US3650152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for measuring the velocity of a flowing fluid
Assignee: Trane US Inc
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Filing: 1968-02-13
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1988-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A cylindrical body having a curved nose at one end and a flat base at the other end is connected to a disc of smaller diameter, with the disc being centered coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body and being spaced axially from the base thereof. This assembly, when aligned axially at midstream of a flowing fluid with the nose pointed upstream, generates a downstream wake in which the fluid traces an unsteady, irregular flow pattern, oscillatory in nature but with random, unpredictable variations and extinctions in the amplitude and frequency thereof. Modification of the assembly by an additional element of structure which splits or obstructs the fluid flow at or downstream from the space between the base and disc stabilizes the wake flow pattern into a fixed plane of strong oscillations the amplitude and frequency of which are readily measured. The frequency of the stabilized oscillations varies directly with the volumetric velocity of the fluid flow over a considerable range of velocities, whereby the modified assembly constitutes a simpler, linear, no-moving parts, digital-output flowmeter by which the fluid flow velocity can be readily measured with high precision.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas F White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/32; G01F1/3209; G01F1/3218; G01F1/325; G01F1/3259
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
In a fluid flowmeter device for measuring a parameter of a flowing fluid, which device includes a fluid oscillation generator composed of an elongated obstruction member having a longitudinal axis and a second member spaced by a predetermined distance from the downstream end of said obstruction Member, and sensor means responsive to the frequency of the generated fluid oscillations: the improvement comprising stabilizer means for stabilizing fluid oscillations generated by said flowmeter so that the oscillations occur in a predetermined plane, said sensor means being located to respond to the oscillations in the stabilized plane of oscillations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a fluid flowmeter device for measuring a parameter of a flowing fluid, which device includes a fluid oscillation generator composed of an elongated obstruction member having a longitudinal axis and a second member spaced by a predetermined distance from the downstream end of said obstruction Member, and sensor means responsive to the frequency of the generated fluid oscillations: the improvement comprising stabilizer means for stabilizing fluid oscillations generated by said flowmeter so that the oscillations occur in a predetermined plane, said sensor means being located to respond to the oscillations in the stabilized plane of oscillations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The flowmeter device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated obstruction member is cylindrical and has a curved nose at its upstream end and a flat base at its downstream end, and said second member is a disc having a smaller diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical member, said disc being positioned perpendicularly to and with its center coincident with the aforementioned longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A flowmeter as in claim 2 wherein the ratio of the diameter of said disc to the diameter of said elongated obstruction member has a value within the range from about 0.6 to about 0.8, and the ratio of said predetermined distance to the diameter of said elongated obstruction member has a value within the range from about 0.28 to about 0.6.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A flowmeter according to claim 2 wherein said stabilizer means comprises a rod affixed to and extending radially outwardly from the surface of said elongated obstruction member at a location closely adjacent the flat-based end thereof, whereby the aforementioned oscillations are stabilized in a fixed plane substantially perpendicular to the direction taken by said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A flowmeter as in claim 2 wherein said stabilizer means comprises a thin vane attached to the downstream side of said disc, said vane being perpendicular to said disc, whereby said oscillations are stabilized in a fixed plane substantially coincident with or parallel to said vane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A flowmeter as in claim 5 wherein said vane is attached to said disc along a diameter of the disc and terminates at opposite ends of said diameter, the remaining periphery of said vane being smoothly curved between said terminal points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flowmeter as in claim 5 wherein said vane is attached to said disc along a diameter of said disc and extends beyond the opposite ends of said diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A flowmeter as in claim 7 wherein the assembly of said elongated obstruction member, disc and vane is mounted within a conductor for flowing fluid, said vane extending beyond the opposite ends of the attachment diameter and to opposite points on the interior wall of said conductor whereby said vane divides a portion of the hollow interior of said conductor into two symmetrical halves downstream from said disc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A flowmeter as in claim 2 wherein said stabilizer means comprises a thin plate attached to said flat base and to the upstream side of said disc in a position coincident with the central longitudinal axis of said elongated obstruction member, the peripheries of said plate being defined by the diameters along which said plate is attached as aforesaid and by lines connecting respectively the opposite pairs of ends of said diameters, whereby said oscillations are stabilized in a fixed plane substantially coincident with or parallel to said plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A flowmeter as in claim 2 which further includes a hollow cylindrical conductor for said flowing fluid, said obstruction member being suspended within said flowing fluid on the axis of said hollow cylindrical conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flowmeter of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis passes through said second member, and the cross-sectional area of said second member perpendicular to said longitudinal axis is less than the cross-sectional area of said obstruction member perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A flowmeter for measuring the velocity of a fluid by generating fluid oscillations comprising: an obstruction member having a longitudinal axis, a second member spaced by a predetermined distance from one end of said obstruction member so that an extension of said central longitudinal axis from said one end passes through said secOnd member, said second member having a diameter perpendicular to said extended central longitudinal axis less than a parallel diameter of said obstruction member at said one end, stabilizer means adjoining one of said members for stabilizing the orientation of said fluid oscillations producing a substantially fixed plane of oscillation whereby said fluid oscillations are substantially fixed in angular position relative to said longitudinal axis, and measuring means for measuring the frequency of said fluid oscillations, said frequency being directly related to the velocity of said fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A flowmeter for measuring the velocity of a fluid by generating fluid oscillations comprising: an obstruction member having a longitudinal axis, a second member spaced by a predetermined distance from one end of said obstruction member so that an extension of said central longitudinal axis from said one end passes through said secOnd member, said second member having a diameter perpendicular to said extended central longitudinal axis less than a parallel diameter of said obstruction member at said one end, stabilizer means adjoining one of said members for stabilizing the orientation of said fluid oscillations producing a substantially fixed plane of oscillation whereby said fluid oscillations are substantially fixed in angular position relative to said longitudinal axis, and measuring means for measuring the frequency of said fluid oscillations, said frequency being directly related to the velocity of said fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2809520A
Cited
US3116639A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |