Patent US4397191A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4397191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid velocity measurement system
Assignee: ADS SERVICES Inc 2227 DRAKE AVE HUNTSVILLE AL A CORP OF
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Filing: 1981-11-27
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Granted: 1983-08-09
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Expires: 2001-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A measurement system for the measurement of the velocity of liquid flow through a pipe wherein side-by-side ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducers are positioned on a below liquid level area of the pipe and are oriented to transmit and receive, respectively, signals along essentially parallel paths which are essentially normal to the flow of fluid through the pipe. Modulation on a received signal is demodulated and the frequency of major signal excursions of the modulation are detected and employed as an indication of velocity of flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher A. Forden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A measurement system for measuring flow of a liquid through a channel comprising: transducer means oriented and positioned in a lower region of the inside of a channel to transmit and receive acoustic energy between said transducer means and an upper surface of the fluid and along a path which is essentially normal to the direction of flow through the channel; said transducer means comprises transmit and receive, side by side, transducers; signal generating means for applying an ultrasonic signal to said transmit transducer, wherein an acoustic signal is emitted along said path to the surface of the fluid and reflected back to said receive transducer; signal amplification means responsive to the output of said receive transducer for providing an amplified version of the output of said receive transducer over a selected frequency range; signal detection means responsive to the output of said amplification means for providing as an output modulation appearing on said signal; filter means responsive to the output of said detection means for providing as an output signals within a selected frequency range; amplitude limiting means responsive to the output of said filter means for providing output pulses corresponding to signal variations of a selected magnitude; pulse counting means responsive to the output of said amplitude limiting means for providing an output proportional to the frequency of output pulses; and velocity computation means responsive to the output of said pulse counting means for providing as an output an indication of velocity flow through said channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A measurement system for measuring flow of a liquid through a channel comprising: transducer means oriented and positioned in a lower region of the inside of a channel to transmit and receive acoustic energy between said transducer means and an upper surface of the fluid and along a path which is essentially normal to the direction of flow through the channel; said transducer means comprises transmit and receive, side by side, transducers; signal generating means for applying an ultrasonic signal to said transmit transducer, wherein an acoustic signal is emitted along said path to the surface of the fluid and reflected back to said receive transducer; signal amplification means responsive to the output of said receive transducer for providing an amplified version of the output of said receive transducer over a selected frequency range; signal detection means responsive to the output of said amplification means for providing as an output modulation appearing on said signal; filter means responsive to the output of said detection means for providing as an output signals within a selected frequency range; amplitude limiting means responsive to the output of said filter means for providing output pulses corresponding to signal variations of a selected magnitude; pulse counting means responsive to the output of said amplitude limiting means for providing an output proportional to the frequency of output pulses; and velocity computation means responsive to the output of said pulse counting means for providing as an output an indication of velocity flow through said channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 comprising: first level detection means responsive to the output of said signal detection means for providing a first output when the output of said signal detection means exceeds a selected level; and second level detection means responsive to the output of said filter means for providing a second output when the output of said filter means exceeds a selected level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising flow computation means selectively responsive to the output of said velocity computation eans for providing as an output an indication of the volume of flow through said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 which includes an electronic switch responsive to said second level detection means for coupling an output of said velocity computation means to said flow computation 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) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |