ULTRASONIC SIGNAL COUPLER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ultrasonic waveguide assembly comprising:
- a pipe having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an inside diameter of the pipe which comprises fluid traveling therethrough;
a first ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe at a first location such that the first ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough;
a first ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the first ultrasonic waveguide;
a second ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe at a second location such that the second ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough; and
a second ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the second ultrasonic waveguide.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic signal coupler includes a pipe having a first ultrasonic waveguide and a second ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the pipe so that ultrasonic transducers attached to ends of the ultrasonic waveguides communicate ultrasonic signals through the ultrasonic waveguides directly through a fluid traveling through the pipe.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic waveguide assembly comprising:
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a pipe having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an inside diameter of the pipe which comprises fluid traveling therethrough; a first ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe at a first location such that the first ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough; a first ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the first ultrasonic waveguide; a second ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe at a second location such that the second ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough; and a second ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the second ultrasonic waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ultrasonic waveguide assembly comprising:
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a pipe having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a pipe axis, the interior surface defining an inside diameter of the pipe which comprises fluid traveling therethrough in a direction substantially parallel with the pipe axis; a first ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe at a first location such that the first ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough, wherein the first ultrasonic waveguide comprises a first waveguide length, a first waveguide width, and a first waveguide axis, the first ultrasonic waveguide penetrates the pipe such that the first waveguide axis forms an acute angle with respect to the pipe axis, and wherein the first waveguide length is greater than the first waveguide width; a first ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the first ultrasonic waveguide; a second ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe at a second location such that the second ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough, wherein the second ultrasonic waveguide comprises a second waveguide length, a second waveguide width, and a second waveguide axis, the second ultrasonic waveguide penetrates the pipe such that the second waveguide axis forms an acute angle with respect to the pipe axis, the second waveguide length is greater than the second waveguide width, and wherein the second waveguide axis is collinear with the first waveguide axis; and a second ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the second ultrasonic waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An ultrasonic waveguide assembly comprising:
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a pipe having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a pipe axis, the interior surface defining an inside diameter of the pipe which comprises fluid traveling therethrough in a direction substantially parallel with the pipe axis; a first ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe, and protruding into an interior of the pipe at a first location such that the first ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough, wherein the first ultrasonic waveguide comprises a first waveguide length, a first waveguide thickness, and a first waveguide axis, the first ultrasonic waveguide penetrates the pipe such that the first waveguide axis forms an acute angle with respect to the pipe axis, and wherein the first waveguide length is greater than the first waveguide thickness; a first ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the first ultrasonic waveguide; a second ultrasonic waveguide penetrating the exterior surface of the pipe and the interior surface of the pipe, and protruding into an interior of the pipe at a second location such that the second ultrasonic waveguide is in direct contact with the fluid traveling therethrough, wherein the second ultrasonic waveguide comprises a second waveguide length, a second waveguide thickness, and a second waveguide axis, the second ultrasonic waveguide penetrates the pipe such that the second waveguide axis forms an acute angle with respect to the pipe axis, and wherein the second waveguide length is greater than the second waveguide thickness; and a second ultrasonic transducer adapted to be acoustically coupled to the second ultrasonic waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification