Flow meter system

Abstract

The present invention comprises systems and methods tor more accurately measuring the flow of fluid through an area.

Description

FLOW METER SYSTEMINVENTORSJeff PeeryMark MoehringPRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application claims priority to and / or the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 63 / 606,534 filed December 5, 2023. The foregoing application is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention herein comprises a systems, devices, and methods for determining the flow rate of a fluid through a particular space. This invention can be implemented in a variety of fields such as, but not limited to, plumbing and flow control, but it is not specific to such field, and may be used in any field where users would want to know the flow rate of fluids. Other exemplary fields might include users attempting to tightly control flow rates of fluids for precise control of ingredients or other components.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for determining the flow rate of fluids through a given location. The field of fluid kinematics deals with a number of challenges related to the measurement of fluid flows through systems. A common challenge is the accuracy of flowmeters, which are heavily impacted by how much fluid the flowmeter is able to sample. In many conventional flowmeters, an ultrasound or similar detector beam is projected into the pipe, conduit, canal, or similar fluid-conveying passage, whether such passage is fully enclosed or otherwise, and the system measures the flow by recording various factors related to the beam’s interactions with the fluid, depending on the nature of the detector and beam emitter, including, but not limited to; reflections from the beam, differences in transit time, frequency shifts, or any other changes in the beam resulting from its interaction with the fluid being measured. If there are portions of the fluid in the pipe not captured by the beam it can resultin an inaccurate reading of the flow because of such unmonitored portions. A consistent problem for the measurement of fluid flow is the fact that fluid flows, in some cases, can be unstable, asymmetric, and / or underdeveloped which a typical flowmeter may not be able to recognize due to only measuring portions of the flow, resulting in inaccurate assumptions and readings. In some instances, a blockage may be slowing flow in a portion of the pipe, meaning calculations of overall flow may be inaccurate. The present invention solves many of these issues by ensuring that all fluid passing through the passage is measured.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in the figures to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment.

[0005] The present invention involves devices, systems, and methods for the measurement of fluid flow rate through a fluid bearing pipe, conduit, tube, or similar passage by constricting the passage at certain points corresponding to the locations of emitted beams, whether ultrasound or otherwise, where the constriction of the passage forces the fluid in die passage to flow in an area that is entirely within the beam of the emitter so that no fluid can pass through the passage without also passing through the beam. Depending on the embodiment, the method may be practiced with a plurality of beams and detectors, or a single one, and the exact shape of the constriction of the passage may vary heavily between embodiments depending on the needs thereof, with the consistent factor being that fluid is ultimately forced to wholly pass through at least one beam when it moves through the section or sections of the passage designated for detection.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a system diagram showing the steps of the method of measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;[000101 FIG. 4 depicts another top view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 5 depicts an isometric, exploded view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 6 depicts an isometric view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0013] FIG. 7 depicts a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0014] FIGS. 8 A & 8B depict a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0015] FIG. 9 depicts a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 10 depicts a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIGS. 11 A & 1 IB depict an isometric view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The invention herein comprises a systems, devices, and methods for determining the flow rate of a fluid through a conduit, pipe, channel, or similar fluid bearing passage. This particular invention can be implemented in a variety of fields such as, but not limited to, plumbing and flow control, but it is not specific to such field, and may be used in any field where users would want to know the flow rate of fluids. Other exemplary fields might include users attempting to tightly control flow rates of fluids for precise control of ingredients or other components.

[0019] In some embodiments, the present invention is a flow measurement system capable of achieving and maintaining greater accuracy in determining flow rates of fluids through conduit, tubing, piping, channels, canals, or similar fluid passage systems using a novel approachto be configuring the flow measurement system within the piping system. The system, in some embodiments, is comprised of one or more sensors comprised of an emitter and detector coupled to a passage through which substances may travel, wherein the passage is at least partially shaped based on the path of a detector beam projected by the one or more beam emitters of the flow sensors such that any substances traveling through the passage will also wholly, or substantially wholly, pass through at least one of the detector beams projected by the one or more beam emitters of the one or more flow sensors.

[0020] In at least one field of use of the invention, the field of measuring the flow rate of fluid through piping, the accuracy of devices similar to the present invention is based on how much fluid the device is able to sample, with the greater amount of the fluid sampled the more accurate the reading. In situations where portions of the fluid are not sampled by the device, such as where sensory beams only project through a portion of the fluid, then the user is left to assume that what the sensor detects is true for the entirety of the pipe, while in reality there could be situations where the fluid that is missed by the sensor is moving at a different rate. For example, if the sensory beam cuts through a rectangular portion of a cylindrical pipe with a circular crosssection, the outer edges of the pipe could be moving at a different rate and the sensor would be unable to detect such an issue, or other portions of the flow. Thus, by only sampling a portion, the standard flowmeter would only be gathering information on a portion of the fluid, and due to factors such as asymmetry, unsteady flows, or undeveloped flows, or a combination of all three, the existing approaches would result in inaccurate measurements. By forcing the fluid flow through a specific section, there can be no risk that portions of the fluid flow are not monitored.

[0021] In some embodiments, the passage is in the form of a pipe, tunnel, tube, cannula, duct, passage, channel, canal, or similar open or enclosed fluid-carrying system comprising of an outer wall wherein a substance moves through the interior space. The system is not necessarily restricted to circular cross-section passages, and in some embodiments may be implemented with passage systems that are substantially square or some other polygonal shape including, if preferred, for an embodiment, an irregular polygonal shape, or open canals and unenclosed shapes. Depending on the embodiment, the passage may be intentionally constricted by the use of additional material around or near the point at which the sensory beam crosses through the passage; such constriction may take a variety of shapes and may or may not inhibit or redirect the flow of substances depending on various factors including, but not limited to, the amount of fluid movingthrough the passage. For example, in some embodiments the passage may be a substantially cylindrical pipe with a substantially circular cross-section, with part of that internal space constricted such that the cross section of some portion of the passage becomes rectangular, such that the rectangular cross section of the sensory beam that passes through the passage moves through the constricted portion wherein the shape of the beam passing through the passage and the shape of the passage overlap substantially in their entirety, thus ensuring no fluids can move through the passage without also passing through the sensory beam. In some embodiments, the system may be configured to monitor multiple pipes, with multiple sensors configured to be taking readings from a plurality of pipes and relaying the data to a central system.

[0022] In other embodiments, the invention may be practiced in non-conduit situations, such as, hypothetically, an open channel or a flow area that is not fully enclosed by piping such as a culvert, stream, gutter, or river. The only change would be that the detector would need to be mounted such that the beam fully engulfs a portion of the flow path, and the flow path may need to be modified or constrained in some form in order to permit such. For example, in some embodiments the detector may be mounted horizontally relative to the ground so the beam is projected laterally through the channel or canal, while other embodiments may mount the detector over the channel or canal and calibrate it such that any effects from passing through air before the measured fluid are accounted for.

[0023] Alternatively, some embodiments of the invention may make use of a pipe or similar fluid-carrier passage that is shaped to create the constriction rather than having additional material added. For example, an embodiment may intentionally have a pinch or constriction in the other walls of the passage that confines the fluid flow to a smaller area, rather than having the constriction be the result of additional material inside the passage.

[0024] For some embodiments of the invention, the method may be practiced in the form of a device that is configured as a system that can be attached to an existing pipe or passage with no or minimal adjustment thereto, while in other embodiments it may replace a portion of the passage with its own pre-customized section to maximize beam coverage. Ultimately it is the configuration of the embodiment and the needs thereof that determines such.

[0025] In some embodiments, the shape of the cross section of the beam can vary, or there may be a plurality of detectors emitting a detection beam through the fluid flow path in order to take multiple readings of the flow. In some cases, the path of the fluid moving through thepassage may be shaped such that the fluid passes through only one or a subset of a plurality of detector beams, but the passage shape ensures that it passes through at least one if not more. The arrangement of the detector beams may be such that they overlap in multiple places, a singular point, or partially in various locations.

[0026] The system, in some embodiments, is configured to work with fluids of a wide variety of viscosities and flow rates. In some embodiments, it may measure the flow of a highly viscous and granular slurry, while in others it may be measuring the flow of a thin fluid, or mixtures of multiple substances. Some substances may contain particulates while others might simply be a fluid. Certain embodiments of the system may be capable of working with a variety of substances while others may be calibrated to focus on specific substances.

[0027] The present invention can be practiced with a number of forms of piping and tubing, whether comprised of metallic, hybrid, plastic, composite, or other materials. Similarly, the present invention need not necessarily be affixed to a straight portion of piping, and in some embodiments may be attached at curves or other junctions in order to determine fluid flow through such locations. While the state of the art relies heavily on shaping the sensory beam, the present invention approaches the potential issues of capturing the fluid flows by shaping both the sensory beam and the passage through which the beam passes, resulting in greater sampling accuracy due to the substance passing through being unable to avoid the beam. In other embodiments, the passage may instead not be constricted, but simply be constructed such that there is nowhere for substances to go except through the beam; such configurations may be preferable in situations where constriction of the passage might result in insufficient flow rates or negative effects on the flow.

[0028] In some embodiments of the invention, the system is comprised of an ultrasonic sensor configured to project an ultrasonic beam through the passage, with the beam entering on one side of the passage and projecting inward at an angle relative to the flow of fluid through the passage. However, some embodiments of the invention may utilize electromagnetic, laser, or alternative forms of sensor wherein the sensor relies on a sensory beam of some form, whether light, sound, or alternative means, to detect the flow rate based on fluid interactions with the beam. As described in the foregoing, for embodiments involving an ultrasonic sensor, it would be advantageous for the invention to keep the beam in the substance as long as possible to maximize the size of the measurement, hence shaping the passage can be usefid to ensure adequate beamduration. While the invention works with existing electromagnetic and ultrasonic flowsensors, it could also be utilized with yet-to-be-developed means of detection wherein the sensory beam is of a different nature or type, but where the cross section of beam and fluid is important to accuracy. The exact angle of the beam can vary, with some taking a shallow angle and others being fully perpendicular to the direction of the flow.

[0029] FIG. 1 depicts a step chart showing the steps of a method of measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The invention disclosed herein may be practiced as a method of more accurately measuring the flow of fluid through a system. When practiced this way, the method may comprise the steps of: removing or otherwise creating a gap in an existing section of conduit if necessary for the embodiment; creating a detector section of conduit configured to be spliced into the existing section of conduit 100; installing a beam emitter on the detector section of conduit such that the beam emitter projects a beam through the detector section of conduit 102; installing a detector onto the detector section of conduit 104; modifying the detector section of conduit such that a fluid passing through the detector section of conduit must pass through a detector space wherein the detector space matches the cross-section of the beam 106; running at least one fluid through the existing section of conduit and the detector section of conduit 108; measuring the fluid’s effects on the beam as it passes through the fluid passing through the detector space 110. Naturally, depending on the specific embodiment some of the foregoing steps may be practiced out of order and in some cases certain steps may be omitted.

[0030] Depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the type of fluid being measured, the composition of the conduits and passages, the necessary accuracy of measurement, and any other relevant factors as deemed by the needs of the embodiment and / or a user thereof, the system may be configured to measure the fluid flow by projecting a beam at an angle relative to the flow of the fluid and detecting effects of the fluid flow on the beam. However, in some embodiments the beam may be angled steeper or shallower due to various needs of said embodiment, such as, but not limited to, space or positional limitations. In other embodiments, the beam may be fully perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid.

