Apparatus and method for sensing fluid flow in a pipe with variable wall thickness
US8402841B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F25/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sensing a fluid flow within a pipe is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing an ultrasonic sensor having a transmitter operable to transmit ultrasonic signals through the first pipe wall, the fluid flow disposed within the pipe, and the second pipe wall, and a receiver operable to receive the transmitted signal after the signal has passed through the pipe walls and fluid flow; b) disposing the transmitter adjacent the first wall and the receiver adjacent the second wall; c) disposing at least one acoustic member between at least one of the transmitter and the first wall, and the receiver and the second wall, which acoustic member has acoustic properties such that the combined respective member and pipe wall have half wave resonant frequencies that substantially match the half wave resonant frequencies of the opposite wall, or opposite wall and respective member; and d) sensing the fluid flow through the pipe walls and structure using the ultrasonic sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.