US 12,578,216 B2 · Ultrasonic mass fuel flow meter

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a sensor that includes a first axial sensor housing portion having a first cross-sectional area, a second axial sensor housing portion arranged adjacent to the first axial sensor housing portion along the sensor axis and having a second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area, and a face extending from the interior surface of the first axial sensor housing portion to the interior surface of the second axial sensor housing portion, a first buffer rod within the first axial sensor housing portion and having a first axial end and a second axial end, a second buffer rod within the second axial sensor housing portion and abutting the face, and having a third axial end and a fourth axial end, and an acoustic transceiver element acoustically mated to the second axial end and the third axial end.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of sensing, comprising:

activating a first emitter to emit at least a first incident wave in a first direction and emit a second incident wave in a second direction opposite the first direction;
transmitting the first incident wave along a first buffer rod having a first planar axial end abutted to the first emitter and a second planar axial end opposite the first planar axial end;
transmitting the second incident wave along a second buffer rod having a third planar axial end abutted to the first emitter and a fourth planar axial end opposite the third planar axial end;
reflecting a first echo of the first incident wave by a first acoustic reflector defined along a portion of the second planar axial end;
detecting the first echo;
determining a first amplitude of the first echo;
reflecting a second echo of the second incident wave by the fourth planar axial end;
detecting the second echo;
determining a second amplitude of the second echo;
and
determining a reflection coefficient based on the first amplitude and the second amplitude.

8 more elements

A method of sensing, comprising:

activating a first emitter to emit at least a first incident wave in a first direction and emit a second incident wave in a second direction opposite the first direction;
transmitting the first incident wave along a first buffer rod arranged within a first axial sensor housing portion of an axial interior sensor housing cavity defined by an interior surface of a sensor housing, the first buffer rod comprising a first axial end and a second axial end;
transmitting the second incident wave along a second buffer rod arranged within a second axial sensor housing portion of the axial interior sensor housing cavity, and comprising a third axial end and a fourth axial end, and configured to propagate an incident ultrasonic wave;
reflecting a first echo of the first incident wave by a first acoustic reflector defined along a portion of the second axial end;
detecting the first echo;
determining a first amplitude of the first echo;
reflecting a second echo of the second incident wave by the fourth axial end;
detecting the second echo;
determining a second amplitude of the second echo;
and
determining a reflection coefficient based on the first amplitude and the second amplitude.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasonic mass fuel flow meter

Life of this patent

Ultrasonic mass fuel flow meter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20