Patent · US Active

Fluid flow measurement system

US8494932B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 2011
Grant dateJul 23, 2013
Priority date—
Expiry dateMar 18, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q50/06
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Sub-metering of fluid use is performed using a single acoustic transducer positioned at a common supply point. A computer attached to the transducer determines when each consumption point is active and measures the respective amount of fluid drawn by each. Acoustic signatures of each consumption point differ depending on the length of piping runs, location of elbows, tees, and other structures which cause acoustic energy as the fluid flows through. The acoustic signatures are recorded by the computer and are used to simultaneously differentiate fluid use at each consumption point.

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