IP Library Granted Patent US 10,859,416
Granted Patent B2
US 10,859,416 · App. 16/230,434 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Static flow meter

Inventors: Michel Bottner (Liberty Lake, WA); Daniel Catherin (Liberty Lake, WA); Stephane Hyvernat (Liberty Lake, WA); Anthony Renoud (Liberty Lake, WA)
Assignee: Itron Global SARL
G01F1/667G01F1/662
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,859,416
App. No.
16/230,434
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor for measuring the flow rate of a fluid in a flow tube, the sensor comprising sensing means and a sensor body, wherein a portion of the sensing means is located within the sensor body and a first portion of the sensor body is arranged to fasten the sensor body to the flow tube such that the sensor is positioned for sensing the flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube.

Claims (26)

1. A sensor for measuring a flow rate of a fluid in a flow tube, the sensor comprising sensing means and a sensor body, wherein:

a portion of the sensing means is located within the sensor body; and

a first portion of the sensor body is threaded and is arranged to threadably fasten the sensor body to the flow tube such that the sensor is positioned for sensing the flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the sensor body is arranged to sealably fasten the sensor body to the flow tube.

3. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sensor body is arranged to fasten to a housing.

4. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein signal converting means are arranged to apply an input signal to the sensing means and receive an output signal from the sensing means.

5. The sensor of claim 4 , wherein the signal converting means are arranged to determine the flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube based on the input signal and the output signal.

6. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned for sensing the flow rate of the fluid in a measurement tube arranged within the flow tube.

7. A method of manufacturing the sensor of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing the sensor body and the sensing means.

8. A flow tube for transporting a fluid, the flow tube comprising:

an inlet;

an outlet; and

a connection point, wherein a portion of the connection point is threaded and the portion of the connection point is arranged to threadably fasten the flow tube to a sensor for measuring a flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube such that the sensor is positioned for sensing the flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube.

9. The flow tube of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the connection point is arranged to sealably fasten the flow tube to the sensor.

10. The flow tube of claim 8 , further comprising a measurement tube, wherein the measurement tube is arranged within the flow tube and wherein the measurement tube is arranged to increase velocity of the fluid in the flow tube.

11. The flow tube of claim 10 , wherein the measurement tube comprises a reflector and wherein the reflector is arranged is direct a signal towards or away from the sensor.

12. A method of manufacturing the flow tube of claim 8 .

13. A method of assembling a flow meter assembly for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, the assembly comprising:

a flow tube for transporting the fluid, the flow tube having an inlet, an outlet and a connection point; and

a sensor for measuring the flow rate of the fluid, the sensor having sensing means and a sensor body, wherein a portion of the sensor body is threaded and a portion of the connection point is threaded, and wherein the portion of the sensor body and the portion of the connection point are arranged to threadably fasten the sensor body and the flow tube to each other such that the sensor is positioned for sensing the flow rate of the fluid in the flow tube; and

wherein the method comprises the step of:

threadably fastening the portion of the sensor and the portion of the connection point to each other.

14. The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a measurement tube, wherein the measurement tube is arranged within the flow tube and wherein the measurement tube is arranged to increase velocity of the fluid in the flow tube.

15. The sensor of claim 14 , wherein the measurement tube comprises a reflector and wherein the reflector is arranged to direct a signal towards or away from the sensor.

16. The flow tube of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is positioned for sensing the flow rate of the fluid in a measurement tube arranged within the flow tube.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2023
From: ITRON, INC.; ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065727/0302 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2019
From: BOTTNER, MICHEL; CATHERIN, DANIEL; HYVERNAT, STEPHANE; RENOUD, ANTHONY
To: ITRON GLOBAL SARL
Reel/Frame 048942/0960 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 17210403 · Dec 22, 2017 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190195671A1 · Jun 27, 2019