US 9,310,234 B2Granted

Flow rate testing to locate tube obstruction

AssigneeDmar Engineering, Inc.

InventorsZhiming Huang, Dagang Zhang

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Abstract

A hydraulic power unit, a flow meter, and a pressure gauge couple to a first end of a tube under testing. The hydraulic power unit provides an inlet pressure to move a testing fluid through the tube. The flow meter measures a flow rate of the testing fluid and the pressure gauge measures the inlet pressure. An accelerometer measures sound and vibration of the tube. A reservoir couple to an outlet of the tub and an inlet of the hydraulic power unit. The reservoir supplies the testing fluid to the hydraulic power unit and collects the testing fluid from the tube. Hoses interconnect the components in a closed loop that reuses the testing fluid. By analyzing the flow rate, it is determined if an obstruction exist in the tube. By analyzing the inlet pressure and the sound and vibration of the tube, a location of the obstruction is determined.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus for flow rate testing of a testing fluid through a tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the apparatus comprising:

a hydraulic power unit providing an inlet pressure to move the testing fluid through the tube, the hydraulic power unit having an inlet and an outlet;
a plurality of test equipment connected in series with the tube, comprising:
a flow meter measuring a flow rate of the testing fluid through the tube;
a pressure gauge measuring the inlet pressure;
and
an accelerometer measuring sound and vibration of the tube, wherein a first of the plurality of test equipment is connected to the outlet of the hydraulic power unit and a last of the plurality of test equipment is connected to the inlet end of the tube;
a reservoir tank supplying the testing fluid to the hydraulic power unit and collecting the testing fluid from the tube, the reservoir tank having an inlet connected to the outlet end of the tube and an outlet connected to inlet of the hydraulic power unit;
and
hoses interconnecting the hydraulic power unit, the flow meter, the pressure gauge, the tube, and the reservoir tank in a closed loop that reuses the testing fluid.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.