Sonic flow meter

Claim 2

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation path; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; and means for calculating the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates according to the following expression: where: V = the velocity at which the material is flowing across said propagation path, θ = the angle formed by said propagation path and the direction of flow of the material, D = the length of said propagation path, R = the length of any portion of said path where it is assumed that the net flow velocity is zero, t u = the said time required for said energy to propagate along said path in said first said direction, t d = the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in said second said direction, and T e = the time required for said causing means to cause said propagating means to initiate propagation of said energy, for said propagating means to generate a said receive signal upon said energy reaching a said termination point, and for said receive signal to be received by said receiving means.

Claim 3

The meter recited by claim 1 wherein: said causing means causes said propagating means to transmit a first group of at least two sonic pulses along said path in said first direction and a second group of at least two sonic pulses along said path in said second direction prior to each said calculation made by said calculating means; said calculating means includes: means for recording the time required for each said pulse to propagate along said path; means for imposing a time delay between the time each said pulse finishes propagating along said path and the transmission of the next said pulse; and means for accumulating the total duration of said time delays imposed during the transmission of each said group; and said calculating means determining the value of (t u - t d ) using the following expression: and determining the value of (t + t d ) by using the following expression: where: Et u = the time required for said meter to cause all said sonic pulses of said first croup to propagate along said path, Et d the time required for said meter to cause all said sonic pulses of said second group to propagate along said path, B u = the total duration of said time delays imposed during transmission of said first group of sonic pulses along said path, B d = the duration of all said time delays imposed during transmission of said second group of pulses along said path, and N = the number of said sonic pulses transmitted in each said group.

Claim 4

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates; said causing means causing said propagating means to transmit a first group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said first direction and a second group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said second direction prior to each said determination of velocity made by said determining means; said determining means further including: means for recording the time required for each said pulse to propagate along said path; means for imposing a time delay between the time each said pulse finishes propagating along said path and the transmission of the next said pulse; and means for accumulating .the total duration of said time delays imposed during the transmission of each said groups; said receiving means determining the`time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction from the time required to transmit along said path all said energy pulses of each said group and said total duration of said time delays.

Claim 5

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates; said causing means causing said propagating means to transmit a first group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said first direction and a second group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said second direction prior to each said determination of velocity made by said determining means; said determining means further including: means for recording the time required for each said pulse to propagate along said path; means for imposing a time delay between the time each said pulse finishes propagating along said path and the transmission of the next said pulse; and means for accumulating .the total duration of said time delays imposed during the transmission of each said groups; said receiving means determining the`time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction from the time required to transmit along said path all said energy pulses of each said group and said total duration of said time delays.

Claim 6

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates; and means for determining from a group of at least one said receive signal whether said propagating means should alter the level of said energy produced by said propagating means and for causing said propagating means to effect any said alteration.

Claim 7

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates; and means for determining from a group of at least one said receive signal whether said propagating means should alter the level of said energy produced by said propagating means and for causing said propagating means to effect any said alteration.

Claim 8

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a' receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive sicnal, and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; said receiving means determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path by measuring the time elapsing between creation of said energy by said propagating means to receipt by said receiving means of the receive point of a receive signal corresponding to said energy, said receive point being a predetermined point at which said receive signal crosses a reference axis following the peak level of said receive signal; and means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates.

Claim 9

A flow meter comprising: means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, said propagating means generating a' receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive sicnal, and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; said receiving means determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path by measuring the time elapsing between creation of said energy by said propagating means to receipt by said receiving means of the receive point of a receive signal corresponding to said energy, said receive point being a predetermined point at which said receive signal crosses a reference axis following the peak level of said receive signal; and means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates.

Claim 10

The meter recited by claim 5 wherein said predetermined point is the third said point occurring after said receive signal crosses said reference axis.

Claim 11

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation path; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; and means for calculating the velocity at which material flows through said housing according to the following expression: where: V = the velocity at which the material moves through said passage, θ = the angle formed by said propagation path and the longitudinal axis of a section of said passage that contains at least a portion of said path, D = the length of said propagation path, R = the length of each said portion of said path that is not located in said passage, t u = the said time required for said energy to propagate along said path in said first said direction, t d = the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in said second said direction, and T e = the time required for said causing means to cause said propagating means to initiate propagation of said energy, for said.propagating means to generate a said receive signal upon said energy reaching a said termination point, and for said receive signal to be received by said receiving means.

Claim 12

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation path; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; and means for calculating the velocity at which material flows through said housing according to the following expression: where: V = the velocity at which the material moves through said passage, θ = the angle formed by said propagation path and the longitudinal axis of a section of said passage that contains at least a portion of said path, D = the length of said propagation path, R = the length of each said portion of said path that is not located in said passage, t u = the said time required for said energy to propagate along said path in said first said direction, t d = the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in said second said direction, and T e = the time required for said causing means to cause said propagating means to initiate propagation of said energy, for said.propagating means to generate a said receive signal upon said energy reaching a said termination point, and for said receive signal to be received by said receiving means.

Claim 13

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive-signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the velocity at which the material flows through said housing; said causing means causing said propagating means to transmit a first group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said first direction and a second group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said second direction prior to each said determination of velocity made by said determining means; said determining means further including: means for recording the time required for each said pulse to propagate along said path; means for imposing a time delay between the time each said pulse finishes propagating along said path and the transmission of the next said pulse; and means for accumulating--the total duration of said time delays imposed during the transmission of each said groups; said receiving means determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction from the time required to transmit along said path all said energy pulses of each said group and said total duration of said time delays.

Claim 14

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive-signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the velocity at which the material flows through said housing; said causing means causing said propagating means to transmit a first group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said first direction and a second group of at least two energy pulses along said path in said second direction prior to each said determination of velocity made by said determining means; said determining means further including: means for recording the time required for each said pulse to propagate along said path; means for imposing a time delay between the time each said pulse finishes propagating along said path and the transmission of the next said pulse; and means for accumulating--the total duration of said time delays imposed during the transmission of each said groups; said receiving means determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction from the time required to transmit along said path all said energy pulses of each said group and said total duration of said time delays.

Claim 15

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of--said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the velocity at which the material flows through said housing; and means for determining from a group of at least one said receive signal whether said propagating means should alter the level of said energy produced by said propagating means and for causing said propagating means to.effect any said alteration.

Claim 16

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of--said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signals and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; means for determining from said determined times the velocity at which the material flows through said housing; and means for determining from a group of at least one said receive signal whether said propagating means should alter the level of said energy produced by said propagating means and for causing said propagating means to.effect any said alteration.

Claim 17

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to'propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signal, and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; said receiving means determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path by measuring the time elapsing between creation of said energy by said propagating means to receipt by said receiving means of the receive point of a receive signal corresponding to said energy, said receive point being the third point at which said receive signal crosses a reference axis following the peak level of said receive signal; and means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates.

Claim 18

A meter for measuring the velocity at which material travels through a conduit comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a passage joining said inlet to said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being adapted to communicate with the interior of the conduit to permit material to flow from the conduit through the inlet and passage of said housing and to exit said housing through said outlet to reenter the conduit; means for propagating mechanical radiant energy along at least one propagation path, said energy propagating means being adapted to'propagate said energy in two directions along said propagation path, material travelling through said passage causing a variance between the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a first said direction and the average velocity at which said energy propagates along said path in a second said direction, said propagating means generating a receive signal each time said energy reaches a termination point of said propagation paths; means for causing said propagating means to propagate said energy along said path in each said direction; means for receiving said receive signal, and for determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path in each said direction; said receiving means determining the time required for said energy to propagate along said path by measuring the time elapsing between creation of said energy by said propagating means to receipt by said receiving means of the receive point of a receive signal corresponding to said energy, said receive point being the third point at which said receive signal crosses a reference axis following the peak level of said receive signal; and means for determining from said determined times the flow velocity of material through which said radiant energy propagates.