Fluid flow monitoring

Claim 1

Interface means for connection to a fluid flow monitoring assembly comprising signal generating means and signal receiving means for transmitting signals into a flowing fluid and for receiving the signals after transmission through the fluid respectively; and monitoring means for controlling the transmission of signals by the signal generating means, sensing the signals received by the signal receiving means, and thereby monitoring the fluid flow, wherein said signal generating means and said signal receiving means are adapted to transmit and receive respectively signals passing through said fluid along at least two different paths and said monitoring means has one communication port for each transmission path, the interface means comprising first and second converting assemblies linked by a common signal path, said first converting assembly being adapted to be connected with said communication ports and said second converting assembly being adapted to be connected to said signal generating means and said signal receiving means, wherein said converting assemblies are arranged to pass first signals along said common signal path in response to the receipt of signals from said communication ports or from said signal receiving means respectively, said first converting assembly being responsive to first control signals to cause signals corresponding to signals received from said common signal path to be passed to appropriate ones of said communication ports, and said second converting assembly being responsive to second control signals to cause signals to be transmitted into said fluid by said signal generating means along appropriate paths determined by said second control signals.

Claim 19

A method of operating a fluid flow monitoring assembly comprising signal generating means and signal receiving means for transmitting signals into a flowing fluid and for receiving the signals after transmission through the fluid respectively; and monitoring means for controlling the transmission of signals by the signal generating means, sensing the signals received by the signal receiving means, and thereby monitoring the fluid flow, in which said generating means and said signal receiving means are adapted to transmit and receive respectively signals passing through said fluid along at least two different paths and said monitoring means has one communication port for each transmission path, in combination with interface means comprising first and second converting assemblies linked by a common signal path, said first converting assembly being adapted to be connected with said communication ports and said second converting assembly being adapted to be connected to said signal generating means and said signal receiving means, wherein said converting assemblies are arranged to pass first signals along said common signal path is response to the receipt of signals from said communication ports or from said signal receiving means respectively, said first converting assembly being responsive to first control signals to cause signals corresponding to signals received from said common signal path to be passed to appropriate ones of said communication ports, and said second converting assembly being responsive to second control signals to cause signals to be transmitted into said fluid by said signal generating means along appropriate paths the method comprising (1) passing a first transmit signal along said common signal path in association with a transmission direction control signal to cause a signal to be transmitted into said fluid along one path; (2) sensing for a signal at a communication port representing the receipt by said signal receiving means of a signal transmitted through the fluid; (3) passing a second transmit signal along said common signal path in association with a transmission direction control signal to cause a signal to be transmitted into said fluid along another path; and (4) sensing for a signal at another communication port representing the receipt by said signal receiving means of said signal transmitted through said fluid.

Claim 20

A method of operating a fluid flow monitoring assembly comprising signal generating means and signal receiving means for transmitting signals into a flowing fluid and for receiving the signals after transmission through the fluid respectively; and monitoring means for controlling the transmission of signals by the signal generating means, sensing the signals received by the signal receiving means, and thereby monitoring the fluid flow, in which said generating means and said signal receiving means are adapted to transmit and receive respectively signals passing through said fluid along at least two different paths and said monitoring means has one communication port for each transmission path, in combination with interface means comprising first and second converting assemblies linked by a common signal path, said first converting assembly being adapted to be connected with said communication ports and said second converting assembly being adapted to be connected to said signal generating means and said signal receiving means, wherein said converting assemblies are arranged to pass first signals along said common signal path is response to the receipt of signals from said communication ports or from said signal receiving means respectively, said first converting assembly being responsive to first control signals to cause signals corresponding to signals received from said common signal path to be passed to appropriate ones of said communication ports, and said second converting assembly being responsive to second control signals to cause signals to be transmitted into said fluid by said signal generating means along appropriate paths the method comprising (1) passing a first transmit signal along said common signal path in association with a transmission direction control signal to cause a signal to be transmitted into said fluid along one path; (2) sensing for a signal at a communication port representing the receipt by said signal receiving means of a signal transmitted through the fluid; (3) passing a second transmit signal along said common signal path in association with a transmission direction control signal to cause a signal to be transmitted into said fluid along another path; and (4) sensing for a signal at another communication port representing the receipt by said signal receiving means of said signal transmitted through said fluid.