US3820393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal velocity measurement system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-09
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1990-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A correlation system for measuring the velocity of a signal. The principles are applicable to measure the time of flight of any signal. In a specific embodiment, a flowmeter for a fluid stream is described which measures the time of flight of a thermal pulse by correlation of generating and sensing signals. A heater pulse triggers a pulse of controllable duration which controls the polarity of an amplifier connected to a thermal sensor and whose integrated product is utilized to vary the duration of the positive pulse until a null average output is achieved. The control voltage drives a slave multivibrator, the integrated output of which is linearly related to flow and directly indicates the rate of flow of the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunigle R Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/704; G01F1/708; G01F1/712; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P5/10; G01P5/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A velocity measurement system for indicating the time of flight of a fluid-carried signal, comprising means for applying a thermal pulse to said fluid, as said fluidcarried signal, at a first location of said fluid and generating in association therewith a first electrical pulse of predetermined polarity and of a duration controllable by voltage applied thereto; means for sensing said fluid-carried signal at a location downstream from said first location and generating an electrical pulse as a signal thereof; means for generating an output voltage signal when said signal pulse is present, said voltage signal having a first polarity when said first electrical pulse has said predetermined polarity and having a polarity opposite said first polarity when said first electrical signal is not of said predetermined polarity; means for integrating said output voltage signal and applying said integrated output voltage to said voltage controllable means to thereby control the duration of said first electrical pulse to effect a null integrated output voltage signal; and means for determining the duration of said first electrical pulse and generating therefrom an information signal as a function of time of travel of said fluid-carried signal from said first location to said downstream location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A velocity measurement system for indicating the time of flight of a fluid-carried signal, comprising means for applying a thermal pulse to said fluid, as said fluidcarried signal, at a first location of said fluid and generating in association therewith a first electrical pulse of predetermined polarity and of a duration controllable by voltage applied thereto; means for sensing said fluid-carried signal at a location downstream from said first location and generating an electrical pulse as a signal thereof; means for generating an output voltage signal when said signal pulse is present, said voltage signal having a first polarity when said first electrical pulse has said predetermined polarity and having a polarity opposite said first polarity when said first electrical signal is not of said predetermined polarity; means for integrating said output voltage signal and applying said integrated output voltage to said voltage controllable means to thereby control the duration of said first electrical pulse to effect a null integrated output voltage signal; and means for determining the duration of said first electrical pulse and generating therefrom an information signal as a function of time of travel of said fluid-carried signal from said first location to said downstream location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said means for generating said output voltage signal further comprises: means for generating a further electrical pulse of opposite polarity to said first pulse upon termination of said first pulse; means for summing said first and further pulses to generate a summing voltage therefrom; a voltage multiplier; means for applying said summing voltage to said voltage multiplier; and means for applying said signal pulse to said voltage multiplier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said fluid-carried signal generating means comprises means for generating a plurality of said fluid-carried signals, each initiating an operating cycle, said integrating means constituting means for integrating the output of said voltage multiplier over a plurality of said opeRating cycles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 3 including means for terminating the second pulse of each cycle upon generation of a succeeding fluid-carried signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for indicating the rate of flow of fluid in a stream by measuring the time of flight of a fluid-carried signal therein, comprising: applying a thermal pulse to said fluid as said fluid-carried signal, at a first location of said fluid and in association therewith generating a first electrical pulse of predetermined polarity and of a voltage-controllable duration; sensing said fluid-carried signal at a location downstream from said first location and generating an electrical pulse as a signal thereof; generating an output voltage signal when said signal pulse is present, said voltage signal having a first polarity when said first electrical pulse has said predetermined polarity and having a polarity opposite said first polarity when said first electrical signal is not of said predetermined polarity; integrating said output voltage signal and controlling the duration of said first electrical pulse with said integrated output voltage signal to effect a null integrated output voltage signal; and determining the duration of said first electrical pulse and generating therefrom an information signal as a function of time of travel of said fluid-carried signal from said first location to said downstream location.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for indicating the rate of flow of fluid in a stream by measuring the time of flight of a fluid-carried signal therein, comprising: applying a thermal pulse to said fluid as said fluid-carried signal, at a first location of said fluid and in association therewith generating a first electrical pulse of predetermined polarity and of a voltage-controllable duration; sensing said fluid-carried signal at a location downstream from said first location and generating an electrical pulse as a signal thereof; generating an output voltage signal when said signal pulse is present, said voltage signal having a first polarity when said first electrical pulse has said predetermined polarity and having a polarity opposite said first polarity when said first electrical signal is not of said predetermined polarity; integrating said output voltage signal and controlling the duration of said first electrical pulse with said integrated output voltage signal to effect a null integrated output voltage signal; and determining the duration of said first electrical pulse and generating therefrom an information signal as a function of time of travel of said fluid-carried signal from said first location to said downstream location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention according to claim 5 in which said step of generating said output voltage signal further comprises: generating a further electrical pulse of opposite polarity to said first pulse upon termination of said first pulse; summing said first and further pulses to generate a summing voltage therefrom; and multiplying said summing voltage and said signal pulse to generate an output voltage signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 6 in which a plurality of fluid-carried signals are generated, each initiating an operating cycle, said integrating step constituting a step of integrating the product of said multiplying step over a plurality of said operating cycles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 7 including the step of termination the second pulse of each cycle upon generation of a succeeding fluid-carried signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |