According to the invention, a system for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit is disclosed. The system may include a bearing, at least one blade member, and a monitoring device. The bearing may be coupled with an interior of the conduit, and may include an inner race,
According to the invention, a system for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit is disclosed. The system may include a bearing, at least one blade member, and a monitoring device. The bearing may be coupled with an interior of the conduit, and may include an inner race, where the inner race may rotate. The blade members may be coupled with the inner race, and may extend from the inner race toward the interior of the conduit. The blade members may rotate when a fluid flows through the interior of the conduit, and the inner race of the bearing may rotate when the blade members rotate. The monitoring device may be configured to determine a rate of rotation of the blade members. At least one property of the fluid flow may be determined based at least in part on the rate of rotation.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A system for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit, wherein the system comprises: a bearing, wherein: the bearing is coupled with an interior of the conduit; and the bearing comprises an inner race, wherein the inner race rotates with respect to
What is claimed is: 1. A system for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit, wherein the system comprises: a bearing, wherein: the bearing is coupled with an interior of the conduit; and the bearing comprises an inner race, wherein the inner race rotates with respect to the conduit; at least one blade member, wherein: the at least one blade member is coupled with the inner race of the bearing; the at least one blade member extends from the inner race of the bearing toward the interior of the conduit; the at least one blade member rotates with respect to the conduit when a fluid flows through the interior of the conduit; and the inner race of the bearing rotates with respect to the conduit when the at least one blade member rotates; and a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine a rate of rotation of the at least one blade member with respect to the conduit, and wherein at least one property of the fluid flow may be determined based at least in part on the rate of rotation of the at least one blade member with respect to the conduit. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one property of the fluid flow comprises a flow rate. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the bearing further comprises an outer race, and the bearing being coupled with the interior of the conduit comprises the outer race of the bearing being coupled with the interior of the conduit. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade member comprises at least one blade member of a flexible material. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade member being coupled with the inner race of the bearing comprises at least one of the blade members being hingedly coupled with the inner race of the bearing. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a double action spring hinge, and wherein the at least one blade member being coupled with the inner race of the bearing comprises a blade member being coupled with the double action spring hinge, and the double action spring hinge being coupled with the inner race of the bearing. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one blade member comprises at least one blade member of a flexible material; the conduit at least partially defines at least one annular cavity in proximity to the at least one blade member; and the at least one blade member is configured to flex into at least a portion of the at least one annular cavity. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one blade member being coupled with the inner race of the bearing comprises at least one of the blade members being hingedly coupled with the inner race of the bearing; the conduit at least partially defines at least one annular cavity in proximity to the at least one blade member; and the at least one blade member is configured to rotate about at least one hinge into at least a portion of the at least one annular cavity. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one blade member comprises at least two blade members; the conduit defines a bore having a first diameter; and the at least two blade members are configured to be at least partially displaced from an initial position such that a circle between the at least two blade members, lying in a plane perpendicular to the bore, has a second diameter greater than or substantially equal to the first diameter. 10. A method for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit, wherein the method comprises: providing a bearing having an inner race, wherein the bearing is coupled with an interior of the conduit; providing at least one blade member, wherein: the at least one blade member is coupled with the inner race of the bearing; the at least one blade member extends from the inner race of the bearing toward the interior of the conduit; rotating the at least one blade member with the fluid flow through the conduit; and determining a rate of rotation of the at least one blade member with respect to the conduit; and determining at least one property of the fluid flow based at least in part on the rate of rotation of the at least one blade member with respect to the conduit. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises: providing a through-conduit object; and moving the through-conduit object into the conduit in a first direction such that at least one blade member is at least temporarily and at least partially displaced from an initial position. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the conduit defines a bore having a first diameter; the through-conduit object has a width substantially equal to the first diameter. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one blade member being at least temporarily and at least partially displaced from an initial position comprises at least one blade member flexing. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one blade member being at least temporarily and at least partially displaced from an initial position comprises at least one blade member rotating about at least one hinge. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one blade member being at least temporarily and at least partially displaced from an initial position comprises at least one blade member being at least partially disposed within an annular cavity at least partially defined by the conduit. 16. A system for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit, wherein the system comprises: a first means for converting a substantially linear motion of the fluid flow to a rotational motion, wherein the first means comprises at least one blade member; a second means for coupling the first means with an interior of the conduit, wherein the second means comprises a bearing and wherein the at least one blade member is coupled with an inner race of the bearing; and a third means for determining a rate of rotation of the rotational motion, wherein at least one property of the fluid flow may be determined based at least in part on the rate of rotation of the at least one blade member with respect to the conduit. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the third means comprises a transducer. 18. A method for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit, wherein the method comprises: providing a bearing having an inner race, wherein the bearing is coupled with an interior of the conduit; providing at least one blade member, wherein: the at least one blade member is coupled with the inner race of the bearing; the at least one blade member extends from the inner race of the bearing toward the interior of the conduit; resisting a rotating motion of the at least one blade member resulting from the fluid flow through the conduit; and determining a torque on the at least one blade member; and determining at least one property of the fluid flow based at least in part on the determined torque on the at least one blade member.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Sharkey ; III John F. (Camillus) Buck Robert J. (Holland Patent) Baltazar Lawrence C. (Schenectady NY), Method of and machine for grinding a workpiece.
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