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EP0104004A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fluid flowmeter and method of measuring flow rate

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-08-24
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2003-08-24
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Abstract

Abstract A flowmeter which is connectable in series with a fluid supply line and which functions to meter the rate of fluid flow through the supply line. The flowmeter incorporates a chamber (19) into a through which fluid is passed, and an acousto-electrical transducer (24) is located within the cham- her for exposure to acoustical energy which is emitted by fluid passing through the chamber (19). The transducer (24) is connected in circuit with a detector (32) which is arranged to provide an output which follows the peak voltage of an amplified output signal generated by the transducer (24) as a consequence of the transducer (24) being exposed to acoustical energy of the fluid. A display device (34) is incorporated in the flowmeter for providing a measure of the detector output, and hence of the amplitude of the transducer output, in terms of fluid flow rate.

Inventors

  • 👤 Graham Cameron Grant

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 15:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/66; G01F1/666

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 90 words
A fluid flowmeter which is connectable in series with a fluid supply line and which comprises a chamber (19) into and through which fluid is passed; characterised in that an acousto-electrical transducer (24) is located in or adjacent the chamber (19) for exposure to acoustical energy which is emitted by fluid passing through the chamber, the transducer (24) being connected in circuit with means (34) for providing indication of an electrical output which is generated by the transducer as a consequence of the transducer being exposed to the acoustical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 90 words
A fluid flowmeter which is connectable in series with a fluid supply line and which comprises a chamber (19) into and through which fluid is passed; characterised in that an acousto-electrical transducer (24) is located in or adjacent the chamber (19) for exposure to acoustical energy which is emitted by fluid passing through the chamber, the transducer (24) being connected in circuit with means (34) for providing indication of an electrical output which is generated by the transducer as a consequence of the transducer being exposed to the acoustical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 92 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in claim 1 further characterised in that the transducer (24) comprises a microphone having a diaphragm (26) which is exposed to acoustical energy emitted by fluid passing through the chamber (19). the microphone being connected electrically in circuit with an amplifier, with a voltage detector (32) which is arranged to provide an output signal which follows the amplitude of the voltage output of the microphone (24) and with display means (34) for displaying a measure of the.output signal from the detector in terms of fluid flow rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 55 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in claim 2 further characterised in that voltage linearising means (33) are located in circuit between the detector (32) and the display means (34). whereby the display means will display output voltage levels which increment linearly with corresponding incremental changes in the flow rate of fluid flowing through the flowmeter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 59 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 further characterised in that integrating circuit means (36) are connected in circuit with the detector (32), and a further display device (37) is located in circuit with the integrating means (36) for displaying a measure of the output signal of the integrating means in terms of fluid volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 106 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 further characterised in that the chamber (19) is located in a body portion (12) of the flowmeter, the body portion (12) being formed with first and second fluid flow channels (19a and 21), the first channel (19a) being connectable at one end with a supply of fluid and communicating at its other end with the chamber (19) by way of a nozzle (20) which projects into the chamber, and the second channel (21) communicating at one end with the chamber (19) and being connectable at its other end to a fluid delivery line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in claim 5 further characterised in that the nozzle (20) is orientated - toward the transducer (24) whereby fluid passing into the chamber (19) from the nozzle is caused to impinge on the transducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 further characterised in that an adjustable flow control valve (22) is located in the second fluid flow channel (21) for regulating the rate of fluid flow through the flowmeter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 92 words
A fluid flowmeter as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 further characterised in that electric circuit components (31. 32. 33 and 34) are located in a casing (28) which is removably connected to the body portion (12). in that the chamber (19) within the body portion (12) is closed by connecting the casing (28) to the body portion, and in that the transducer (24) is mounted to the casing (28) and disposed so as to locate within the chamber (19) when the casing is connected to the body portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 90 words
9 . A method of measuring the rate of fluid flow through a fluid channel, characterised in that an acousto-electrical transducer (24) is exposed to acoustical energy emitted by fluid passing through the channel, in that the electrical output of the transducer (24) is employed to generate an electrical signal which follows the amplitude of the voltage output of the transducer, and in that the electrical signal is applied to a display device (34) which is arranged to provide a visual display representative of the level of the electrical signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 90 words
9 . A method of measuring the rate of fluid flow through a fluid channel, characterised in that an acousto-electrical transducer (24) is exposed to acoustical energy emitted by fluid passing through the channel, in that the electrical output of the transducer (24) is employed to generate an electrical signal which follows the amplitude of the voltage output of the transducer, and in that the electrical signal is applied to a display device (34) which is arranged to provide a visual display representative of the level of the electrical signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2936619A Cited
US3329017A Cited
DE1930497B2 Cited
US3768309A Cited
GB2042190A Cited

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