Turbine flowmeter

Claim 2

A turbine flowmeter comprising: a housing; floating rotor means including a hub and a plurality of blades fixed thereto in a position extending radially outwardly therefrom; support means fixed relative to said housing inside thereof, said rotor means being mounted on said support means and being rotatable relative thereto and axially slidable relative thereto; and a device mounted in said housing to reduce the pressure of fluid adjacent the upstream side of said rotor means below that on the downstream side thereof, at least one of the said means having at least one passageway extending completely therethrough in communication with fluid on both of the sides of said rotor means to permit fluid to flow therethrough from one of said rotor means sides to the other, said passageway being large enough to relieve at least some of the pressure differential across said rotor means in a manner to keep said rotor means in different stationary axial positions as it rotates for different corresponding constant flow rates within a predetermined flow rate range, said support means having a cylindrical bearing surface concentric with said axis, said rotor means being spaced from and out of all contact with all solid structures therearound except said support means bearing surface when said rotor means is in each of said stationary axial positions, said rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with said device and said housing.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means includes first and second cup-shaped diffusers each having substantially identical external surfaces of revolution about a common axis, said diffusers being located on opposite sides of said rotor means, both said diffuser external surfaces increasing in diameter in corresponding directions toward said rotor means, each diffuser having a lip fixed thereto in a position adjacenT said rotor means extending radially outward, both of said lips having an outside diameter greater than that of said hub, aid hub having a cylindrical main hole therethrough concentric with said common axis, said hub having a cylindrical boss around said main hole on each side thereof extending in opposite directions therefrom, the internal surfaces of said bosses being an extension of said main hole surface, said bosses having parallel end surfaces in respective parallel planes perpendicular to said common axis, said hub having a cylindrical external surface concentric with said common axis, said bosses having cylindrical external surfaces of the same diameter and concentric with said common axis, said hub having flat, annular end surfaces in parallel planes perpendicular to said common axis, said boss external surfaces being of equal lengths from said hub annular end surfaces to said boss end surfaces, respectively, each of said diffusers having a recess therein with a substantially flat end surface in a plane perpendicular to said common axis and a surrounding internal cylindrical surface normal to said end surface thereof and concentric with said common axis, said recess cylindrical surfaces both being of the same diameter and being slightly larger than said boss external surfaces so that the respective bosses may move into and out of the respective recesses without touching the same, said recess being positioned adjacent opposite sides of said hub, respectively, said recess end surfaces being spaced apart an axial distance greater than the maximum axial width of said hub, a hollow radial bearing having cylindrical internal and external surfaces concentic with said common axis, said redial bearing having a length and being press fit into said hub main hole to a position such that an equal portion thereof projects beyond each end of each corresponding hub boss, said radial bearing have flat end surfaces in parallel planes perpendicular to said common axis, a hollow shaft having cylindrical internal and external surfaces concentric with said common axis, said shaft extending through the interior of said radial bearing, said radial bearing being rotatable about and slidable on the cylindrical external surface of said shaft, each flat surface of said diffuser recesses having a cavity therein, each cavity having a cylindrical surface concentric with said common axis and a flat end surface in a plane perpendicular to said common axis, the inside diameter of each cavity cylindrical surface being less than that of the corresponding recess cylindrical surface, a thrust bearing in each cavity having cylindrical internal and external surfaces concentric with said common axis, each of said thrust bearings having flat, parallel end surfaces in planes perpendicular to said common axis, said shaft being longer than said radial bearing, said diffusers having cylindrical bores, said bores and the internal surfaces of said thrust bearings and said shaft all having approximately the same inside diameter, a solid rod having a cylindrical external surface of a diameter to be adapted to be assembled by sliding the same said bores and the internal surfaces of said thrust bearings and said shaft, said rod surface being contiguous to said bores and the internal surfaces of said thrust bearings and said shaft, said rod external surface being concentric with said common axis, screw threaded means mounted on said rod in a position holding each said diffuser and each corresponding said thrust bearing in compression against each corresponding one of the two opposite ends of said shaft, said hub having an auxiliary hole extending completely therethrough defined by a cylindrical surface having an axis parallel to said common axis, said auxiliary hole surface being spaced from the internal and external cylindrical surfaces of said hub, each said boss having a concave surface around the exterior thereof, each said concave surface being a portion of a surface of revolution about said auxiliary hole axis of a raDius equal to that of said auxiliary hole cylindrical surface, the external surfaces of said bosses intercepting said concave surface in line edges lying in a single first predetermined plane, a second predetermined plane tangent to said auxiliary hole cylindrical surface parallel to said first plane being spaced apart a radial distance from said first plane measured from the interceptions of a straight line segment with said first and second planes perpendicular thereto, said radial distance being substantially larger than the difference between said auxiliary hole diameter and said radial distance, said diffusers being spaced apart a minimum axial diatance greater than the minimum axial width of said hub.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means includes first and second cup-shaped diffusers each having substantially identical external surfaces of revolution about a common axis, said diffusers being located on opposite sides of said rotor means, both said diffuser external sufaces inceasing in diameter in corresponding directions therefrom toward said rotor means, each diffuser having a lip fixed thereto in a position adjacent said rotor means extending radially outward, both of said lips having an outside diameter greater than that of said hub, said hub having a central portion defined within an external cylindrical surface having a predetermined axis of revolution, said central portion also being defined between parallel planes perpendicular to said axis, said hub having a boss fixed to each end thereof, each boss being defined between parallel planes perpendicular to said axis and a cylindrical surface of revolution about said axis, the outside diameter of said hub being greater than that of said bosses, both bosses having the same outside diameter and thickness, a stub shaft fixed to the end of each boss, each stub shaft being defined between parallel planes and a cylindrical external surface concentric with said axis, both stub shafts having the same length and diameter, each diffuser having a recess therein to surround each corresponding boss, each said recess being defined by a cylindrical surface concentric with said axis and a flat annular surface in a plane perpendicular thereto, each said recess having the same diameter and depth, said recess annular surfaces being spaced axially apart a distance greater than the perpendicular distance between the ends of said bosses, said lips being spaced apart a distance greater than the central portion of said hub, each said diffuser having an internal cylindrical bearing surface concentric with said axis, each stub shaft being journaled in each corresponding bearing surface and being rotatable therein and slidable axially therein, said diffuser cylindrical recess surfaces being spaced from but being located close to the corresponding cylindrical surfaces of said bosses, said passageway extending through said hub.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said passageway also extends through each stub shaft, said passageway having an open1ng at each end thereof into the space between said hub and a corresponding diffuser, each opening being located through the cylindrical surface of each corresponding stub shaft.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said passageway extends through said rotor means hub, said rotor means having a cylindrical bore, said support means including cylindrical means in said rotor means bore, said passageway being located in said hub between said bore and the said cylindrical external surface of said hub, said passageway being of such a size and location that enough fluid flows therethrough to place a retarding torque on said rotor means selectively within a predetermined low flow rate range to linearize the angular velocity of said rotor means per unit volume of fluid passing through said housing, said retarding torque being a result of the angular acceleration of fluid in said passageway.

Claim 7

A turbine flowmeter comprising: a hollow housing having an aPproximately cylindrical internal bore of a diameter, D, said bore having an axis; floating rotor means including a hub and a plurality of fan-like blades fixed thereto in a position extending radially outwardly therefrom; spider means fixed relative to said housing inside thereof, said spider means having a maximum cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis small in comparison to ( pi D2 )/4 wherein pi 3.1416; support means fixed relative to said spider means inside said bore, said rotor means being mounted on said support means and being rotatable relative thereto about said axis and axially slidable thereover; flow control means fixed relative to said support means, said flow control means including a diffuser fixed relative to said support means spaced axially from said rotor means on each side thereof, each said diffuser having an external surface which is approximately a surface of revolution concentric with said axis, the diameter of each said diffuser external surface increasing in an axial direction toward said rotor means, said flow control means being constructed and positioned to prevent fluid flowing axially inside said bore from reaching said rotor means except by flowing over the external surface of one of said diffusers toward said rotor means, said hub having an approximately cylindrical external surface of a diameter less than that of the maximum outside diameter of said one diffuser to reduce the pressure of fluid adjacent one side of said rotor means immediately adjacent said one diffuser below that on the other side thereof, at least one of said means having at least one passageway extending completely therethrough in communication with fluid on both of said rotor means sides to permit fluid to flow therethrough from said other rotor means side to said one side thereof, said passageway being large enough to relieve at least some of the pressure differential across said rotor means in a manner to keep said rotor means in different stationary axial positions as it rotates for different corresponding constant flow rates within a predetermined flow rate range, said support means having a cylindrical bearing surface concentric with said axis, said rotor means being spaced from and out of all contact with all solid structures therearound except said support means bearing surface when said rotor means is in each of said stationary axial positions, said rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with both of said diffusers.

Claim 8

A turbine flowmeter comprising: a hollow housing having an aPproximately cylindrical internal bore of a diameter, D, said bore having an axis; floating rotor means including a hub and a plurality of fan-like blades fixed thereto in a position extending radially outwardly therefrom; spider means fixed relative to said housing inside thereof, said spider means having a maximum cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis small in comparison to ( pi D2 )/4 wherein pi 3.1416; support means fixed relative to said spider means inside said bore, said rotor means being mounted on said support means and being rotatable relative thereto about said axis and axially slidable thereover; flow control means fixed relative to said support means, said flow control means including a diffuser fixed relative to said support means spaced axially from said rotor means on each side thereof, each said diffuser having an external surface which is approximately a surface of revolution concentric with said axis, the diameter of each said diffuser external surface increasing in an axial direction toward said rotor means, said flow control means being constructed and positioned to prevent fluid flowing axially inside said bore from reaching said rotor means except by flowing over the external surface of one of said diffusers toward said rotor means, said hub having an approximately cylindrical external surface of a diameter less than that of the maximum outside diameter of said one diffuser to reduce the pressure of fluid adjacent one side of said rotor means immediately adjacent said one diffuser below that on the other side thereof, at least one of said means having at least one passageway extending completely therethrough in communication with fluid on both of said rotor means sides to permit fluid to flow therethrough from said other rotor means side to said one side thereof, said passageway being large enough to relieve at least some of the pressure differential across said rotor means in a manner to keep said rotor means in different stationary axial positions as it rotates for different corresponding constant flow rates within a predetermined flow rate range, said support means having a cylindrical bearing surface concentric with said axis, said rotor means being spaced from and out of all contact with all solid structures therearound except said support means bearing surface when said rotor means is in each of said stationary axial positions, said rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with both of said diffusers.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said one diffuser includes a projection which extends radially outward from said axis at the end of said one diffuser immediately adjacent said rotor means, said lip extending to said one diffuser maximum outside diameter at an edge which is circular, concentric and symmetrical about said axis.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said other diffuser includes a projection which extends radially outward from said axis at the end of said other diffuser immediately adjacent said rotor means, said lip extending to the maximum outside diameter of said other diffuser at an edge which is circular, concentric and symmetrical about said axis, the maximum diameter of said other diffuser being greater than the outside diameter of said hub.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein said passageway extends through said rotor means hub, said rotor means having a cylindrical bore, said support means including cylindrical means in said rotor means bore, said passageway being located in said hub between said bore and the said cylindrical external surface of said hub.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein both of said diffusers are substantially identical.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said passageway extends through said rotor means hub, said rotor means having a cylindrical bore, said support means including cylindrical means in said rotor means bore, said passageway being located in sAid hub between said bore and the said cylindrical external surface of said hub.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 11, wherein said passageway is of such a size and location that enough fluid flows therethrough to place a retarding torque on said rotor means selectively within a predetermined low flow rate range to linearize the angular velocity of said rotor means per unit volume of fluid passing through said housing, said retarding torque being a result of the angular acceleration of fluid in said passageway.

Claim 15

A turbine flowmeter comprising: a hollow housing having an approximately cylindrical internal bore of a diamter, D, said bore having an axis; floating rotor means including a hub and a plurality of fan-like blades fixed thereto in a position extending radially outwardly therefrom; spider means fixed relative to said housing inside thereof, said spider means having a maximum cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis small in comparison to ( pi D2)/4 wherein pi 3.1416; support means fixed relative to said spider means inside said bore, said rotor means being mounted on said support means and being rotatable relative thereto about said axis and axially slidable thereover; flow control means fixed relative to said support means, said flow control means including a diffuser fixed relative to said support means spaced axially from said rotor means on each side thereof, each said diffuser having an external surface which is approximately a surface of revolution concentric with said axis, the diameter of each said diffuser external surface increasing in an axial direction toward said rotor means, said flow control means being constructed and positioned to prevent fluid flowing axially inside said bore from reaching said rotor means except by flowing over the external surface of one of said diffusers toward said rotor means, said hub having an approximately cylindrical external surface of a diameter less than that of the maximum outside diameter of the other diffuser to increase the pressure of fluid adjacent one side of said rotor means immediately adjacent said other diffuser above that on the other side thereof, at least one of said means having at least one passageway extending completely therethrough in communication with fluid on both of said rotor means sides to permit fluid to flow therethrough from said one rotor means side to said other side thereof, said passageway being large enough to relieve at least some of the pressure differential across said rotor means in a manner to keep said rotor means in different stationary axial positions as it rotates for different corresponding constant flow rates within a predetermined flow rate range, said support means having a cylindrical bearing surface concentric with said axis, said rotor means being spaced from and out of all contact with all solid structures therearound except said support means bearing surface when said rotor means is in each of said stationary axial positions, said rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with both of said diffusers. rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with both of said duffusers.

Claim 16

A turbine flowmeter comprising: a hollow housing having an approximately cylindrical internal bore of a diamter, D, said bore having an axis; floating rotor means including a hub and a plurality of fan-like blades fixed thereto in a position extending radially outwardly therefrom; spider means fixed relative to said housing inside thereof, said spider means having a maximum cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis small in comparison to ( pi D2)/4 wherein pi 3.1416; support means fixed relative to said spider means inside said bore, said rotor means being mounted on said support means and being rotatable relative thereto about said axis and axially slidable thereover; flow control means fixed relative to said support means, said flow control means including a diffuser fixed relative to said support means spaced axially from said rotor means on each side thereof, each said diffuser having an external surface which is approximately a surface of revolution concentric with said axis, the diameter of each said diffuser external surface increasing in an axial direction toward said rotor means, said flow control means being constructed and positioned to prevent fluid flowing axially inside said bore from reaching said rotor means except by flowing over the external surface of one of said diffusers toward said rotor means, said hub having an approximately cylindrical external surface of a diameter less than that of the maximum outside diameter of the other diffuser to increase the pressure of fluid adjacent one side of said rotor means immediately adjacent said other diffuser above that on the other side thereof, at least one of said means having at least one passageway extending completely therethrough in communication with fluid on both of said rotor means sides to permit fluid to flow therethrough from said one rotor means side to said other side thereof, said passageway being large enough to relieve at least some of the pressure differential across said rotor means in a manner to keep said rotor means in different stationary axial positions as it rotates for different corresponding constant flow rates within a predetermined flow rate range, said support means having a cylindrical bearing surface concentric with said axis, said rotor means being spaced from and out of all contact with all solid structures therearound except said support means bearing surface when said rotor means is in each of said stationary axial positions, said rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with both of said diffusers. rotor means being spaced from and completely out of contact with both of said duffusers.