Universal sensing apparatus for sensing volumetric rate of fluid flow

Claim 2

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow, including a pair of hollow tubular members, each having side openings, and means for measuring differential pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: spacer plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the spacer plates to form an assembled unit, unit supporting means for supporting said tubular members in the path of fluid flow, said members being so supported that one member senses one fluid pressure, and the other member senses another fluid pressure, means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members to the means for measuring differential pressure to measure the difference in the fluid pressures and to provide an indication of the differential pressure which may be converted to volumetric rates of fluid flow, and circular fins around the tubular members and axially spaced therealong to locally smooth the flow of fluid thereacross, wherein the circular fins are annular disks with a central hole having an inside diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of the tubular members for being slid thereover and held axially spaced by the engagement therebetween.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow in a hollow duct having walls, said apparatus including a pair of hollow tubular members of a length to fit between the walls and to extend across the duct, each member having side openings and means for measuring differential fluid pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: end plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the end plates to form an assembled unit, wherein the member mounting means rotatably mounts the members for rotation relative the end plates; unit supporting means for mounting the unit in the duct with the hollow tubular members extending thereacross and with the end plates located adjacent to associated duct walls, wherein the unit supporting means rotatably mounts the members for rotation relative the walls of the duct; means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members through the duct walls to the means for measuring differential fluid pressure so as to provide an indication of differential fluid pressure which may be converted to volumetric rate of fluid flow; and holding means for selectively holding the members from rotating, said members being rotatable against said holding means to provide different orientations of the openings with respect to the flow of fluid for checking the volumetric flow rate.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow in a hollow duct having walls, said apparatus including a pair of hollow tubular members of a length to fit between the walls and to extend across the duct, each member having side openings and means for measuring differential fluid pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: end plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the end plates to form an assembled unit, wherein the member mounting means rotatably mounts the members for rotation relative the end plates; unit supporting means for mounting the unit in the duct with the hollow tubular members extending thereacross and with the end plates located adjacent to associated duct walls, wherein the unit supporting means rotatably mounts the members for rotation relative the walls of the duct; means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members through the duct walls to the means for measuring differential fluid pressure so as to provide an indication of differential fluid pressure which may be converted to volumetric rate of fluid flow; and holding means for selectively holding the members from rotating, said members being rotatable against said holding means to provide different orientations of the openings with respect to the flow of fluid for checking the volumetric flow rate.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow, including a pair of hollow tubular members, each having side openings, and Means for measuring differential pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: spacer plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the spacer plates to form an assembled unit; unit supporting means for supporting said tubular members in the path of fluid flow, said members being so supported that one member senses one fluid pressure and the other member senses another fluid pressure; means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members to the means for measuring differential pressure to measure the difference in the fluid pressures and to provide an indication of the differential pressure which may be converted to volumetric rate of fluid flow wherein the member mounting means rotatably mounts the tubular members to the spacer plates; and holding means are provided for holding the tubular members in selected rotative positions relative the spacer plates, wherein the holding means includes dimples in the end caps, and spring washers located on the spacer plates, said spring washers having mating dimples for mating with the end cap dimples in selected rotative positions of the tubular members.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow, including a pair of hollow tubular members, each having side openings, and Means for measuring differential pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: spacer plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the spacer plates to form an assembled unit; unit supporting means for supporting said tubular members in the path of fluid flow, said members being so supported that one member senses one fluid pressure and the other member senses another fluid pressure; means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members to the means for measuring differential pressure to measure the difference in the fluid pressures and to provide an indication of the differential pressure which may be converted to volumetric rate of fluid flow wherein the member mounting means rotatably mounts the tubular members to the spacer plates; and holding means are provided for holding the tubular members in selected rotative positions relative the spacer plates, wherein the holding means includes dimples in the end caps, and spring washers located on the spacer plates, said spring washers having mating dimples for mating with the end cap dimples in selected rotative positions of the tubular members.

Claim 7

In a method of determining volumetric rate of fluid flow using a pair of substantially identical hollow tubular members having side openings therein, said tubular members extending across the flow of fluid and being fluidly connected to a means for measuring differential fluid pressure, including the steps of: locating the openings of one tubular member to face the flow of fluid; locating the openings of the other tubular member to face other than toward the flow of fluid; reading the means for measuring differential fluid pressure to provide an indication of the differential fluid pressure between the members; and converting the indication of the differential fluid pressure to volumetric flow rate, the improvement comprising the steps of: repositioning the tubular members to locate the openings of said one tubular member to face other than towards the flow of fluid and the openings of said other tubular member to face the flow of fluid; reading the means for measuring differential fluid pressure to determine volumetric rate of air flow; and comparing the two volumetric rates.

Claim 8

In a method of determining volumetric rate of fluid flow using a pair of substantially identical hollow tubular members having side openings therein, said tubular members extending across the flow of fluid and being fluidly connected to a means for measuring differential fluid pressure, including the steps of: locating the openings of one tubular member to face the flow of fluid; locating the openings of the other tubular member to face other than toward the flow of fluid; reading the means for measuring differential fluid pressure to provide an indication of the differential fluid pressure between the members; and converting the indication of the differential fluid pressure to volumetric flow rate, the improvement comprising the steps of: repositioning the tubular members to locate the openings of said one tubular member to face other than towards the flow of fluid and the openings of said other tubular member to face the flow of fluid; reading the means for measuring differential fluid pressure to determine volumetric rate of air flow; and comparing the two volumetric rates.

Claim 9

The method as in claim 4 wherein the tubes are rotatably mounted and the step of repositioning the tubular members includes rotating the tubular members, and thereafter holding the tubular members when so repositioned.

Claim 10

The method as in claim 5 wherein each tubular member is non-rotatable connected to a bushing which is otherwise rotatable and wherein the step of rotating the tubular members includes the steps of rotating a first bushing of said bushings and the tubular member connected thereto, to the desired position and then rotating a second bushing of said bushings and the tubular member connected thereto to the desired position.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow, including a pair of hollow tubular members, each having side openings, and means for measuring differential pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: spacer plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the spacer plates to form an assembled unit, wherein the member mounting means includes a protruding bushing, and wherein the fluid flow is confined by walls, said walls having holes therethrough for receiving therethrough one end of the bushing; unit supporting means for supporting said tubular members in the path of fluid flow, said members being so supported that one member senses one fluid pressure and the other member senses another fluid pressure; and means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members to the means for measuring differential pressure to measure the difference in the fluid pressuRes and to provide an indication of the differential pressure which may be converted to volumetric rate of fluid flow, wherein a bushing is provided for each tubular member, and wherein the means for fluidly connecting the interior of the members to a means for measuring differential fluid pressure includes a central bore in each bushing.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for sensing the volumetric rate of fluid flow, including a pair of hollow tubular members, each having side openings, and means for measuring differential pressure, the improvement comprising the provision of: spacer plates for mounting the tubular members in spaced relationship; member mounting means for mounting the tubular members to the spacer plates to form an assembled unit, wherein the member mounting means includes a protruding bushing, and wherein the fluid flow is confined by walls, said walls having holes therethrough for receiving therethrough one end of the bushing; unit supporting means for supporting said tubular members in the path of fluid flow, said members being so supported that one member senses one fluid pressure and the other member senses another fluid pressure; and means for fluidly connecting the interior of said hollow tubular members to the means for measuring differential pressure to measure the difference in the fluid pressuRes and to provide an indication of the differential pressure which may be converted to volumetric rate of fluid flow, wherein a bushing is provided for each tubular member, and wherein the means for fluidly connecting the interior of the members to a means for measuring differential fluid pressure includes a central bore in each bushing.

Claim 13

The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein at least one bushing is non-rotatably attached to its respective tubular member, and is rotatably mounted in the spacer plates, and in the walls; whereby rotation of the one bushing rotates the respective tubular member.

Claim 14

The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein each one bushing is provided with a wrench attaching means, or receiving a wrench thereon, rotation of the wrench, when received thereon, rotating the bushing and its respective tubular member.

Claim 15

The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein a template is provided on the wall for locating the holes for the bushings.

Claim 16

The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the template also includes indicia for converting differential fluid pressure into volumetric rate of fluid flow.