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US4400975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for monitoring liquid flow rates
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1981-05-27
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-05-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus adapted to monitor the flow rate of a liquid comprising a conduit through which the liquid is caused to flow; a heater adapted to supply heat at a substantially constant rate to the liquid in the conduit; a temperature control device adapted to maintain the area outside of and adjacent to the conduit at substantially the same temperature as the liquid entering the conduit; and upstream and downstream temperature sensors to sense the temperature of the liquid in the conduit upstream and downstream, respectively, of the place at which the heat is supplied to the liquid, whereby the difference in temperatures sensed by the upstream and downstream temperature sensors is proportional to the flow rate of the liquid in the conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. McGarr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/68; G01F1/684
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
310 words
An apparatus adapted to monitor the flow rate of a liquid comprising: (a) conduit means through which said liquid is caused to flow, said conduit means having a liquid inlet through which said liquid enters said conduit means and a liquid outlet through which said liquid exits said conduit means; (b) heating means associated with said conduit means and adapted to supply heat at a substantially constant rate to said liquid in said conduit means; (c) temperature control means associated with said conduit means and comprising first temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said liquid entering said conduit means; second temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of the area outside and adjacent to said conduit means; temperature maintenance means located in spaced relation to said area outside of and adjacent to said conduit means; and controller means associated with said first and second temperature sensing means and said temperature maintenance means and adapted to increase or decrease the amount of heat supplied to said temperature maintenance means in response to the difference in temperatures sensed by said first and second temperature sensing means, thereby maintaining said area outside of and adjacent to said conduit means at substantially the same temperature as said liquid entering said conduit means; (d) upstream temperature sensing means associated with said conduit means and adapted to sense the temperature of said liquid in said conduit means at a point prior to said heat being supplied to said liquid; and (e) downstream temperature sensing means associated with said conduit means and adapted to sense the temperature of said liquid in said conduit means at a point after said heat has been supplied to said liquid, whereby the difference in temperatures sensed by said upstream and downstream temperature sensing means is proportional to the flow rate of said liquid in said conduit means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
310 words
An apparatus adapted to monitor the flow rate of a liquid comprising: (a) conduit means through which said liquid is caused to flow, said conduit means having a liquid inlet through which said liquid enters said conduit means and a liquid outlet through which said liquid exits said conduit means; (b) heating means associated with said conduit means and adapted to supply heat at a substantially constant rate to said liquid in said conduit means; (c) temperature control means associated with said conduit means and comprising first temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said liquid entering said conduit means; second temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of the area outside and adjacent to said conduit means; temperature maintenance means located in spaced relation to said area outside of and adjacent to said conduit means; and controller means associated with said first and second temperature sensing means and said temperature maintenance means and adapted to increase or decrease the amount of heat supplied to said temperature maintenance means in response to the difference in temperatures sensed by said first and second temperature sensing means, thereby maintaining said area outside of and adjacent to said conduit means at substantially the same temperature as said liquid entering said conduit means; (d) upstream temperature sensing means associated with said conduit means and adapted to sense the temperature of said liquid in said conduit means at a point prior to said heat being supplied to said liquid; and (e) downstream temperature sensing means associated with said conduit means and adapted to sense the temperature of said liquid in said conduit means at a point after said heat has been supplied to said liquid, whereby the difference in temperatures sensed by said upstream and downstream temperature sensing means is proportional to the flow rate of said liquid in said conduit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises first differential temperature indicator means associated with said upstream and downstream temperature sensing means and adapted to provide a visual representation of the difference in the temperatures sensed by the upstream and downstream temperature sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises recorder means associated with said upstream and said downstream temperature sensing means adapted to record the difference in the temperatures sensed by said upstream and downstream temperature sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating means includes an electric resistor element connected to a constant voltage means adapted to provide a substantially constant electric potential across said resistor element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said electric resistor element has a substantially constant electric resistance in the range of about 20 ohms to about 5,000 ohms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both said upstream and downstream temperature sensing means include a thermocouple.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flowrate is in the range of about 30 grams per hour to about 600 grams per hour.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second temperature sensing means each include a thermocouple.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said temperature control means further comprises a second differential temperature indicator means associated with both said first and second temperature sensing means and adapted to provide a visual representation of the difference in temperatures sensed by said first and second temperature 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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |