary flow element for measuring, by a differential pressure process, the volumetric rate of fluid flow at a point in a fluid carrying conduit where the velocity profile of the fluid is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The improved flow element comprises an annulus having a central opening and a pitot tube type flow-impeding device disposed transversely across the central opening and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The pitot tube type flow-impeding device includes a plurality of total pressure ports in an upstream facing surface, a plurality of static pressure ports in a downstream facing surface, and total and static pressure plenums connected in fluid communication respectively to the total and static pressure ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Dieterich Standard, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles T. Orleskie, Terry X. Beachey
  • Patent number: 7406879
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for measuring static pressure in a warm gas flow while minimizing particulate deposit formation includes a housing containing the flow of gas, a pressure sensor, and a heated pressure sampling tube attached to the sensor, with the tube sampling the gas flow. The heated sampling tube reduces the temperature gradient between the gas and the tube, reducing thermophoretic forces that contribute to deposit formation. The sampling tube extends through the housing into the gas flow in one embodiment, enabling the gas to heat the tube and locating the open end of the tube in a higher-flow area of the gas, further reducing deposit formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. Adams, David M. Grimm, Jeffrey T. Sedlacek, Christopher M. Cremeens
  • Patent number: 7404337
    Abstract: A flow metering apparatus possessing a housing with a chamber including and entrance and an exit for the passageway of fluid therethrough. A flow directing body is located in the chamber and includes first and second conical portions positioned on either side of a cylindrical portion. The body is supported in the chamber in a fixed manner. An orifice is located within the chamber upstream of the first conical portion of the body and is of a predetermined size to control the passage of fluid through the housing chamber. First and second sensors sense the dynamic pressures at the apex of the first conical portion and at a position between the body and a wall of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fluid Energy Conversion, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hughes, Leon Shaw
  • Publication number: 20080173085
    Abstract: A fluid flow rate and density measuring apparatus is disclosed including a section of cylindrical conduit comprising a measurement section or housing for the flow sensor. The flow sensor housing is fixedly attached to a conduit at its distal ends allowing fluid to pass through the open ends of the sensor housing as fluid flows through the conduit. An elongated, streamlined, cylindrically symmetric structure is located within the housing with its longitudinal axis aligned along that of the housing thereby forcing fluid through the annular gap between the exterior of the elongated cylindrical structure and the interior wall of the sensor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Alan M. Young
  • Patent number: 7367241
    Abstract: A differential pressure type flowmeter comprises an orifice, a detector to detect a fluid pressure P1 on the upstream side of an orifice, a detector to detect a fluid pressure P2 on the downstream side of an orifice, a detector to detect a fluid temperature T on the upstream side of an orifice, and a control computation circuit to compute a fluid's flow rate Q passing through an orifice by using the pressure P1, where P2 and temperature T detected with the aforementioned detectors, and the aforementioned fluid's flow rate Q is computed with the equation Q=C1•P1/?T•((P2/P1)m?(P2/P1)m)1/2 (where C1 is a proportional constant, and m and n are constants).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Kazuhiko Sugiyama, Tomio Uno, Nobukazu Ikeda, Kouji Nishino, Osamu Nakamura, Ryousuke Dohi, Atsushi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7363824
    Abstract: A flow sensor for flowing media with a cylindrical housing (2) and with a sensor element located in the housing (2), the housing (2) preferably having an outside thread (3) and being screwable into a union (4) of a pipe (5) or into an opening of a connecting piece (43). The flow sensor (1) has very high measurement accuracy while still being economically producible. There is a lifting body (6) which projects into the flowing medium, the lifting body (6) being movably guided on the housing (2) and depending on the flow (7) of the medium to be monitored, can be moved against the reset force of a reset element which is located between the housing (2) and the lifting body (6), and the sensor element is made as a noncontact proximity switch (18, 20) which produces a signal that is dependent on the position of the lifting body (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Buck, Berthold Schocker, Peter Buhl
  • Patent number: 7357040
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the volume of fluid flowing through the meter includes an inner cylindrical tube through which the fluid flows and an outer cylindrical tube tending over the inner cylindrical tube. The outer cylindrical tube is radially spaced from the cylindrical inner tube to provide an annular cylindrical space between the inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube. A seal between the inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube closes the annular cylindrical space adjacent ends of the annular cylindrical space. The inner cylindrical tube further defines at least one opening in a wall of the inner cylindrical tube to balance the fluid pressure in the annular cylindrical space with the pressure in the inner cylindrical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Joel David Bell
  • Patent number: 7337678
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical, micro-fluidic flow sensor (14) includes a flow separating element (15) for separating a first portion (24) of a fluid flow (25) from a second portion (26) of the fluid flow. The flow sensor also includes a flow obstructing member (17) disposed in the first portion of the flow for at least partially obstructing the first portion of the flow. The flow obstructing member deflects in response to the first portion of the flow so that a degree of partial obstruction of the first portion of the flow by the flow obstructing member varies in response to the first portion of the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Thakre, Atanu Phukan, Nikhil Chandra, Sriharsha Aradhya
  • Patent number: 7337677
    Abstract: A differential pressure flowmeter comprises a tube having a circular section, a first pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a liquid flowing into the tube, a second pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a liquid flowing out of the tube, a storage part for storing information and an operation part for performing various computations. In the differential pressure flowmeter, a laminar flow where a Reynolds number is less than or equal to 2000 is formed within the tube. Outputs from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are transmitted to the operation part, a pressure difference between both ends of the tube is obtained, and then a flowrate of a liquid flowing through the tube is determined on the basis of the pressure difference and flowrate information stored in the storage part in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Mizohata
  • Patent number: 7334602
    Abstract: Provided is apparatus for controlling flow rate of gases used in semiconductor device by differential pressure by generating differential pressure in a fluid path. A differential pressure generation element generates pressure difference in the fluid path of gases used in semiconductor device fabrication, a pressure, sensor which is installed at a bypass of the fluid path detects the pressure difference, and a central processing unit (CPU) measures and controls a flow rate of the gases, thereby the present invention is capable of controlling the flow rate precisely and rapidly, and enhancing the degree of purity of the gases by the filtering function of the differential pressure generation element itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignees: Hyundai Calibration & Certification Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kang-Ho Ahn
  • Patent number: 7331227
    Abstract: A response measuring device that can be used in equipment for personal training or exercise routines. This device includes a cylinder block; a chamber formed in the cylinder block and having first and second ends; a piston mounted for movement and positioned in the chamber; a detecting device mounted adjacent the first end of the chamber; and a hose having first and second ends with the first end in fluid communication with the second end of the chamber. The hose can direct a fluid into the device, with the velocity of the fluid moving the piston at least partially out of the first end of the chamber and into position for detection by the detecting device. Also, the detecting device can measure piston movement to provide data representative of user response time and amount of force applied to the sensor by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventors: Brian J Kang, Jonathan Lee
  • Patent number: 7325463
    Abstract: A fluid sensor assembly is provided for sensing a fluid property in-line. The assembly includes a body with a port for connecting the body to a fluid line and internal passage connecting the first port to a second port. The assembly also includes a sensor interface portion attached to the body and a fluid sensor that interfaces with the sensor interface portion. The fluid sensor includes a sensing element that communicates with the internal passage via the second port. The sensor and the body are fixably attached by an attaching portion to form a single, integrated part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea L. Morrison, Tim Beckwith, Mark Sciulli, John Bias, Duane Johnson, Jeffrey Krause
  • Patent number: 7302862
    Abstract: A flow sensor 22 is provided on a wall surface of a flow path 4 in which a fluid to be measured. A member having minimal cross-section flow path 17 which has a diameter extremely smaller than that of the flow path 4 where the flow sensor 22 is provided is disposed at the downstream of the flow sensor 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Fujiwara, Satoshi Nozoe, Hidenari Kuribayashi
  • Publication number: 20070272032
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for measuring static pressure in a warm gas flow while minimizing particulate deposit formation includes a housing containing the flow of gas, a pressure sensor, and a heated pressure sampling tube attached to the sensor, with the tube sampling the gas flow. The heated sampling tube reduces the temperature gradient between the gas and the tube, reducing thermophoretic forces that contribute to deposit formation. The sampling tube extends through the housing into the gas flow in one embodiment, enabling the gas to heat the tube and locating the open end of the tube in a higher-flow area of the gas, further reducing deposit formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Mark P. Adams, David M. Grimm, Jeffrey T. Sedlacek, Christopher M. Cremeens
  • Patent number: 7293471
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a flow meter that obtains the individual flow rates of gas, liquid hydrocarbons, and water in a predominantly gas-containing flowing fluid mixture. The flow meter comprises a water content meter (7) that provides a signal representing a measure of the water content of said fluid. The flow meter also comprises a double differential pressure generating (3) and measuring (4) structure, denoted a DDP-unit (2), that provides two measurement signals (6A and 6B) representing two independent values of differential pressure (DP) in said fluid (1). In addition to the above, the meter also comprises a signal processing unit (8) having inputs (9A-C) for receiving the measurement signals and the water content signal, and a calculation module (10) which calculates values representing the volumetric flow rates of said gas, liquid hydrocarbons and water in said fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Roxar Flow Measurement AS
    Inventors: Øystein Lund Bø, Ebbe Gustaf Nyfors, Rune Sørhus
  • Patent number: 7290456
    Abstract: Flow measurement systems and techniques may allow flow information to be wirelessly transmitted. The systems and techniques may include a meter index cover and a wireless meter transmitter adapter. The meter index cover may be configured and arranged to house a meter index and include a mounting member configured and arranged to couple to a variety of wireless meter transmitter adapters. The wireless meter transmitter adapter may be configured and arranged to couple to the mounting member and to couple to a wireless meter transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Sallee
  • Patent number: 7284450
    Abstract: A process flow device that includes a self-averaging orifice plate type of primary flow element for measuring, by a differential pressure process, the volumetric rate of fluid flow at a point in a fluid carrying conduit where the velocity profile of the fluid is asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The improved flow element comprises a planar flow-impeding plate disposed transversely across the interior of the conduit and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. The plate includes at least three circular apertures eccentrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit to create static pressure averaging on the downstream side of the plate. Upstream and downstream static pressure sensing ports are respectively provided on opposite sides of the flow impeding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Dieterich Standard, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Theodore Orleskie, Terry Xen Beachey
  • Patent number: 7281436
    Abstract: A primary flow measuring element comprising a cylindrical body having an axis and an interior surface defining a fluid flow path and having at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body with high and low pressure sensing ports disposed in said cylindrical body on the upstream and downstream sides of the at least one segmental wedge respectively and having at least one conditioning segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body at a position upstream from the at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Dieterich Standard, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles T. Orleskie
  • Patent number: 7263900
    Abstract: A metering device for producing a precisely metered volumetric flow is provided. The metering device comprises two displacement devices that are operated in phase opposition. In this case, the shifting speeds of the volumes of the displacement devices are adjusted such that no compensation flow takes place. In this state, the volumetric flow delivered to the device to be tested is identical to the volumetric flow taken in by the other displacement device from the pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventors: Alois Anton Ehrler, Rainer Kramer, Bodo Mickan
  • Patent number: 7261003
    Abstract: A flowmeter is provided that comprises a leadframe assembly (140) and a body (144) disposed at least partially around the leadframe assembly (140). The body (144) has a flow passage therethrough that comprises a first channel (178) having a first port (166), a second channel (180) having a second port (168), and a flow altering element (182) disposed within the second channel (180). First and second pressure sensors (174 and 176) are disposed within the body (144) and coupled to the leadframe assembly (140) for measuring a first pressure within the first channel (178) and a second pressure within the second channel (180), respectively. An integrated circuit (155), which is coupled to the leadframe assembly (140), to the first pressure sensor (174), and to the second pressure sensor (176), is configured to determine the rate of flow through the flow passage from the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. McDonald, David J. Monk