US3732731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bluff body flowmeter with internal sensor
Assignee: G CORSON ELLIS JR ASSOCIATES Inc A NJ CORP
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Filing: 1971-02-02
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A bluff body flowmeter, including a bluff body having a planar base preferably disposed normal to fluid flow in a conduit and a pair of converging downstream surfaces, is provided in one embodiment with an elongated first aperture which extends between the downstream surfaces in the high turbulence flow zone. The longitudinal axis of the first aperture lies in a plane normal to the fluid flow and is itself normal to the transverse axis of the bluff body. In addition, the bluff body is provided with an elongated second aperture which communicates between the first aperture and the exterior of the conduit and which is adapted to receive a sensor for detecting fluid flow changes in the first aperture. In another embodiment, the bluff body base is convex in shape and the first and second apertures are located therein and the first aperture communicates with a periodic, low turbulence flow zone in order to improve signal quality. In still another embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the first aperture is disposed at an oblique angle to the transverse axis of the bluff body in order to detect vortex shedding at half its actual frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 T Fussell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/32; G01F1/3209; G01F1/3218; G01F1/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
For use in measuring the flowrate of fluid in conduit, a bluff body comprising a planar base surface disposed substantially normal to the direction of fluid flow effective to produce vortex shedding in said fluid, said surface extending along a diameter of said conduit and between the walls thereof, a pair of planar converging surfaces extending downstream of said base surface forming a substantially triangular cross section of said body, said body having a transverse axis and an elongated first aperture extending between said converging surfaces, the longitudinal axis of said first aperture lying in a plane substantially parallel to said base surface and being substantially normal to said transverse axis of said body, an elongated second aperture communicating between said first aperture and the exterior of said conduit, the longitudinal axis of said second aperture being substantially parallel to said base surface, said second aperture being adapted to receive at least one removable sensor holder with a sensor responsive to vortex induced changes in said first aperture, the ratio of the axial length of said body to the height of said base surface being between 1 and 2 and the ratio of the height of said base surface to the inner dimension of said conduit transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof being between 0.15 and 0.4, and a removable, elongated sensor holder adapted to fit into said second aperture, a sensor mounted on the end of said holder inserted into said body, said holder being inserted so that said sensor is positioned within said first aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
For use in measuring the flowrate of fluid in conduit, a bluff body comprising a planar base surface disposed substantially normal to the direction of fluid flow effective to produce vortex shedding in said fluid, said surface extending along a diameter of said conduit and between the walls thereof, a pair of planar converging surfaces extending downstream of said base surface forming a substantially triangular cross section of said body, said body having a transverse axis and an elongated first aperture extending between said converging surfaces, the longitudinal axis of said first aperture lying in a plane substantially parallel to said base surface and being substantially normal to said transverse axis of said body, an elongated second aperture communicating between said first aperture and the exterior of said conduit, the longitudinal axis of said second aperture being substantially parallel to said base surface, said second aperture being adapted to receive at least one removable sensor holder with a sensor responsive to vortex induced changes in said first aperture, the ratio of the axial length of said body to the height of said base surface being between 1 and 2 and the ratio of the height of said base surface to the inner dimension of said conduit transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof being between 0.15 and 0.4, and a removable, elongated sensor holder adapted to fit into said second aperture, a sensor mounted on the end of said holder inserted into said body, said holder being inserted so that said sensor is positioned within said first aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
241 words
An elongated vortex shedding body having a transverse axis extending along the elongated dimension thereof for use in measuring the flowrate of fluid in a conduit comprising a base surface disposed substantially normal to the direction of fluid flow, a pair of converging surfaces extending downstream from said base surface and meeting said base surface along a pair of edges, said base and converging surfaces being mutually adapted so that the boundary layers of said fluid separate from said body at said edges and so that vortex shedding is free from intermittency, and characterized in that a first aperture extends through said body and is orienteD substantially transverse to the direction of fluid flow in order to receive a portion of said fluid flowing in said conduit, said first aperture extending between said converging surfaces and being located in a region relatively remote from said edges where said boundary layers of said fluid separate from said body so that fluid flow in said first aperture has a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio, and further characterized in that a second aperture communicates between said first aperture and the exterior of said conduit, said second aperture being adapted to receive at least one removable sensor responsive to vortex induced changes in said fluid flow in said first aperture, and a removable sensor is located proximate to an intersection of said first and second apertures for sensing fluid vortex induced changes in said first aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
241 words
An elongated vortex shedding body having a transverse axis extending along the elongated dimension thereof for use in measuring the flowrate of fluid in a conduit comprising a base surface disposed substantially normal to the direction of fluid flow, a pair of converging surfaces extending downstream from said base surface and meeting said base surface along a pair of edges, said base and converging surfaces being mutually adapted so that the boundary layers of said fluid separate from said body at said edges and so that vortex shedding is free from intermittency, and characterized in that a first aperture extends through said body and is orienteD substantially transverse to the direction of fluid flow in order to receive a portion of said fluid flowing in said conduit, said first aperture extending between said converging surfaces and being located in a region relatively remote from said edges where said boundary layers of said fluid separate from said body so that fluid flow in said first aperture has a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio, and further characterized in that a second aperture communicates between said first aperture and the exterior of said conduit, said second aperture being adapted to receive at least one removable sensor responsive to vortex induced changes in said fluid flow in said first aperture, and a removable sensor is located proximate to an intersection of said first and second apertures for sensing fluid vortex induced changes in said first aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The body of claim 2 wherein the longitudinal axis of said first aperture is substantially normal to the transverse axis of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The body of claim 3 wherein said base surface is planar and the longitudinal axis of said first aperture lies in a plane substantially parallel to said base surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The body of claim 4 wherein said base and converging surfaces are planar and the longitudinal axis of said second aperture is substantially parallel to all of said surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The body of claim 5 wherein the crossection of said body is substantially triangular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The body of claim 6 in combination with a holder adapted for insertion in said second aperture, said sensor being mounted on the end of said holder inserted into said second aperture, said holder being positioned so that said sensor is located within said first aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The body of claim 2 wherein the longitudinal axis of said first aperture is oriented at an oblique angle to the transverse axis of said body effective to measure approximately one half the actual vortex shedding frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The body of claim 8 wherein said base surface is planar and the longitudinal axis of said first aperture lies in a plane substantially parallel to said base surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The body of claim 9 wherein said base and converging surfaces are planar and the longitudinal axis of said second aperture is substantially parallel to all of said surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The body of claim 10 wherein the crossection of said body is substantially triangular.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The body of claim 11 in combination with a holder adapted for insertion in said second aperture, at least one sensor mounted on the end of said holder inserted into said second aperture, said holder being positioned so that said sensor is located within said first aperture.
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) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |