EP0267701A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow controller
Assignee: EMERSON DOUGLAS L
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Filing: 1987-10-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A liquid-flow controller designed to be interposed in a fluid-carrying conduit contains an on/off valve (34) with a spring loaded latch (123) that is set manually and released by a trip solenoid (122). To monitor the volume of liquid passing through the conduit the flow controller uses an impeller assembly with an impeller (52) which contains a magnet (62) mounted on the axis of the impeller to give a low moment of inertia and high magnetic flux variation to operate an induction reed switch connected to a microprocessor. The microprocessor may be set to close the valve (34) after a preset volume of liquid has passed through the conduit: this valve will automatically be closed if the supply battery power falls below a preset level.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Secor
- 👤 James S. Grasty
- 👤 Gary E. Vanyek
- 👤 Douglas L. Emerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:52
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/001; G01F15/003; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/10; G01F1/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for the measurement and control of the volume of liquid passing through a conduit, consisting of flow monitoring apparatus connected to logic circuitry, and valve means controlled by said logic circuitry to close the conduit when a preset volume of liquid, as measured by the flow monitoring apparatus, has passed through it.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for the measurement and control of the volume of liquid passing through a conduit, consisting of flow monitoring apparatus connected to logic circuitry, and valve means controlled by said logic circuitry to close the conduit when a preset volume of liquid, as measured by the flow monitoring apparatus, has passed through it.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said valve means comprise a valve having open and shut settings, a bias mechanism for urging the valve into the shut setting, a solenoid latch for holding the valve in the open setting, the solenoid latch being responsive to signals from the logic circuitry to open the latch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 or 2 in which said valve is of a rotary type operated by the rotation of a shaft and said bias mechanism is a coil spring encircling the shaft and coupled between the shaft and a detent formed in the housing of said apparatus whereby rotation of the shaft to the open position puts the spring in torsion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in any of the preceding claims which is powered by a battery, having circuits contained within the logic circuitry to monitor the voltage from the battery, being set to close the conduit when the voltage falls to a given level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as in any of the preceding claims in which the logic circuitry includes a liquid crystal display and display driver circuitry with means for programming the said circuitry to display information related to the measured flow of liquid and the condition of the voltage supply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in any of the preceding claims in which the logic circuitry contains facilities for measuring elapsed time and switching to a standby state, after a given period of no liquid flowing in the conduit, such that power consumption is reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the logic circuitry contains facilities for measuring elapsed time and switching to a standby state wherein the display circuitry is inactive during the standby state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An impeller assembly for use in a fluid monitoring system, having an impeller sit uated within an impeller chamber, the impeller having a central hub which lies substantially concentrically within the chamber, and which contains permanent magnet material mounted axially such that the magnetic flux produced operates a reed-switch mounted in close proximity to the hub, outside the impeller chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
An impeller assembly for use in a fluid monitoring system, having an impeller sit uated within an impeller chamber, the impeller having a central hub which lies substantially concentrically within the chamber, and which contains permanent magnet material mounted axially such that the magnetic flux produced operates a reed-switch mounted in close proximity to the hub, outside the impeller chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An impeller assembly as in claim 8 in which the impeller rests unsupported within the impeller chamber with clearances between the impeller and the internal surfaces of the chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An impeller assembly as in claims 8 or 9 wherein capping means seal the said magnetic material into the impeller against the ingress of liquid from said impeller chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the flow monitoring apparatus comprises an impeller assembly as in any of claims 8 to 10, said reed switch being connected to the logic circuitry and providing a series of electrical pulses to the logic circuitry when liquid is flowing in the conduit by which the rate of flow of the liquid is derived.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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