Fluid flow monitoring

Abstract

An interface system (5) for connection to a fluid flow monitoring assembly is described. The monitoring assembly comprises a signal generating assembly and a signal receiving assembly (8,9) for transmitting signals into a flowing fluid and for receiving the signals after transmission through the fluid respectively; and a monitoring assembly (1) for controlling the transmission of signals by the signal generating assembly, sensing the signals received by the signal receiving assembly, and thereby monitoring the fluid flow. The signal generating and receiving assemblies (8,9) are adapted to transmit and receive signals passing through the fluid along at least two paths and the monitoring assembly (1) has one communication port for each transmission path. The interface system (5) comprises first and second converting assemblies linked by a common signal path (6), the first converting assembly (4) being connectable with the communication ports and the second converting assembly being connectable to the signal generating and receiving assemblies (8,9). The converting assemblies (4,7) are arranged to pass first signals along the signal path (6) in response to the receipt of signals from the communication ports or from the signal receiving assembly respectively, the first converting assembly (4) being responsive to first control signals to cause signals corresponding to signals received from the common signal path (6) to be passed to appropriate ones of the communication ports, and the second converting assembly (7) being responsive to second control signals to cause signals to be transmitted into the fluid by the signal generating assembly along appropriate paths.