Apparatus to measure fluids in a conduit

• US 8,408,082 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Dahler, Steven E., Gregg, Peter Alan, Banares, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US12/620,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233.1, 738/630.1, 738/638.2, 738/658, 738/665, 74/18, 74/182, 74/25, 74/29, 74/84.R, 74 88- 89, 741/10, 741/13, 741/20, 741/28, 741/30, 173/11, 254/93.R, 254/95, 254/97, 414/749.1, 414/749.3, 483/7, 483/11, 700/228, 700/275, 700/302
• US Class Current: 73/866.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2247 Sampling from a flowing stream of gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1505 Automatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18528 Rotary to intermittent unidirectional motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18992 Reciprocating to reciprocating

Abstract

A transport device includes a first segment fixedly coupled to a wall. The transport device also includes at least one second segment coupled to the first segment. The at least one second segment includes at least one of a fluid-driven device, a rack and pinion drive device, and a carriage. The transport device further includes an automated position control system. The control system includes at least one axial positioning device coupled to the at least one second segment. The control system also includes at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of the first segment and the at least one second segment.

Claims

1. A transport device comprising:

a first segment fixedly coupled to a wall;

at least one second segment coupled to said first segment, said at least one second segment comprises at least one of a fluid-driven device, a rack and pinion drive device, and a carriage, said at least one second segment further comprising at least one extension and retraction assembly comprising an outer telescoping tube and an inner telescoping tube, each of said outer telescoping tube and said inner telescoping tube having a substantially diamond shaped cross-sectional shape;

a probe segment coupled to said at least one extension and retraction assembly; and

an automated position control system comprising;

at least one axial positioning device coupled to said at least one second segment; and

at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of said first segment and said at least one second segment.

2. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one extension and refraction assembly comprises:

at least one slidable surface; and

a carriage slidably coupled to said at least one slidable surface.

3. A transport device in accordance with claim 2 further comprising at least one of an electrical drive device, a pneumatic drive device, a cable drive device, and a chain drive device drivingly coupled to said carriage.

4. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first segment comprises a support block, said probe segment is slidingly coupled to said support block.

5. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fluid-driven device comprises:

a casing;

a positioning device coupled to said probe segment, at least a portion of said positioning device is slidably coupled within said casing, said positioning device comprising a first motive surface and a second motive surface; and

at least one motive fluid conduit coupled in flow communication with at least one of said first motive and said second motive surfaces.

6. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said positioning device is one of a ram, a piston, and a diaphragm.

7. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said automated position control system further comprises at least one probe rotary positioning mechanism comprising at least one of:

at least one rotary positioning device; and

at least one rotary position feedback device.

8. A transport device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said at least one rotary position feedback device comprises at least one of:

a rotational position encoder;

a rotational position transducer;

a gear tooth encoder;

a motor rotor position encoder;

a motor rotor position transducer;

a fluid positioning device position encoder; and

a fluid positioning device position transducer.

9. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a motorized car.

10. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rack and pinion drive device comprises:

at least one of an electrically-driven motor and a fluid-driven motor; and

at least one driving gear rotatably coupled to one of said at least one of an electrically-driven motor and a fluid-driven motor.

11. A transport device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one axial position feedback device comprises at least one of:

a friction-driven wheel sensor;

a linear position encoder;

a linear position transducer;

a gear tooth encoder;

a motor rotor position encoder;

a motor rotor position transducer;

a fluid positioning device position encoder; and

a fluid positioning device position transducer.