Air in-line sensor system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring fluid flow through a fluid line, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing having a substantially flat engaging surface;
a first transducer mounted in the first housing and coupled to the flat engaging surface;
a second housing having a rectangular U-shaped channel formed therein to receive the fluid line, the second housing being oriented so that the opening of the channel faces the flat engaging surface;
a second transducer mounted in the second housing and coupled to the bottom of the channel; and
a spring mounted to urge one of the housings towards the other housing and into contact with the fluid line to deform the fluid line between the two housings into the substantially rectangular cross section shape of the channel.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system has a two-housing arrangement, each housing of which contains a transducer. One housing includes the transmitter transducer and a flat engaging surface for pressing against the fluid line and deforming it. The other housing includes the receiver transducer mounted so that it is coupled to the bottom of a rectangular U-shaped channel for receiving the fluid line. A spring biases the flat surface of the first housing into contact with the fluid line and deforms the fluid line into the shape of the channel so that the fluid line fills the channel. The channel is shaped to force the fluid line into a general rectangular shape as it is pressed into the channel by the flat surface. Two walls of the deformed fluid line are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the flat engaging surface of the first housing and provide an opposing force to the flat surface. The fluid line stiffness and pressure of the fluid within act as an opposing spring to limit the travel of the transmitter transducer housing to result in firm and continuous contact between the transducers and the fluid line. A stop mechanism prevents the two housings from contacting.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring fluid flow through a fluid line, the apparatus comprising:
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a first housing having a substantially flat engaging surface; a first transducer mounted in the first housing and coupled to the flat engaging surface; a second housing having a rectangular U-shaped channel formed therein to receive the fluid line, the second housing being oriented so that the opening of the channel faces the flat engaging surface; a second transducer mounted in the second housing and coupled to the bottom of the channel; and a spring mounted to urge one of the housings towards the other housing and into contact with the fluid line to deform the fluid line between the two housings into the substantially rectangular cross section shape of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for use in monitoring fluid flow through a fluid line, the apparatus comprising:
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a first housing having a substantially flat engaging surface; a first transducer mounted in the first housing and acoustically coupled to the flat engaging surface; a second housing having a rectangular U-shaped channel formed therein to receive the fluid line, the second housing being oriented so that the opening of the channel faces the flat engaging surface and the sides of the channel are approximately perpendicular to the flat engaging surface; a second transducer mounted in the second housing and acoustically coupled to the channel; and biasing means for urging the first housing towards the second housing and into contact with the fluid line located between the housings to deform the fluid line into the substantially rectangular cross sectional shape of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring fluid flow through a fluid line comprising the steps of:
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disposing the fluid line between a first housing having a flat engaging surface in contact with the fluid line and a second housing having a generally rectangular U-shaped channel in which the fluid line is disposed; coupling a first transducer to the flat surface; coupling a second tranducer to the channel; urging one housing into contact with the fluid line to press the fluid line into the channel to deform the fluid line into the generally rectangular shape of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification