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US 6,598,462 B2Granted
Air flow measurement
AssigneeLeamount Limited
InventorEdward Christopher Williams
Life of this patent
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AssigneeLeamount Limited
InventorEdward Christopher Williams
Estimating the term…
An air flow measurement apparatus for verifying one or more apertures in a test piece 126 by mounting the test piece in an air flow such that air flows through the aperture(s) therein. The apparatus comprises a servo pilot valve 114 for adjusting the air flow from the source 104, a pressure sensor P3A for measuring the flow and a computer for determining the effective area of the test piece 126 at a range of different pressures across the test piece, the range including a desired pressure differential. The computer continuously tracks the readings and, when sufficient data has been obtained, computes a curve fit to calculate the effective area of the test piece 126 at the exact specified pressure differential. The present invention avoids any problems associated with differences in atmospheric pressure as well as any problems that are associated with obtaining the exact desired pressure differential across the test piece 126.
A fluid flow measurement apparatus for verifying one or more apertures in an object, the apparatus comprising a source of pressurized fluid and adjustment means for adjusting the fluid flow from the source, means for measuring said fluid flow, means for mounting or otherwise arranging a test piece in the fluid flow from the source such that fluid flows through the at least one aperture therein, means for measuring at least one test piece characteristic at each of a plurality of test conditions in a range, said range including a predetermined desired test condition, and processing means for calculating a mathematical function or equation derived from said plurality of measured test piece characteristics and test conditions and determining from said mathematical function or equation the test piece characteristic which corresponds to said predetermined desired test condition.
A method of verifying one or more apertures in an object, the method comprising the steps of providing a source of pressurized fluid, means for measuring fluid flow from the source and adjustment means for adjusting said fluid flow, mounting or otherwise arranging a test piece in the fluid flow from the source such that fluid flows through the at least one aperture therein, measuring at least one test piece characteristic at each of a plurality of test conditions in a range by adjusting said fluid flow from the source, said range including a predetermined desired test condition, calculating a mathematical function or equation derived from said plurality of measured test piece characteristics and test conditions and determining from said mathematical function or equation the test piece characteristic which substantially exactly corresponds to said predetermined desired test condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.