Bert J Downing

US Patent:

20130249563, Sep 26, 2013

Filed:

Jul 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/559347

Inventors:

Bert Downing - Longmont CO, US
Donghua Gu - Superior CO, US
Neil T. Peacock - Broomfield CO, US

International Classification:

G01L 21/34

US Classification:

324460

Abstract:

A fast response output signal circuit () for a cold cathode gauge is provided to produce a fast response output signal () in addition to a voltage output signal () that is representative of the pressure in the cold cathode gauge. The fast response output signal () is either on or off, thus can be used to trigger a closing of an isolation valve or other responsive action upon a change in pressure that attains or exceeds a certain set point threshold. The fast response output signal is produced and processed with analog circuits, but the set point is produced with a microprocessor. The voltage output signal can be produced as a logarithmic function of the pressure.

US Patent:

20210318153, Oct 14, 2021

Filed:

Aug 13, 2018

Appl. No.:

17/264458

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Bert J. DOWNING - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

MICRO MOTION, INC. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G01F 1/84
G01F 25/00

Abstract:

A method () for determining when to verify a stiffness coefficient K () in a flowmeter () comprising receiving a first stiffness coefficient K (), a plurality of temperatures T (), a plurality of response frequencies ω (), and a plurality of driver currents I (), determining an average temperature T (), a standard deviation temperature T (), an average response frequency ω (), a standard deviation response frequency ω (), an average driver current I (), and a standard deviation driver current I (). A first subsequent value () comprising a subsequent temperature T (), a subsequent response frequency ω (), or a subsequent driver current I () is received. Upon determining that the first subsequent value () is outside a first respective range (), a determination of a second stiffness coefficient K () is initiated.

US Patent:

20210302212, Sep 30, 2021

Filed:

Aug 13, 2018

Appl. No.:

17/265291

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Bert J. DOWNING - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

MICRO MOTION, INC. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G01F 1/84

Abstract:

A meter electronics () for determining a decay characteristic of a meter assembly () of a flow meter () is provided. The meter electronics () includes an interface () for receiving a vibrational response from a meter assembly (), the vibrational response comprising a response to an excitation of the meter assembly () at a substantially resonant frequency, and a processing system () in communication with the interface (). The processing system () is configured to receive the vibrational response from the interface (), determine a response voltage (V) of the vibrational response, determine a decay characteristic (ζ) of the meter assembly () based on the response voltage (V), and compensate the decay characteristic (ζ) by using a previously determined decay characteristic-to-response voltage relationship.

US Patent:

20210302213, Sep 30, 2021

Filed:

Aug 13, 2018

Appl. No.:

17/265631

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Bert J. DOWNING - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

MICRO MOTION, INC. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G01F 1/84

Abstract:

A meter electronics () for determining a damping of a meter assembly () of a flow meter () is provided. The meter electronics () includes an interface () for receiving a vibrational response from a meter assembly (), the vibrational response comprising a response to an excitation of the meter assembly () at a substantially resonant frequency, and a processing system () in communication with the interface (). The processing system () is configured to receive the vibrational response from the interface () and measure a plurality of response voltages (V) of the vibrational response, the plurality of response voltages (V) including at least one of one or more decay sections (-) and one or more rising sections (-). The processing system () is also configured to determine an aggregate damping-related value of the meter assembly () based on at least one of the one or more decay sections (-) and the one or more rising sections (-).

US Patent:

20210285810, Sep 16, 2021

Filed:

Jul 30, 2018

Appl. No.:

17/260311

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Bert J. DOWNING - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

MICRO MOTION, INC. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G01F 25/00
G01F 1/84
G01F 15/02
G01N 9/00

Abstract:

A method for verifying accurate operation for a flow meter () is provided. The method entails receiving a vibrational response from the flow meter (), wherein the vibrational response comprises a response to a vibration of the flow meter () at a substantially resonant frequency. At least one gain decay variable is measured. It is then determined whether the gain decay variable is outside a predetermined range. A filter used in a stiffness calculation is adjusted if the gain decay variable is outside the predetermined range.