British Gas Plc

Gill Corporate Limited

Other

Brookes & Gatehouse Limited

Gill, Michael John

Michael John Gill

Oliver Stewart Blacklock

Samuel William Birtwell

Michael J Fish

Robin Bacon

A compass includes a magnetic sensing element in the form of a coil surrounding magnetic material. Electric current is supplied to the coil in opposite directions, depending on the state of switches operated at times T, for a first direction, and T, for a reverse current direction. A voltmeter measures voltages across the coil, namely at least Vat time T, after T, and Vat time T, after T, with T&#x2212;T=T&#x2212;T=predetermined &#x394;T. A processor indicates V&#x2212;V, the magnitude and sign of which indicate the strength and direction of the earth's magnetic field respectively.

Compass including magnetic field sensor

A measurement device () comprising a sensing circuit () which is electrically floating and fully isolated. The sensing circuit () has a first () and a second () transformer across which is connected a measurement circuit (). The device is so constructed that any signal generated in the coil () of the said first transformer () that is connected to the measurement circuit () caused by a change in any external magnetic field relative to the measurement circuit () is in anti-phase with the corresponding signal generated in the coil () of the said second transformer () that is connected to the measurement circuit ().

Isolated capacitive liquid level probe

A telescopic arrangement () having a hollow cylinder () and a part () which is telescopically engaged with the cylinder. The arrangement is provided with at least one coil () constituting a first form of pulse-induction device, and at least one target () constituting a second form of pulse-induction device, to monitor the position of the said part () relative to the cylinder (). A plurality of devices () each of one of the said first and second forms of device are positioned on the outside of the cylinder (), at different respective positions therealong. At least one () of the other of the said first and second forms of device is fixed relative to the said part () of the arrangement () in a position such that it is moved over the said plurality of devices () in succession as the said part () is telescopically moved relative to the cylinder () of the arrangement ().

Telescopic arrangement

A pulse-induction displacement transducer comprising at least one coil component (), at least one target (), and pulse induction circuitry (} constructed and arranged to cause a pulse of electrical current to pass through the said at least one coil component (). The pulse ends abruptly. Subsequently, the electrical current passing through the said at least one coil component (), or the voltage across it, is measured at a time when any electrical current through or voltage across the said at least one coil component () would have died away in. the absence of a target. This provides an indication of the relative position between the target () and the said at least one coil component (). The said at least one coil component () comprises a first terminal portion (), a first coil part () connected directly or indirectly to the said first terminal portion () and wound in one sense. The coil component () also comprises, in series with the said first coil part (), a second coil part () wound in the opposite sense. The said second coil part () is connected directly or indirectly to a second terminal portion (). The said pulse induction circuitry () is connected between the said first terminal portion () and the said second terminal portion ().

Pulse-induction displacement transducer

An ultrasonic flowmeter comprising an elongate duct through which fluid flows when the flowmeter is in use. Ultrasonic transducers are arranged respectively to transmit and receive ultrasonic pulses propagated through such fluid when the flowmeter is in use. Electronic circuitry is connected to the transducers to provide a measure of the time delay between emission of an electronic pulse from one of the transducers and reception of the pulse by the other of the transducers. The circuitry is constructed to enable an output to be provided which is dependent upon that delay and which is indicative of the rate of flow of fluid through the duct. The transducers are located respectively at opposite ends of the duct and are arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic pulses propagated through the fluid substantially parallel to the duct from one end thereof to the other. The transducers are provided with respective vibratory surfaces which transmit and/or receive ultrasound, which vibratory surfaces have a diameter which exceeds the cross-sectional diameter of the duct.

