US3816773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting particulate material in flow stream
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1972-10-12
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1992-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A system for detecting the presence of particulate material, e.g., sand, in a fluid stream flowing through a conduit, said system comprising an acoustical probe which is positioned directly into the flow stream. The probe has a housing in which a transducer, e.g., piezolectric crystal, is suspended. The housing is filled with oil to acoustically couple the transducer to the housing. Particulate material in the flow stream gives up kinetic energy upon striking the housing of the probe which in turn excites the transducer to generate an output signal having a frequency component which is representative of the particulate material. The system includes circuitry which amplifies and filters the output signal to provide a processed signal corresponding to said frequency component and which includes means for utilizing said processed signal, e.g., an alarm activated when a certain sand content condition in the flow stream is exceeded.
Inventors
- 👤 W Baldwin
- 👤 L Mullins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/44; G01N29/4409; G01N29/4436; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/10; E21B47/107; G01N29/02; G01N29/032; G01N29/036; G01N29/04; G01N29/045; G01N29/046; G01N29/22; G01N29/28; G01N29/34; G01N29/348; G01N29/36; G01N29/42; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/01; G01N2291/014; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/024; G01N2291/02408; G01N2291/02416; G01N2291/10; G01N2291/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for monitoring a flow stream through a conduit to detect the presence of a particulate material in said flow stream, said system comprising: acoustical transducer means responsive to particulate material impinging thereon to generate an output signal representative of said impinging particulate material, said transducer means including a peizoelectric means having a primary resonant frequency in xcess of 100 kilohertz; means for positioning said acoustical transducer means directly into the flow stream in said conduit; output means connected to said acoustical transducer means for conducting said output signal from said transducer means to a point Outside said conduit; circuitry means connected to said output means for processing said output signal, said circuitry means including means for measuring said primary resonant frequency component of said output signal; and means for applying said processed signal to a utilization device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for monitoring a flow stream through a conduit to detect the presence of a particulate material in said flow stream, said system comprising: acoustical transducer means responsive to particulate material impinging thereon to generate an output signal representative of said impinging particulate material, said transducer means including a peizoelectric means having a primary resonant frequency in xcess of 100 kilohertz; means for positioning said acoustical transducer means directly into the flow stream in said conduit; output means connected to said acoustical transducer means for conducting said output signal from said transducer means to a point Outside said conduit; circuitry means connected to said output means for processing said output signal, said circuitry means including means for measuring said primary resonant frequency component of said output signal; and means for applying said processed signal to a utilization device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said utilization device comprises: a means for recording said signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said utilization device comprises: alarm circuitry means for determining when the particulate material content of said flow stream exceeds a predetermined condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring includes: filter means for filtering said output signal to pass only a filtered signal corresponding to a narrow band of frequencies centered about said primary resonant frequency of said piezoelectric means; and means for amplifying said filtered signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 4 wherein: said primary resonant frequency is approximately 700 kilohertz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 5 including: means for tuning said piezoelectric means to respond rapidly to frequencies of approximately 700 kilohertz; and wherein said filter means passes a narrow band of frequencies centered about 700 kilohertz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said circuitry means further includes: rectifier means for processing said filtered and amplified signal to provide a signal whose magnitude is the averaged rectified version of said filtered and amplified signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said means for utilizing said processed signal comprises: a recorder means for recording said rectified signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said utilization device comprises: alarm circuitry means for determining when the particulate material content of said flow stream exceeds a predetermined condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said alarm circuitry means comprises: a comparator means having a first input and a second input to generate an error signal when a signal applied to said first input exceeds a signal applied to said second input; means for connecting said first input to said processing circuitry means for applying said processed signal to said comparator means; means connected to said second input for applying a reference signal representative of said predetermined particulate material content in said flow stream to said comparator; an alarm; and means for applying said error signal to said alarm.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for monitoring a flow stream through a conduit to detect the presence of a particulate material in said flow stream, said system comprising; acoustical transducer means responsive to particulate material impinging thereon to generate an output signal representative of said impinging particulate material, said acoustical transducer means comprising: a probe means having a housing; a transducer suspended within said housing, said transducer having a primary resonant frequency in excess of 100 kilohertz; a noncompressible, nonconductive fluid filling said housing whereby said transducer is effectively coupled to said housing; means on said probe means adapted for positioning said housing directly into the flow stream through said conduit so that when said probe is in place within said conduit the flow stream will impinge directly onto said housing; means attached to said transducer and extending from said housing for providing an output of said signal from said transducer; circuitry means connected to said output means for processing said output signal, said circuitry means including means for measuring said primary resonant frequency component of said output signal; and means for applying said processed signal to a utilization device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for monitoring a flow stream through a conduit to detect the presence of a particulate material in said flow stream, said system comprising; acoustical