| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 702048000 | Acoustic | 72 |
| 20080234949 | Meter Electronics And Methods For Determining One Or More Of A Stiffness Coefficient Or A Mass Coefficient - A meter electronics ( | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080262756 | Coriolis Mode Processing Techniques - Flowmeters are described in which a sensor signal received from a sensor that is attached to vibratable flowtube, so as to determine properties of a fluid within the flowtube, contains a drive signal component and a coriolis mode component. The flowmeters are operable to determine drive parameters of the drive signal component, as well as coriolis parameters of the coriolis mode component. By analyzing the sensor signal based on the drive signal parameters, and not on the coriolis signal parameters, the flowmeters are able to provide stable and accurate determinations of the properties of the fluid. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20090055107 | OCCLUSION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS - A flow control apparatus having a flow monitoring system capable of detecting and identifying a downstream occlusion present within an administration feeding set loaded to the flow control apparatus is disclosed. A software subsystem is associated with the flow control apparatus and administration feeding set, the software system plots at least one discrete date point against a standard occlusion profile to detect if a downstream occlusion present within the administration feeding set. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090138215 | Photoacoustic Doppler Flow Sensing and Imaging - A method for measuring a fluid flow includes employing small light-absorbing particles as tracers that flow at the same speed as the fluid, measuring the photoacoustic Doppler shifts of the photoacoustic signals produced by these tracer particles, and determining, from the measurements, information about the flow including one or more of the flow speed, flow profile, and flow direction. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090240445 | FLOW RATE MEASURING DEVICE, AND GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM EMPLOYING IT, METHOD FOR SPECIFYING GAS APPLIANCE - A flow rate measuring device has a flow rate measurement unit, an appliance registering unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, a first appliance identifying unit, and a second appliance identifying unit. The appliance registering unit stores at least first gas flow rate variation profiles on activation of respective gas appliances coupled to a flow channel, and second gas flow rate variation profiles based on the control specific to the respective gas appliances. The first appliance identifying unit identifies which gas appliance is activated based on the first gas flow rate variation profiles on activation. When a determining unit detects a stop of any of gas appliances, the second appliance identifying unit identifies a gas appliance in continuous use by using the second gas flow rate variation profiles based on the control specific to the respective gas appliances. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090276167 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TEMPORAL POSITION OF A WAVE PACKET AND FLOW MEASURING DEVICE - The invention relates to a method for determining the temporal position of a wave packet ( | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100010756 | Method and System of Detecting Liquid in an Acoustic Flow Meter - Detecting liquid in an acoustic flow meter. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising flowing a gaseous substance through a central passage of a meter body, sending acoustic signals along respective chordal pathways across the central passage (none of the chordal pathways intersect a lower portion of the central passage where liquid, if present during flow of the gaseous substance, accumulates), calculating a flow velocity of the gaseous substance proximate to each chordal pathway based on transit times of the acoustic signals along the respective chordal pathways, and determining the presence of a liquid accumulated in the lower portion based on the flow velocity proximate to each chordal pathway. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100138170 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF A FLUID FLOWING WITHIN A PIPE - A method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided and includes at least one sensing device. The at least one sensing device includes a first sensor segment having a first segment polarity and being associated with a first outer portion of the pipe and a second sensor segment having a second segment polarity and being associated with a second outer portion of the pipe, wherein the first sensor segment and the second sensor segment generate sensor data responsive to the fluid flowing within the pipe. The apparatus further includes a processing device communicated with the at least one sensing device, wherein the processing device receives the sensor data and processes the sensor data to determine the at least one characteristic of the fluid. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100268486 | ULTRASONIC MULTIPHASE FLOWMETER, ULTRASONIC MULTIPHASE FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, AND MULTIPHASE FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT METHOD USING ULTRASONIC WAVE - To provide an ultrasonic multiphase flowmeter, an ultrasonic multiphase flow rate measurement program and a multiphase flow rate measurement method using an ultrasonic wave that can accurately measure the flow rate of a multiphase flow by detecting the position of an interface between phases by an operation processing of at least one of data on reflected ultrasonic wave and data on a flow velocity distribution. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268487 | ULTRASOUND MULTIPHASE FRACTION METER AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING PHASE FRACTIONS IN A MULTIPHASE FLUID - An apparatus and method to determine fractions of various phases in a multiphase fluid. The apparatus includes main body including an interior configured receive a multiphase fluid and an exterior. The apparatus senses fluid pressure of multiphase fluid received in the interior and senses a fluid temperature of the multiphase fluid. The apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave into the fluid and detects the transmitted wave to determine its velocity and attenuation. The apparatus may adjust the determined velocity and attenuation based on the temperature and pressure of the fluid to compensate for a difference between the sensed temperature and pressure and a standard temperature and pressure. The apparatus determines a gas fraction, water fraction, and a non-water fluid fraction of the multiphase fluid based on the sensed fluid pressure, the sensed fluid temperature, and the velocity and attenuation of the ultrasonic wave in the multiphase fluid. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100274503 | ULTRASOUND MULTIPHASE FRACTION METER AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING PHASE FRACTIONS IN A MULTIPHASE FLUID - An apparatus and method to determine fractions of various phases in a multiphase fluid. The apparatus includes main body including an interior configured receive a multiphase fluid and an exterior. The apparatus senses fluid pressure of multiphase fluid received in the interior and senses a fluid temperature of the multiphase fluid. The apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave into the fluid and detects the transmitted wave to determine its velocity and attenuation. The apparatus may adjust the determined velocity and attenuation based on the temperature and pressure of the fluid to compensate for a difference between the sensed temperature and pressure and a standard temperature and pressure. The apparatus determines a gas fraction, water fraction, and a non-water fluid fraction of the multiphase fluid based on the sensed fluid pressure, the sensed fluid temperature, and the velocity and attenuation of the ultrasonic wave in the multiphase fluid. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100299088 | ULTRASONIC CLAMP-ON MULTIPHASE FLOWMETER - A multiphase flowmeter for determining at least one characteristic of a first phase flowing in a pipe with at least a second phase being also present in the pipe is disclosed. The multiphase flowmeter includes a processor configured to determine the at least one characteristic of the first phase, a first transducer configured to emit a first pulse signal into the first phase at a first incident angle with respect to a straight line that is perpendicular to an interior pipe wall; the first pulse signal is in an ultrasonic range and is configured to be coupled to an exterior pipe wall; and the absolute value of the first incident angle in the first phase is configured to be at least 10 degrees and at most 80 degrees and a second transducer configured to emit a second pulse signal into the first phase at a substantially normal incidence. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100299089 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETECTING A PROCESS DISTURBANCE IN A VIBRATING FLOW DEVICE - The present invention relates to a system, a method, and a computer program product for detecting a process disturbance from entrained gas or particulates within a fluid flowing in a vibrating flow device ( | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110010112 | Method and System for Controlling a User Interface of a Device Using Human Breath - Certain aspects of a method and system for controlling a user interface of a device using human breath may include detecting movement caused by expulsion of human breath by a user. In response to the detection of movement caused by expulsion of human breath, one or more control signals may be generated. The generated control signals may control the user interface of a device and may enable navigation and/or selection of components in the user interface. The generated one or more control signals may be communicated to the device being controlled via a wired and/or a wireless signal. The expulsion of the human breath may occur in open space and the detection of the movement caused by the expulsion may occur without the use of a channel. The detection of the movement and/or the generation of the control signals may be performed by a MEMS detector or sensor. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110035166 | DRIVE TECHNIQUES FOR A DIGITAL FLOWMETER - Drive techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The drive techniques account for delays caused during digital signal processing of sensor signals that correspond to a motion of a flowtube, as well as drive signals that impart motion to the flowtube. Such delays may be caused by a variety of factors, including delays associated with analog/digital conversion of the signals and/or filtering of the signals. The techniques include open-loop techniques and closed-loop techniques, which can be used separately or together during the start-up and operation of the digital flowmeter. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110054812 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Discharge Flow Rate and Use of the Apparatus - The object is to facilitate determination of a flow rate of fluid discharged from a discharge opening. Intensity of a supersonic wave generated at and propagated from a discharge opening in association with discharge of the fluid from the discharge opening is determined at a determinate site distant from the discharge opening. And, a propagation distance from the discharge opening to the determination site is determined or investigated. Then, based upon a correlation existent among the intensity of the propagated supersonic wave, the propagation distance and the fluid discharge flow rate from the discharge opening, the fluid discharge rate is obtained from the determined or investigated supersonic wave intensity and the propagation distance. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110098945 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR GENERATING A DRIVE SIGNAL IN A VIBRATING MEASURING DEVICE - The present invention relates to a system, method, and computer program product for generating a drive signal for a vibrating measuring device ( | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110118995 | Coupling element of a sensor of an ultrasonic, flow measuring device - A coupling element of a sensor of an ultrasonic, flow measuring device, which includes at least three rods having, in each case, a first rod end and a second rod end. The rods, in each case, have, on their respective first ends, first end faces, which, in each case, can be acoustically coupled with the sound-emitting and/or sound-receiving area of an ultrasonic transducer element. The respective first end faces of the rods together form a first coupling surface of the coupling element, and the rods, in each case, have, on their respective second ends, second end faces, which form a second coupling surface of the coupling element, wherein the rods, in each case, have a first rod cross section, which is different in shape and/or size from a respective second rod cross section. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110153230 | DRAINABILITY MEASUREMENT - A measurement device measures a liquid flow discharged from a funnel in a lower branch and/or a side branch. A modelling function is established between liquid flows received with the funnel and/or liquid flows discharged through the lower branch and/or the side branch. In drainability measurement, a sensor measures the flow through a wire out of a measurement chamber at least at two points in time. A processor establishes a parameter descriptive of the drainability from flows measured at the different points in time based on a modelling function stored in a memory. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110161018 | MEASURING SYSTEM WITH A MEASURING TRANSDUCER OF VIBRATION-TYPE - The measuring system comprises: A measuring transducer of vibration-type, through which medium flows during operation and which produces primary signals corresponding to parameters of the flowing medium; as well as a transmitter electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer for activating the measuring transducer and for evaluating primary signals delivered by the measuring transducer. The measuring transducer includes: At least one measuring tube for conveying flowing medium; at least one electro-mechanical, oscillation exciter for exciting and/or maintaining vibrations of the at least one measuring tube; and a first oscillation sensor for registering vibrations of the at least one measuring tube and for producing a first primary signal of the measuring transducer representing vibrations at least of the at least one measuring tube. The transmitter electronics, in turn, delivers at least one driver signal for the exciter mechanism for effecting vibrations of the at least one measuring tube and generates, by means of the first primary signal and/or by means of the driver signal, as well as with application of a pressure, measured value (X | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110238332 | FLOW MEASUREMENT DEVICE - To find the propagation time of an ultrasonic wave, a difference occurs between the waveforms received upstream and downstream in a portion where the reception amplitude is comparatively large and it is prevented from being detected as an error of the propagation time. A reception signal is amplified in a reception unit | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110238333 | ULTRASONIC FLOWMETER - An ultrasonic flowmeter that measures flow velocity of a measured fluid by propagating ultrasonic waves through a measuring flow path with a rectangular cross section through which the measured fluid flows and the measured fluid that flows through the measuring flow path. The measuring flow path is provided with partition plates so that they are in parallel with the flow direction of the measured fluid. Simultaneously, the partition plates are placed in parallel with wall surfaces such that flow velocity distribution between opposing wall surfaces of the measuring flow path is more symmetrical with respect to the center of the flow direction of the measured fluid. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110246098 | FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Switching a transmitting and receiving direction of two transducers ( | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110257906 | Method for processing a time discrete, one dimensional, measurement signal - A method for processing a time discrete, one dimensional, measurement signal. The method includes the step of applying to the sequence a recursive filter having a variable recursion coefficient (K(n)), wherein the recursive filter is embodied in such a manner that, in each case, the output, measured value (y(n)) obtained for a measured value (x(n)) is obtainable by subtracting a preceding output, measured value (y(n−1)) from such measured value (x(n)), by multiplying the obtained difference value (d(n)) with a recursion coefficient (K(n)) associated with such measured value (x(n)) and by adding the obtained product to the preceding output, measured value (y(n−1)). For determining the recursion coefficient (K(n)) associated with a measured value (x(n)), a predetermined function (K | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110264385 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A FLUID PARAMETER IN A VIBRATING METER - A method for calculating a fluid parameter of a fluid flowing through a vibratory flow meter is provided. The method comprises vibrating the flow meter at one or more frequencies and receiving a vibrational response. The method further comprises generating a first fluid property and generating at least a second fluid property. The method further comprises calculating a fluid parameter based on the first fluid property and the at least second fluid property. