Fluid metering apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring density of a fluid flowing through a demand pipe, comprising:
- a fluid dispensing unit including a controllable valve couplable to an inlet of the demand pipe; and
a fluid information unit including a demand pressure sensor for sensing a demand fluid pressure of the fluid in the demand pipe, a first communication channel between the fluid information unit and the controllable valve of the fluid dispensing unit, a processor, coupled to the demand pressure sensor and the controllable valve, for controlling the controllable valve between a closed and an open position to regulate the fluid flowing through the controllable valve and configured to calculate a relative density of the fluid flowing through the controllable valve based, at least in part, on a pressure measurement signal received from the demand pressure sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for controlling demand of a fluid. The method includes measuring a fluid supply pressure in a supply pipe, determining that the fluid supply pressure is lower than a predetermined threshold supply pressure, and directing a control signal from the fluid information unit to the one or more demand control units to reduce demand for the fluid. In addition, a method and apparatus are described for measuring density of a fluid flowing through a demand pipe. The method includes determining that fluid flow through the demand pipe is stable, measuring fluid flow rate through the demand pipe, preventing the fluid from flowing into the demand pipe for a sample period of time, measuring a drop in fluid pressure in the demand pipe during the sample period, and determining the density from the measured pressure drop. Also, a utility meter for metering a fluid flowing through a supply pipe and a demand pipe having an audible indicator to provide an audible signal to a user is described.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring density of a fluid flowing through a demand pipe, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing unit including a controllable valve couplable to an inlet of the demand pipe; and
a fluid information unit including a demand pressure sensor for sensing a demand fluid pressure of the fluid in the demand pipe, a first communication channel between the fluid information unit and the controllable valve of the fluid dispensing unit, a processor, coupled to the demand pressure sensor and the controllable valve, for controlling the controllable valve between a closed and an open position to regulate the fluid flowing through the controllable valve and configured to calculate a relative density of the fluid flowing through the controllable valve based, at least in part, on a pressure measurement signal received from the demand pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for managing flow of a fluid flowing through a supply pipe and a demand pipe to at least one appliance having a demand control unit, comprising:
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a supply pressure sensor disposed to measure a fluid supply pressure in the supply pipe; and
a fluid information unit connectable to the demand control unit, the fluid information unit including a demand pressure sensor disposed to sense a fluid demand pressure in the demand pipe, a communications channel connected to the supply pressure sensor, and a processor, coupled to the supply and demand pressure sensors and couplable to the demand control unit to transmit a control signal to reduce fluid demand in response to a measured supply pressure falling below a predetermined supply threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification