Module for gas flow measurements with a dual sensing assembly
First Claim
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1. A gas meter, comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a gas measurement module disposed within the housing, the gas measurement module comprising a modular unit including;
a chamber with an inlet and an outlet;
an obstacle disposed in the chamber, wherein the obstacle is configured to generate an oscillating gas jet when flow of gas into the chamber is at or above a threshold flow rate; and
a dual sensing assembly disposed in the modular unit, wherein the dual sensing assembly comprises one or more first sensors using a first gas flow sensing technology and multiple second sensors using a second gas flow sensing technology, wherein the multiple second sensors are disposed in the chamber, and wherein the multiple second sensors comprise a first oscillating gas jet sensor configured to come into contact with the oscillating gas jet at a first time and a second oscillating gas jet sensor configured to come into contact with the oscillating gas jet at a second time in response to movement of the oscillating gas jet.
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Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for measuring gas flow using a modular unit as a gas measurement module. The modular unit can be made of molded plastic, cast metal, or other material. A gas meter can include the gas measurement module. The gas measurement module includes a chamber with an inlet and an outlet. An obstacle in the chamber is configured to generate an oscillating gas jet when gas flow into the chamber is at or above a threshold flow rate. The gas measurement module includes a dual sensing assembly with one or more first sensors using a first gas flow sensing technology and one or more second sensors using a second gas flow sensing technology.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gas meter, comprising:
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a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a gas measurement module disposed within the housing, the gas measurement module comprising a modular unit including; a chamber with an inlet and an outlet; an obstacle disposed in the chamber, wherein the obstacle is configured to generate an oscillating gas jet when flow of gas into the chamber is at or above a threshold flow rate; and a dual sensing assembly disposed in the modular unit, wherein the dual sensing assembly comprises one or more first sensors using a first gas flow sensing technology and multiple second sensors using a second gas flow sensing technology, wherein the multiple second sensors are disposed in the chamber, and wherein the multiple second sensors comprise a first oscillating gas jet sensor configured to come into contact with the oscillating gas jet at a first time and a second oscillating gas jet sensor configured to come into contact with the oscillating gas jet at a second time in response to movement of the oscillating gas jet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A gas measurement module for a gas meter, comprising a modular unit, the modular unit including:
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a chamber with an inlet and an outlet; an obstacle disposed in the chamber, wherein the obstacle is configured to generate an oscillating gas jet when flow of gas into the chamber is at or above a threshold flow rate; and a dual sensing assembly disposed in the modular unit, wherein the dual sensing assembly comprises one or more first sensors using a first sensing technology and multiple second sensors using a second sensing technology, wherein the multiple second sensors are disposed in the chamber, and wherein the multiple second sensors comprise a first oscillating gas jet sensor configured to come into contact with the oscillating gas jet when the oscillating gas jet moves to a first position and a second oscillating gas jet sensor configured to come into contact with the oscillating gas jet when the oscillating gas jet moves to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for measuring gas flow in a modular unit for a gas meter, comprising:
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directing gas into an inlet of a chamber of the modular unit; when gas flow into the chamber is below a threshold flow rate, measuring a rate of the gas flow with one or more first sensors in the chamber that use a first sensing technology; when the gas flow into the chamber is at or above the threshold flow rate; generating an oscillating gas jet; directing the oscillating gas jet to a first position, wherein the oscillating gas jet contacts a first oscillating jet sensor at a first time, and wherein the oscillating gas jet avoids contact with a second oscillating jet sensor at the first time; directing the oscillating gas jet to a second position, wherein the oscillating gas jet contacts the second oscillating jet sensor at a second time, wherein the oscillating gas jet avoids contact with the first oscillating jet sensor at the second time, and wherein the first and second oscillating jet sensors use a second sensing technology; and measuring a rate of the gas flow with the one or more second sensors; and directing gas to an outlet of the chamber of the modular unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification