Patent classifications
G01F15/066
Flow sensor system including spring contacts
A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament is disclosed. The flow sensor sub-assembly includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact. The spring contacts are secured to a base that has a circuit for conducting an electrical signal to and from the spring contacts to a microprocessor. The first spring contact is in electrical communication with a first piezo element and the second spring contact is in electrical communication with a second piezo element. The first spring contact has a first contact force against the first piezo element and the second spring contact has a second contact force against the second piezo element, and the first and second contact forces are equivalent. A circuit board for interfacing to a flow sensor having a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of fluidic medicament is also disclosed.
Automatic magnetic flow recording device
An automatic magnetic flow recording device, comprises a multitude of coaxially disposed hard magnetic rotating wheels wherein the hard magnetic rotating wheels are circular, and rotate with respect to each other by a predetermined transmission ratio. Each hard magnetic rotating wheel has at least one corresponding biaxial magnetoresistive angle sensor. The biaxial magnetoresistive angle sensors measure the angular positions of the hard magnetic rotating wheels within the range of 0-360 degrees. The biaxial magnetoresistive angle sensors comprise two single-axis linear magnetoresistive sensors, wherein the single-axis linear magnetoresistive sensors are an X-axis magnetoresistive sensor or a Z-axis magnetoresistive sensor. The X-axis magnetoresistive sensor of the hard magnetic rotating wheel measures a magnetic field component parallel to the tangent of the circumference of the hard magnetic rotating wheel. The Z-axis magnetoresistive sensor of the hard magnetic rotating wheel measures a magnetic field component along the radial direction of the hard magnetic rotating wheel. This flow meter recording device has several advantages compared to electronic flow meters with X, Y biaxial angle sensor. These include flexibility of the mounting position, small adjacent hard magnetic rotating wheel interference, and low power consumption.
Disaggregation of gas load to determine gas appliance performance
Techniques determine if an appliance having a fixed-rate of gas-consumption is degrading over time. In one example, a flowrate of gas at a service site is obtained. The flowrate of gas is disaggregated to obtain a flowrate of gas corresponding to an appliance having a generally fixed-rate of gas-consumption. The flowrate of gas of the appliance is compared to historical gas consumption by the appliance. Based at least in part on the comparing, it may be determined that performance of the appliance has changed over time. For example, the gas consumption of a hot water tank may increase due to mineral build-up in the bottom of the tank. Responsive to the determined degradation of the appliance, warnings may be sent, repairs may be made, and/or appliance(s) may be replaced.
APPARATUS AND METHOD OF REMOTE SENSING
A system for the detection of a rate of flow or a level of a fluid or the presence of an object, such as a PIG, in pipelines, comprising at least one detection device that includes: a sensor assembly arranged to detect the rate of flow or level of a fluid withing a section of a pipeline or the presence of a pig located along the section of pipeline where the device is located, a power store, a position determining module, a radio frequency receiver, and a radio frequency transmitter, in which the detection device has a sleep mode in which the sensor assembly is inactive and has a first power consumption and an active mode in which the sensor assembly is active and the detection device has a second, higher, power consumption when the sensor assembly of the device is actively detecting, the device in the active mode also being arranged to transmit signals from the transmitter that are indicative of the detected property of the fluid or presence of an apparatus along the section of the pipeline; and in which the device is configured to switch between the sleep mode and the active mode in response to radio frequency signals received by the receiver.
Appliance based tariff
An electronic sensing and allocation system is provided for a distributed water infrastructure containing a plurality of differing appliances. The system may receive, from at least one sensor upstream of the plurality of differing appliances, a plurality of signals indicative of water usage within the distributed water infrastructure. The system may output a first indication of a first volume of water together with an indicator attributing the first volume of water to a first rate schedule, and output a second indication of a second volume of water together with an indicator attributing the second volume of water to a second rate schedule. The system may enable billing of the first and second volumes of water to a consumer at differing rates based on differing uses.
SENSOR MODULE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN AEROSOL DOSE RATE
A method for determining an aerosol dose rate of an aerosol stream by a sensor module includes providing the aerosol stream to a patient by an inhalation device. The sensor module and the method allow an accurate determination of the aerosol dose rate actually received by the patient from the aerosol stream when using the inhalation device, the inhaled dose per breath, and the total inhaled dose per application. The sensor module can be used with existing or new inhalation devices which benefit from the determination of the actually received aerosol dose rate while the patient can maintain using the familiar inhalation device.
Pressure-compensated proportional flow control valve with an integrated turbine for flow rate sensing
An example valve includes: a pressure compensation spool configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at a first port acting in a proximal direction; a pressure compensation spring disposed in a pressure compensation chamber and applying a biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in a distal direction; a turbine configured to rotate as fluid flows through the valve; and a flow area configured to throttle fluid flow from the first port to the pressure compensation chamber, wherein fluid in the pressure compensation chamber applies a second fluid force on the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction, such that the pressure compensation spool moves to a particular axial position based on force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, and the biasing force to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to a second port.
Flow Sensor System Including Spring Contacts
A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament is disclosed. The flow sensor sub-assembly includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact. The spring contacts are secured to a base that has a circuit for conducting an electrical signal to and from the spring contacts to a microprocessor. The first spring contact is in electrical communication with a first piezo element and the second spring contact is in electrical communication with a second piezo element. The first spring contact has a first contact force against the first piezo element and the second spring contact has a second contact force against the second piezo element, and the first and second contact forces are equivalent. A circuit board for interfacing to a flow sensor having a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of fluidic medicament is also disclosed.
Remote valve reopening
An abnormal consumption detection system is provided with remote valve control for a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise an electronically controllable valve, a remote communication transmitter, a remote communication receiver, at least one sensor for measuring water flow information associated with the distributed water infrastructure, and at least one processor. The system may determine from the water flow information obtained from the at least one sensor a potential abnormal consumption associated with the distributed water infrastructure. The system may automatically close a valve, without human intervention, when the potential abnormal consumption is determined. The system may transmit, via the remote communication transmitter to a remote administrator, alert information about the potential abnormal consumption to enable an administrator to decide based on the transmitted information whether to reopen the valve. The system may receive from the administrator via the remote communication receiver a control signal to reopen the valve, despite the information about the potential abnormal consumption, and reopen the valve.
DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS FOR STORMWATER MONITORING AND REPORTING
Distributed systems and methods for the automatic monitoring and reporting of data relating to the chemistry and flow of stormwater (i.e. stormwater data) are presented. Multiple fluid sensor devices are exposed to stormwater via positioning the sensor devices in locations of interest. The sensor devices are arranged in self-healing mesh networks. The sensor devices are enabled to acquire stormwater data indicating various fluid properties that are desired to be monitored. A sensor device is further enabled to transmit its acquired stormwater data, either directly or indirectly, to one or more remote computing devices that is hosting a stormwater monitoring application (SMA). The SMA is enabled to process and analyze the stormwater data. The SMA generates measurements and reports based on the processed and analyzed stormwater data.