[0031] As one example, some embodiments may utilize an ultrasound beam, wherein an emitter projects ultrasound waves into a cavity and a detector detects the interacted-with beam or echoes of said beam. In the case of fluid measurement, such ultrasound waves are interacted with by the fluid and reflected back at a different frequency than the originally emitted frequencyor with other changes based on the interaction with the fluid. The differences in such frequencies can then provide information on how quickly the fluid is moving. In some embodiments of the method, the beam, whether ultrasound or another beam, is positioned and then the detector section of the conduit is modified such that the cross-section of the beam entirely covers the space the fluid passes through. This eliminates the issue common to fluid flow detection whereby the outer sides of the flow may be slower or faster than the portion the beam is projected through. Depending on the embodiment, there may be a plurality of detectors and beams, with the detector space constructed to match the cross-section of their beams. Due to the inherent shape of the beams, the cross-section will typically, but not necessarily, be polygonal, ranging from various forms of rectangle, circle, triangle, etc. The precise shape may vary for each embodiment, but the crosssection will be largely two-dimensional, though the fluid itself will be passing through the three- dimensional beam, in the detector space the cross-section of the beam will fully occupy the plane of the detector space.

[0032] Depending on tthhee eemmbbooddiimmeenntt aanndd vvaaririoouuss factors desired by the implementation, the segment of conduit that will comprise the detector space may be modified in a number of ways such that it gradually shrinks the space of the conduit to the size of the beam cross-section at the detector space rather than doing so abruptly. Factors that may determine how gradual the change needs to be, if at all, include, but are not limited to, the composition of the conduit or the fluid. For example, some embodiments may desire a very gradual change, requiring several inches or feet of slowly shrinking or constricting the conduit cross-section area before it becomes the size of the detector space. For some embodiments, it may be preferable to calibrate the shrinking rate specifically based on aspects or traits of the fluid being measured, the conduit, and / or the beam. The precise shape of the change may be even along the length of the change, such as a straight line, or it may be curved such that the change is greater or lesser at the point at which the fluid passes through the beam compared to when the fluid first enters the passage. The exact rate may be identified separately prior to the construction of the detector space or passage, and may vary depending on the fluid(s) being measured. In some cases, it may be beneficial to identify specific shapes of the gradual construction to minimize effect on a certain fluid flow. The exact change in shape of the segment of conduit that is condensed to the detector space may vary; for example in some embodiments a substantially circular cross-section pipe may be condensed to a rectangular shape, but in other embodiments it may become a smaller circle.

[0033] Depending on the embodiment, it may be preferable to modify an existing section of pipe, conduit, or other passage to create the detector space, or it may be preferable to remove an existing portion or conduit or similar and replace it with a specially modified section.

[0034] FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention may be practiced as a system 200, wherein the system 200 is comprised of a beam emitter 202 configured to emit a beam through a detector space; a detector 204 configured to detect the beam; a segment of conduit 206 comprised of at least one flow path 208 wherein the flow path 208 is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the flow path 208 and the flow path 208 is configured such that the fluid can only flow through the detector space and the segment of conduit has at least two connection points 210 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow input 212 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow output 214.

[0035] In some embodiments, the beam emitter 202 may be comprised of an ultrasound transducer and the detector 204, an ultrasound detector, which may be combined into a single device or may be separate components. These may be, depending on the embodiment, attached to an exterior surface 218 of the segment of conduit 206 so that the beam from the beam emitter 202 is projected into the segment of conduit 206. Depending on the needs of the embodiment, the angle of the beam emitted by the ultrasound transducer beam emitter 202 may be shallow relative to the fluid flow, steep, or fully perpendicular to it. The system 200 may additionally be practiced with a variety of power supplies 216 to the beam emitter 202 and detector 204, depending on the needs of the embodiment including, without limitation, via a battery or wire connection to a power source.

[0036] Depending on the embodiment, the detector 204 may function in a variety of ways, and in at least some embodiments will detect the effects resulting from the emitted beam’s interaction with the fluid flowing through the segment of conduit 206 such as, but not limited to, changes in the frequency or transit time of the beam.

[0037] In some embodiments of the system the beam emitter 202 and detector 204 may be connected to a computer system or similar controller capable of interpreting the data from such components. Depending on the embodiment, the system 200 may be able to adjust the flow rate of the fluid in the overall conduit or other aspects of a larger system based on the data coming in from the detector 204 regarding fluid flow. Due to the improved accuracy provided by the presentinvention, systems may be able to utilize more granular adjustments resulting from more accurate readings.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the system may be practiced in a variety of different ways; in some embodiments an existing segment of conduit 206 or piping may be modified to add the construction of the fluid flow described herein, while in other embodiments it may be preferable to create a separate segment of conduit 206 that can then be spliced into an existing segment of conduit, hi other embodiments the segment of conduit 206 or passage can be constructed such that the modified detector segment of conduit 206 can be swapped into or out of the pipe. For example, an apparatus could be constructed such that fluid flow can be diverted via a valve or similar means into a section of pipe that has been modified or customized to fit the modified detector section, or the valve or similar means may be turned and thus returning fluid flow to an original route, allowing the fluid to only be tested part of the time, or to make it easier to swap in and out the detector system.

[0039] In the case of the beam emitter 202 and detector 204, depending on the embodiment, it may be powered by a power supply 216 connected to an exterior power supply, or the system may be powered by an internal battery or similar device.

[0040] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention may be practiced as a system 200, wherein the system 200 is comprised of a beam emitter 202 configured to emit a beam through a detector space; a detector 204 configured to detect the beam; a segment of conduit 206 comprised of at least one flow path 208 wherein the flow path 208 is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the flow path 208 and the flow path 208 is configured such that the fluid can only flow through the detector space mid the segment of conduit has at least two connection points 210 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow input 212 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow output 214. The invention may further be comprised of a power supply 216.

[0041] FIG. 4 depicts another side view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention may be practiced as a system 200, wherein the system 200 is comprised of a beam emitter 202 configured to emit a beam through a detector space; a detector 204 configured to detect the beam; a segment of conduit 206 comprised of at least one flow path 208 wherein the flow path 208 is configured topermit a fluid to flow through the flow path 208 and the flow path 208 is configured such that the fluid can only flow through the detector space and the segment of conduit has at least two connection points 210 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow input 212 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow output 214. The invention may further be comprised of a power supply 216.

[0042] FIG. 5 depicts an isometric, exploded view of a device for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention may be practiced as a system 200, wherein the system 200 is comprised of a beam emitter 202 configured to emit a beam through a detector space; a detector 204 configured to detect the beam; a segment of conduit 206 comprised of at least one flow path 208 wherein the flow path 208 is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the flow path 208 and the flow path 208 is configured such that the fluid can only flow through the detector space and the segment of conduit has at least two connection points 210 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow input 212 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow output 214. The invention may further be comprised of a power supply 216.

[0043] FIG. 6 depicts an isometric view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the system 200 is in part comprised of, or the method involves creating, a section of piping, conduit, tubing, or other form of flow-bearing passage, referred to herein as the segment of conduit 206, wherein a portion of that segment of conduit 206 is partially constructed such that the fluid flowing through the segment of conduit 206 is constricted by additional material 600 in the segment of conduit 206, and can only move through a path that matches the cross-section of the beam of the beam emitter such that no fluid or anything contained therein could move past the beam without interacting therewith. The exact shape the additional material 600 constricts the flow path 208 in the segment of conduit 206 may vary widely, with some being rectangular, others may be circular, or such other shapes as defined by the shape of the beam from the emitter or emitters. Depending on the embodiment, if there are a plurality of emitters, the constricted portion of the segment of conduit 206 may be constructed such that the fluid must pass through at least one beam, some of the beams, or all of the beams. The segment of conduit 206 is, in some embodiments, further configured with at least two connection points 210, with one flow input 212 at one connection point 210, and a flow output 214 at the other connection point 210.

[0044] While FIG. 6 demonstrates a view of the segment of conduit 206 wherein the flow path 208 is constricted utilizing additional material 600, creating a tapering towards the detector space 602 of the passage where detection occurs, the method can similarly be practiced with varieties wherein the outer walls of the segment of conduit 206 itself have been compressed, whether during their construction or afterwards, to create the constricted space. For example, the segment of conduit 206 may be compressed on either side such that the walls are bent inwards, creating the tapering effect, and narrowing the passage in one direction while elongating it in others to constrict fluid flow to the beam path. In some embodiments, the actual area of the space may be substantially equivalent to the unaltered portion of conduit, just different in shape such that the fluid is forced to flow through the beam.

[0045] FIG. 7 depicts a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the segment of conduit 206 is shaped such that the fluid flow is constrained to a detector space 602 such that the beam of the beam emitter will fully engulf the space and interact with all fluid passing through it. An amount of additional material 600 in the segment of conduit 206 constricts the flow of the fluid into the detector space 602 where it must pass through the beam.

[0046] FIGS. 8 A & 8B depict a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the segment of conduit 206 is shaped such that the flow of fluid is constrained to a detector space 602 such that the beam 800 of the beam emitter 202 will fully engulf the space and interact with all fluid passing through it. As depicted in FIG. 8A there is also a conventional interaction wherein the beam 800 is not configured to fully engulf the space the fluid flows through, so certain unscanned spaces 802 are visible. In FIG. 8B, an amount of additional material 600 constricts the flow of the fluid into the detector space 602 where it must pass through the beam 800. In both cases, the fluid may be treated as flowing into or out of the page.

[0047] FIG. 9 depicts a front view of a cross-section of a segment of conduit 206 for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the segment of conduit 206 is shaped such that the flow of fluid is constrained to a detector space 602 such that the beam 800 of the beam emitter 202 will fully engulf the space and interact with all fluid passing through it. An amount of additional material 600 constricts the flow of the fluid into the detector space 602 where it must pass through the beam 800. Some embodiments of theinvention may involve additional beam emitters 202 and / or detectors 204 with additional beams 800, and the additional material 600 constricts the path so that the fluid must pass through the beam 800 of at least one beam emitter 202 while no fluid will pass through without passing through at least one beam 800.

[0048] FIG. 10 depicts a front view of a cross-section of conduit for measuring fluid flow, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the segment of conduit 206 is shaped such that the flow of fluid is constrained to a detector space 602 such that the beam 800 of the beam emitter 202 will fully engulf the space and interact with all fluid passing through it. An amount of additional material 600 constricts the flow of the fluid into the detector space 602 where it must pass through the beam 800. Some embodiments of the invention may involve additional beam emitters 202 and / or detectors 204 with additional beams 800, and the additional material 600 constricts the path so that the fluid must pass through the beam 800 of at least one beam emitter 202 while no fluid will pass through without passing through at least one beam 800.

[0049] FIGS. 11A & 1 IB depict an isometric view of a cross-section of segment conduit 206 for measuring fluid flow 1100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0050] Some embodiments of the invention may be practiced as a system 200, wherein the system 200 is comprised of a beam emitter 202 configured to emit a beam through a detector space; a detector 204 configured to detect the beam; a segment of conduit 206 comprised of at least one flow path 208 wherein the flow path 208 is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the flow path 208 and the flow path 208 is configured such that the fluid can only flow through the detector space and the segment of conduit has at least two connection points 210 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow input 212 and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow output 214. The invention may further be comprised of a power supply 216.

[0051] In some embodiments, the system 200 is in part comprised of, or the method involves creating, a section of piping, conduit, tubing, or other form of flow-bearing passage wherein a portion of that segment of conduit 206 is constructed either inherently or additional material 600 is added such that the fluid flowing through the segment of conduit 206 is constricted and can only move through a detector space 602 that matches the cross-section of the beam 800 of the beam emitter 202 such that no fluid or anything contained therein could move past the beam800 without interacting therewith, and such interaction is then detected by the detector 204. The exact shape of the constriction of the segment of conduit 206 may vary widely, with some being rectangular, others may be circular, or such other shapes as defined by the shape of the beam 800 from the beam emitter 202 or emitters. Depending on the embodiment, if there are a plurality of emitters 102, the constricted portion that forms the detector space 602 may be constructed such that the fluid must pass through at least one beam 800, some of the beams, or all of the beams. As is visible in FIG. 11 A, the segment of conduit 206 is condensed down to an area with a specific shape corresponding to the beam cross-section shape, collapsing from a circular shape to a rectangular one, wherein the shape of the segment of conduit 206 is constricted such that all fluid flowing through it will also pass through the detector space 602, wherein the direction of flow 1106 for the fluid relative to the segment of conduit 206 is depicted as an arrow. For example, in some embodiments, this means that, if the fluid is flowing along a z axis, then the cross-section of the beam in the x-y plane will be substantially rectangular in shape and entirely engulf the section of conduit. As depicted in FIG. 11A, the flow may have a certain direction of flow 1160, but that is not inherently required to be the direction, and the system 100 functions just as well with it reversed.