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110282596 | Apparatus Configured to Detect Gas Usage, Method of Providing Same, and Method of Detecting Gas Usage - In some embodiments, an apparatus can be configured to detect gas usage. The apparatus can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator, the sensing unit having: (1) at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first data signals; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first data signals to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the one or more first data signals to determine the gas usage. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110301878 | METHOD OF MEASURING A VOLUME FLOW RATE OF A CONTROLLED MEDIUM IN A PIPELINE - Method comprises transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals (USS) in and counter direction of flow (ICDF) of controlled medium in pipeline (CMP); determining times of USS transmission ICDF of CMP and difference therebetween; forming time difference code; forming array of address codes corresponding to zero crossing moments of codes of USS passed ICF of CMP; determining zero crossing moment address code for codes of USS passed ICF of CMP closest to mutual correlation function (MCF) maximum address codes; selecting codes of USS passed ICDF of CMP corresponding to MCF maximum; forming MCF of selected part of codes of USS passed ICDF of CMP and signal shifted by 90° to primary USS; digitizing these MCF forming codes of time transmission of USS passed ICDF of CMP within sampling rate interval; determining accurate difference code of time intervals between USS passed ICDF of CMP; and determining CMP volume flow rate from a formula. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120029846 | PASSIVE REMOTE DETECTION OF GAS FLOW AND CABLE ARRIVAL - A system for use in installation of blown fiber for detecting a signal indicative of presence of at least one of a gas flow or an optical fiber at a remote location, comprising a gas vibration detector configured to acoustically couple with an installation duct through which the signal can travel after its generation at the remote location, and a processor arranged to receive an input from the vibration detector and to process the input to identify the signal present within the input; and a sensor for generating the signal upon sensing the presence of at least one of the gas flow or the optical fiber at the remote location. The signal can be provided by a whistle mounted on the remote end of the installation duct. The vibration sensor is typically a microphone. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120041693 | Ultrasonic phase-shift detection device - An ultrasonic phase-shift detection device includes a clock generator, a divider, a first counter, a comparator, a phase detector and a second counter. The divider is provided for dividing the clock signal to generate ultrasonic signals. The comparator is provided for comparing the counting value of the first counter and a predetermined number. The phase detector is provided for comparing the phase shift between different ultrasonic signals. The second counter is provided for counting to generate the digital result signal. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120109543 | METER ELECTRONICS AND FLUID QUANTIFICATION METHOD FOR A FLUID BEING TRANSFERRED - Meter electronics ( | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120143529 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON INVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF PROPERTIES OF A FLUID FLOWING IN A FLEXIBLE TUBING OR CONDUIT - Apparatus and method for non-invasive measuring of the sound velocity of a fluid, such as a liquid, flowing in a tubing having points of two different and known transverse length has one sensor mounted at each point connected to a circuit that provides signals to each sensor that are returned to it after passing through the tubing wall and flowing fluid and reflection from the tubing internal wall opposing each sensor and from which the round trip transit time of the signals is measured and the sound velocity calculated from the two measured round trip transit times and the differential between the known transverse lengths. Flexible tubing is placed in the slot of a measuring head which deforms it to provide the two points at one location or the slot has two sections of different transverse length along its length with a point at each section. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120185183 | FLOW METER DEVICE - In a flow meter device of the present invention, a unit measuring step is defined as a procedure for measuring ultrasonic sound wave propagation times by changing the direction in which an ultrasonic sound wave is transmitted and received between a first transducer ( | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120191382 | ULTRASONIC FLOW METER DEVICE - The present invention implements an ultrasonic flow meter device which does not require a complicated configuration such as a hermetic seal, in an inexpensive and easy manner. A typical ultrasonic flow meter device includes a fluid passage body, a measurement fluid passage placed within the fluid passage body, a pair of ultrasonic sensors, a wall defining the measurement fluid passage and attached with the ultrasonic sensors, a propagation time measuring means for measuring a propagation time of an ultrasonic sound wave propagating between the ultrasonic sensors, and a fluid flow calculating means for calculating a fluid flow based on a propagation time, and a seal member is provided between the fluid passage body and the wall to prevent a fluid from leaking. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120203476 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REAL TIME MEASUREMENT OF A CONSTITUENT OF BLOOD TO MONITOR BLOOD VOLUME - Apparatus and method for non-invasively determining the level of a constituent of a patient's blood drawn though an elastomeric tubing to a dialysis machine deforms the tubing in the slot of a measuring head having two points of different transverse length with a transmit/receive sensor at each point that transmits a signal through the tubing and the blood and is reflected back to it from the tubing internal wall. The round trip transit time of the signal at each sensor is measured and the blood sound velocity is calculated from the two round trip transit times and the differential of the transverse lengths at the two points. Blood hematocrit level, which is related to blood volume, is calculated from the calculated sound velocity and an empirical relationship. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120209542 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING MULTIPHASE FLUID FLOW - A method of and apparatus for monitoring fluid flow passing within a pipe is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a flow pressure value and a flow temperature value for the fluid flow within the pipe; b) providing a fluid flowmeter operable to be attached to an exterior of the pipe; c) providing a processor adapted to include an equation of state model for the pressure, volume, and temperature properties for the fluid flow, and further adapted to receive composition data values for the fluid flow, the flow pressure value, and the flow temperature value, and the flow velocity signals from the flowmeter; and d) determining a volumetric flow rate of one or more phases of the fluid flow. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120239312 | Compensating For Frequency Change In Flowmeters - 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. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120265454 | Method For Determining Flow Characteristics Of A Medium And Associated Apparatus - Apparatus and methods for determining flow characteristics (e.g. flow rate, direction of flow, mass flow rate, etc.) of a multi-layered medium are described, such as a multi-layered medium in a pipeline. Such a multi-layered medium may be considered to have a first layer and second layer and an interface region, wherein the interface region is defined between the first and second layers. In some examples, a flow characteristic can be determined by using the time of flight of advanced signal communicated in a particular manner across the medium with the time of flight of a retarded signal communicated in a different manner across the medium, such that it is possible to use the time of flights together with a static speed of the advanced and retarded signal in both the first and second layers and the location of the interface region in order to determine the flow characteristics of the medium. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120271568 | Ultrasonic Flow Meter - A method and apparatus utilizing a pair of ultrasonic transducers simultaneously transmitting and receiving to measure the mean time of flight of an ultrasonic signal over a given distance, and thereby the speed of sound of a fluid in a conduit at a given temperature, independent of flow rate, and the flow rate of the fluid. A signal source simultaneously drives an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer, each of which receive the signal transmitted by the other. The difference between the upstream and downstream signals is substantially invariant with rate of flow of the fluid, and measurement of parameters of this signal takes into account the speed of sound of the fluid. The time of flight for the upstream and downstream signals can then be used to calculate the flow rate. A phase locked loop providing feedback from the received signals to the signal source is utilized to maintain a predetermined number of cycles of the difference signal between the transducers, thereby automatically adjusting for variations of the speed of sound in the fluid in response to temperature changes. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120271569 | ULTRASONIC FLOW METER - A method and apparatus for measuring fluid flow in a conduit using ultrasonic transducers. A periodic signal is transmitted from a first transducer and received at a second transducer, and from the second transducer to the first. For each transmission, the phase difference between the signal as transmitted and received is measured. The rate of fluid flow in the conduit can be computed from the phase relationships of the transmitted and received signals. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20130013227 | SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - 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. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130080080 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMBINING CO-LOCATED FLOWMETERS - A system and method for ultrasonic flow metering. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic flow metering system includes a passage for fluid flow and a plurality of ultrasonic flowmeters. Each of the ultrasonic flowmeters includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers, and a flow processor. The pair of ultrasonic transducers is configured to form a chordal path across the passage between the transducers. The flow processor is coupled to the ultrasonic transducers. The flow processor is configured to measure the fluid flow through the spool piece based on outputs of the transducers of all of the ultrasonic flowmeters. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130080081 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENT - A fluid flow meter estimates the velocity of water or another fluid flowing through pipe by comparing measurements of the water velocity to one or more pre-determined templates. The fluid flow meter may collect measurement signals from one or more flow sensors (e.g., ultrasonic transducers), estimate the fluid velocity or flow rate by comparing the measurement signals to the template(s), and either store the comparison results in local memory, transmit the results to a remote memory or server, or both. In some embodiments, the fluid flow meter transmits the results to a server via a wireless interface (e.g., a Zigbee, Bluetooth, or Wi-fi interface). The transducers and processing system can be powered by a battery, a power line, or, for manifolds installed outdoors, a solar cell. Example transducers and processing systems may also have a passive wake-up feature for power reduction; that is, they may only draw power when water or another fluid flows through the pipe. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130085688 | WATER FLOW SENSOR AND MONITORING SYSTEM COMPRISING A WATER FLOW SENSOR - A sensor system to monitor water usage in a conduit system includes at least one acoustic sensor adapted to be placed in operative connection with a conduit of the conduit system, a power supply, a processor system in communicative connection with the acoustic sensor, and a communication system in communicative connection with the processor system. The sensor system is adapted to determine from output from the acoustic sensor at least start of flow and cessation of flow in the conduit system. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130179095 | MONITORING WATER CONSUMPTION - A data processing system and a computer program product for monitoring water consumption. A set of locations in a fluid transport system in a structure is monitored for sounds generated by a fluid flowing at an endpoint of the fluid transport system. Current acoustic data is generated for the sounds detected from monitoring the set of locations. The current acoustic data is compared with historical acoustic data to form a difference. A determination is made as to whether the difference exceeds a threshold. An action is performed in response to determining that the difference exceeds the threshold. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130179096 | MONITORING WATER CONSUMPTION - A method for monitoring water consumption. A set of locations in a fluid transport system in a structure is monitored for sounds generated by a fluid flowing at an endpoint of the fluid transport system. Current acoustic data is generated for the sounds detected from monitoring the set of locations. The current acoustic data is compared with historical acoustic data to form a difference. A determination is made as to whether the difference exceeds a threshold. An action is performed in response to determining that the difference exceeds the threshold. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130211745 | Systems and Methods for Apportioning Usage of a Utility in a Multi-Unit Building - Usage of a utility in a multi-unit building is apportioned to a single unit by measuring the total usage of the utility using a meter unit to produce a total usage measurement, then positioning at least one sensor unit in a single unit of the multi-unit building and monitoring usage of the utility by the single unit using the at least one sensor unit to produce monitoring data. Then a processor unit receives the total usage measurement and the monitoring data and correlates them to generate correlated data. Finally, the processor unit apportions the total usage measurement to the single unit based on the correlated data. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130238260 | ULTRASONIC MEASURING DEVICE - An ultrasonic measuring device that measures a flow volume of a fluid by sending an ultrasonic signal to the fluid and receiving a transmission signal or a reflection signal of the ultrasonic signal obtained from the fluid, may include: a first computing unit that performs a calculation to a first receive signal obtained by receiving the transmission signal, and determines a first flow volume indicating the flow volume of the fluid; a second computing unit that performs a correlation calculation of a second receive signal obtained by receiving the reflection signal, and determines a second flow volume indicating the flow volume of the fluid; a storage unit; and a correcting unit that outputs one of the first flow volume and the second flow volume based on a volume of air-bubbles contained in the fluid. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130304403 | Apparatus for Noninvasive Measurement of Properties of a Fluid Flowing in a Tubing Having a Small Inner Diameter Passage - Apparatus for non-invasive measuring of the sound velocity of a fluid flowing in a tubing having a small internal diameter for the fluid passage as compared to the tubing wall thickness and having points of two different and known transverse length with a sensor mounted at each point and a delay line adjacent to the tubing at each point. Each sensor is connected to a circuit that provides ultrasonic energy signals that are transmitted through the tubing walls, the flowing fluid and the delay line to be reflected back to the sensor from which the round trip transit time of the signals is measured and the sound velocity calculated from the two measured round trip transit times and the differential between the known transverse lengths. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130345996 | PROCESS LIQUID FLOWMETER - A flowmeter of the present invention is adapted to measure a flow velocity of a process liquid flowing through a supply pipe, and includes: a pair of ultrasonic oscillators located with a spacing therebetween of a predetermined distance along a flow direction of the supply pipe; a flow velocity calculating part calculating a flow velocity of the process liquid based on a first arrival time elapsed for an ultrasonic wave generated from one of the pair of ultrasonic oscillators to arrive at the other of the pair of ultrasonic oscillators and a second arrival time elapsed for an ultrasonic wave generated from the other of the pair of ultrasonic oscillators to arrive at the one of the pair of ultrasonic oscillators; and a bubble inclusion determining part determining, based on a time-varying amount of the calculated process liquid flow velocity, whether air bubbles are included in the process liquid. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140012518 | FLOW METER - A flow meter ultrasonically measures fluid velocity in a pipe. Ultrasonic signals received by ultrasonic transducers are digitized. The difference between two ultrasonic propagation times is determined by computing a discrete cross-correlation of the digitized received signals. Computation time is reduced by computing only a few cross-correlation values near a peak cross-correlation value. