Granted Patent B2

US 12,298,161 · App. 18/153,569 · Granted May 13, 2025

Inventors: John T. Nguyen (Fountain Valley, CA); Patrick M. Murphy (Irvine, CA); Robert E. Gledhill, III (Huntington Beach, CA)

Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.

G01F1/662G01F1/66G01F1/667G01F15/00G01F15/125

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. A method of improving the accuracy of a flow transducer comprising breaking larger air bubbles into smaller air bubbles upstream of the flow transducer, comprising the following steps:

providing a housing having:

a housing axis;

a first end having an inlet positioned along the housing axis;

a second end having an outlet positioned along the housing axis; and

a measurement channel extending along the housing axis and through a portion of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, the measurement channel having a width perpendicular to the housing axis;

providing a first outer portion positioned at least partly within the housing, the first outer portion defining a first face facing the measurement channel and at least one flow channel;

providing a first transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel;

providing a second outer portion positioned at least partially within the housing, the second outer portion defining at least one flow channel;

providing a second transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and to direct the ultrasonic signal through the measurement channel toward the first face and the first transducer;

providing an inlet pipe connected to the first end of the housing in an in-line manner;

providing a strainer extending into the inlet pipe upstream of the housing, wherein the strainer comprises an open-celled foam-like structure;

providing a cap member which compresses the strainer against an interior wall of the inlet pipe;

introducing fluid flow to be measured;

allowing the fluid flow to pass through the strainer; and

measuring the fluid flow between the first transducer and the second transducer after the fluid flow passes through the strainer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strainer extends at an angle of between 20 degrees and 70 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the inlet pipe.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presence of the strainer increases the flow resistance through the flow transducer by less than 20%.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises a mesh-like structure defining a hollow cylindrical body.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strainer is made of polyvinyl chloride.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strainer is made of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (192)

Cited By (4)

US 12,529,368 US 12,612,905 US 12,650,200 US 12,662,998