Cooled fixture for high temperature accelerometer measurements

• US 5,821,418 A
• Filed: 04/28/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Dubois, Neil J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/641,325
• Time in Patent Office: 898 Days
• Field of Search: 73/650, 73/514.02, 73/493, 73/497, 73/431, 73/32 A, 73/708, 73/756, 73/1 D, 73/1 DV, 73/1.16, 73/1.37, 73/1.82, 73/644
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/103 by temporarily freezing liquid sections in the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/006 used for thermal compensation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooled fixture for high temperature acerometer measurement. The fixture includes a collar mounted to a pipe and a block mounted to the collar to which one or more accelerometers may be connected. The block is provided with a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the accelerometer(s) mounted to the block and maintaining the temperature at a level at which the accelerometers will survive.

Claims

1. A device for mounting at least one accelerometer to a pipe through which a fluid flows comprising:

means for mounting at least one accelerometer to said pipe said mounting means comprising a collar mounted to said pipe and a block attached to said collar, said at least one accelerometer being mounted to said block; and

means for controlling the temperature of said at least one accelerometer associated with said mounting means, said temperature controlling means comprises means for placing a cooling fluid in contact with said mounting means so as to transfer heat from said mounting means to said cooling fluid.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said block is welded to said collar.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said collar is formed by two semi-cylindrical segments which can be fastened together about said pipe and said block is mounted to one of said semi-cylindrical segments.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for placing cooling fluid in contact with said mounting means comprises passage means extending through said block for allowing a fluid medium to flow through said block.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for placing cooling fluid in contact with said mounting means comprises a passageway machined through said block and a source of cooling fluid communicating with said passageway so that said cooling fluid flows through said block and removes heat from said at least one accelerometer.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said block is made from stainless steel.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said pipe comprises means for transporting a heated fluid; and

said at least one accelerometer comprises means for measuring at least one of the acceleration of or the vibrations created by said heated fluid travelling through said pipe.

6. A device for mounting at least one accelerometer to a pipe through which a fluid flows comprising:

means for mounting at least one accelerometer to said pipe, said mounting means comprising a collar mounted to said pipe and a block attached to said collar; and

means for controlling the temperature of said at least one accelerometer associated with said mounting means, said temperature controlling means comprising means for placing a cooling fluid in contact with said mounting means whereby heat is transferred from said mounting means to said cooling fluid;

said block having a surface remote from said pipe and at least one mounting point for said at least one accelerometer, which said mounting point is located substantially near said surface.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said block has a plurality of mounting points for mounting a plurality of accelerometers, which said mounting points are located substantially adjacent said surface.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said mounting points are arranged about the periphery of said block.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein said block has at least one side surface having at least one mounting point for said at least one accelerometer.

10. A device for mounting at least one accelerometer to a pipe through which a fluid flows comprising:

means for mounting at least one accelerometer to said pipe, said mounting means comprising a collar mounted to said pipe and a block attached to said collar;

means for controlling the temperature of said at least one accelerometer associated with said mounting means, said temperature controlling means comprising means for placing a cooling fluid in contact with said mounting means whereby heat is transferred from said mounting means to said cooling fluid;

said block having a surface remote from said pipe and at least one mounting point for said at least one accelerometer, which said mounting point is located substantially near said surface; and

said at least one mounting point comprising at least one threaded bore into which said at least one accelerometer is threaded.