# US 9,752,705 B2 · Fluid conduit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,705 B2 - Document ID: US9752705B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/116,260 - Filed: 2012-05-10 - Published: 2014-07-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-10 - Assignees: Magma Global Limited; Salunda Limited - Applicants: Martin Peter William Jones; Charles Alexander Tavner; Alan David Parker; John Francis Gregg - Inventors: Martin Peter William Jones; Charles Alexander Tavner; Alan David Parker; John Francis Gregg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752705B2 ## CPC - F16L 9/14: Compound tubes, i.e. made of materials not wholly covered by any one of the preceding groups (F16L9/16 - F16L9/22 take precedence) - G01F 1/32: using swirl flowmeters - G01F 1/44: Venturi tubes - G01F 1/58: by electromagnetic flowmeters - G01F 1/66: by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters - G01F 15/14: Casings, e.g. of special material - G01N 22/00: Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more (G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence) - G01N 29/222: {Constructional or flow details for analysing fluids (optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A fluid conduit (2) comprises a wall (4) defining a fluid flow path (6) and a confinement feature (24) within the wall (4) and being configured to confine energy within a cavity (26), wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow path (6) extends through the cavity (26). The confinement feature (24) may be configured to confine electromagnetic energy. The fluid conduit (2) may comprise an oscillator defined by the cavity (26) and a positive feedback arrangement (34). The fluid conduit (2) may be configured for sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit (2) or for use in sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit (2). More specifically, the present invention deals with a microwave cavity sensor wherein the cavity member (24) is embedded in the wall (4) of the fluid conduit (2), the wall (4) including a composite region (20). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid conduit for use in imparting energy to a fluid present in or flowing therethrough, the fluid conduit comprising: a wall defining a fluid flow path and comprising an outer layer of composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix and a homogeneous inner region devoid of reinforcing elements; and a confinement feature embedded within the wall confining energy within a cavity, the cavity embedded within the homogeneous inner region of the wall, wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow path extends through the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the matrix material defines a monolithic structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the distribution or concentration of the reinforcing elements varies within the matrix. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the reinforcing elements increases with distance from the fluid flow path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein a region of the wall adjacent to the fluid flow path is substantially devoid of reinforcing elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein a region of the wall between the confinement feature and the fluid flow path is substantially devoid of reinforcing elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises an inert region extending between the confinement feature and the fluid flow path, wherein the inert region is configured to transmit energy therethrough. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises a homogeneous region extending between the confinement feature and the fluid flow path, wherein the homogeneous region is substantially homogeneous at a microscopic level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the cavity member is at least partially enclosed or embedded within the composite material of the wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature is configured to confine electromagnetic energy, electric energy, magnetic energy, an electromagnetic field, an electric field, and/or a magnetic field. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature is configured to confine radio frequency, ultraviolet frequency, optical frequency, mm-wave frequency and/or microwave frequency electromagnetic energy and/or a radio frequency, an ultraviolet frequency, an optical frequency, a mm-wave frequency and/or a microwave frequency electromagnetic field. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature is configured to confine acoustic energy, an acoustic field, and/or a radioactive emission. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature is configured to partially, substantially or wholly confine energy within the cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature at least partially defines the cavity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature at least partially surrounds the fluid flow path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature comprises a metal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the confinement feature comprises a cavity member which is separately formed from the wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is configured to be resonant at a predetermined frequency or over a predetermined range or frequencies. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising a coupling element for coupling energy to and/or from the cavity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fluid conduit according to claim 19, wherein the coupling element is at least partially recessed, enclosed or embedded within the wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wall is configured to transmit energy between the confinement feature and the fluid flow path. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wall is configured to have a negligible or relatively insignificant effect on the transmission of energy between the confinement feature and the fluid flow path. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wall is configured to affect an energy field in the cavity in a known or quantifiable manner. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the wall is substantially homogeneous at a microscopic level. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises at least one of a polymer material, a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, a polyaryl ether ketone, a polyaryl ketone, a polyether ketone (PEK), a polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polycarbonate, a polymeric resin, and/or an epoxy resin. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise continuous elements, discontinuous elements, strands, filaments, nanotubes, fibres, polymeric fibres, aramid fibres, non-polymeric fibres, carbon fibres, glass fibres and/or basalt fibres. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising an arrangement for generating energy. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising a positive feedback arrangement. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fluid conduit according to claim 28, comprising an oscillator defined by the cavity and the positive feedback arrangement. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The fluid conduit according to claim 29, comprising an output arranged to provide a signal that varies according to a value of a resonant frequency and/or a loss of the oscillator. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising an energy source, a source of electromagnetic energy, a source of acoustic energy and/or a radioactive source. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising at least one of a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor at least partially recessed, enclosed or embedded within the wall of the fluid conduit. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising a sensor configured to sense flow rate within the fluid flow path. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of confinement features within the wall, each confinement feature configured to confine energy within a corresponding cavity, wherein each cavity is configured to be resonant at a different frequency or over a different range of frequencies. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The fluid conduit according to claim 1, comprising one or more through holes that extend along a length of the fluid conduit, the through holes being configured for attachment of the fluid conduit to a respective pipe length located at either end of the fluid conduit via fasteners which extend through the through holes. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) A pipeline for a fluid comprising: one or more lengths of pipe; and a fluid conduit according to claim 1.