Patent ID: 8402841
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A method of sensing a fluid flow within a pipe, which pipe has a first wall oppositely disposed from a second wall, the method comprising the steps of: providing an ultrasonic sensor having a transmitter operable to transmit ultrasonic signals through the first pipe wall, the fluid flow disposed within the pipe, and the second pipe wall, and a receiver operable to receive the transmitted signal after the signal has passed through the first and second pipe walls and the fluid flow disposed within the pipe; wherein the first wall has one or more first half wave resonant frequencies, and the second wall has one or more second half wave resonant frequencies; disposing the transmitter adjacent the first wall and the receiver adjacent the second wall; disposing at least one acoustic member between at least one of the transmitter and the first wall, and the receiver and the second wall, which acoustic member has acoustic properties such that the combined respective member and pipe wall have half wave resonant frequencies that substantially match the half wave resonant frequencies of the opposite wall, or opposite wall and respective member; and sensing the fluid flow through the pipe walls and structure using the ultrasonic sensor.