Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of obtaining a signal indicative of fluid flow rate (V C ) which is corrected for variations in specific heat (C pe ), thermal conductivity (K e ) and temperature (T e ) utilizing an output (G) of a first dynamic microbridge exposed to the fluid, comprising the step of: (A) measuring C pe , K e and T e using the G output of said first dynamic microbridge; (B) calculating a gauge correction value (C G ) as a first function of C pe , K e and T e ; (C) calculating a flow correction value (C V ) as a second function of C pe , K e and T e ; (D) producing a corrected gauge output (G C ) as a function of G and C G ; (E) calculating an uncorrected flow value (V) as a function of G C ; and (F) producing a corrected fluid flow output signal (V C ) as a function of (V) and C V .
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of obtaining a signal indicative of fluid flow rate (V C ) which is corrected for variations in specific heat (C pe ), thermal conductivity (K e ) and temperature (T e ) utilizing an output (G) of a first dynamic microbridge exposed to the fluid, comprising the step of: (A) measuring C pe , K e and T e using the G output of said first dynamic microbridge; (B) calculating a gauge correction value (C G ) as a first function of C pe , K e and T e ; (C) calculating a flow correction value (C V ) as a second function of C pe , K e and T e ; (D) producing a corrected gauge output (G C ) as a function of G and C G ; (E) calculating an uncorrected flow value (V) as a function of G C ; and (F) producing a corrected fluid flow output signal (V C ) as a function of (V) and C V .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gauge correction factor is determined according to a relationship selected from: ##EQU3## and the volumetric correction factor (C V ) is determined according to a relationship selected from: ##EQU4## Where: n 1 through n 6 , A i , B i , m i , C i , D i , q i and r i =constants determined by the calibration process, and k co , c pco and T c =thermal conductivity, specific heat and temperature of the calibration gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein c pe , k e and T e are determined by a second microbridge in relatively static communication with said fluid of interest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein c pe , k e and T e are determined by a second microbridge in relatively static communication with said fluid of interest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gauge correction factor is determined according to the relationship: C.sub.G =(k/.sub.e /k.sub.co).sup.n1 (c.sub.pe /c.sub.pco).sup.n2 (T.sub.e /T.sub.c).sup.n3 and the volumetric correction factor C V is determined according to the relationship: C.sub.V =(k/.sub.e /k.sub.co).sup.n4 (c.sub.pe /c.sub.pco).sup.n5 (T.sub.e /T.sub.c).sup.n6 and n 1 through n 6 , respectively, are approximately equal to: -0.015331 -0.060124
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
4 words
387617 -0.85033 0.9845898 0.027236
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
4 words
387617 -0.85033 0.9845898 0.027236
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 3 Wherein the gauge correction factor is determined according to the relationship: C.sub.G =(k/.sub.e /k.sub.co).sup.n1 (c.sub.pe /c.sub.pco).sup.n2 (T.sub.e /T.sub.c).sup.n3 and the volumetric correction factor C V , is determined according to the relationship: C.sub.V =(k/.sub.e /k.sub.co).sup.n4 (c.sub.pe /c.sub.pco).sup.n5 (T.sub.e /T.sub.c).sup.n6 and n 1 through n 6 , respectively, are approximately equal to: -0.015331 -0.060124 0.387617 -0.85033 0.9845898 0.027236
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said C G determined in step (C) is determined according to a known relationship among variables selected from the group consisting of specific heat (c pe ), the differential of specific heat with respect to temperature (dc pe /dT), thermal conductivity (k e ), the differential of thermal conductivity with respect to temperature (dK e /dT), density, viscosity, speed of sound, optical absorption or diffusibility.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step (C) of determining C G is omitted and C G is set equal to unity.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of obtaining a signal indicative of the mass fluid flow rate (M C ) which is corrected for variations in specific heat (C pe ), thermal conductivity (K e ) and temperature (T e ) utilizing an output (G) of a first dynamic microbridge exposed to the fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) measuring C pe , K e and T e using said G output of said first dynamic microbridge; (B) calculating a gauge correction value (C G ) as a first function of C pe , K e and T e ; (C) calculating a mass flow correction value (C M ) as a second function of C pe , K e and T e ; (D) producing a corrected gauge output (G C ) as a function of G and C G ; (E) calculating an uncorrected mass flow value (M) as a function of G C ; (F) producing a corrected mass flow output signal (M C ) as a function of (M) and C M .
