Extreme temperature clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter transducer
View Patent ↗A device for measuring flow in a pipe includes a first metal plate mounted to the pipe, the first metal plate including a first contact portion contacting a wall of the pipe and a first away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe, a second metal plate mounted to the pipe, the second metal plate including a second contact portion contacting the wall of the pipe and a second away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe, a first transducer mounted to the first away portion, and a second transducer mounted to the second away portion.
1. A device for measuring flow in a pipe, comprising:
a first metal plate mounted to the pipe, the first metal plate including a first contact portion contacting a wall of the pipe and a first away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe;
a second metal plate mounted to the pipe, the second metal plate including a second contact portion contacting the wall of the pipe and a second away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe;
a first transducer mounted to the first away portion;
a second transducer mounted to the second away portion; and
insulation enclosing at least a portion of the pipe and the first and second contact portions.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second metal plates are positioned adjacent each other to form a U-shape on the pipe.
3. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein a bottom portion of the U-shape includes the first and second contact portions and side portions of the U-shape include respective first and second away portions.
4. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second metal plates include the same material as the pipe wall.
5. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second metal plates have substantially the same thickness as the pipe wall.
6. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a coupling positioned between the first and second contact portions and the wall of the pipe.
7. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the coupling is a metallic coupling compound.
8. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the coupling is a liquid couplant.
9. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners for attaching the first and second contact portions to the pipe.
10. The device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fasteners include U-bolts, clamps or a combination thereof.
11. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of thermal radiators extending from each of the first and second away portions.
12. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein sonic energy from the first transducer is transferred to the pipe wall via the first metal plate.
13. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second transducer receives sonic energy from the pipe wall via the second metal plate.
14. A device for measuring flow in a pipe, comprising:
a metal plate mounted to the pipe, the metal plate including a contact portion contacting a wall of the pipe and first and second end portions spaced apart from the wall of the pipe;
a first transducer mounted to the first end portion;
a second transducer mounted to the second end portion; and
insulation enclosing at least a portion of the pipe and the contact portion.
15. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein:
the metal plate forms a U-shape on the pipe;
a bottom portion of the U-shape includes the contact portion; and
side portions of the U-shape include respective first and second end portions.
16. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the metal plate includes the same material as the pipe wall.
17. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the metal plate has substantially the same thickness as the pipe wall.
18. The device as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a coupling positioned between the contact portion and the wall of the pipe.
19. The device as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a fastener for attaching the contact portion to the pipe.
20. The device as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of thermal radiators extending from each of the first and second end portions.
21. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein sonic energy from the first transducer is transferred to the pipe wall via the metal plate.
22. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the second transducer receives sonic energy from the pipe wall via the metal plate.
23. A device for measuring flow in a pipe, comprising:
a transmit portion mounted to the pipe, the transmit portion including a first away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe;
a receiving portion mounted to the pipe, the receiving portion including a second away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe;
a first transducer mounted to the first away portion;
a second transducer mounted to the second away portion; and
a plurality of thermal radiators extending from at least one of the first and second away portions.
24. The device as recited in claim 23 , wherein:
the transmit portion comprises a first metal plate including the first away portion and a first contact portion contacting the pipe; and
the receiving portion comprises a second metal plate in including the second away portion and a second contact portion contacting the pipe.
25. The device as recited in claim 23 , wherein the transmit and receive portions are located on a metal plate including the first and second away portions at respective end portions thereof and a contact portion contacting the pipe.
26. A device for measuring flow in a pipe comprising:
a first metal plate mounted to the pipe, the first metal plate including a first contact portion contacting a wall of the pipe, a first away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe, and a first center portion connecting the first contact portion and the first away portion;
a second metal plate mounted to the pipe, the second metal plate including a second contact portion contacting the wall of the pipe, a second away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe, and a second center portion connecting the second contact portion and the second away portion;
a first transducer mounted to the first away portion; and
a second transducer mounted to the second away portion, wherein the first and second center portions curve away from the pipe and the first and second center portions each have a different width than the first and second contact portions, respectively.
27. The device as recited in claim 26 , wherein the first and second center portions each have a different width than the first and second away portions, respectively.