Method and a device for determining the mass flow rate and the presence or absence of a liquid flowing in a pipe
US10480975B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/74
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The mass flow rate of milk flowing in a pipe in pulsed milk slugs is determined by sampling a signal from a microphone indicative of sonic signals produced by the milk flow. A microprocessor applies a Fast Fourier Transform to the sampled signal to produce the frequency domain of the sampled signal. The microprocessor computes the average energy value of the sampled signal in a relevant frequency band during consecutive monitoring periods. The average energy values are inserted into a calibration equation to convert the average energy value to a mass flow rate. The total mass flow of milk flowing through the pipeline during a period T1-T2 is determined by integrating the determined mass flow rate of milk from T1-T2. Disengagement of a milking cluster from the animal teats during milking is determined when the monitored microphone signal transitions to a continuous relatively high energy noise signal indicative of air.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.