US3691834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable area flow meter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-21
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A variable area flow meter having a large range of flow measurement. The meter includes a body portion having inlet and outlet ends. An elongated upright core tube within the body portion receives the flow from the inlet end and is provided with at least one longitudinally extending slot by which the flow is transmitted to the outlet end. A float piston confined by the core tube rises in the tube to expose a greater area of the tube slot or slots as the flow increases, the piston being connected to a suitable indicator. At a predetermined elevation, means may be provided for reducing the increments of movement which the float piston makes for each increment of increase in flow in the meter. This increases the effective range of the meter. Means also are provided for varying the weight of the float piston to establish different ranges of flow measurement for fluids of different specific gravities.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J De Fasselle
- 👤 Herbert W Heisterkamp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A flow meter comprising a body portion including inlet and outlet ends; an upright elongated core tube within said body portion in flow communiCation with said inlet end; said core tube including an upper end and defining at least one longitudinally extending slot, the slot being in flow communication with said body outlet end; piston means within said core tube movable to expose a variable amount of said slot to said inlet end; means for indicating the position of the piston means in the core tube; an upright elongated envelope coaxial with said core tube and extending above the core tube, the envelope and core tube having overlapping portions which are coextensive and defining therebetween a confined annular passageway, the core tube slot extending upwardly so that a portion thereof is coextensive with said passageway, the cross-sectional area of the passageway being sufficiently small to obtain a relatively high velocity flow in the passage which increases with increased elevation of the piston means, the increments of movement of the piston means per increment of increase in flow in the meter at the elevation of said passageway being less than the increments of movement of the piston means per increment of increase in flow in the meter at elevations below the passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A flow meter comprising a body portion including inlet and outlet ends; an upright elongated core tube within said body portion in flow communiCation with said inlet end; said core tube including an upper end and defining at least one longitudinally extending slot, the slot being in flow communication with said body outlet end; piston means within said core tube movable to expose a variable amount of said slot to said inlet end; means for indicating the position of the piston means in the core tube; an upright elongated envelope coaxial with said core tube and extending above the core tube, the envelope and core tube having overlapping portions which are coextensive and defining therebetween a confined annular passageway, the core tube slot extending upwardly so that a portion thereof is coextensive with said passageway, the cross-sectional area of the passageway being sufficiently small to obtain a relatively high velocity flow in the passage which increases with increased elevation of the piston means, the increments of movement of the piston means per increment of increase in flow in the meter at the elevation of said passageway being less than the increments of movement of the piston means per increment of increase in flow in the meter at elevations below the passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein said envelope is at least partially transparent; said indicating means comprising a readout disc connected with said piston means and contained by said envelope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meter of claim 2 wherein said envelope has indicia thereon at spaced elevations along the envelope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The meter of claim 2 wherein said envelope is only slightly larger in diameter than said readout disc, the latter having a thin peripheral edge to facilitate readability of the disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The meter of claim 1 including means for differently weighting said piston means to calibrate the meter for fluids of different specific gravities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The meter of claim 5 wherein said piston means includes an axial upwardly extending stem; a flattened circular readout disc attached to the upper end of said stem, the disc indicating the position of the piston means in the core tube; said means for differently weighting the piston means comprising washers positionable over said stem onto the upper surface of the piston means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The meter of claim 1 including means for differently weighting said piston means to calibrate the meter for fluids of different specific gravities; said stem being hollow, said means for differently weighting the piston means comprising particulate material positionable in said stem.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein said body portion is a standard tee, including adapter means removably positioning the core tube within the tee in communication with one of the legs of the tee, one end of the core tube extending axially into another leg of the tee; an envelope protruding from said other leg extending axially with respect to the core tube and above the core tube, the envelope being at least partially transparent, said indicating means comprising a readout disc connected with said piston means and contained by said envelope; further including means releasable securing the envelope to said other leg.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meter of claim 8 wherein the core tube extends between axially opposed legs of the tee.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The meter of claim 8 wherein the core tube extends between one of the axially opposed legs of the tee and an adjacent leg of the tee, the core tube having an ell-shaped configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The meter of claim 8 including a non-breakable guard enclosure encompassing said envelope having at least one window therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The meter of claim 14 including indicia on said guard enclosure adjacent said window.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
A flow meter comprising a body portion including inlet and outlet ends; an upright elongated core tube within said body portion in flow communication with said inlet end; said core tube including and upper end and defining at least one longitudinally extending slot, the slot being in flow communication with said body outlet end; piston means within said core tube movable to expose a variable amount of said slot to said inlet end; an envelope coaxial with the core tube extending above the core tube, the envelope being at least partially transparent; indicating means comprising a readout disc connected with said piston means and contained by said envelope for indicating the position of the piston means in the core tube; and a siphon-tube extending from the outlet end of said body portion into said envelope to above the uppermost point of travel of the readout disc, said siphon-tube having an end facing the body portion outlet end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
A flow meter comprising a body portion including inlet and outlet ends; an upright elongated core tube within said body portion in flow communication with said inlet end; said core tube including and upper end and defining at least one longitudinally extending slot, the slot being in flow communication with said body outlet end; piston means within said core tube movable to expose a variable amount of said slot to said inlet end; an envelope coaxial with the core tube extending above the core tube, the envelope being at least partially transparent; indicating means comprising a readout disc connected with said piston means and contained by said envelope for indicating the position of the piston means in the core tube; and a siphon-tube extending from the outlet end of said body portion into said envelope to above the uppermost point of travel of the readout disc, said siphon-tube having an end facing the body portion outlet end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |