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Ultrasonic system for measuring flow rate, fluid velocity, and pipe diameter based upon time periods

  • US 6,158,288 A
  • Filed: 01/28/1999
  • Issued: 12/12/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic meter, attachable to a pipe having a longitudinal axis and fluid therein, the ultrasonic meter comprising:

  • an upstream transducer configured for external attachment to the pipe, the upstream transducer configured to receive upstream electrical signals and upstream ultrasonic pulses, to transmit upstream ultrasonic pulses based on the upstream received electrical signals by the upstream transducer and to transmit upstream electrical signals based on the upstream received ultrasonic pulses by the upstream transducer;

    a downstream transducer configured for external attachment to the pipe at a location displaced from the upstream transducer along the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the downstream transducer configured to receive downstream electrical signals and downstream ultrasonic pulses, to transmit downstream ultrasonic pulses based on the downstream received electrical signals by the downstream transducer and to transmit downstream electrical signals based on the downstream received ultrasonic pulses by the downstream transducer;

    a multiplexor electrically linked to the upstream transducer and the downstream transducer, configured to receive the upstream transmitted electrical signals from the upstream transducer, to receive the downstream transmitted electrical signals from the downstream transducer, and to receive a multiplexor control signal, the multiplexor configured to selectively block or pass either one or both of the upstream transmitted electrical signals received from the upstream transducer and the downstream transmitted electrical signals received from the downstream transducer based on the multiplexor control signal;

    a logic switch electrically linked to the upstream transducer, the downstream transducer, and the multiplexor, the logic switch configured to receive the upstream transmitted electrical signals passed by the multiplexor, the downstream transmitted electrical signals passed by the multiplexor, and a logic switch control signal, and to selectively pass the upstream transmitted electrical signals as the downstream received electrical signals to the downstream transducer and to selectively pass the downstream transmitted electrical signals as the upstream received electrical signals to the upstream transducer, according to the received logic switch control signal; and

    a processor electrically coupled to the logic switch and the multiplexor, the processor configured to transmit the logic switch control signal to the logic switch, and to transmit the multiplexor control signal to the multiplexor.

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