US3715919A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of electrically conductive fluids
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-06
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1990-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of electrically conductive fluids comprises flowing an electrically conductive fluid down an inclined passageway and through electromagnetic coils disposed respectively around upstream and downstream portions of the passageway. A change in inductance of each coil due to the electrically conductive fluid is measured to determine the corresponding cross sectional area SA or SB of the fluid at the upstream or downstream locations. Then the flow rate Q is computed from the expression WHERE G IS THE ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY AND H IS A VERTICAL DIFFERENCE IN LEVEL BETWEEN BOTH COILS. When the downstream portion has a much higher in flow speed than the upstream portion, Q SB square root 2gh is used.
Inventors
- 👤 H Kishimoto
- 👤 M Danno
- 👤 K Kobayashi
- 👤 Y Hamazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P5/08; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/56; G01F1/58; G01F1/582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A flow meter comprising: a trough member including an inclined surface forming a part of a passageway for a fluid to be measured, means defining a fluid reservoir disposed at the upstream end of said inclined surface for delivering the fluid to said inclined surface at an initial speed having a substantially zero value, measuring means disposed downstream of said inclined surface and at a predetermined vertical distance beneath said upstream end of said inclined surface for measuring the cross sectional area of the flowing fluid and providing a corresponding output signal, and means for determining the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the output signal from said measuring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A flow meter comprising: a trough member including an inclined surface forming a part of a passageway for a fluid to be measured, means defining a fluid reservoir disposed at the upstream end of said inclined surface for delivering the fluid to said inclined surface at an initial speed having a substantially zero value, measuring means disposed downstream of said inclined surface and at a predetermined vertical distance beneath said upstream end of said inclined surface for measuring the cross sectional area of the flowing fluid and providing a corresponding output signal, and means for determining the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the output signal from said measuring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A flow meter comprising: a trough member including an inclined surface forming a part of a passageway for a fluid to be measured, means defining a fluid reservoir disposed at the upstream end of said inclined surface for delivering the fluid to said inclined surface at an initial speed having a substantially zero value, measuring means disposed downstream of said inclined surface and at a predetermined vertical distance beneath said upstream end of said inclined surface for measuring the cross sectional area of the flowing fluid and providing a corresponding output signal, and means for determining the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the output signal from said measuring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A flow meter comprising: a trough member including an inclined surface forming a part of a passageway for a fluid to be measured, means defining a fluid reservoir disposed at the upstream end of said inclined surface for delivering the fluid to said inclined surface at an initial speed having a substantially zero value, measuring means disposed downstream of said inclined surface and at a predetermined vertical distance beneath said upstream end of said inclined surface for measuring the cross sectional area of the flowing fluid and providing a corresponding output signal, and means for determining the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the output signal from said measuring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical distance is at least 5 cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said passageway includes a horizontal portion disposed immediately downstream of said inclined surface and has said measuring means disposed thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein upstream and downstream end portions of said inclined surface are respectively connected to horizontal portions of said passageway and wherein said measuring means is disposed on the downstream horizontal portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inclined surface includes an intermediate inclined surface portion disposed between the upstream and downstream portions thereof and converging in a streamline manner into said downstream portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means defining a fluid reservoir comprises a hollow basin disposed upstream of said inclined surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said measuring means includes an electromagnetic coil encircling the flowing fluid and having an inductance property which varies according to the cross sectional area of the flowing fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flow meter comprising: a trough member including an inclined surface forming a part of a passageway for a fluid to be measured, at least two measuring means disposed at positions spaced-apart from each other by a predetermined elevation along said inclined surface for measuring the cross sectional areas of the flowing fluid at said positions and providing respective output signals, and means for determining the flow rate of the flowing fluid on the basis of the output signals from said measuring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flow meter comprising: a trough member including an inclined surface forming a part of a passageway for a fluid to be measured, at least two measuring means disposed at positions spaced-apart from each other by a predetermined elevation along said inclined surface for measuring the cross sectional areas of the flowing fluid at said positions and providing respective output signals, and means for determining the flow rate of the flowing fluid on the basis of the output signals from said measuring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A flow meter as claimed in claim 8 including a hollow basin disposed upsTream of said inclined surface.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for determining the flow rate of a flowing electrically conductive fluid comprising: flowing an electrically conductive fluid from an upstream location past a downstream location along a flow path having an inclined portion of known elevation; electromagnetically deriving an area signal representative of the cross-sectional area of the flowing electrically conductive fluid at said downstream location without physically contacting the fluid; and determining the flow rate of the flowing electrically conductive fluid using said area signal and said known elevation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for determining the flow rate of a flowing electrically conductive fluid comprising: flowing an electrically conductive fluid from an upstream location past a downstream location along a flow path having an inclined portion of known elevation; electromagnetically deriving an area signal representative of the cross-sectional area of the flowing electrically conductive fluid at said downstream location without physically contacting the fluid; and determining the flow rate of the flowing electrically conductive fluid using said area signal and said known elevation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said step of electromagnetically deriving an area signal comprises encircling the flowing electrically conductive fluid with an electromagnetic coil having a known inductance value, and measuring the change in inductance of said electromagnetic coil created by the electrically conductive fluid flowing therethrough and providing a corresponding area signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for determining the flow rate of an electrically conductive fluid comprising: means defining a flow path including an inclined portion having an upstream end and a downstream end for flowing an electrically conductive fluid whose flow rate is to be determined from said upstream end at an initial speed of essentially zero downwardly past said downstream end during use of the apparatus; measuring means disposed along said flow path at a measuring position located a predetermined vertical distance from said upstream end of said inclined portion for electromagnetically measuring the cross-sectional area of the flowing electrically conductive fluid at said measuring position without physically contacting same and providing a corresponding area signal; and means receptive of said area signal for determining the flow rate of the flowing electrically conductive fluid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for determining the flow rate of an electrically conductive fluid comprising: means defining a flow path including an inclined portion having an upstream end and a downstream end for flowing an electrically conductive fluid whose flow rate is to be determined from said upstream end at an initial speed of essentially zero downwardly past said downstream end during use of the apparatus; measuring means disposed along said flow path at a measuring position located a predetermined vertical distance from said upstream end of said inclined portion for electromagnetically measuring the cross-sectional area of the flowing electrically conductive fluid at said measuring position without physically contacting same and providing a corresponding area signal; and means receptive of said area signal for determining the flow rate of the flowing electrically conductive fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said measuring means comprises an electromagnetic coil of known inductance encircling said flow path at said measuring position, and means connected to said electromagnetic coil for measuring the change in inductance of said electromagnetic coil created by the electrically conductive fluid flowing therethrough and providing a corresponding area signal representative of the cross-sectional area of the flowing fluid at said measuring position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said flow path includes a horizontal portion connected to said downstream end of said inclined portion, and wherein said measuring means is disposed along said horizontal portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cross-sectional area of said flow path at said upstream end of said inclined portion is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of said flow path at said downstream end of said inclined portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |