Method and apparatus for a product displacement sensing device
First Claim
1. A displacement sensing device, comprising:
- a cuff adapted to receive at least a portion of a conduit therein, whereby a flow of product through the conduit displaces the conduit, and further whereby the cuff displaces relative to the conduit; and
a sensor disposed on an outer periphery of the cuff such that, upon insertion of the conduit into the cuff, the sensor resides a thickness of the cuff from the outer periphery of the conduit, whereby the sensor senses the displacement of the cuff and outputs a signal indicative of conduit displacement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A displacement sensing device transduces deflection of a body disposed around a conduit into complementary signals indicative of the amount of displacement experienced by the conduit. The displacement sensing device includes a cuff and a sensor disposed on an outer periphery of the cuff, and may further include a controller in communication with the sensor, such that the controller receives signals from the sensor and compares the current signals to a normal operating range. The normal operating range may be predetermined or derived based on trends, thereby allowing the controller to adapt to any product disposed within the conduit. Once the range is determined, the controller is able to discern when the product system is out of product, or operating at elevated pressures. In alternative embodiments, a pumping device or an inductor may generate a recognizable wave pattern that may be monitored to determine if the product system contains product.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A displacement sensing device, comprising:
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a cuff adapted to receive at least a portion of a conduit therein, whereby a flow of product through the conduit displaces the conduit, and further whereby the cuff displaces relative to the conduit; and a sensor disposed on an outer periphery of the cuff such that, upon insertion of the conduit into the cuff, the sensor resides a thickness of the cuff from the outer periphery of the conduit, whereby the sensor senses the displacement of the cuff and outputs a signal indicative of conduit displacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of sensing product displacement, comprising:
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a. placing a sensor on an outer periphery of a cuff adapted to receive at least a portion of a conduit therein; b. measuring a displacement of the cuff disposed on a conduit in a product system; and c. outputting a signal in direct relation thereto. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification