Acoustic waveguide assemblies

• US 8,511,424 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ao, Xiaolei Shirley, Xu, Jin Chang, Umina, John Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): LUKS, JEREMY AUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US13/314,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20130146388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 181/139, 181/196, 736/44, 738/611.8, 738/612.1, 738/612.3, 738/612.5
• US Class Current: 181/196
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02818 Density, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/024 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2462 Probes with waveguides, e.g. SAW devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/24 by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/00 Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general

Abstract

Acoustic waveguides are disclosed for mounting to a conduit. The acoustic waveguides provide a mounting area that minimizes the effect of the mount on the acoustic wave traveling through the waveguide while providing an effective seal, even under high pressure conditions.

Claims

1. An acoustic waveguide assembly for mounting to a conduit, the acoustic waveguide assembly comprising:

an acoustic waveguide comprising a waveguide rod having a proximal end and a distal end, a waveguide sensor connected to the distal end of the waveguide rod, and a tube coupler circumferentially surrounding a portion of the waveguide rod, wherein the tube coupler provides a surface to mount the waveguide rod to the conduit; and

a middle flange comprising a port for accessing the inside of the conduit located between a first flange terminating a first section of the conduit and second flange terminating a second section of the conduit, wherein the tube coupler is inserted into the port of the middle flange such that the waveguide sensor extends into the conduit.

2. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 1, wherein the tube coupler comprises:

a first end circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod at a first location;

a second end circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod at a second location;

an inner sleeve circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod and extending from the first end to the second end proximate the waveguide rod; and

an outer tube circumferentially surrounding the inner sleeve and extending from the first end to the second end, forming a cavity between the inner sleeve and the outer tube.

3. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 2, wherein the cavity is filled with a non-metallic solid.

4. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 2, wherein the cavity is filled with a liquid.

5. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 2, further comprising a transducer assembly coupled to the proximal end of the waveguide rod.

6. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 2, wherein the first end and the second end of the tube coupler are disks.

7. An acoustic waveguide assembly for mounting to a conduit, the acoustic waveguide assembly comprising:

an acoustic waveguide comprising a waveguide rod having a proximal end and a distal end, a waveguide sensor connected to the distal end of the waveguide rod, and a tube coupler circumferentially surrounding a portion of the waveguide rod, wherein the tube coupler provides a surface to mount the waveguide rod to the conduit; and

a middle flange comprising a port for accessing the inside of the conduit located between a first flange terminating a first section of the conduit and second flange terminating a second section of the conduit, wherein the tube coupler is inserted into a compression fitting that is inserted into the port of the middle flange such that the waveguide sensor extends into the conduit.

8. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 7, wherein the tube coupler comprises:

a first end circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod at a first location;

a second end circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod at a second location;

an inner sleeve circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod and extending from the first end to the second end proximate the waveguide rod; and

an outer tube circumferentially surrounding the inner sleeve and extending from the first end to the second end, forming a cavity between the inner sleeve and the outer tube.

9. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 8, wherein the cavity is filled with a non-metallic solid.

10. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 8, wherein the cavity is filled with a liquid.

11. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 8, further comprising a transducer assembly coupled to the proximal end of the waveguide rod.

12. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 8, wherein the first end and the second end of the tube coupler are disks.

13. An acoustic waveguide assembly for mounting to a conduit, the acoustic waveguide assembly comprising:

an acoustic waveguide comprising a waveguide rod having a proximal end and a distal end, a waveguide sensor connected to the distal end of the waveguide rod, and a tube coupler circumferentially surrounding a portion of the waveguide rod, wherein the tube coupler provides a surface to mount the waveguide rod to the conduit;

a first end circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod at a first location;

a second end circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod at a second location;

an inner sleeve circumferentially surrounding the waveguide rod and extending from the first end to the second end proximate the waveguide rod; and

an outer tube circumferentially surrounding the inner sleeve and extending from the first end to the second end, forming a cavity between the inner sleeve and the outer tube.

14. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the cavity is filled with a non-metallic solid.

15. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the cavity is filled with a liquid.

16. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 13, further comprising a transducer assembly coupled to the proximal end of the waveguide rod.

17. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the waveguide rod has a circular cross-section.

18. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the waveguide sensor has a non-circular cross-section.

19. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 13, wherein the first end and the second end of the tube coupler are disks.

20. The acoustic waveguide assembly of claim 19, wherein the disks are curved.