Claim 13
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of obtaining a signal indicative of the mass fluid flow rate (M C ) which is corrected for variations in specific heat (C pe ), thermal conductivity (K e ) and temperature (T e ) utilizing an output (G) of a first dynamic microbridge exposed to the fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) measuring C pe , K e and T e using said G output of said first dynamic microbridge; (B) calculating a gauge correction value (C G ) as a first function of C pe , K e and T e ; (C) calculating a mass flow correction value (C M ) as a second function of C pe , K e and T e ; (D) producing a corrected gauge output (G C ) as a function of G and C G ; (E) calculating an uncorrected mass flow value (M) as a function of G C ; (F) producing a corrected mass flow output signal (M C ) as a function of (M) and C M .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the gauge correction factor is determined according to a relationship selected from: ##EQU5## and the mass correction factor (C M ) is determined according to a relationship selected from: ##EQU6## Where: n 1 through n 6 , A i , B i , m i , C i , D i , q i and r i =constants determined by the calibration process, and k co , c pco and T c =thermal conductivity, specific heat and temperature of the calibration gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein c pe , k e and T e are determined by a second microbridge in relatively static communication with said fluid of interest.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein c pe , k e and T e are determined by a second microbridge in relatively static communication with said fluid of interest.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said C G determined in step (C) is determined according to a known relationship among variables selected from the group consisting of specific heat (c pe ), the differential of specific heat with respect to temperature (dc pe /dT), thermal conductivity (k e ), the differential of thermal conductivity with respect to temperature (dk e /dT), density, viscosity, speed of sound, optical absorption or diffusibility.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step (C) of determining C G is omitted and C G is set equal to unity.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of obtaining a signal indicative of the mass fluid flow rate (E C ) which is corrected for variations in specific heat (C pe ), thermal conductivity (K e ) and temperature (T e ) utilizing and output (G) of a first dynamic microbridge exposed to the fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) measuring C pe , K e and T e using the G output of said first dynamic microbridge; (B) calculating a gauge correction value (C G ) as a first function of C pe , K e and T e ; (C) calculating a energy flow correction value (C E ) as a second function of C pe , K e and T e ; (D) producing a corrected gauge output (G C ) as a function of G and C G ; (E) calculating an uncorrected energy flow value (E) as a function of G C ; and (F) producing a corrected energy flow output signal (E C ) as a function of (E) and C E .
Claim 20
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of obtaining a signal indicative of the mass fluid flow rate (E C ) which is corrected for variations in specific heat (C pe ), thermal conductivity (K e ) and temperature (T e ) utilizing and output (G) of a first dynamic microbridge exposed to the fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) measuring C pe , K e and T e using the G output of said first dynamic microbridge; (B) calculating a gauge correction value (C G ) as a first function of C pe , K e and T e ; (C) calculating a energy flow correction value (C E ) as a second function of C pe , K e and T e ; (D) producing a corrected gauge output (G C ) as a function of G and C G ; (E) calculating an uncorrected energy flow value (E) as a function of G C ; and (F) producing a corrected energy flow output signal (E C ) as a function of (E) and C E .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the gauge correction factor is determined according to a relationship selected from: ##EQU7## and the energy correction factor (C E ) is determined according to a relationship selected from: ##EQU8## Where: n 1 through n 6 , A i , B i , m i , C i , D i , q i and r i =constants determined by the calibration process, and k co , c pco and T c =thermal conductivity, specific heat and temperature of the calibration gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 wherein c pe , k e and T e are determined by a second microbridge in relatively static communication with said fluid of interest.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 wherein c pe , k e and T e are determined by a second microbridge in relatively static communication with said fluid of interest.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said C G determined in step (C) is determined according to a known relationship among variables selected from the group consisting of specific heat (c pe ), the differential of specific heat with respect to temperature (dc pe /dT), thermal conductivity (k e ), the differential of thermal conductivity with respect to temperature (dk e /dT), density, viscosity, speed of sound, optical absorption or diffusibility.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step (C) of determining C G is omitted and C G is set equal to unity.