The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for the monitoring of a guttering and/or roofing system. The invention provides monitoring apparatus at at least one portion of a guttering or roofing system to detect the height of material in the gutter at instants of time and determines the liquid component of said material therein. The data received can be used to determine a future maintenance schedule for said guttering system so as to prevent or minimise the risk of the guttering system flooding and/or alert when an immediate reaction is required in order to prevent flooding or leakage of liquid therefrom.

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for the monitoring of a guttering and/or roofing system. The invention provides monitoring apparatus at at least one portion of a guttering or roofing system to detect the height of material in the gutter at instants of time and determines the liquid component of said material therein. The data received can be used to determine a future maintenance schedule for said guttering system so as to prevent or minimise the risk of the guttering system flooding and/or alert when an immediate reaction is required in order to prevent flooding or leakage of liquid therefrom.

A measurement method for measuring the temperature of water in a meter includes the steps of: causing an emitter transducer of the meter to emit an ultrasonic measurement signal, and acquiring an electrical measurement signal produced by a receiver transducer of the meter; measuring a speed of the ultrasonic measurement signal in the water and a level of the electrical measurement signal; using the level of the electrical measurement signal to determine whether the temperature of the water is less than or greater than an inflection temperature corresponding to a point of inflection; estimating the temperature of the water from the speed of the ultrasonic measurement signal by using a first formula if the temperature of the water is less than the inflection temperature, and by using a second formula if the temperature of the water is greater than the inflection temperature.

A measurement method for measuring the temperature of water in a meter includes the steps of: causing an emitter transducer of the meter to emit an ultrasonic measurement signal, and acquiring an electrical measurement signal produced by a receiver transducer of the meter; measuring a speed of the ultrasonic measurement signal in the water and a level of the electrical measurement signal; using the level of the electrical measurement signal to determine whether the temperature of the water is less than or greater than an inflection temperature corresponding to a point of inflection; estimating the temperature of the water from the speed of the ultrasonic measurement signal by using a first formula if the temperature of the water is less than the inflection temperature, and by using a second formula if the temperature of the water is greater than the inflection temperature.

An acoustic airspeed sensor system can include at least one acoustic transmitter configured to provide an acoustic pulse, a plurality of acoustic receivers including at least a first acoustic receiver, a second acoustic, receiver, and a third acoustic receiver, each positioned at a first radial distance from the at least one acoustic transmitter. The first acoustic receiver, the second acoustic receiver, and the third acoustic receiver are each configured to receive the acoustic pulse at a first time, a second time, and a third time, respectively, and output a first receiver signal, a second receiver signal, and a third receiver signal respectively. The system can include a computation unit operatively connected to the acoustic receivers and configured to generate a propagation function. The computation unit is further configured to determine true air speed based upon a receiver signals and the propagation function.

An acoustic airspeed sensor system can include at least one acoustic transmitter configured to provide an acoustic pulse, a plurality of acoustic receivers including at least a first acoustic receiver, a second acoustic, receiver, and a third acoustic receiver, each positioned at a first radial distance from the at least one acoustic transmitter. The first acoustic receiver, the second acoustic receiver, and the third acoustic receiver are each configured to receive the acoustic pulse at a first time, a second time, and a third time, respectively, and output a first receiver signal, a second receiver signal, and a third receiver signal respectively. The system can include a computation unit operatively connected to the acoustic receivers and configured to generate a propagation function. The computation unit is further configured to determine true air speed based upon a receiver signals and the propagation function.

An environment condition measurement device includes a transmitter that transmits a sound wave to a target space, a receiver that receives the sound wave transmitted by the transmitter, and a controller that obtains an environmental condition of the target space based on a propagation time from when the transmitter transmits the sound wave to when the receiver receives the sound wave. The receiver is a directional receiver with a directivity with respect to a sound wave incident at a predetermined incident angle.

An environment condition measurement device includes a transmitter that transmits a sound wave to a target space, a receiver that receives the sound wave transmitted by the transmitter, and a controller that obtains an environmental condition of the target space based on a propagation time from when the transmitter transmits the sound wave to when the receiver receives the sound wave. The receiver is a directional receiver with a directivity with respect to a sound wave incident at a predetermined incident angle.

Various embodiments include a method for determining the mixing ratio R of a fluid comprising a mixture of at least two different fluids for a technical process in a device comprising: irradiating an ultrasonic signal with a transmission level along a measuring distance running inside a measuring section; measuring a receiving level of the ultrasonic signal at one end of the measuring distance; determining an ultrasonic attenuation of the ultrasonic signal attenuated by the fluid based at least on the transmission and receiving levels of the ultrasonic signal; measuring a temperature of the fluid flowing through the measuring section; and determining a mixing ratio of the at least two different fluids from the determined ultrasonic attenuation and from the measured fluid temperature.

An apparatus, system, and method for measuring a temperature gradient in a layered environment includes a container having a sidewall. An acoustic transducer is positioned on or proximate to an exterior surface of the sidewall of the container. A signal is transmitted from the acoustic transducer into the sidewall of the container. A reflected signal is received by the acoustic transducer, or another acoustic transducer positioned on or proximate to the exterior surface of the sidewall. A computerized device has a processor and a computer-readable memory. The processor is configured to measure a temperature gradient of the reflected signal using an angle of incidence and refraction of the reflected signal. The temperature gradient indicates a temperature of a material within the container.