US 12,460,957 B2
Acoustic rail for clamp on ultrasonic flow meter
Michael A. Wusterbarth, Greenfield, WI (US); David Leckman, Naperville, IL (US); Paul W. Eserkaln, Oak Creek, WI (US); Robert M. Herriges, West Allis, WI (US); and Douglas W. Koehn, Waterford, WI (US)
Assigned to Badger Meter, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Badger Meter, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/182,931.
Prior Publication US 2024/0310197 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G01F 1/667 (2022.01); G01F 1/66 (2022.01)
CPC G01F 1/667 (2013.01) [G01F 1/662 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic flow meter configured to measure a flow within a conduit, comprising:
first and second transducers configured to transmit acoustic signals in forward and reverse direction as fluid flow signals along a fluid flow signal path through a fluid within the conduit;
an acoustic rail extending between the first and second transducers configured to receive the transmitted acoustic signals for transmission as acoustic rail signals in forward and reverse direction along an acoustic rail signal path along the acoustic rail;
a printed circuit board including circuitry for conducting ultrasonic transit time flow measurements; and
a programmable processor included on the printed circuit board that is configured to generate flow measurement data using the fluid flow signals and the acoustic rail signals,
wherein the acoustic rail is isolated from the conduit.