US3722276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Volumetric flow rate measurement of a flowing stream
Assignee: Tetradyne Corp
•
Filing: 1971-12-06
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1991-12-06
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a technique for determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream wherein a predetermined quantity of material which will alter the electrical conductivity of the stream is selectively introduced into the stream. A conductance probe is disposed downstream from the point at which the material is deposited in order to continuously detect the electrical conductivity of the stream. An enforced linearity electrical bridge is responsive to the output of the probe for detecting the change in conductance of the stream which is caused by the added material. Integrating circuitry integrates the change in conductance determined by the bridge. A nonlinear meter is responsive to the integrating circuit, along with an indication of the electrolyte equivalents of the deposited material, in order to directly indicate the volumetric flow rate of the stream. Circuitry is provided to prevent the polarization of the conductance probe. A reset circuit enables the integrating circuitry to be set to zero for additional measuring cycles.
Inventors
- 👤 R Chandler
- 👤 J Hammond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/704
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream comprising: a. constantly measuring the electrical conductivity of said stream with a sensor disposed in said stream at a first point; b. depositing into said stream at a second point upstream of said first point a known quantity of a material which will alter the electrical conductivity of said stream; c. determining at said first point the change in electrical conductance of said stream caused by said material; d. integrating said conductance change; and e. utilizing said integrated conductance change to automatically determine and display the volumetric flow rate of said flowing stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream comprising: a. constantly measuring the electrical conductivity of said stream with a sensor disposed in said stream at a first point; b. depositing into said stream at a second point upstream of said first point a known quantity of a material which will alter the electrical conductivity of said stream; c. determining at said first point the change in electrical conductance of said stream caused by said material; d. integrating said conductance change; and e. utilizing said integrated conductance change to automatically determine and display the volumetric flow rate of said flowing stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said volumetric flow rate is determined from the inverse relation of said known quantity of material and said integrated change in conductance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising: generating a linear electrical indication of the conductivity of the flowing stream prior to the deposit of said material, balancing a bridge circuit with said electrical indication, and detecting the output of said bridge circuit to detect the change in electrical conductivity after the deposit of said material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 and further comprising: impressing a repetitive alternating voltage upon said bridge circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said measuring of electrical conductivity is conducted within a time range of from 0.5 to 50 seconds, the length of said measuring being dependent upon the number of equivalents of the material deposited in said stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream comprising: means for linearly measuring the change in electrical conductance of said stream caused by the introduction of a known quaNtity of a material which alters the electrical conductivity of said stream, means for integrating said change in electrical conductance, and means responsive to the output of said integrating means for automatically generating an indication of the volumetric flow rate of the stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream comprising: means for linearly measuring the change in electrical conductance of said stream caused by the introduction of a known quaNtity of a material which alters the electrical conductivity of said stream, means for integrating said change in electrical conductance, and means responsive to the output of said integrating means for automatically generating an indication of the volumetric flow rate of the stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said measuring means comprises: probe means adapted to be suspended in the flowing stream for measuring the conductivity of the stream, and an enforced linearity bridge circuit connected to said probe means and operable to be balanced prior to the introduction of said material into the stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising: an alternating signal generator connected to said bridge means for prevention of polarization of said probe means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising: means for setting said integrating means to zero.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising: nonlinear meter means responsive to the output of said integrating means and responsive to an indication of the magnitude of electrolyte equivalents of said material introduced into the stream.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream comprising: means for selectively depositing in the stream a predetermined quantity of material which will alter the electrical conductivity of the stream, probe means for being disposed downstream of said depositing means to detect the electrical conductivity of the stream, bridge means responsive to said probe means to generate indications of the change in conductance of the stream caused by said material, integrating means for integrating the change in conductance, and nonlinear meter means responsive to said integrating means and an indication of the electrolyte equivalents of said material for indicating the volumetric flow rate of the stream.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for determining the volumetric flow rate of a flowing stream comprising: means for selectively depositing in the stream a predetermined quantity of material which will alter the electrical conductivity of the stream, probe means for being disposed downstream of said depositing means to detect the electrical conductivity of the stream, bridge means responsive to said probe means to generate indications of the change in conductance of the stream caused by said material, integrating means for integrating the change in conductance, and nonlinear meter means responsive to said integrating means and an indication of the electrolyte equivalents of said material for indicating the volumetric flow rate of the stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said bridge means comprises an enforced linearity bridge, said probe means being connected across one arm of said bridge means, said bridge means being balanced prior to introduction of said material in the stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: means for impressing an alternating voltage on said bridge means to prevent polarization of said probe means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: circuit means for holding the output of said integrating means at zero level when said bridge is balanced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: differential amplifier means connected to receive the output of said bridge means to detect decreases and increases in the conductance of the stream.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 11 and further comprising: reset circuitry for resetting said integrating means to zero.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 11 and further comprising: a plurality of resistive circuits each operable to be switched between said integrating means and said nonlinear meter means, each resistive circuit corresponding to a different amount of material deposited into the stream.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the integration of the change in conductance is conducted within a time range of 0.5 to 50 seconds for electrolyte equivalents ranging between 0.02 to 4.0.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the ratio of the equivalents deposited in said stream over the time of integration ranges from 0.005 to 0.01.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1200653A
Cited
US2826699A
Cited
US3324720A
Cited
US3491592A
Cited
US3582767A
Cited
US3638489A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |