Flow-measuring device

Claim 2

A flow-measuring device for use in connectIon with a pipe carrying a fluid and said device comprising: i. an impact probe having a plurality of spaced lateral openings formed along the length thereof and the probe being engaged through one pipe wall diametrically across the interior of the pipe carrying a fluid and capable of having generated therein an interior pressure having a component due to fluid velocity and a component due to static fluid pressure, said impact probe having a blind end contacting the opposite wall of the pipe, whereby to center the lateral openings symmetrically of the axis of said pipe, ii. a static probe engaged within the pipe and having a static opening therein, iii. means for connection of a differential pressure-responsive apparatus between said probes and exterior of the pipe, said probes having a fixed axial spaced alignment one relative the other and the pipe in installed condition and said impact probe being sealingly translatable relative to and independently of the pipe and said static probe to enable said engagement to be made.

Claim 3

The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the impact probe comprises a first hollow conduit disposed in the pipe diametrically transverse of the normal flow of fluid in the pipe, said first hollow conduit having blind ends, one being said end contacting the inner wall of the pipe, said first hollow conduit having a plurality of spaced lateral openings formed therein along the length thereof in that portion of the conduit within the pipe and facing the impact of the fluid flow, and a second hollow conduit having an arcuate bent free end terminating substantially at the center of the flowing stream and an opening on it side closely adjacent said terminal end, said second hollow conduit communicating with said differential pressure-responsive means and the side opening providing the only communication between the interior of the impact probe and said differential pressure-responsive means.

Claim 4

The device as claimed in claim 2 and indicating means exterior of the pipe for positioning the probes in proper alignment within the pipe and including means indicating the relative position of said probes one to the other and to the pipe, said means for positioning the probes in proper alignment within the pipe comprising a flat surfaced bushing mounting said probes and including a pair of parallel flat-side surfaces, the probes being arranged to lie in a plane parallel to said surfaces whereby arrangement of said surfaces parallel to the pipe axis disposes the probes substantially on said axis, and said means for indicating the relative position of the probes one to the other and to the pipe comprising a bend in the impact probe disposed exterior of said pipe, said impact probe being rotatable independently of said static probe between an operative condition where the bend is in a plane parallel to the axis of the pipe and the inoperative condition more than 90* of rotation therefrom.

Claim 5

The device as claimed in claim 2 and a mounting assembly means including gate means, said probes being selectively reciprocable within said mounting means to permit removal of the probes together from the flowing stream while fluid pressure is maintained in the pipe, said probes being returnable together while the pipe is under fluid pressure selectively permitting withdrawal of the pair of probes simultaneously when the pipe is under fluid pressure.

Claim 6

The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said impact probe is removable and replaceable independently of said static probe.

Claim 7

The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the impact probe comprises a first hollow conduit disposed in said pipe diametrically transverse of the normal flow of fluid in the pipe, said first hollow conduit having blind ends, one being said end contacting the opposite wall of the pipe, said first hollow conduit having said plurality of spaced lateral openings formed therein along the length thereof in that portion of the conduit within the pipe and facing the impaCt of the fluid flow, and a second hollow conduit providing the only communication between the interior of the impact probe and said differential pressure-responsive means, said second hollow conduit opening to the interior of said first hollow conduit at least at one point in said first hollow conduit where the interior pressure will produce substantially an average value in said second hollow conduit.

Claim 8

A flow-measuring device for use in connection with a pipe carrying a fluid, and said device comprising: A. an impact probe engaged with the pipe and said probe comprising: i. a first hollow conduit disposed entirely across the pipe interior transversely of the normal fluid flow in the pipe and normal to the axis of said pipe, ii. said first hollow conduit having two blind ends located substantially at diametrically opposite points, iii. a plurality of spaced lateral openings in said first conduit along the length thereof in that portion of the conduit within the pipe and providing communication between the pipe and the interior of said first conduit on the upstream side of said probe, , iv. a second conduit disposed in the first conduit having an interior disposed blind end terminating substantially at the center of said pipe in an arcuate lip formation and having a side opening to the interior of said first conduit at the center of said pipe, and closely adjacent said lip, said side opening offering only communication from the interior of the probe to the exterior of the pipe, B. a static measuring probe engaged within the pipe and having a static opening disposed in the pipe and a passageway providing communication between said static opening and the exterior of the pipe, and C. said probes including means for connection of a differential pressure-responsive means between said second conduit and last mentioned passageway, said connection means located on the exterior of the pipe for measurement of a pressure due to fluid velocity.

Claim 9

A flow-measuring device for use in connection with a pipe carrying a fluid, and said device comprising: A. an impact probe engaged with the pipe and said probe comprising: i. a first hollow conduit disposed entirely across the pipe interior transversely of the normal fluid flow in the pipe and normal to the axis of said pipe, ii. said first hollow conduit having two blind ends located substantially at diametrically opposite points, iii. a plurality of spaced lateral openings in said first conduit along the length thereof in that portion of the conduit within the pipe and providing communication between the pipe and the interior of said first conduit on the upstream side of said probe, , iv. a second conduit disposed in the first conduit having an interior disposed blind end terminating substantially at the center of said pipe in an arcuate lip formation and having a side opening to the interior of said first conduit at the center of said pipe, and closely adjacent said lip, said side opening offering only communication from the interior of the probe to the exterior of the pipe, B. a static measuring probe engaged within the pipe and having a static opening disposed in the pipe and a passageway providing communication between said static opening and the exterior of the pipe, and C. said probes including means for connection of a differential pressure-responsive means between said second conduit and last mentioned passageway, said connection means located on the exterior of the pipe for measurement of a pressure due to fluid velocity.

Claim 10

The device as claimed in claim 7 and means installed on the pipe diametrically opposite to the impact probe for maintaining the position of said lateral openings relative to the flowing stream against disturbance by the fluid pressure within the pipe.

Claim 11

The device as claimed in claim 7 and a balancing member disposed within said first conduit and of a size and configuration sufficient to displace a volume interior of said first conduit substantially equal to the volume displaced by said second conduit.

Claim 12

The device as claimed in claim 7 and indicating means exterior of the pipe visually determinative of the operational relationship of said impact and static probes, means for positioning the probes within the pipe, said indicating means comprising a bend in the impact probe and the impact probe being rotatable between a measuring position in which the bend lies in a plane parallel to the axis of the pipe and an inoperative position in which the bend is more than 90* from said measuring position, and said means for positioning the probes within the pipe comprising a flat bushing having a pair of flat faces, said bushing mounting having at least said impact probe with the latter arranged parallel to the flat faces, the faces being arranged parallel to the pipe axis to place the probe normal to said pipe axis and indicia means carried by said bushing for indicating direction of fluid flow in the pipe.

Claim 13

A flow-measuring device for installation into a fluid flow-carrying system, said device comprising, an impact probe arranged transversely to intercept the fluid flow stream, static fluid pressure-sensing means having a static opening arranged communicating with the fluid flow stream at a location downstream of said impact probe, and differential fluid pressure-responsive means located exterior of said flow stream communicating between said impact probe and said static fluid pressure-sensing means for measurement of fluid pressure differential quantity repResentative of fluid velocity, said impact probe comprising inner and outer hollow conduits disposed one within the other, the outer hollow conduit having blind ends and a plurality of spaced lateral openings along the length thereof and operably disposed entirely across the fluid stream in installed condition of the impact probe, said inner conduit having a closed arcuate end and a side opening closely adjacent the said closed end interior of the outer conduit and an opposite end opening exterior of said flowing stream to offer the only communication between the impact probe and the differential pressure-responsive means, said lateral openings arranged to face upstream in operating condition of the impact probe, and being symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the pipe, the said side opening being located substantially on the center of fluid flow of said pipe.

Claim 14

A flow-measuring device for installation into a fluid flow-carrying system, said device comprising, an impact probe arranged transversely to intercept the fluid flow stream, static fluid pressure-sensing means having a static opening arranged communicating with the fluid flow stream at a location downstream of said impact probe, and differential fluid pressure-responsive means located exterior of said flow stream communicating between said impact probe and said static fluid pressure-sensing means for measurement of fluid pressure differential quantity repResentative of fluid velocity, said impact probe comprising inner and outer hollow conduits disposed one within the other, the outer hollow conduit having blind ends and a plurality of spaced lateral openings along the length thereof and operably disposed entirely across the fluid stream in installed condition of the impact probe, said inner conduit having a closed arcuate end and a side opening closely adjacent the said closed end interior of the outer conduit and an opposite end opening exterior of said flowing stream to offer the only communication between the impact probe and the differential pressure-responsive means, said lateral openings arranged to face upstream in operating condition of the impact probe, and being symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the pipe, the said side opening being located substantially on the center of fluid flow of said pipe.

Claim 15

For use in a device for measuring the flow rate of a flowing stream of fluid in fluid carrier means, the device including an impact element insertable transversely of the flow stream of fluid facing said flow in operating condition of said measuring device and a static fluid pressure-sensing element having a static opening downstream of said impact element, differential pressure-responsive means and coupling means exterior of said fluid carrier means connecting the impact element and the static sensing element and the differential pressure-responsive means for measurement of a differential pressure quantity representative of flow velocity: the invention comprising, the impact probe being formed of inner and outer hollow tubes, said outer tube having a plurality of spaced lateral openings arranged along the length thereof for placement at predetermined locations relative to the flow stream in installed condition of said measuring device, said outer tube having opposite blind ends, one end having a tapered terminal portion arranged with its apex engaging the inner wall of the fluid carrier means diametrically opposite the point of entry of the impact element into said carrier means and said inner hollow tube disposed within the outer tube and having a closed end terminating substantially at the center of the flowing stream in installed condition of said impact element, said inner tube having a side opening closely adjacent said terminal portion, the opposite end of said inner tube communicating with said coupling means to afford the only communication between the interior of the impact element and the differential pressure-responsive means.

Claim 16

For use in a device for measuring the flow rate of a flowing stream of fluid in fluid carrier means, the device including an impact element insertable transversely of the flow stream of fluid facing said flow in operating condition of said measuring device and a static fluid pressure-sensing element having a static opening downstream of said impact element, differential pressure-responsive means and coupling means exterior of said fluid carrier means connecting the impact element and the static sensing element and the differential pressure-responsive means for measurement of a differential pressure quantity representative of flow velocity: the invention comprising, the impact probe being formed of inner and outer hollow tubes, said outer tube having a plurality of spaced lateral openings arranged along the length thereof for placement at predetermined locations relative to the flow stream in installed condition of said measuring device, said outer tube having opposite blind ends, one end having a tapered terminal portion arranged with its apex engaging the inner wall of the fluid carrier means diametrically opposite the point of entry of the impact element into said carrier means and said inner hollow tube disposed within the outer tube and having a closed end terminating substantially at the center of the flowing stream in installed condition of said impact element, said inner tube having a side opening closely adjacent said terminal portion, the opposite end of said inner tube communicating with said coupling means to afford the only communication between the interior of the impact element and the differential pressure-responsive means.

Claim 17

A flow-measuring device for use in connection with a pipe carrying a fluid and said device comprising an impact probe engaged within the pipe transverse of the fluid flow therein and a static probe engaged within the pipe downstream of the impact probe and having a static opening disposed within said pipe, means enabling communication between the static opening and the exterior of the pipe through said static probe and differential responsive means communicatively coupled between said impact and static probes, said impact probe having a plurality of spaced lateral openings along the length thereof for disposition at predetermined locations across the pipe interior facing the fluid flow in operating condition of the impact probe, said impact probe having one end of tapered configuration, the apex thereof engaging the inner portion of the carrier wall diametrically opposite the point of entry of the probe thereinto.

Claim 18

A flow-measuring device for use in connection with a pipe carrying a fluid and said device comprising an impact probe engaged within the pipe transverse of the fluid flow therein and a static probe engaged within the pipe downstream of the impact probe and having a static opening disposed within said pipe, means enabling communication between the static opening and the exterior of the pipe through said static probe and differential responsive means communicatively coupled between said impact and static probes, said impact probe having a plurality of spaced lateral openings along the length thereof for disposition at predetermined locations across the pipe interior facing the fluid flow in operating condition of the impact probe, said impact probe having one end of tapered configuration, the apex thereof engaging the inner portion of the carrier wall diametrically opposite the point of entry of the probe thereinto.

Claim 19

The flow-measuring device as claimed in claim 13 in which said impact probe has opposite blind ends and an inner tube terminating interior of the impact probe at a location substantially at the center of the fluid flow interior of the pipe in installed condition of the device, said terminating end being closed except for a side opening formed immediately adjacent said end, the opposite end of said inner tube being communicatively coupled to the differential pressure-responsive means to afford the only communication between the inteRior of the impact probe and said differential pressure-responsive means.

Claim 20

A flow-measuring device for use in connection with a pipe of predetermined diameter carrying a fluid and said device comprising: i. a plug adapted to be inserted into a wall of said pipe, ii. an impact probe sealingly and slidably mounted in said plug and having an exterior end adapted to be disposed on the interior of the pipe and moved into engagement with the inner wall of the pipe opposite said plug, said impact probe having inner and outer hollow conduits, the outer conduit having a plurality of lateral impact openings adapted to face upstream and symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the axis of said pipe when the said exterior end is so engaged against the said opposite pipe wall, the outer conduit having blind interior ends, the inner conduit terminating in an opening at substantially the axis of the pipe when the said exterior end is so engaged against the said opposite pipe wall and providing the only pressure-transmitting channel from the interior of said probe to the exterior of said plug, iii. a static probe also mounted in said plug downstream of the impact probe, iv. means for connection of differential pressure-responsive apparatus between said probes on the exterior of said plug, said probes having a fixed axial spaced alignment one relative to the other and the pipe when the plug is installed in said pipe, said impact probe being independently rotatable relative to said plug and the static probe.

Claim 21

A flow-measuring device for use in connection with a pipe of predetermined diameter carrying a fluid and said device comprising: i. a plug adapted to be inserted into a wall of said pipe, ii. an impact probe sealingly and slidably mounted in said plug and having an exterior end adapted to be disposed on the interior of the pipe and moved into engagement with the inner wall of the pipe opposite said plug, said impact probe having inner and outer hollow conduits, the outer conduit having a plurality of lateral impact openings adapted to face upstream and symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the axis of said pipe when the said exterior end is so engaged against the said opposite pipe wall, the outer conduit having blind interior ends, the inner conduit terminating in an opening at substantially the axis of the pipe when the said exterior end is so engaged against the said opposite pipe wall and providing the only pressure-transmitting channel from the interior of said probe to the exterior of said plug, iii. a static probe also mounted in said plug downstream of the impact probe, iv. means for connection of differential pressure-responsive apparatus between said probes on the exterior of said plug, said probes having a fixed axial spaced alignment one relative to the other and the pipe when the plug is installed in said pipe, said impact probe being independently rotatable relative to said plug and the static probe.

Claim 22

A device as claimed in claim 15 in which the opening of the inner conduit is a side opening.