Mass flowmeter

Claim 2

In a mass flowmeter for measuring the mass rate of flow of a fluid stream, a casing forming a passage for said stream, a drive turbine rotatably mounted in said casing, said turbine having driving surfaces arranged at an angle to the direction of flow of said stream in said casing so that in response to flow of fluid in said casing said drive turbine is rotated, said drive turbine being formed with at least one bypass opening, a reaction turbine rotatably mounted in said casing at a position spaced from said drive turbine, yieldable means extending between said drive turbine and said reaction turbine providing for rotation of said reaction turbine in response to rotation of said drive turbine so that said reaction turbine lags said drive turbine by a lag angle which is proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said drive turbine and the mass flow of said stream, and means carried by one of said turbines and disposed adjacent said bypass opening for progressively uncovering said opening in response to increase in said lag angle.

Claim 3

A mass flowmeter according to claim 1 wherein said means carried by one of said turbines is a valve member disposed in a covering relation with said bypass opening.

Claim 4

A mass flowmeter according to claim 2 wherein said turbines are coaxially arranged and are provided with concentric tubular members one of which is formed with said bypass opening and the other one of which constitutes said valve member.

Claim 5

A mass flowmeter accordinG to claim 2 wherein said turbines are coaxially arranged and are provided with axially adjacent plate members one of which constitutes said valve member and the other one of which is formed with said bypass opening.

Claim 6

A mass flowmeter according to claim 1 further including means mounted on said casing operative to provide a time measure of said lag angle and the speed of rotation of said turbines.

Claim 7

A mass flowmeter according to claim 5 wherein said means mounted on said casing includes a light source, a reflective surface on said reaction turbine, and photocell means located to receive light from said source reflected off said reflected surface.

Claim 8

In a mass flowmeter for measuring the mass rate of flow of a fluid stream, a casing forming a passage for said stream, a drive turbine rotatably mounted in said casing for rotation by said stream, said drive turbine having at least one bypass opening, a tubular member in said casing attached to said drive turbine for rotation therewith, a reaction turbine rotatably mounted in said casing at a position spaced from said drive turbine and within said tubular member, yieldable means connected to and extending between said drive turbine and said reaction turbine providing for rotation of said reaction turbine by said drive turbine so that said reaction turbine lags said tubular member by a lag angle which is proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said drive turbine and the mass flow rate of said stream and means carried by one of said turbines and disposed adjacent said bypass opening for progressively uncovering said opening in response to increase in said lag angle, and means mounted on said casing and operatively connected to said tubular member and said reaction turbine for providing a continuously recurring time measure of said lag angle and the speed of rotation of said turbines.

Claim 9

In a mass flowmeter for measuring the mass rate of flow of a fluid stream, a casing forming a passage for said stream, a drive turbine rotatably mounted in said casing for rotation by said stream, said drive turbine having at least one bypass opening, a tubular member in said casing attached to said drive turbine for rotation therewith, a reaction turbine rotatably mounted in said casing at a position spaced from said drive turbine and within said tubular member, yieldable means connected to and extending between said drive turbine and said reaction turbine providing for rotation of said reaction turbine by said drive turbine so that said reaction turbine lags said tubular member by a lag angle which is proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said drive turbine and the mass flow rate of said stream and means carried by one of said turbines and disposed adjacent said bypass opening for progressively uncovering said opening in response to increase in said lag angle, and means mounted on said casing and operatively connected to said tubular member and said reaction turbine for providing a continuously recurring time measure of said lag angle and the speed of rotation of said turbines.

Claim 10

A mass flowmeter according to claim 7 wherein said means for providing a measure of said lag angle includes a housing mounted on said casing at a position in substantial radial alignment with said tubular member and said reaction turbine, window means in said casing communicating with said housing, means forming a slot in said tubular member in substantial radial alignment with said window means, a source of light in said housing operable to direct light through said window means, a reflective surface on said reaction turbine located to reflect light from said source, and photocell means operatively associated with said light source and said reflective surface so as to provide a continuous signal indicative of the magnitude of said lag angle and said speed of rotation.

Claim 11

A mass flowmeter for measuring the mass rate of flow of a fluid stream comprising a casing forming a passage for said stream, a drive turbine rotatably mounted in said casing, said turbine having driving surfaces arranged at an angle to the direction of flow of said stream in said casing so that in response to flow of fluid in said casing said drive turbine is rotated, said turbine having a shaft attached thereto and having at least one bypass opening located in said turbine, said turbine being arranged in said casing so that said stream must flow past said driving surfaces or through said opening in order to pass said turbine, a reaction turbine rotatably mounted on said shaft, yieldable means connected to and extending between said shaft and said reaction turbine providing for rotation of said reaction turbine with said drive turbine so that said reaction turbine lags said drive turbine by a lag angle which is proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said drive turbine and the mass flow rate of said stream, and a valve member attached to said reaction turbine and disposed adjacent said bypass opening so as to cover said opening when said lag angle is below a predetermined angle and progressively uncover said opening as said lag angle is increased above said predetermined angle.

Claim 12

A mass flowmeter for measuring the mass rate of flow of a fluid stream comprising a casing forming a passage for said stream, a drive turbine rotatably mounted in said casing, said turbine having driving surfaces arranged at an angle to the direction of flow of said stream in said casing so that in response to flow of fluid in said casing said drive turbine is rotated, said turbine having a shaft attached thereto and having at least one bypass opening located in said turbine, said turbine being arranged in said casing so that said stream must flow past said driving surfaces or through said opening in order to pass said turbine, a reaction turbine rotatably mounted on said shaft, yieldable means connected to and extending between said shaft and said reaction turbine providing for rotation of said reaction turbine with said drive turbine so that said reaction turbine lags said drive turbine by a lag angle which is proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said drive turbine and the mass flow rate of said stream, and a valve member attached to said reaction turbine and disposed adjacent said bypass opening so as to cover said opening when said lag angle is below a predetermined angle and progressively uncover said opening as said lag angle is increased above said predetermined angle.

Claim 13

A mass flowmeter according to claim 9 further incluDing means on said casing for providing a continuous measurement of said lag angle.

Claim 14

A mass flowmeter according to claim 10 wherein said measuring means includes a light source and photocell means operable to detect light reflected from said source and provide a pulse of a duration proportional to the lag angle and the speed of rotation of said turbines.

Claim 15

A mass flowmeter according to claim 11 further including a tubular member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, means forming an opening in said tubular member located so that light from said source is directed therethrough, and a light reflective surface on said reaction turbine located to receive light traveling through said opening.