APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING OBSTRUCTIONS IN PIPES OR CHANNELS
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring for obstructions in a pipe or channel, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a wave into a first end of the pipe or channel from a transmitting transducer at a first known location relative to the pipe or channel, wherein frequency f of the transmitted wave varies in a predictable manner governed by function f=f(t), where t is time;
noting the frequency ftr of the transmitted wave;
detecting any reflections of the transmitted wave travelling towards the first end of the pipe or channel at a receiving transducer at a second known location relative to the pipe or channel;
determining the frequency frec of the reflected wave;
comparing the frequency ftr of the transmitted wave and the frequency frec of the reflected wave, being transmitted from and being received by the respective transducers at the same time t; and
determining the distance L from the transmitting transducer to an obstruction and back to the receiving transducer from the difference Δ
f between the frequency ftr and the frequency frec.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method of monitoring for obstructions in a pipe or channel. The method comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting a wave into a first end of the pipe or channel from a transmitting transducer at a first known location relative to the pipe or channel, wherein the frequency f of the transmitted wave (13) varies in a predictable manner governed by the function f=f(t), where t is time; (2) noting the frequency ftr of the transmitted wave; (3) detecting any reflections of the transmitted wave travelling towards the first end of the pipe or channel at a receiving transducer at a second known location relative to the pipe or channel; (4) determining the frequency frec of the reflected wave (14); (5) comparing the frequency ftr of the transmitted wave and the frequency frec of the reflected wave, being transmitted from and being received by the respective transducers at the same time t; and 6) determining the distance L from the transmitting transducer to an obstruction and back to the receiving transducer from the difference Δf between the frequency ftr and the frequency frec.
21 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring for obstructions in a pipe or channel, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a wave into a first end of the pipe or channel from a transmitting transducer at a first known location relative to the pipe or channel, wherein frequency f of the transmitted wave varies in a predictable manner governed by function f=f(t), where t is time; noting the frequency ftr of the transmitted wave; detecting any reflections of the transmitted wave travelling towards the first end of the pipe or channel at a receiving transducer at a second known location relative to the pipe or channel; determining the frequency frec of the reflected wave; comparing the frequency ftr of the transmitted wave and the frequency frec of the reflected wave, being transmitted from and being received by the respective transducers at the same time t; and determining the distance L from the transmitting transducer to an obstruction and back to the receiving transducer from the difference Δ
f between the frequency ftr and the frequency frec. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification