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US3789663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for measuring the flow velocity of fluid within a conduit
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-05-11
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-05-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for measuring the flow velocity of fluid within a conduit. Sensing means external to the conduit and responsive to changes in the configuration of the conduit surface upon passage of a vortex and associated with electrical means measure the time interval during which the detectable property of the fluid passes between a plurality of preselected locations on the conduit. Fluid flow is not obstructed by installation of the sensing means. Thus, flow measurements, at a plurality of locations along the conduit can be economically obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 S Gold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/704; G01F1/708; G01F1/712; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P5/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for measuring the velocity of fluid within a conduit, said fluid having a Reynolds number sufficient to form vortices therein, comprising: a. a power source for supplying an electrical current; b. first sensing means, adapted to be mounted on the exterior surface of said conduit and responsive to changes in the configuration of said exterior surface, for transmitting an electrical signal from the power source upon passage of a vortex thereby; c. second sensing means, adapted to be mounted on the exterior surface of said conduit downstream of said first sensing means and responsive to changes in the configuration of said exterior surface, for transmitting an electrical signal from the power source upon passage of the vortex thereby; d. said first and second sensing means respectively connected through a plurality of signal paths to electrical means for amplifying the electrical signals and for computing and indicating the flow velocity of the fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for measuring the velocity of fluid within a conduit, said fluid having a Reynolds number sufficient to form vortices therein, comprising: a. a power source for supplying an electrical current; b. first sensing means, adapted to be mounted on the exterior surface of said conduit and responsive to changes in the configuration of said exterior surface, for transmitting an electrical signal from the power source upon passage of a vortex thereby; c. second sensing means, adapted to be mounted on the exterior surface of said conduit downstream of said first sensing means and responsive to changes in the configuration of said exterior surface, for transmitting an electrical signal from the power source upon passage of the vortex thereby; d. said first and second sensing means respectively connected through a plurality of signal paths to electrical means for amplifying the electrical signals and for computing and indicating the flow velocity of the fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the sensing means comprises a strain gage having a resistance element in series with said power source and electrically connected to said amplification means through a capacitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrical means includes amplification means for linear reproduction of said signals, multiplication means for multiplying together the signal from said second sensing means and the signal from said first sensing means, control means for variably controlling the time interval during which the signal from said first sensing means is delayed in transmission to said multiplication means, and integration means for integrating the output of said multiplication means over a period of time to give the cross-correlation function of the equation
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said electrical means additionally includes analog circuit means coupled to the integration means for computing and indicating the flow velocity of the fluid according to the formula V d/t whereV is the fluid velocity, d is the distance between said first and second sensing means and t is the time interval for transit ofthe vortex between said first and second sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said electrical means additionally includes signal conditioning means connected in each of the signal paths between each of said first and second sensing means and said computation means for reducing the magnitude of interfering signals imposed upon such paths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said amplification means has a frequency response ranging from about 0.1 to 1,000 Hertz and a gain in the order of about 105 to 107.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said control means comprises a substantially annular disc having an outer peripheral surface of magnetic material and mounted on a support for rotation at a constant velocity, a recording head fixedly mounted on said support adjacent said peripheral surface and electrically connected through amplification means to the output of said first sensing means for recording an amplified signal of said first sensing means on said disc, a pick-up head movably mounted on said support adjacent said peripheral surface of said disc and electrically connected to said multiplication means, and means for varying the peripheral separation of said recording and pick-up heads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for varying said peripheral separation of said recording and pickup heads includes a maximum seeking circuit, whereby the time interval during which the signal from said first sensing means is delayed in transmission to said multiplication means is automatically controlled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said control means includes a tapped delay line so arranged and terminated as to constitute an artificial transmission line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said multiplication means comprises a pulse generator for providing a regularly recurring series of pulses having a high state and a low state, means for varying the time duration of said high state of each pulse in proportion to the magnitude of the signal from said control means, a ramp function generator for generating a regularly recurring signal in the form of a series of ramps, each of said ramps being initiated concurrently with a pulse and terminating after a preselected time interval of at least the same duration as the time interval during which said pulse has a high state, the magnitude of each of said ramps increasing linearly with time to a maximum equal to the magnitude of the signal from said second sensing means.
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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |