IP Library Granted Patent US 9,366,556
Granted Patent B2
US 9,366,556 · App. 14/589,166 · Granted Jun 14, 2016

Method for ultrasonic metering using an orifice meter fitting

Inventor: Darren Scott Schwarz (Cypress, TX)
Assignee: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
G01F1/66G01F1/663
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,366,556
App. No.
14/589,166
Granted
Jun 14, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of retrofitting an orifice meter includes providing an orifice fitting body having a bore, an orifice plate, a plurality of tap holes, and a plurality of pressure sensors installed in the plurality of tap holes. The method further includes removing the orifice plate and the plurality of pressure sensors from the orifice fitting body and installing a plurality of transducers into the plurality of tap holes. At least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to generate a signal and at least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to receive the signal. Additionally, the method includes measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the bore based on an output of each of the plurality of transducers.

Claims (25)

1. A method of retrofitting an orifice meter comprising:

providing an orifice fitting body having a bore, an orifice plate, a plurality of tap holes, and a plurality of pressure sensors installed in the plurality of tap holes;

removing the orifice plate and the plurality of pressure sensors from the orifice fitting body;

installing a plurality of transducers into the plurality of tap holes;

wherein at least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to generate a signal and at least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to receive the signal; and

measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the bore based on an output of each of the plurality of transducers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein installing a plurality of transducers comprises installing a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are configured to send and receive acoustic signals.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

reflecting the signal off of an inner wall of the bore; and

receiving the signal with one of the plurality of transducers after reflecting the signal off of the inner wall.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising offsetting a first transducer of the plurality of transducers from a second transducer of the plurality of transducers within the bore.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the bore comprises utilizing a flow computation system that is coupled to at least one of the plurality of transducers.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the bore comprises computing the flow rate by utilizing the flow computation system to receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of transducers.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the bore comprises computing the flow rate based on the Doppler shift of the signals received from the plurality of transducers.

8. A method of retrofitting an orifice meter comprising:

providing an orifice fitting body having a bore, an orifice plate, a plurality of tap holes, and a plurality of pressure sensors installed in the plurality of tap holes;

removing the orifice plate and the plurality of pressure sensors from the orifice fitting body; and

installing a plurality of transducers into the plurality of tap holes;

wherein at least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to generate a signal and at least one of the plurality of transducers is configured to receive the signal.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein installing a plurality of transducers comprises installing a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that are configured to send and receive acoustic signals.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

reflecting the signal off of an inner wall of the bore; and

receiving the signal with one of the plurality of transducers after reflecting the signal off of the inner wall.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising offsetting a first transducer of the plurality of transducers from a second transducer of the plurality of transducers within the bore.

12. A flow meter manufactured by the method of claim 8 .

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: CADENCE BANK
To: DANIEL OPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 072459/0047 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2025
From: CADENCE BANK
To: DANIEL OPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 072289/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, LLC
To: MICRO MOTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 058158/0040 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: MICRO MOTION, INC.
To: DANIEL OPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 058158/0080 →
CONVERSION FROM A CORPORATION TO A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
To: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, LLC
Reel/Frame 058189/0991 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2021
From: DANIEL OPCO, LLC
To: CADENCE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057600/0588 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2015
From: SCHWARZ, DARREN SCOTT
To: DANIEL MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL, INC.
Reel/Frame 034633/0344 →
Continuity (2)
Division 13676287 · Nov 14, 2012
Related Publication 20150114135A1 · Apr 30, 2015