Ultrasonic flowmeter

An Otto cycle internal combustion engine () provided with a combustion chamber () and an inlet () and an outlet () with respective valves (and), and a suction passage () leading to the said at least one inlet () to conduct the flow of fluid material thereto. The engine () further comprises a control valve () arranged upstream of the inlet valve () and being operable to change between a condition in which it opens the suction passage () and a condition in which it closes the suction passage (). An engine operating position sensor () provides signals indicative of the operating position of the engine (). There is also an engine power control (). A variable intermediate position control signal generator (), generates control signals at times respectively between the beginning and the end of each of a succession of inlet valve opening periods of the engine cycle. It is connected to receive signals from the engine operating position sensor () and the engine power control () and to send the control signals to the control valve () in such a manner that in between an opening of the inlet valve () and the immediately following closure thereof there is a period in which the suction passage () is open and a period in which it is closed, the period for which it is open being in dependence upon the engine power control () output. The invention extends to a method of operating such an engine ().

Otto-cycle internal combustion engine

A micro-switch comprises at least one coil () of elongate electrically conductive material mounted on the support means (). A movable actuator portion () of electrically conductive material is attached to the support means () so as to be movable against resilient means () of the micro-switch and so as to be adjacent to the coil (). Pulse inductive circuitry () is connected to the said at least one coil (), and constructed to switch from one condition to another when the actuator portion () is moved against the force of the resilient means () beyond a predetermined threshold point as indicated by pulsoinductive monitoring effected by the pulse inductive circuitry (). As a result of this construction, there are no physical contacts which are brought into and out of contact with one another to effect the change in the electrical condition of the micro-switch.

Electrical apparatus

Control apparatus having a pulse induction position sensor

Fluid flowmeter

Measurement system

A method for bonding together adjoining hollow glass spheres to form an acoustic matching member for a transducer comprises subjecting a mixture of adjoining spheres and a solution of a heat curable resin and a volatile organic solvent to a first temperature to drive off the solvent and then to a second temperature to cure the resin. This causes the spheres to bond together at their points of contact but otherwise voids are formed between the spheres.

Transducer with acoustic matching member and method of making the

A measurement system includes a housing 10 with a duct 11 having an inlet 13 and outlet 14. Fluid passes though a number of apertures 47 in a chamber 21 and then through a measuring tube 40 which incorporates extensions 41. Fluid exits via chamber 22 and its apertures 47 to outlet 14. Transducers 36,37 are provided in chambers 53,50 and have an acoustic path through the measuring tube. Control electronics cause the transducers to send a burst of signals in alternate directions through the tube to determine fluid speed.

Fluid flow measurement system using two transducers with partitions

A measurement system for measuring the time for a signal to pass between two transducers TDR1,2 to allow fluid speed or flow to be determined in a gas meter for example. Each transducer can transmit or receive signals. The system is controlled by a microcontroller 31 and a signal with a phase change acts as a marker which is transmitted from transmitter 21 via matching stage 22,23 from one transducer and is received by the other. On receipt via the matching stage and amplifier 24 it is sampled by capacitor array 25 and detected in detector 29. Amplitude information from array 25 is made available to the microcontroller to compute time of signal travel and hence flow rates.

System for measuring the time for a signal to pass between two spaced

A fluid speed measurement device includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers (T1, T2) spaced in a measuring chamber. A transmitter and receiver system is controlled by a microprocessor (100) which generates pulses which periodically invert and these are switched by switches (140, 150) to allow alternate direction of transmission. Reception and detection of signals is effected by blocks (152-168). Time calculation is determined by counter (109) and results are used to calculate flow speed or volume using the microprocessor. A speed increase in the measurement region is effected using a venturi device.

Speed measurement device

A fluid speed measurement device includes a pair of ultrasonic transducer T1,T2 spaced in a measuring chamber. A transmitter and receiver system is controlled by a microprocessor 100 which generates pulses which periodically invert and these are switched by switches 140,150 to allow alternate direction of transmission. Reception and detection of signals is effected by blocks 152-168. Time calculation is determined by counter 109 and results are used to calculate flow speed or volume using the microprocessor. A speed increase in the measurement region is effected using a venturi device.

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Hampshire, United Kingdom

Michael John Gill