[0052] FIG. 1 IB shows, in dashed lines, the constriction of the fluid flow 1100 from the circular passage 1102 flow in the original conduit down to the rectangular passage 1104 that is the detector space 602, and then afterwards widens out into a circular passage 1102 again. The corresponding shapes of the circular passage 1102 and rectangular passage 1104 are also shown on FIG. 11 A. The exact shape the lines take may vary as described herein; such as, but not limited to, circular passages 1102 like the one shown may become rectangular passages 1104 in some embodiments, or may become smaller circular passages, or triangular, or such other shape as needed based on the embodiment and beam cross-section.

[0053] As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the terms “a” and “an” are taken to mean “one”, “at least one” or “one or more”. Unless otherwise required by context, singular terms used herein shall include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular.

[0054] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural and singularnumber, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” and “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of the application. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

[0055] It should be understood that while certain preferred forms, embodiments, and examples of this invention have been illustrated and described, the present invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown, and that the various features described may be combined in other ways than those specifically described without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for the measurement of fluid flow through a space, the method comprising: creating a detector section of conduit configured to be spliced into a section of conduit or by modifying the section of conduit; installing a beam emitter on the detector section of conduit such that the beam emitter projects a beam through the detector section of conduit; coupling a detector on the detector section of conduit positioned to detect the effects of the beam; modifying the detector section of conduit such that a fluid passing through the detector section of conduit must pass through a detector space wherein the detector space matches the cross- section of the beam; running at least one fluid through the existing section of conduit and the detector section of conduit; measuring changes to the beam as it passes through the fluid passing through the detector space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam is an ultrasound beam and the beam emitter is an ultrasound emitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector space is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the detector section of conduit further comprises modifying the detector section of conduit such that the change between the conduit the fluid is entering from is gradual relative to the of the detector space.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the transition from the original conduit to the detector space is a gradual slope from at least one size of the conduit that reduces the amount of space within the conduit until it is the size of the cross-section of the detector space.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: identifying an ideal rate at which to condense the flow path of the fluid in the detection conduit and using that rate to determine the appropriate shape for the modifications of the detector section of conduit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: removing or otherwise creating a gap in the section of conduit.

8. A system for measuring the flow of fluid through an area, the system comprising: a beam emitter configured to emit a beam through a detector space; a detector configured to detect the beam; a segment of conduit comprised of at least one flow path wherein the flow path is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the flow path and the flow path is configured such that the fluid can only flow through the detector space and the segment of conduit has at least two connection points and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow input and at least one of the two connection points is coupled to a flow output.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flow path shrinks beginning at the flow input connection point and expands after the beam emitter before the flow output.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the flow path shrinks until its cross section to the beam of the beam emitter is the same shape as the beam.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cross section of the beam of the beam emitter is substantially rectangular in shape.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the beam emitter is an ultrasound and the beam emitted is an ultrasound beam.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is further comprised of one or more beam detectors configured to detect the beam or one or more effects directly resulting from the beam’s interaction with fluid.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein there are a plurality of beam emitters arranged on the segment of conduit.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the segment of conduit is comprised of additional material on an inside portion of said segment wherein the additional material shrinks the size of the flow path.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the additional material shrinks the size of the flow path until it is a substantially rectangular path relative to the path of the fluid flow.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the flow path is shrunk until fluid can no longer pass through the flow path without also passing through the beam of the beam emitter.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the beam emitter is a laser beam emitter and the beam is a laser beam.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the segment of conduit is configured to be spliced into an existing length of pipe.

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