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Fluid meter construction

  • US 5,728,948 A
  • Filed: 01/10/1996
  • Issued: 03/17/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A fluid meter comprising:

  • a pipe section adapted for the measurement of fluid flow through a pipeline into which the pipe section is insertable, the pipe section comprising a first and second end portions each having an end opening, and an intermediate portion arranged between the end portions, the pipeline and end openings having substantially the same internal transverse cross-sectional areas, the intermediate portion having an internal transverse cross-sectional area smaller than that of the end openings and the pipeline, there being a transitional portion of non-constant transverse cross-sectional area in each end portion between the respective end opening and the intermediate portion;

    first and second transducer housings each enclosing a respective acoustic transducer, each housing;

    (a) being locatable within the pipe section in respective ones of the end portions to define a measurement portion therebetween;

    (b) being externally fluid dynamically shaped to substantially reduce pressure drop of the fluid as the fluid passes through the measurement portion; and

    (c) having a compartment for housing the respective acoustic transducer, the compartment comprising an acoustic signal transparent window facing towards the window of the other transducer through the intermediate portion thereby permitting signals to be passed between the transducers; and

    a control module electronically connected to the transducers to cause transmission and reception of acoustic signals through the intermediate section between the transducers to determine the velocity of fluid flowing in the intermediate section; and

    whereinin order to reduce acoustic back reflections from the transitional portions to the transducers and to reduce pressure drop along the transitional portions, each of the transducer housings is positioned at least partly within the corresponding one of the transitional portions, which are constructed such that a minimum transverse cross-sectional area about each transducer housing is not less than the transverse cross-sectional area of the intermediate portion.

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