Patent · US Expired

Variable gate flow analyzing method and apparatus

US5275042A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
9References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 1990
Grant dateJan 4, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/86413
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

To measure flow rates, the cross-sectional shape of the flow path is changed by inserting a multiple position gate into the flow path and altering the position of the gate to maintain the head of liquid constant with a reduced flow cross section. To maintain the head at a desirable range, the depth is measured and controls the position of the gate as a feedback signal. The position of the multiple position gate is correlated with the depth to provide an indication of flow rate. For this purpose, a flow path housing is clamped to a pipe and a multiple position gate is moved by pneumatic pressure into the flow stream to change the flow cross section. The depth of the head upstream of the gate is measured and the position of the gate is measured. Flow rate is determined from these two measurements. Sampling may be performed at an increased depth caused by the gate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.