US4245758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for measuring molten metal stream flow
Assignee: Quantum Concepts Corp Inc
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Filing: 1979-06-13
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Granted: 1981-01-20
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Expires: 1999-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of arcuately spaced transceivers for emitting and receiving radiation waves are positioned in a plane transverse to a molten metal stream. Each transceiver emits a radiation wave which is directed toward and reflected from the stream and the reflections are received by the transceivers. The time elapsed between the emitting and receiving of the radiated waves is measured for each transceiver. The time elapsed information is fed to a binary counter for each transceiver and the binary counts are averaged and processed in a computer to calculate the stream area. The rate of change in area of the stream in the transverse plane is determined, or alternatively the velocity is determined by measuring the time elapsed for a particular stream area to traverse a predetermined distance and fed to a computer which computes stream velocity. The velocity and area measurements of the stream are used to determine the stream volume. A programmed pour rate is then compared with the stream volume. A servo pour controller stream volume maintains the stream volume at the programmed rate. Pour rate digital displays and manual overrides to the pour controller are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger A. McCabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/66; B; B22; B22D; B22D11/00; B22D11/16; B22D11/18; B22D11/181; B22D11/186; G01F1/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising: radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a plane transverse to said stream, said waves being reflected from the stream walls in said plane; receiving means being positioned in said transverse plane for receiving the radiated waves reflected from said stream walls; measuring means coupled to each of said radiation means and reflection means for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave; first computing means coupled to said measuring means for computing the area of said stream in said transverse plane; second computing means coupled to said first computing means for computing the rate of change of the area in said transverse plane; third computing means coupled to said second computing means for computing the velocity of said stream; fourth computing means coupled to said first and third computing means for computing the volume of said stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising: radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a plane transverse to said stream, said waves being reflected from the stream walls in said plane; receiving means being positioned in said transverse plane for receiving the radiated waves reflected from said stream walls; measuring means coupled to each of said radiation means and reflection means for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave; first computing means coupled to said measuring means for computing the area of said stream in said transverse plane; second computing means coupled to said first computing means for computing the rate of change of the area in said transverse plane; third computing means coupled to said second computing means for computing the velocity of said stream; fourth computing means coupled to said first and third computing means for computing the volume of said stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiation means comprises means for emitting along each of at least three equally spaced radii a radiation wave in said transverse plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus of claim 1 including pouring means for pouring said liquid; pouring control means coupled between said pouring means and said fourth computing means for variably controlling stream volume in a predetermined flow volume pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus of claim 3 including manually operable means coupled to said pouring control means for overriding the operation of said control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus of claim 3 including an automatically operable means coupled to said control means for automatically overriding the operation of said control means upon a predetermined sensed condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pouring control means includes programmed means for providing a programmed pour rate signal and for comparing the programmed pour rate with the stream volume to provide a difference signal to control said pouring means to obtain a stream volume consonant with said programmed pour rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
272 words
Apparatus for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising: first radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a first plane transverse to said stream, said waves being reflected from the stream walls in said plane; first receiving means being positioned in said first plane for receiving the radiated waves reflected from said stream walls; second radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a second plane substantially parallel to and spaced downstream from said first plane, said second waves being reflected from the stream walls in said second plane; second receiving means being positioned in said second plane for receiving the second radiated waves reflected from said stream wall; measuring means coupled to each of said first and second radiation means and first and second reflection means for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each first radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave and for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each second radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each second radiated wave; first computing means coupled to said measuring means for computing the area of said stream in each of said first and second planes; second computing means coupled to said first computing means for measuring the time elapsed for a first stream area to move between said first and second planes to determine stream velocity; third computing means coupled to said measuring means and said first and second computing means for computing the volume of said stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
272 words
Apparatus for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising: first radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a first plane transverse to said stream, said waves being reflected from the stream walls in said plane; first receiving means being positioned in said first plane for receiving the radiated waves reflected from said stream walls; second radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a second plane substantially parallel to and spaced downstream from said first plane, said second waves being reflected from the stream walls in said second plane; second receiving means being positioned in said second plane for receiving the second radiated waves reflected from said stream wall; measuring means coupled to each of said first and second radiation means and first and second reflection means for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each first radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave and for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each second radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each second radiated wave; first computing means coupled to said measuring means for computing the area of said stream in each of said first and second planes; second computing means coupled to said first computing means for measuring the time elapsed for a first stream area to move between said first and second planes to determine stream velocity; third computing means coupled to said measuring means and said first and second computing means for computing the volume of said stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising: first radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a plane transverse to said stream, said waves being reflected from the stream walls in said plane; first receiving means being positioned in said plane for receiving the radiated waves reflected from said stream walls; measuring means coupled to said radiation means and said reflection means for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave; first computing means coupled to said measuring means for computing the area of said stream in said plane; second computing means coupled to said first computing means for determining the stream velocity; and third computing means coupled to said first computing means and said second computing means for computing the volume of said stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising: first radiation means for emitting a plurality of arcuately spaced radiation waves in a plane transverse to said stream, said waves being reflected from the stream walls in said plane; first receiving means being positioned in said plane for receiving the radiated waves reflected from said stream walls; measuring means coupled to said radiation means and said reflection means for measuring the time elapsed between the instant of emission of each radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave; first computing means coupled to said measuring means for computing the area of said stream in said plane; second computing means coupled to said first computing means for determining the stream velocity; and third computing means coupled to said first computing means and said second computing means for computing the volume of said stream.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising the steps of: directing a plurality of radiation waves from positions which are arcuately spaced from one another in a plane transverse to the stream, said waves being reflected from the stream wall in said plane; receiving the radiated waves reflected from the stream wall; measuring the time elapsed between the emission of each radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave; computing the area of the stream in the transverse plane of radiation emission; computing the stream velocity from the previously computed stream area; and computing the volume of the stream flow from the stream area and velocity.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for measuring liquid flow in a stream comprising the steps of: directing a plurality of radiation waves from positions which are arcuately spaced from one another in a plane transverse to the stream, said waves being reflected from the stream wall in said plane; receiving the radiated waves reflected from the stream wall; measuring the time elapsed between the emission of each radiation wave and the instant of reception of the respective reflection of said each radiated wave; computing the area of the stream in the transverse plane of radiation emission; computing the stream velocity from the previously computed stream area; and computing the volume of the stream flow from the stream area and velocity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of computing the stream velocity comprises the steps of computing the rate of area change in said transverse plane and relating a given area rate of change to a corresponding stream velocity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of computing the stream velocity comprises computing the stream area in a second transverse plane downstream from the first mentioned transverse plane; comparing the areas computed in said first mentioned and second transverse planes to detect an area match; computing the time elapsed for a given stream area in the first mentioned transverse plane to arrive at the second transverse plane; and computing the stream velocity by relating said time elapsed with the distance between said transverse planes.
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) | 1984-01-20 | 1984-07-21 | 1985-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-20 | 1988-07-21 | 1989-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-20 | 1992-07-21 | 1993-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |