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US 6,267,013 B1Granted
Flow anomaly detector
OwnerStephen T. Stark, Stephen H. Caldwellinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for detecting an anomaly in a flowing stream includes a set of blades rotatably suspended in the flowing stream and aligned with a normal flow direction of the flowing stream. The blades are configured to rotate at one rate when the anomaly is present in the flowing stream and to rotate at a different rate when the anomaly is absent from the flowing stream. A device is prescribed for measuring rate of rotation and rotation direction of the blades.
Claims17
A method of detecting an anomaly in a flowing stream using a rotor, comprising:
- determining a response of the rotor to an induced flowing condition with a known anomaly;
- suspending the rotor in the flowing stream and determining a response of the rotor to the flowing stream;
- and
- comparing the response of the rotor in the flowing stream to the response of the rotor in the induced flowing condition to determine whether the known anomaly is present in the flowing stream.
1 more element
An apparatus for detecting an anomaly in a flowing stream, comprising:
- a rotor having a known spin rate in an induced flowing condition with a known anomaly, the rotor having a plurality of blades for suspension in and alignment with a normal flow direction of the flowing stream;
- means for measuring a spin rate of the rotor in the flowing stream;
- and
- means for comparing the spin rate of the rotor in the flowing stream to the known spin rate to determine whether the anomaly is present in the flowing stream.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.