Patent classifications
G01F1/103
FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT DEVICE
A flow rate measurement device includes a channel; a flow detection part disposed at the channel, the flow detection part including an impeller configured to be rotated by a flow of the fluid and a reflection part disposed at the impeller and configured to reflect light; a light source configured to emit light toward the reflection part; and a detection part configured to receive light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflection part. A width of a detection surface of the detection part intermittently or continuously changes in a movement direction of the reflection part along with rotation of the impeller as viewed in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of the impeller, or a width of a reflection surface of the reflection part intermittently or continuously changes in a rotational direction of the impeller.
Mini-spinner flowmeter and downhole tool comprising an array of mini-spinner flowmeters for operation in hydrocarbon well
A mini-spinner flowmeter measures a fluid linear velocity and/or a fluid direction of a fluid present in a hydrocarbon well. It comprises an impeller formed with a plurality of axially extending vanes longitudinally secured to a shaft, the shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, the impeller being caused to rotate at an impeller angular velocity depending on the fluid linear velocity and in a rotational direction depending on the fluid direction; and a support having a bearing positioned on each end of the shaft and a through-hole securing an optical section. The vanes are reflective such that, in use, a light energy emitted by an emitting optical fiber and reflected backward by anyone of the vanes is received by a first receiving optical fiber and/or a second receiving optical fiber, the reflected light energy containing information indicative of the fluid linear velocity and/or the fluid direction.
Flowmeter Comprising an Electronic Magnetic Sensor with Buffered Power Supply
A flow meter for a home appliance, in particular a dishwasher or a washing machine, the flow meter comprising a control unit having a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal and a digital input terminal which is connected to the second power supply terminal via a limiting element; a movable element which is moved by a flow of a fluid and which comprises at least one movable magnetic element; and a two-lead magneto-sensitive unit which comprises a signal terminal connected to the digital input terminal of the control unit and a reference terminal connected to the first power supply terminal of the control unit; wherein the magneto-sensitive unit comprises a magnetic sensor element having two output terminals connected to the signal terminal and the reference terminal, and a power supply terminal; and a buffered power supply unit configured to generate a continuous auxiliary voltage from the signal terminal and the reference terminal of the magneto-sensitive unit and to provide the continuous auxiliary voltage at the power supply terminal of the magnetic sensor element.
FIRE TRUCK PUMP FLOW PREDICTION SYSTEM
A fire truck pump flow prediction system includes a pump, an inlet pipe connected to the pump, a discharge pipe connected to the pump, an intake pressure sensor connected to the inlet pipe, a discharge pressure sensor connected to the discharge pipe, a rotational sensor associated with the pump and a central processor connected to the intake pressure sensor, the discharge pressure sensor and the rotational sensor. The intake pressure sensor is configured to detect fire suppressant inlet pressure and the discharge pressure sensor is configured to detect fire suppressant discharge pressure. The rotational sensor configured to detect a rotational speed of the pump. The central processor configured to determine a flow through the pump and into the discharge pipe based on the inlet pressure, the discharge pressure and the rotational speed.
MINI-SPINNER FLOWMETER AND DOWNHOLE TOOL COMPRISING AN ARRAY OF MINI-SPINNER FLOWMETERS FOR OPERATION IN HYDROCARBON WELL
A mini-spinner flowmeter (1) is intended for use in a hydrocarbon well (101) for measuring a fluid linear velocity and/or a fluid direction (F1, F2) of a fluid (100) present in the hydrocarbon well (101). It comprises an impeller (2) formed with a plurality of axially extending vanes (3) longitudinally secured to a shaft (4), the shaft (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (XX), the impeller (2) being caused to rotate at an impeller angular velocity depending on the fluid linear velocity and in a rotational direction (Rt1, Rt2) depending on the fluid direction (F1, F2); and a support (5) having a bearing (6, 7) positioned on each end of the shaft (4) and a through-hole (8) securing an optical section (9). The optical section (9) comprises an emitting optical fiber (E), a first receiving optical fiber (R1) and a second receiving optical fiber (R2), optical fiber distal ends (10) directed towards the vanes (3) defining an optical path (11) offset from the shaft longitudinal axis (XX) and positioned such as to face a vane rotation trajectory. The vanes (3) are reflective such that, in use, a light energy (IE) emitted by the emitting optical fiber (E) and reflected backward by anyone of the vanes (3) is received by the first receiving optical fiber (R1) and/or the second receiving optical fiber (R2), the reflected light energy (IR) containing information indicative of the fluid linear velocity and/or the fluid direction (F1, F2).
SENSORS, MULTIPLEXED COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES, AND RELATED SYSTEMS
An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. For example, a leak detector can emit in response to a detected leak, or a flow-rate sensor can emit in response to a detected flow-rate of a liquid, a simulated fan-speed tachometer signal representative of a selected fan speed. At least partially in response to observing a simulated tachometer signal, a controller can issue a system command corresponding to an underlying system condition for which the simulated tachometer signal is a proxy.
Sensors, multiplexed communication techniques, and related systems
An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. For example, a leak detector can emit in response to a detected leak, or a flow-rate sensor can emit in response to a detected flow-rate of a liquid, a simulated fan-speed tachometer signal representative of a selected fan speed. At least partially in response to observing a simulated tachometer signal, a controller can issue a system command corresponding to an underlying system condition for which the simulated tachometer signal is a proxy.
Flowmeter comprising an electronic magnetic sensor with buffered power supply
A flow meter for a home appliance, in particular a dishwasher or a washing machine, the flow meter comprising a control unit having a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal and a digital input terminal which is connected to the second power supply terminal via a limiting element; a movable element which is moved by a flow of a fluid and which comprises at least one movable magnetic element; and a two-lead magneto-sensitive unit which comprises a signal terminal connected to the digital input terminal of the control unit and a reference terminal connected to the first power supply terminal of the control unit; wherein the magneto-sensitive unit comprises a magnetic sensor element having two output terminals connected to the signal terminal and the reference terminal, and a power supply terminal; and a buffered power supply unit configured to generate a continuous auxiliary voltage from the signal terminal and the reference terminal of the magneto-sensitive unit and to provide the continuous auxiliary voltage at the power supply terminal of the magnetic sensor element.
Personal spirometer
A spirometer for correlating test results with other user date to indicate a relationship, said spirometer comprising: (a) a processor; (b) memory operatively connected to said processor and configured with instruction to instruct the processor to perform the following steps: (i) recording spirometer results of a user; (ii) correlating said results with user data, said user data comprising at least one of a medication log, a medical diary, a baseline performance for said user provided by a healthcare provider, or other results from other testing devices; and (iii) indicating a relationship between said results and said user data.
System for determining power generated by a nuclear core assembly
A system for determining power generated by a nuclear core assembly immersed in heat transfer fluid. Light radiation reflected from the blades of a rotor located in the heat transfer fluid is used to determine the rotation speed of the rotor. The flow rate of the heat transfer fluid is determined based on the rotation speed. A difference in temperature between an inlet and an outlet of the assembly is calculated. Power generated by the assembly is determined based on the flow rate and the temperature difference.