transducer means responsive to particulate material impinging thereon to generate an output signal representative of said impinging particulate material, said acoustical transducer means comprising: a probe means having a housing; a transducer suspended within said housing, said transducer having a primary resonant frequency in excess of 100 kilohertz; a noncompressible, nonconductive fluid filling said housing whereby said transducer is effectively coupled to said housing; means on said probe means adapted for positioning said housing directly into the flow stream through said conduit so that when said probe is in place within said conduit the flow stream will impinge directly onto said housing; means attached to said transducer and extending from said housing for providing an output of said signal from said transducer; circuitry means connected to said output means for processing said output signal, said circuitry means including means for measuring said primary resonant frequency component of said output signal; and means for applying said processed signal to a utilization device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 11 wherein: said housing is an elongated, cylindrical tube which is adapted to be positioned Within said conduit with its elongated axis perpendicular to said flow stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 12 wherein: said conduit is horizontal and wherein said transducer is positioned at a distance within said cylindrical tube necessary to insure that said transducer means will lie in the lower portion of said conduit when said probe means is in an operable position within said conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein: said primary resonant frequency is approximately 700 kilohertz.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said circuitry means for processing said output signal comprises: means for tuning said transducer to respond rapidly to frequencies of approximately 700 kilohertz; filter means for filtering said tuned output signal of said transducer to pass a filtered signal corresponding to a narrow band of frequencies centered about 700 kilohertz; means for amplifying said filtered signal; and means for rectifying said filtered and amplified signal to provide a signal whose magnitude is the average rectified version of said filtered and amplified signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for monitoring a flow stream to detect the presence of a particulate material in a flow stream, said system comprising: particulate detection means comprising: a housing; transducer means suspended within said housing, said transducer means having a primary resonant frequency in excess of 100 kilohertz; means in said housing for allowing said housing to be filled with a noncompressible liquid; means for positioning said housing in relation to said flow stream so that said transducer means is responsive to energy generated by particulate material in said flow stream; output means for providing an output for said signal generated by said transducer means; circuitry means connected to said output means for processing said output signal, said circuitry means including means for measuring said primary resonant frequency component of said output signal; and means for applying said processed signal to a utilization device.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for monitoring a flow stream to detect the presence of a particulate material in a flow stream, said system comprising: particulate detection means comprising: a housing; transducer means suspended within said housing, said transducer means having a primary resonant frequency in excess of 100 kilohertz; means in said housing for allowing said housing to be filled with a noncompressible liquid; means for positioning said housing in relation to said flow stream so that said transducer means is responsive to energy generated by particulate material in said flow stream; output means for providing an output for said signal generated by said transducer means; circuitry means connected to said output means for processing said output signal, said circuitry means including means for measuring said primary resonant frequency component of said output signal; and means for applying said processed signal to a utilization device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said utilization device comprises: a means for recording said signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said utilization device comprises: alarm circuitry means for determining when the particulate material content of said flow stream exceeds a predetermined condition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said means for measuring includes: filter means for filtering said output signal to pass only a filtered signal corresponding to a narrow band of frequencies centered about said primary resonant frequency; and means for amplifying said filtered signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 19 including: means for tuning said transducer means to respond rapidly to frequencies of approximately 700 kilohertz; and wherein said filter means passes a narrow band of frequencies centered about 700 kilohertz.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said circuitry means further includes: rectifier means for processing said filtered and amplified signal to provide a signal whose magnitude is the averaged rectified version of said filtered and amplified signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said means for utilizing said processed signal comprises: a recorder means for recording said rectified signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said utilization device comprises: alarm circuitry means for determining when the particulate material content of said flow stream exceeds a predetermined condition.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of monitoring the presence of small, particulate material in a fluid flow stream, said method comprising: positioning an acoustical transducer means in the path of said flow stream whereby said transducer means is responsive to particulate material impinging on said transducer means; generating a signal from said acoustical transducer means when said particulaTe material impinges thereon which is representative of the kinetic energy imparted to said transducer means by said impinging particulate material; processing said signal to retrieve only the frequency components of said signal in a narrow band centered about 700 kilohertz; and utilizing said retrieved frequency components to monitor the presence of said particulate material.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of monitoring the presence of small, particulate material in a fluid flow stream, said method comprising: positioning an acoustical transducer means in the path of said flow stream whereby said transducer means is responsive to particulate material impinging on said transducer means; generating a signal from said acoustical transducer means when said particulaTe material impinges thereon which is representative of the kinetic energy imparted to said transducer means by said impinging particulate material; processing said signal to retrieve only the frequency components of said signal in a narrow band centered about 700 kilohertz; and utilizing said retrieved frequency components to monitor the presence of said particulate material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |