APPARATUS TO MEASURE FLUIDS IN A CONDUIT

• US 20110113899A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Banares, Christopher R., Dahler, Steven E., Gregg, Peter Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/863.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2247 Sampling from a flowing stream of gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1505 Automatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18528 Rotary to intermittent unidirectional motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18992 Reciprocating to reciprocating

Abstract

A transport device includes a first segment fixedly coupled to a wall. The transport device also includes at least one second segment coupled to the first segment. The at least one second segment includes at least one of a fluid-driven device, a rack and pinion drive device, and a carriage. The transport device further includes an automated position control system. The control system includes at least one axial positioning device coupled to the at least one second segment. The control system also includes at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of the first segment and the at least one second segment.

Claims

1. A transport device comprising:

a first segment fixedly coupled to a wall;

at least one second segment coupled to said first segment, said at least one second segment comprises at least one of a fluid-driven device, a rack and pinion drive device, and a carriage; and

an automated position control system comprising;

at least one axial positioning device coupled to said at least one second segment; and

at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of said first segment and said at least one second segment.

2. A transport device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a probe segment coupled to said at least one second segment.

3. A transport device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said at least one second segment comprises at least one extension and retraction assembly coupled to said probe segment, said at least one extension and retraction assembly comprising:

at least one slidable surface; and

a carriage slidably coupled to said at least one slidable surface.

4. A transport device in accordance with claim 3 further comprising at least one of an electrical drive device, a pneumatic drive device, a cable drive device, and a chain drive device drivingly coupled to said carriage.

5. A transport device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first segment comprises a support block, said probe segment is slidingly coupled to said support block.

6. A transport device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said fluid-driven device comprises:

a casing;

a positioning device coupled to said probe segment, at least a portion of said positioning device is slidably coupled within said casing, said positioning device comprising a first motive surface and a second motive surface; and

at least one motive fluid conduit coupled in flow communication with at least one of said first motive and said second motive surfaces.

7. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said positioning device is one of a ram, a piston, and a diaphragm.

8. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said automated position control system further comprises at least one probe rotary positioning mechanism comprising at least one of:

at least one rotary positioning device; and

at least one rotary position feedback device.

9. A transport device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said at least one rotary position feedback device comprises at least one of:

a rotational position encoder;

a rotational position transducer;

a gear tooth encoder;

a motor rotor position encoder;

a motor rotor position transducer;

a fluid positioning device position encoder; and

a fluid positioning device position transducer.

10. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a motorized car.

11. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rack and pinion drive device comprises:

at least one of an electrically-driven motor and a fluid-driven motor; and

at least one driving gear rotatably coupled to one of said at least one of an electrically-driven motor and a fluid-driven motor.

12. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one axial position feedback device comprises at least one of:

a friction-driven wheel sensor;

a linear position encoder;

a linear position transducer;

a gear tooth encoder;

a motor rotor position encoder;

a motor rotor position transducer;

a fluid positioning device position encoder; and

a fluid positioning device position transducer.

13. A fluid sampling system comprising:

at least one fluid sampling device that partially extends through at least one fluid measuring probe port defined in at least a portion of a conduit, said at least one fluid sampling device comprising;

at least one probe segment rotatably coupled to at least one probe rotary positioning mechanism, said at least one probe segment comprising at least one of;

a motor-driven gear-drive device; and

a fluid-driven device; and

an automated position control system coupled to said at least one probe rotary positioning mechanism and comprising at least one position feedback device.

14. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said fluid-driven device comprises:

at least one member drivingly engaged to at least a portion of said at least one probe segment; and

a fluid-positioned assembly comprising;

a casing;

a positioning device coupled to said at least one member, at least a portion of said positioning device slidably coupled to at least a portion of said casing, said positioning device comprising a first motive surface and a second motive surface; and

at least one motive fluid conduit coupled in flow communication with at least one of said first and said second motive surfaces.

15. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said at least one motive fluid conduit comprises:

a first motive fluid conduit coupled in flow communication with said enclosed casing on said first motive surface of said positioning device; and

a second motive fluid conduit coupled in flow communication with said enclosed casing on said second motive surface of said positioning device.

16. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said at least one motive fluid conduit is further coupled in flow communication with one of:

at least one hydraulic fluid source;

at lease one air source;

at least one water source.

17. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 13 further comprising:

a first segment coupled to a conduit;

at least one second segment coupled to said first segment, said automated position control system further comprises;

at least one axial positioning device coupled to said at least one second segment; and

at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of said first segment and said at least one second segment.

18. A fluid sampling system comprising:

at least one fluid sampling device that partially extends through at least one fluid measuring probe port defined in at least a portion of a conduit, said at least one fluid sampling device comprising;

a fixed segment coupled to at least a portion of the conduit;

at least one telescoping segment coupled to said fixed segment;

at least one probe segment rotatably coupled to said at least one telescoping segment; and

an automated position control system comprising at least one of;

at least one axial positioning device coupled to said at least one telescoping segment;

at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of said fixed segment and said at least one telescoping segment;

at least one probe rotary positioning mechanism coupled to said at least one probe segment; and

at least one rotary position feedback device.

19. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one axial positioning device comprises a chain drive device drivingly coupled to said at least one telescoping segment.

20. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one telescoping segment comprises at least one access door to facilitate removal and replacement of said probe segment.

21. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one telescoping segment comprises an umbilical connector that houses at least one of:

at least one cooling air conduit;

at least one probe segment signal wire;

at least one pressure sensing conduit;

at least one sample conduit; and

at least one telescoping segment position signal wire.

22. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one telescoping segment comprises a first telescoping segment and a second telescoping segment, said first telescoping segment coupled to said second telescoping segment.

23. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first telescoping segment is slidingly engaged with said first segment via at least one of:

at least one ball bearing;

at least one roller;

friction-resistant tape; and

friction-resistant coatings.

24. A fluid sampling system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said fixed segment and said at least one telescoping segment define one of:

a substantially square cross-section;

a substantially rhomboid cross-section;

a substantially cylindrical cross-section; and

a substantially oval cross-section.