Patent ID: 6047602
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G01F,G01N,G10K

Abstract:
A waveguide for interposition between an ultrasonic wave source and a fluid-bounding wall to couple ultrasonic energy from the source on one side of the wall into fluid on the other side of the wall to effect a measurement thereof, said waveguide having a guided path centerline with a length dimension along a direction of signal propagation within said waveguide, and having a thickness dimension and a transverse dimension, the length dimension being substantially greater than the thickness dimension, the ratio of the transverse dimension to the thickness dimension defining an aspect ratio, and said waveguide comprising a standoff portion, a middle portion and a seatsaid standoff portion having a first face oriented for coupling to the source to propagate energy therealong to said middle portion,said middle portion including a bounding edge lying at an angle between 0 and 45 degrees to the direction of propagation for directing energy propagated along said standoff portion toward said seat portion, andsaid seat portion extending with an exit face to radiate along a path through the fluid energy received from the middle portion,wherein said bounding edge and said exit face lie at an angle with respect to said first face, and wherein said standoff portion, said middle portion and said seat portion each have a cross-section such that ultrasonic energy applied to the standoff portion is directed into the seat portion to propagate non-dispersively as shear wave energy and radiate from the exit face as a narrow beam along a defined path.