US3688573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for determining flow rate and volume of a flowing fluid mass
Assignee: INVALCO Inc
•
Filing: 1970-11-12
•
Granted: 1972-09-05
•
Expires: 1990-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed which includes a flow meter producing voltage pulses of a frequency proportional to the flow rate of a flowing mass, and a sensing element responsive to a physical condition of the flowing mass with circuitry which produces a D.C. voltage signal analogous to that condition. A generator provides linear sawtooth voltage pulses against which a comparator circuit compares the analog voltage from the sensing element and circuit. The voltage resultant of the comparison passes a portion of the voltage pulses from the flow meter to a divider circuit element and a subtractor circuit element of the system for conversion of relatively low order changes in the physical condition to an expanded range equivalent, and for correction of the flow rate or volume as a function of such changes. The flow rate or volume as thus corrected is registered on a suitable flow rate indicator or volume counter.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheyrl W Garrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/10; G01F1/12; G01F1/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A system which manifests the flow of a flowing fluid stream, including, a first transducer producing a pulsed electrical signal at a pulse frequency proportional to the flow rate of the fluid mixture, a second transducer producing an analog electrical signal proportional to a selected physical condition of the flowing fluid, an electrical signal generator producing a linear sawtooth voltage over a selected time interval, a comparator circuit responsive to the signal output voltage of the second transducer and responsive to the linear sawtooth voltage which compares the second transducer and sawtooth voltages and produces a voltage to operate an electrical switch means in a selected position for a portion of the time interval Of the sawtooth voltage, an electrical switching means connected to the comparator circuit and first transducer, and operative in response to the voltage output of the comparator circuit for gating the output pulses of the first transducer, a divider means connected to the switch for reproducing only a preselected percent of the first transducer pulses gated by the switch means, the percent being dependent upon a known range of change in volume of the flowing fluid stream due to changes in the selected physical condition, a subtractive circuit means connected to the divider and responsive to the pulsed output of the divider and the total pulse output of the first transducer for subtracting the output pulses of the divider from the output pulses of the first transducer, and a counter means connected to the subtractive circuit for counting the pulse output thereof, whereby the quantity of the fluid flowing across the first transducer is measured with respect to selected reference conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
275 words
A system which manifests the flow of a flowing fluid stream, including, a first transducer producing a pulsed electrical signal at a pulse frequency proportional to the flow rate of the fluid mixture, a second transducer producing an analog electrical signal proportional to a selected physical condition of the flowing fluid, an electrical signal generator producing a linear sawtooth voltage over a selected time interval, a comparator circuit responsive to the signal output voltage of the second transducer and responsive to the linear sawtooth voltage which compares the second transducer and sawtooth voltages and produces a voltage to operate an electrical switch means in a selected position for a portion of the time interval Of the sawtooth voltage, an electrical switching means connected to the comparator circuit and first transducer, and operative in response to the voltage output of the comparator circuit for gating the output pulses of the first transducer, a divider means connected to the switch for reproducing only a preselected percent of the first transducer pulses gated by the switch means, the percent being dependent upon a known range of change in volume of the flowing fluid stream due to changes in the selected physical condition, a subtractive circuit means connected to the divider and responsive to the pulsed output of the divider and the total pulse output of the first transducer for subtracting the output pulses of the divider from the output pulses of the first transducer, and a counter means connected to the subtractive circuit for counting the pulse output thereof, whereby the quantity of the fluid flowing across the first transducer is measured with respect to selected reference conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, in which, the selected physical condition is temperature, and the range of change in volume of the flowing fluid due to change in temperature is 10 percent or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 2, in which, the reference temperature of the flowing fluid is 60* F. and the flow is measured in standard cubic feet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, in which, the selected physical condition is pressure, and the range of change in volume of the flowing fluid due to change in pressure is 10 percent or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 4, in which, the reference pressure of the flowing fluid is one atmosphere and the flow is measured in standard cubic feet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |