Gas flowmeter calibration stand
AssigneeMicro Motion, Inc.
InventorDean M. Standiford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas flow stand (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The gas flow stand (200) includes a weighing device (210) and a meter under test (203) positioned on the weighing device (210). The gas flow stand (200) further includes a gas source (201) positioned on the weighing device (210) and conduit (205) connecting the gas source (201) and the meter under test (203). The weighing device (210) generates a weight measurement for the meter under test (203), the gas source (201), and the conduit (205).
Claims22
A gas flow stand (200), comprising:
- a weighing device (210);
- a meter under test (203) positioned on the weighing device (210);
- an outlet valve (204) positioned on the weighing device (210) and coupled to an outlet of the meter under test (203), wherein the outlet valve (204) can be closed;
- and
- a gas source (201) positioned on the weighing device (210);
- with the gas flow stand (200) configured to open the outlet valve (204) in order to introduce gas from the gas source (201) into the meter under test (203) and purge the meter under test (203), close the outlet valve (204) in order to charge the gas flow stand (200) to a predetermined pressure, weigh the gas flow stand (200) including the gas source (201) to obtain an initial weight of the gas flow stand (200) and gas, open the outlet valve (204) to create flow through the meter under test (203) substantially at the predetermined pressure, close the outlet valve (204) to stop the test, wherein the outlet valve (204) traps a trapped volume of gas within the meter under test (203), and weigh the gas flow stand (200) and the gas source (201) after the test in order to obtain a final weight, wherein a weight measurement comprises the gas flow stand (200) and the gas therein, including the trapped volume.
The gas flow stand (200) of claim I, with the gas flow stand (200) further comprising a pressure regulator (304).
A method of operating a gas flow stand, the method comprising:
- connecting a meter under test to a gas flow stand including a gas source, with the meter under test and the gas source being positioned on a weighing device and with the gas flow stand including an outlet valve coupled to an outlet of the meter under test;
- opening the outlet valve in order to introduce gas from the gas source into the meter under test and purging the meter under test;
- closing the outlet valve in order to charge the gas flow stand to a predetermined pressure;
- weighing the gas flow stand and the gas source to obtain an initial weight of the gas flow stand and gas;
- opening the outlet valve to create flow through the meter under test substantially at the predetermined pressure;
- closing the outlet valve to stop the test, wherein the outlet valve traps a trapped volume of gas within the meter under test;
- and
- weighing the gas flow stand and the gas source after the test in order to obtain a final weight, wherein a weight measurement comprises the gas flow stand and the gas therein, including the trapped volume.
A method of forming a gas flow stand, comprising:
- providing a weighing device;
- providing a meter under test positioned on the weighing device;
- providing an outlet valve positioned on the weighing device and coupled to an outlet of the meter under test, wherein the output valve can be closed;
- providing a gas source positioned on the weighing device;
- providing conduit connecting the gas source and the meter under test;
- and
- configuring the gas flow stand to open the outlet valve in order to introduce gas from the gas source into the meter under test and purge the meter under test, close the outlet valve in order to charge the gas flow stand to a predetermined pressure, weigh the gas flow stand including the gas source to obtain an initial weight of the gas flow stand and gas, open the outlet valve to create flow through the meter under test substantially at the predetermined pressure, close the outlet valve to stop the test, wherein the outlet valve traps a trapped volume of gas within the meter under test, and weigh the gas flow stand and the gas source after the test in order to obtain a final weight, wherein a weight measurement comprises the gas flow stand and the gas therein, including the trapped volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.