The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 11, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 16, 2004
Thomas Budmiger, Ettingen, CH;
Thomas Budmiger, Ettingen, CH;
Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG, Reinach, CH;
Abstract
The invention relates to a magneto-inductive method for determining the flow rate of a medium flowing through a measuring tube in the direction of the measuring tube axis. In order to be able to detect a coating formation on a measuring electrode early and with a high degree of certainty, a test pulse (U) of defined pulse length (t) is issued to the measuring electrode; at least one signal in response to the test pulse (U) is determined at at least two measuring points in time (t, t), wherein the measuring points in time (t, t) lie in a time window (t-t), which is so selected that no predictable disturbance signals occur on the measuring electrode in this time window (t-t). On the basis of the response signal determined in the measuring points in time (t, t), the relaxation time, or the length of time until the reaching of a predetermined state of discharge (U), of the measuring electrode is determined; on the basis of the determined relaxation time, or on the basis of the length of time until the reaching of the defined state of discharge (U), of the measuring electrode, a malfunctioning of the measuring electrode () is detected, or becomes detectable.