Patent ID: 8245581
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: G01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flowmeter for detecting fluid flow rates in a pipe comprising: a tube having only a single channel with a constant diameter disposed in the pipe through which fluid in the pipe flows, the tube has a length L and a diameter opening D such that under volume flow conditions where Q>0.2 liters/hour, the tube dimensions L/D an upstream ultrasonic transducer in contact with the pipe and positioned and positioned in alignment with the channel so plane waves having a transducer beam profile generated by the upstream transducer propagates through the channel; a downstream ultrasonic transducer in contact with the pipe and positioned in alignment with the channel so plane waves having a transducer beam profile generated by the downstream transducer propagate through the channel and are received by the upstream transducer which produces an upstream transducer signal, the downstream transducer receiving the plane waves from the upstream transducer and providing a downstream transducer signal, the upstream transducer and the downstream transducer extend through the pipe wall and acoustically communicate with the pipe interior; and a controller in communication with the upstream and downstream transducers which calculate fluid flow rate from the upstream transducer signal and the downstream transducer signal.