Method of and apparatus for measuring the true contents of a cylinder of gas under pressure
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01G-009/00
G01N-009/36
F17C-013/02
G01F-001/86
G01F-015/06
G01G-003/16
G01G-017/04
G01N-009/00
출원번호
US-0989212
(2011-11-28)
등록번호
US-9255870
(2016-02-09)
우선권정보
EP-10192962 (2010-11-29)
국제출원번호
PCT/EP2011/071198
(2011-11-28)
§371/§102 date
20130723
(20130723)
국제공개번호
WO2012/072588
(2012-06-07)
발명자
/ 주소
Downie, Neil Alexander
Behrens, Marcel
Obadun, Lateef Olusegun Adigun
출원인 / 주소
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
대리인 / 주소
Zelson, Larry S.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
There is provided a method of, and apparatus for, measuring the mass of a gas under pressure using a piezoelectric oscillator. The gas is contained within a pressure vessel (100) having a fixed internal volume (V) and the piezoelectric oscillator (202) is immersed in the gas within the pressure vess
There is provided a method of, and apparatus for, measuring the mass of a gas under pressure using a piezoelectric oscillator. The gas is contained within a pressure vessel (100) having a fixed internal volume (V) and the piezoelectric oscillator (202) is immersed in the gas within the pressure vessel (100). The method comprises: a) utilizing said piezoelectric oscillator (202) to measure the density of the gas within the high-pressure vessel (100); b) determining, from the density measurement and from the internal volume (V) of said pressure vessel, the mass of the gas within the pressure vessel (100). By providing such a method, the true contents (i.e. mass) of fluid in a pressure vessel such as a cylinder can be measured directly without the need to compensate for factors such as temperature or compressibility. This allows a determination of mass through direct derivation from the density of the gas in the cylinder, reducing the need for additional sensors or complex calculations to be performed.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of measuring the mass of a gas under pressure using a piezoelectric oscillator, said gas being contained within a gas cylinder having a fixed internal volume (V), the method comprising: a) immersing a tuning fork piezoelectric oscillator in the gas within the gas cylinder;b) driving the
1. A method of measuring the mass of a gas under pressure using a piezoelectric oscillator, said gas being contained within a gas cylinder having a fixed internal volume (V), the method comprising: a) immersing a tuning fork piezoelectric oscillator in the gas within the gas cylinder;b) driving the piezoelectric oscillator at a resonant oscillation frequency;c) measuring the oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric oscillator to measure the density of the gas within the gas cylinder;d) determining, from the density measurement and from the internal volume (V) of said gas cylinder, the mass of the gas within the gas cylinder. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step b) comprises: driving the piezoelectric oscillator by a drive circuit powered by a batterycyclically alternating between switching the drive circuit on and off to conserve battery power; andwherein step c) comprises: measuring said resonant frequency over a pre-determined time period when the drive circuit is switched on to determine the density of gas in said gas cylinder. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein steps b) through d) are repeated one or more times such that a series of measurements of the gas density within the gas cylinder over a period of time is obtained, said series of measurements being utilized to determine the change in mass of gas within gas cylinder during said period of time. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric oscillator comprises a quartz crystal oscillator. 5. A sensor assembly for measuring the mass of a gas under pressure within a gas cylinder having a fixed internal volume (V), the sensor assembly comprising: a tuning fork piezoelectric oscillator mounted so as to be immersed in the gas within the gas cylinder;a drive circuit arranged to drive the piezoelectric oscillator at a resonant oscillation frequency, and arranged to measure the oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric oscillator in the gas; anda processor configured to determine, from the frequency, the density of the gas within the gas cylinder and further configured to determine, from the density measurement and from the internal volume (V) of said gas cylinder, the mass of the gas within the gas cylinder. 6. A sensor assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a drive circuit comprising a Darlington pair arranged in a feedback configuration from a common emitter amplifier. 7. A sensor assembly according to claim 5, wherein the drive circuit is powered by a battery and wherein the sensor assembly is arranged to cyclically alternate between switching the drive circuit on and off to conserve battery power and to measure said resonant oscillation frequency over a pre-determined time period when the drive circuit is switched on to determine the density of gas in said gas cylinder. 8. A sensor assembly according to claim 5, wherein the drive circuit and processor are further arranged to perform repeat measurements of the mass of the gas within the gas cylinder at discrete time intervals to obtain a plurality of measurements, and to determine, from said plurality of measurements, the mass flow of gas to/from the gas cylinder during the discrete time intervals, more times such that a series of measurements of the gas density within the gas cylinder over a period of time is obtained, said series of measurements being utilized to determine the change in mass of gas within said gas cylinder during said period of time. 9. A gas cylinder for containing a gas under pressure and having a fixed internal volume (V), wherein the sensor assembly of claim 5 is located entirely within the fixed internal volume (V) of the gas cylinder. 10. A valve arrangement comprising the sensor assembly of claim 5, the valve arrangement being for connection to a gas cylinder body to form the gas cylinder having a fixed internal volume (V), the valve arrangement being arranged to enable selective filling of the gas cylinder with gas or dispensation of gas from the gas cylinder. 11. A gas cylinder for containing a gas under pressure, the gas cylinder having a fixed internal volume (V) and comprising: a gas cylinder body defining a fixed internal volume (V);a valve arrangement connected to said gas cylinder body and arranged to enable selective filling of the gas cylinder with gas or dispensation of gas from said gas cylinder; andthe sensor assembly of claim 5.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Upton Eric L., Apparatus for and method of monitoring the mass quantity and density of a fluid in a closed container, and a vehicular air bag system incorporating such apparatus.
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