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140039812 | WET GAS MEASUREMENT - A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140039813 | CORIOLIS MODE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES - Flowmeters are described in which a sensor signal received from a sensor that is attached to vibratable flowtube, so as to determine properties of a fluid within the flowtube, contains a drive signal component and a Coriolis mode component. The flowmeters are operable to determine drive parameters of the drive signal component, as well as Coriolis parameters of the Coriolis mode component. By analyzing the sensor signal based on the drive signal parameters, and not on the Coriolis signal parameters, the flowmeters are able to provide stable and accurate determinations of the properties of the fluid. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140039814 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETECTING A PROCESS DISTURBANCE IN A VIBRATING FLOW DEVICE - The present invention relates to a system, a method, and a computer program product for detecting a process disturbance from entrained gas or particulates within a fluid flowing in a vibrating flow device ( | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140107950 | BANDPASS ADC SAMPLING FOR FLUID VELOCITY DETERMINATION - A method of calculating a time difference is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first ultrasonic signal (r | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140129156 | DIGITAL FLOWMETER - A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140136126 | MULTI-PHASE ULTRASONIC PIPE FLOW METER - A system for determining densities and proportions of phases in a multi-phase fluid flow (MFF) that can include an oil phase, a water phase, and a gas phase from a well. The system includes a first density sensor that senses the MFF at locations where the phases of the MFF are often separated, a second density sensor senses the MFF from the output of a phase mixer-homogenizer, and a third density sensor that senses, in real time, the MFF where the gas phase starts to separate or has separated from the liquid phase but where the liquid phases have not separated. The system also includes one or more processors for executing one or more programs to determine a density of the oil phase, a density of the water phase, a density of the gas phase, and proportions of phases including a water cut and a gas volume fraction based on readings from the first, second, and third density sensors. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140195173 | Method for Ascertaining Flow by Means of Ultrasound - A method for ascertaining flow of a fluid, which is a gas mixture, through a circularly cylindrical measuring tube having a straight, measuring tube, longitudinal axis and an inner diameter D | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140200837 | Analysis of Component Having Engineered Internal Space for Fluid Flow - A characteristic of a component having an engineered internal space can be analyzed by recording acoustic signals produced by fluid flow through the internal space at controlled flow rates, and determining one or more acoustic frequencies and acoustic intensities that are indicative of the characteristic of the component. A state and/or a source of the component can be predicted based on the results of such analysis. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140207393 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Cloud Flowmeter - Systems and methods for providing a cloud flowmeter are provided by certain embodiments of the disclosure. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a method, which can include receiving, from a meter device, at least one flow signal via at least one network; determining, based in part on the at least one flow signal, at least one flow characteristic, data characteristic, or meter characteristic; and storing the at least one flow characteristic, data characteristic, or meter characteristic in a data storage device remote from the meter device. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140278154 | Flow Measurement Systems And Methods For Gas And Liquid Applications - A system for measuring the superposition of a plurality of sound waves propagating within a conduit containing a fluid having a plurality of transducers positioned substantially parallel to the flow direction along the wall of the conduit. The system includes means for modeling the superposition of a plurality of sound waves as they propagate within the conduit. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140303910 | EXTENDED RANGE ADC FLOW METER - A method of calculating a time difference is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first ultrasonic signal (r | 10-09-2014 |
| 20150046102 | FLOW MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GAS AND LIQUID APPLICATIONS - An apparatus and method for measuring the superposition of a plurality of sound waves propagating within a conduit containing a fluid having a plurality of transducers positioned substantially parallel to the flow direction along the wall of the conduit. The system includes a computing device for modeling the superposition of a plurality of sound waves as they propagate within the conduit. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150066396 | Estimating Flow Rates of a Liquid in a Conduit - In one embodiment, a flow-estimation processor receives one or more flow-depth measurements with each flow-depth measurement having been taken at a respective time. The processor calculates a respective estimated flow rate for each of the times based on the corresponding flow-depth measurement and one or more flow-estimation parameters each set to a respective initial value. The processor outputs the estimated flow rates for presentation via a user interface, and receives via the user interface one or more updated values corresponding respectively to a flow-estimation parameter. The processor calculates an updated estimated flow rate for each of the one or more times, such that each respective updated estimated flow rate is calculated based on the received updated values. The processor then outputs the updated estimated flow rates for presentation via the user interface. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150081232 | SYSTEM OR A METHOD FOR MEASURING FLOW OF FLUID OR GAS - A system or a method for measuring flow in a flow duct has at least two ultra sound transducers. The flow of air in a duct is measured by one or more transducers transmitting beams of ultra sound controlled by a microcontroller based electronic system in which the microcontroller stores a vector of data samples for each direction of transmission, which vector includes an appropriate number of N samples forming a frame, the microcontroller multiplying each value of the frame which a complex number. Based on the result, the microcontroller calculates the flow in the duct. As a result, an efficient flow measurement of air flowing in a duct can be achieved. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150127275 | FLOW METER SYSTEM - The application provides an acoustic flow meter for a fluid conduit. The flow meter has one or more acoustic transmitter and receiver pairs, a holder, an interface unit, and a computer module. The acoustic transmitter and receiver pair measures a flow speed value of a fluid in the fluid conduit. The holder fixes the acoustic transmitter and receiver pair to the fluid conduit. The interface unit receives a type data, a position data, and an orientation data of a fluid disturbance element, and a position data and an orientation data of the acoustic transmitter and receiver pair. The computer module has a memory unit, a processor, an output device. The memory unit stores a relationship data set. The processor computes a flow rate of the fluid by using the relationship data set type. The output device outputs the flow rate. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150292925 | SETTING METHOD OF FLOW METER DEVICE AND FLOW METER DEVICE - A setting method of a flow meter device comprises (A) measuring a compensation coefficient in a case where a fluid is flowed with a flow within a predetermined range, and deriving a first function representing as a linear function a relationship between a measurement compensation coefficient which is the measured compensation coefficient and a conversion value which is obtained by converting a set flow which is the flow of the flowed fluid, using a predetermined function; (B) setting a reference flow which is an arbitrary flow within the predetermined range and calculating a reference compensation coefficient which is a compensation coefficient corresponding to the reference flow based on the reference flow and the first function; and (C) storing the reference flow and the reference compensation coefficient corresponding to the reference flow. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150355001 | EXTENDED RANGE ADC FLOW METER - A method of calculating a time difference is disclosed. The method includes sampling a first ultrasonic signal (r | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150377667 | VIRTUAL MULTIPHASE FLOW METERING AND SAND DETECTION - Virtual and non-invasive multiphase metering is performed for recognition of multiphase flow regimes of hydrocarbons and other fluids, flow rate, presence of sand, and other multiphase flow parameters. A passive acoustical detector system receives acoustical flow information in the form of acoustic emission signals, and a data processor processes and classifies the acoustical patterns. A statistical signal processing methodology is used. Acoustic models are provided for various flow regimes and flow patterns, using Artificial Intelligence methods including Hidden Markov Models and Artificial Neural Networks along with automated learning procedures. The metering can be used for downhole, top side and surface applications. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160011072 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEAK RATE THROUGH AN OPENING USING ACOUSTICAL SENSORS | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160109271 | APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO DETECT GAS USAGE, METHOD OF PROVIDING SAME, AND METHOD OF DETECTING GAS USAGE - An apparatus configured to detect gas usage by two or more gas appliances. The apparatus can include a processing module configured to run on a computational unit. The apparatus also can include a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator. The sensing unit can include at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals. The sensing unit also can include a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to the computational unit. The processing module can be configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine an individual gas usage by each of the two or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based upon the two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160161310 | DEVICES AND SYSTEM FOR CHANNELING AND AUTOMATIC MONITORING OF FLUID FLOW IN FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS - A fluid manifold is capable of channeling and monitoring fluid flow within a fluid distribution system. The manifold includes one or more input lumens. Each input lumen associated with a respective inlet port. The manifold also includes a plurality of output lumens such that each output lumen is associated with a respective outlet port and at least one input lumen is coupled to two or more output lumens. The manifold also includes one or more flow sensors capable of measuring fluid flow parameters of fluid flowing through at least one of the one or more input lumens and the plurality of output lumens. In some implementations, a flow sensor can be mounted to each output lumen of the manifold. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160169791 | DETECTING EDGE CRACKS | 06-16-2016 |
