Patent · US Expired

Measuring and controlling the flow of flowable materials

US6892586B1 · kind B1 · utility

6Cited by

3References

28Claims

0Family size

Assignees

Comalco Aluminum Limited · AU
AUCKLAND UNISERVICES LIMITED · NZ

Inventors

Barry John Welch · Auckland, NZ
Evan William Andrews · Launceston, AU

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 24, 2000
Grant date	May 17, 2005
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 24, 2020

Classification

Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
CPC primaryC22B21/00
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of determining an inlet flow rate (Finlet) of a flowable material including passing an inlet stream of flowable material through a chamber (20) having an outlet aperture (100); measuring a first rate of change of quantity of material in the chamber (20) when the material is entering at said inlet flow rate; measuring a second rate of change of quantity if material in the chamber (20) when no material is entering the chamber (20); and calculating the inlet flow rate (Finlet) from said first and second rates, wherein both rate measurements are made while the whole of the outlet aperture (100) of the chamber (100) of the chamber (20) is occupied by the flowable material.

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