Methods and apparatus for monitoring a condition of a material
AssigneeIndustrial Measurement Systems, Inc.
InventorDonald E. Yuhas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for monitoring a condition of a material are disclosed. In particular, the example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture emit a first acoustic signal into a wall of the tubular member having a first temperature value and obtain a first propagation time associated with the first acoustic signal. In addition, a second acoustic signal is emitted into the wall having a second temperature value and a second propagation time associated with the second ultrasonic acoustic signal is obtained. The second temperature value is determined based on the first temperature value and the first and second propagation times.
Claims25
A method of monitoring a condition of a tubular member, comprising:
- emitting a first acoustic signal into a wall of the tubular member having a first temperature value;
- obtaining a first propagation time associated with the first acoustic signal, wherein obtaining the first propagation time comprises:
- receiving first and second echoes associated with the first acoustic signal;
- determining a third propagation time associated with the first echo and a fourth propagation time associated with the second echo;
- and
- determining the first propagation time by determining a time difference between the third and fourth propagation times;
- emitting a second acoustic signal into the wall having a second temperature value;
- obtaining a second propagation time associated with the second acoustic signal;
- and
- determining the second temperature value based on the first temperature value and the first and second propagation times.
An apparatus to monitor a condition of a structure, comprising:
- an acoustic transducer configured to emit a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal into a wall of the structure, the wall having a first temperature value when the acoustic transducer emits the first acoustic signal and having a second temperature value when the acoustic transducer emits the second acoustic signal, wherein the acoustic transducer is further configured to receive first and second echoes associated with the first acoustic, signal;
- a propagation time analyzer configured to obtain a first propagation time associated with the first acoustic signal and a second propagation time associated with the second acoustic signal, wherein the propagation time analyzer is configured to obtain the first propagation time by determining a third propagation time associated with the first echo and a fourth propagation time associated with the second echo and determining a time difference between the third and fourth propagation times;
- and
- a temperature monitor to determine the second temperature value based on the first temperature value and the first and second propagation times.
A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to:
- emit a first acoustic signal into a wall of a structure having a first temperature value;
- obtain a first propagation time associated with the first acoustic signal by:
- receiving first and second echoes associated with the first acoustic signal;
- determining a third propagation time associated with the first echo and a fourth propagation time associated with the second echo;
- and
- determining the first propagation time by determining a time difference between the third and fourth propagation times;
- emit a second acoustic signal into the wall having a second temperature value;
- obtain a second propagation time associated with the second acoustic signal;
- and
- determine the second temperature value based on the first temperature value and the first and second propagation times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.