Pressure demand meter for fluid flow measurement

Claim 2

In a gas system having a plurality of gas distribution conduits, a measuring device comprising; means for sensing the demand on the gas system, means coupled to said sensing means to provide an output signal proportional to said system demand, means for sensing the quantity of gas flowing through a specified conduit for a given time period, means coupled to said latter sensing means to provide an output signal proportional to the quantity of gas flow through the specified conduit, and means for correlating said output signals to provide an indication proportional to the quantity of gas utilized and the system demand.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 including a register, said indication being displayed at said register in quantity units.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 1 including a remote register, means for coupling said remote register to said device to provide a remote indication of system demand.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means senses the gas pressure in a specified conduit, said gas pressure being a variable, said correlating means being operable to provide an indication proportional to the quantity of gas utilized and inversely proportional to said gas pressure.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 4 wherein said correlating means is operable to provide the indication proportional to the quantity of gas utilized and inversely proportional to said gas pressure for gas pressures within a predetermined range, said correlating means being operable to provide an indication proportional to the quantity of gas utilized and directly proportional to said gas pressure for gas pressures above said predetermined range of gas pressures.

Claim 7

In a gas system having a plurality of gas distribution conduits, the method of determining user charges for gas flowing through a users conduit as a function of system demand and quantity of gas utilized comprising the steps of; sensing the gas system demand and providing an output signal proportional thereto; sensing the quantity of gas flowing through a users conduit for a given period of time and providing an output signal proportional thereto, correlating said output signals to provide an indication proportional to the quantity of gas utilized and system demand; and calculating a charge to a gas system user based on the net change in said latter indication for the given time period.

Claim 8

In a gas system having a plurality of gas distribution conduits, the method of determining user charges for gas flowing through a users conduit as a function of system demand and quantity of gas utilized comprising the steps of; sensing the gas system demand and providing an output signal proportional thereto; sensing the quantity of gas flowing through a users conduit for a given period of time and providing an output signal proportional thereto, correlating said output signals to provide an indication proportional to the quantity of gas utilized and system demand; and calculating a charge to a gas system user based on the net change in said latter indication for the given time period.

Claim 9

A gas flow measuring device comprising: sensing means for measuring the quantity of gas flow in a gas line and providing an output signal proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through the gas line, means for sensing the pressure of the gas and providing an output signal proportional to such pressure, a register, and means for processing said quantity flow signal and said pressure signal to provide an indication at said register proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through said gas line and to the pressure of the gas, said processing means including means for correlating said quantity flow signal and said pressure signal to provide an indication at said register proportional to the quantity flow of gas through the line and inversely proportional to the pressure of the gas in the line.

Claim 10

A gas flow measuring device comprising: sensing means for measuring the quantity of gas flow in a gas line and providing an output signal proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through the gas line, means for sensing the pressure of the gas and providing an output signal proportional to such pressure, a register, and means for processing said quantity flow signal and said pressure signal to provide an indication at said register proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through said gas line and to the pressure of the gas, said processing means including means for correlating said quantity flow signal and said pressure signal to provide an indication at said register proportional to the quantity flow of gas through the line and inversely proportional to the pressure of the gas in the line.

Claim 11

A gas flow measuring device comprising: sensing means for measuring the quantity of gas flow in a gas line and providing an output signal proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through the gas line, means for sensing the pressure of the gas and providing an output signal proportional to such pressure, a register, and means for processing said quantity flow signal and said pressure signal to provide an indication at said register proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through said gas line and to the pressure of the gas, said processing means including a plurality of gears, said quantity signal being aDapted to drive said gears, said gears having an output coupled to said register with said register having a readout in quantity units of flow through the line, means coupled to said pressure signal output for changing the gear ratio of said gears to alter the quantity readout in proportion to the pressure in the gas line, said coupling means being adapted to change the gear ratio of said gears to alter the quantity readout in an inverse proportion to the pressure in the gas line.

Claim 12

A gas flow measuring device comprising: sensing means for measuring the quantity of gas flow in a gas line and providing an output signal proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through the gas line, means for sensing the pressure of the gas and providing an output signal proportional to such pressure, a register, and means for processing said quantity flow signal and said pressure signal to provide an indication at said register proportional to the quantity of gas flowing through said gas line and to the pressure of the gas, said processing means including a plurality of gears, said quantity signal being aDapted to drive said gears, said gears having an output coupled to said register with said register having a readout in quantity units of flow through the line, means coupled to said pressure signal output for changing the gear ratio of said gears to alter the quantity readout in proportion to the pressure in the gas line, said coupling means being adapted to change the gear ratio of said gears to alter the quantity readout in an inverse proportion to the pressure in the gas line.