Fluid metering apparatus and method
US5902927A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 11, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8326
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for controlling demand of a fluid. The method includes measuring a fluid supply pressure in a supply pipe, determining that the fluid supply pressure is lower than a predetermined threshold supply pressure, and directing a control signal from the fluid information unit to the one or more demand control units to reduce demand for the fluid. In addition, a method and apparatus are described for measuring density of a fluid flowing through a demand pipe. The method includes determining that fluid flow through the demand pipe is stable, measuring fluid flow rate through the demand pipe, preventing the fluid from flowing into the demand pipe for a sample period of time, measuring a drop in fluid pressure in the demand pipe during the sample period, and determining the density from the measured pressure drop. Also, a utility meter for metering a fluid flowing through a supply pipe and a demand pipe having an audible indicator to provide an audible signal to a user is described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.