Process flow meter

Claim 2

A process flow meter comprising a housing defining a passageway for the flow of a fluid; a stator fixedly mounted within said housing in the path of flow of the fluid to impart a swirl to the fluid passing therethrough; a rotor rotatably mounted within said stator in the path of flow of the fluid for rotation under the flow of fluid passing therethrough; means for inducing a drag force on said rotor in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotor under the flow of fluid passing therethrough to create a controlled pressure drop in the flow of fluid; and means for measuring the flow of fluid through said housing.

Claim 3

In combination with a pipeline with a flow of fluid; a process flow meter within said pipeline in the pAth of flow of the fluid for creating a pressure drop in the flow of fluid passing therethrough, said flow meter having a stator in the path of flow of the fluid to impart a swirl to the fluid passing therethrough and a rotor rotatably mounted downstream of said stator with respect to the flow of fluid for rotation under the flow of fluid passing therethrough from said stator to obtain work, and means for absorbing at least a portion of the obtained work from said rotor; and a potentiometer for generating a signal indicative of the position of said rotor relative to said stator, a coil about said rotor for inducing D.C. bits in proportioned response to the rotation of said rotor, a pair of pressure differential measuring devices upstream and downstream of said flow meter for measuring the pressures thereat, and a computer connected to said potentiometer, coil and said devices to receive the signal from said potentiometer, the induced bits from said coil and the measured pressures to readout the flow passing through said flow meter.

Claim 4

In combination with a pipeline with a flow of fluid; a process flow meter within said pipeline in the pAth of flow of the fluid for creating a pressure drop in the flow of fluid passing therethrough, said flow meter having a stator in the path of flow of the fluid to impart a swirl to the fluid passing therethrough and a rotor rotatably mounted downstream of said stator with respect to the flow of fluid for rotation under the flow of fluid passing therethrough from said stator to obtain work, and means for absorbing at least a portion of the obtained work from said rotor; and a potentiometer for generating a signal indicative of the position of said rotor relative to said stator, a coil about said rotor for inducing D.C. bits in proportioned response to the rotation of said rotor, a pair of pressure differential measuring devices upstream and downstream of said flow meter for measuring the pressures thereat, and a computer connected to said potentiometer, coil and said devices to receive the signal from said potentiometer, the induced bits from said coil and the measured pressures to readout the flow passing through said flow meter.

Claim 5

A process flow meter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a seat ring on said stator to define an aperture for the flow of fluid passing out of said stator, and a sealing disc mounted on said rotor and having a surface for mating with said seat ring in a closed position of said rotor to seal said aperture to the flow of fluid.

Claim 6

A process flow meter as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises means for moving said rotor axially relative to said stator to vary the flow of fluid passing through said rotor from said stator.

Claim 7

A control valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for measuring includes a meter means for indicating the position of said rotor relative to said stator, a counter means for measuring the speed of said rotor and a pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure drop in the fluid across said housing.