US3675481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded plastic flowmeter
Assignee: Dwyer Instruments LLC
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Filing: 1970-12-07
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A flowmeter with the tapered tube and conduit fittings specially formed as a one-piece plastic construction to retard breakage and to minimize fragmentation. A sectionally formed mounting plate assembly has pipe threaded bushings mounted to insert into and thereby connect with the conduit fittings and integral flowmeter tube. The mounting plate is sectionally formed so that it can expand and contract with expansion and contraction of the flowmeter tube. The mounting plate takes much of the piping connection strains without transmitting these to the flowmeter tube.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A flowmeter assembly including a flowmeter tube having a tapered bore diverging upwardly and a float within said bore, upper and lower spaced tubular inlet and outlet portions communicating with said bore at upper and lower points of said bore respectively, and extending transversely to said bore, a sectionally formed backing and mounting plate assembly having upper and lower tubular pipe fittings, said fittings extending transversely to said bore, said pipe fittings having threads for fixing fluid pipes thereto, said fittings being interfitted with the upper and lower inlet and outlet portions of said tube in a slip fitting relation opposite from the ends where said fluid pipes are fixed, whereby strains from said threads are absorbed by said fittings without substantial transmission of strains to said inlet and outlet portion while allowing assembly and disassembly of said mounting plate assembly and tubular portions by relative movement therebetween in directions transverse to the axis of said tapered bore, and means for sealing said tubular fittings to said tubular portions, said backing plate assembly having upper and lower sections with means for connecting them together for limited relative sliding movement of said sections in directions generally parallel to the axis of said tube when said fittings are positioned within and sealed to said upper and lower tubular portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A flowmeter assembly including a flowmeter tube having a tapered bore diverging upwardly and a float within said bore, upper and lower spaced tubular inlet and outlet portions communicating with said bore at upper and lower points of said bore respectively, and extending transversely to said bore, a sectionally formed backing and mounting plate assembly having upper and lower tubular pipe fittings, said fittings extending transversely to said bore, said pipe fittings having threads for fixing fluid pipes thereto, said fittings being interfitted with the upper and lower inlet and outlet portions of said tube in a slip fitting relation opposite from the ends where said fluid pipes are fixed, whereby strains from said threads are absorbed by said fittings without substantial transmission of strains to said inlet and outlet portion while allowing assembly and disassembly of said mounting plate assembly and tubular portions by relative movement therebetween in directions transverse to the axis of said tapered bore, and means for sealing said tubular fittings to said tubular portions, said backing plate assembly having upper and lower sections with means for connecting them together for limited relative sliding movement of said sections in directions generally parallel to the axis of said tube when said fittings are positioned within and sealed to said upper and lower tubular portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said tube and tubular portions are a one-piece molded construction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a regulating valve assembly in said lower tubular portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said tube has means defining spaced and generally parallel skirt portions extending therefrom, said backing and mounting plate assembly being positioned within the confines of said skirt portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flowmeter body as defined in claim 1 characterized by and including a ball stop receiving cavity formed through the upper portion of said body and generally coaxially with The axis of said tapered tubular portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including mounting bracket means associated with one section of said mounting and backing plate assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said pipe fittings are formed integrally with sections of said backing and mounting plate assembly, one of said fittings being carried by one section and the other being carried by another section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A flowmeter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tube and tubular portions are formed as a unitary one piece body of substantially shatterproof plastic material, and an outer skirt formed intergrally with said body and defining the marginal outlines of said body, said skirt having spaced, generally parallel portions overlying said tapered portion and extending laterally from opposite sides of said tapered portion, said spaced portions extending generally parallel to the axes of said upper and lower tubular portions, said spaced portions defining a mounting plate receiving space therebetween to receive said mounting and backing plate therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein said skirt is formed with a forwardly facing portion of said spaced portions extend rearwardly from said tapered tubular portion to define a shoulder between the forwardly facing portion and rearwardly extending portions, said shoulder extending in a plane extending generally parallel to the axis of said tapered tubular portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 9 wherein said skirt has a forwardly facing portion with forward edges lying in a plane inclined to the longitudinal axis of said tapered tubular portion and inclined downwardly and inwardly with respect thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said backing and mounting assembly includes two sections each having an arm connected to a pipe fitting, each arm having one elongated edge adapted to form one side of the backing and mounting plate assembly and an opposite edge portion formed on a bias whereby the opposite edge portions of the two sections may extend alongside one another while said first named edges define the side edges of the backing and mounting plate assemble, and means for connecting said arms together for relative movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 11 wherein said connecting means includes aligned, apertured ears on said sections and extending transversely to the arms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 12 wherein each section is a unitary plastic construction defining said arm, pipe fitting and ears.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 13 wherein each section includes a reinforcing flange extending alongside one side edge at right angles thereto, the flange of each section extending between connecting ears at the pipe fitting end of said arm and at the opposite end thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |