Fluid flow measuring system and method

Abstract

A fluid flow level detector contacts a fluid surface in an open channel providing a fluid surface height signal related to a predetermined reference height level. The flow level detector immediately withdraws upon contacting the fluid surface and exhibits a time delay before subsequently seeking to regain surface contact. Auxiliary signals are produced related to specific predetermined fluid surface height levels. The fluid surface signal is directed to a computer where it is converted into a signal related to flow volume by a function read-only memory. Totalized flow volume is provided along with an optional time display recording.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A total flow measuring system for liquid flow through a channel having a predetermined cross section shape comprising, means for detecting a fluid surface level in the channel, .Iadd.first .Iaddend.means .Iadd.coupled to said means for detecting .Iaddend.for providing a signal related to fluid surface level relative to a predetermined reference level .Iadd.second means coupled to said means for detecting for visually indicating existing surface height, .Iaddend.computer means for receiving said signal related to surface level and converting said signal to a digital signal, and program means for receiving said digital signal and providing output indicative of total flow volume. .[.2. A total flow measuring system as in claim 1 together with means connected to said means for detecting a fluid 
     
     
        surface level for visually indicating existing surface height..]. 3. A total flow measuring system comprising means for detecting a fluid surface level, means for providing a signal related to fluid surface level relative to a predetermined reference level, computer means for receiving said signal related to surface level and converting said signal to total flow volume, and circuit means responsive to predetermined values of said signal related to fluid surface level for providing a plurality of auxiliary signals, and means responsive to said auxiliary signals for 
     
     
        providing a plurality of predetermined operations on the fluid. 4. A total flow measuring system as in claim 3 wherein said means responsive to said auxiliary signals comprise alarm means for indicating predetermined fluid 
     
     
        surface levels. 5. A total flow measuring system as in claim 3 wherein said circuit means responsive to predetermined values of said signal comprises a plurality of voltage comparators, and wherein said means responsive to said plurality of auxiliary signals comprise a plurality of lights for indicating fluid surface levels beyond predetermined limits. 
     
     
           A total flow measuring system comprising means for detecting a fluid surface level, means for providing a signal related to fluid surface level relative to a predetermined reference signal, computer means for receiving said signal related to surface level and converting said signal to total flow volume, wherein said means for detecting a fluid surface level comprises a probe for contacting the fluid surface, a drive motor for vertically positioning said probe upward and downward, and switching means for reversing rotation of said drive motor, together with means for delaying downward positioning of said probe following upward positioning. 
     
     
         . A total flow measuring system comprising means for detecting a fluid surface level, means for providing a signal related to fluid surface level relative to a predetermined reference level, computer means for receiving said signal related to surface level and converting said signal to total flow volume, wherein said computer means comprises an amplifier for receiving and scaling said signal related to fluid surface level and providing an analog output related thereto, an analog to digital converter for receiving said analog output and providing a digital output related thereto, a function read-only memory for receiving said digital output and providing an additional digital output related to flow volume, storage means for receiving and storing said additional digital output, a maximum flow input register for receiving said stored additional digital output and for providing a flow output, timing means for transferring said additional output to said maximum flow input register at predetermined time intervals, and a totalizer for receiving said flow output, whereby a 
     
     
        continuous flow total is indicated. 8. A total flow measuring system as in claim 7 together with an additional storage means for receiving the flow output of said maximum flow register and a sample rate register for preselecting a sample flow quantity connected to said additional storage means, whereby said additional storage means produces a sampler output for 
     
     
        each preselected flow quantity increment. 9. A total flow measuring system as in claim 7 together with a digital to analog converter for receiving said additional digital output and providing an analog output related to flow volume, a recorder for receiving said analog output and presenting a 
     
     
        time display of said flow volume. 10. A method of providing total flow measurement comprising the steps of selecting a reference level for a fluid surface level, detecting the height of the fluid surface level relative to the reference level, generating a signal related to the relative height of the fluid surface level, transmitting the signal to a computer, converting the signal to a digital signal, connecting the digital signal to a function read-only memory for producing a digital flow volume signal, storing the digital flow volume signal in a buffer storage, transferring the stored digital flow volume signal to a maximum flow input register at predetermined periods of time, filling the maximum flow input register with the stored signal, and transferring the flow input register 
     
     
        counts to a flow totalizer when filled. 11. A method of providing total flow measurement as in claim 10 together with the steps of converting the digital flow volume signal to an analog flow volume signal, and recording 
     
     
        the analog flow volume signal on a time display. 12. A method of providing total flow measurement as in claim 10 together with the steps of storing the maximum flow input register counts in an additional buffer storage, preselecting a sample flow increment, introducing the sample flow increment to the additional buffer storage, thereby providing an output from the additional buffer storage at the preselected sample flow increments when it becomes filled. .Iadd. 13. A fluid flow measuring system for liquid flow through a channel having a predetermined cross section shape comprising means for detecting a fluid surface level in the channel, means coupled to said means for detecting for providing a signal related to fluid surface level relative to a predetermined reference level, means for receiving said signal related to surface level and converting said signal to a digital signal related to surface level, a console for housing portions of the system, a front panel on said console having a plug-in aperture therethrough, and a function read-only memory fitting into said plug-in aperture, thereby receiving said digital signal related to surface level and providing output indicative of flow rate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A fluid flow measuring system as in claim 13 together with a digital to analog converter for providing a flow rate analog signal therefrom. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. A fluid flow measuring system as in claim 13 together with a recorder for receiving said output indicative of flow rate for maintaining a permanent record thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. A fluid flow measuring system for liquid flow having a free surface and flowing through a channel having a predetermined cross section shape, comprising means for detecting the free surface level in the channel and for providing a signal related to the height of the free surface relative to a predetermined reference, electronic means for receiving said signal related to the height of the free surface and for providing a first digital signal related thereto, a read-only memory having a preset program therein corresponding to the predetermined cross section shape of the channel and providing a second digital signal related to flow rate through the channel, and means for receiving said second digital signal and for providing analog output indicative of flow rate through the channel. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. A total flow measuring system for liquid flow through a channel having a predetermined cross section shape, comprising means for detecting a fluid surface level in the channel, means for providing a signal related to fluid surface level relative to a predetermined reference signal, a computer panel having a plug-in aperture therein, computer means including a read-only memory removably inserted in said plug-in aperture having a preset program therein determined by the predetermined cross section shape of the channel, said read-only memory receiving said signal related to surface level and converting said signal to a digital signal indicative of flow rate, and means for receiving said digital signal and providing an indication of flow rate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A method of measuring fluid flow comprising the steps of selecting a reference signal for a fluid surface level, detecting the height of the fluid surface level relative to the reference level, generating a digital signal related to the relative height of the fluid surface level, plugging a function read-only memory in to receive the digital height signal, and producing a signal from the function read-only memory which is related to fluid flow rate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the signal from the function read-only memory is another digital signal, together with the steps of converting the other digital signal to an analog signal, and coupling the analog signal to a fluid flow rate display. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. A method as in claim 18 together with the step of connecting the signal from the function read-only memory to a display for the fluid flow rate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A fluid flow measuring system for measuring liquid flow through a channel having a predetermined cross section shape, comprising means for detecting a fluid surface level and for providing a signal related thereto relative to a predetermined reference level, means for scaling said signal related to fluid surface level and providing a scaled level signal related to maximum flow height through the channel, and means coupled to receive said scaled level signal including a function read-only memory containing a program corresponding to the predetermined cross section and converting said scaled level signal to a digital signal providing data related to flow rate through the channel, whereby flow rate through any cross section configuration channel may be determined by adjustment of said means for scaling and selection of said read-only memory program. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A fluid flow measuring system as in claim 21 together with means for storing said digital signal data, said means for storing including means for setting therein maximum flow rate through the channel in desired units at said maximum flow height, a flow totalizer for receiving said stored digital signal data providing a cumulative flow indication. .Iaddend.