US3978726A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid current meter
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1975-05-05
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Granted: 1976-09-07
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Expires: 1995-05-05
Abstract
Abstract Two pairs of acoustic transducers are provided for obtaining fluid current velocity measurements. The pairs of transducers are mounted in a supporting ring which introduces a controlled source of error in the measurement process, the configuration however resulting in a nearly constant error regardless of flow direction. The constant error introduced by the ring supporting structure may be easily corrected by a scaling factor in the signal processing circuitry utilized to compute fluid velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 Hsing-Hua Shih
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P13/02; G01P5/00; G01P5/24; G01P5/245; G01P5/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
Fluid flow measuring apparatus comprising: A a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers; B support means for supporting said pairs of transducers such that each said pair is positioned along respective acoustic axes; C said support means being constructed and arranged to extend along a generally circular path from one transducer to a next so as to provide an obstruction to fluid flow at an angle of ± θ from each said transducer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
Fluid flow measuring apparatus comprising: A a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers; B support means for supporting said pairs of transducers such that each said pair is positioned along respective acoustic axes; C said support means being constructed and arranged to extend along a generally circular path from one transducer to a next so as to provide an obstruction to fluid flow at an angle of ± θ from each said transducer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: A. said support means is a continuous circular ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: A. said ring has a circular cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: A. said ring has a hydrofoil shaped cross section defining a rounded leading edge and a tapered trailing edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
Fluid flow measuring apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers; B. a support ring supporting said transducers; C. an electronics section coupled to and in signal communication with said transducers for obtaining current velocity measurements; D. said transducers being supported by said ring such that the transducers of each said pair are acoustically coupled to one another along an acoustic path; E. each said acoustic path being within the central portion of said ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Fluid flow measuring apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers; B. a support ring supporting said transducers; C. an electronics section coupled to and in signal communication with said transducers for obtaining current velocity measurements; D. said transducers being supported by said ring such that the transducers of each said pair are acoustically coupled to one another along an acoustic path; E. each said acoustic path being within the central portion of said ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: A. two pairs of said transducers are provided and B. said acoustic paths are mutually perpendicular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: A. said support ring includes a plurality of notches; B. each said transducer being positioned within a respective one of said notches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: A. said transducers are covered with a potting material having similar acoustic transmission properties as the ambient water medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: A. said potting material is shaped to conform with the cross sectional shape of said support ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: A. said support ring includes a grooved portion, communicative with said notches, for placement of signal conducting wires.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 which includes: A. a housing member; B. said electronics section being contained within said housing member; and C. strut means connecting said housing member with said support ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein: A. said strut means includes a plurality of support struts; B. at least one of said support struts being hollow for receipt of signal conducting wires between said electronics section and said support ring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3379060A
Cited
US3693440A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-07 | 1980-03-08 | 1980-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-07 | 1984-03-08 | 1984-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-07 | 1988-03-08 | 1988-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |