Flow metering run with orifice plate

Claim 2

A flow run for connection to a differential pressure instrument of the type having a high pRessure body with an inlet of predetermined diameter and a low pressure body having a through-flow passageway with an inlet of predetermined diameter, said flow run comprising: a low pressure flange connector and a high pressure flange connector, each having an internal chamber formed therein communicating with an outlet opening, the outlet openings of said flange connectors conforming in diameter to the inlets of the high and low pressure bodies respectively of the differential pressure instrument to which the flow run is to be connected for sealing engagement with the inlets of said high and low pressure bodies, respectively, of the differential pressure instrument, fluid duct means interconnecting said internal chambers, an orifice plate having an aperture therein, removably supported across the outlet opening of the low pressure flange connector and a straight fluid inlet pipe connected into the internal chamber of the low pressure flange connector, said pipe having its axis of flow aligned with the aperture of the orifice plate to provide a straight flow path into the low pressure side of the differential pressure instrument, said inlet pipe having smooth inner surfaces and a controlled diameter and length.

Claim 3

The flow run assembly of claim 1 further including a screen-type flow straightener removably secured within said fluid inlet pipe upstream of said orifice plate.

Claim 4

The flow run assembly of claim 2 wherein said fluid duct means comprises a duct having a central bore therethrough, one end of said duct being fixed to one of said flange connectors and the other end of said duct being removably and sealingly engaged with the other of said flange connectors.

Claim 5

The flow meter run of claim 2 wherein said flow inlet pipe has an inside diameter of 0.500 inches and a length ten times the inside diameter.

Claim 6

The flow meter run of claim 2 wherein said screen comprises a fine wire mesh suspended two inlet pipe diameters upstream from the orifice plate.

Claim 7

The flow run assembly of claim 1 wherein the straight fluid inlet pipe has an inside diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the orifice plate and the length of the fluid inlet pipe is approximately ten times the inside diameter.

Claim 8

The flow run assembly of claim 2 wherein the screen type flow straightener comprises a fine wire mesh extending across the inside diameter of the straight fluid inlet pipe and lies along a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the straight fluid inlet pipe.

Claim 9

A flow meter comprising in combination: a differential pressure transducer, a housing for the transducer having a high pressure body and a low pressure body, the bodies having passageways communicating with the differential pressure transducer, each body-passageway having an inlet, with the passageway in the low pressure body constituting a through flow passageway for fluid the flow rate of which is to be measured, a low pressure flange connector having an internal chamber formed therein with an outlet opening communicating with the inlet of the low pressure body of the differential pressure transducer, a high pressure flange connector having an internal chamber formed therein with an outlet opening communicating with the inlet of the high pressure body of the differential pressure transducer, fluid duct means interconnecting said internal chambers, an orifice plate having an aperture therein, removably supported across the outlet opening of the low pressure flange connector and a straight fluid inlet pipe connected into the internal chamber of the low pressure flange connector, said pipe having its axis of flow aligned with the aperture of the orifice plate to provide a straight flow path into the low pressure side of the differential pressure transducer, said inlet pipe having smooth inner surfaces and a controlled diameter and length.

Claim 10

A flow meter comprising in combination: a differential pressure transducer, a housing for the transducer having a high pressure body and a low pressure body, the bodies having passageways communicating with the differential pressure transducer, each body-passageway having an inlet, with the passageway in the low pressure body constituting a through flow passageway for fluid the flow rate of which is to be measured, a low pressure flange connector having an internal chamber formed therein with an outlet opening communicating with the inlet of the low pressure body of the differential pressure transducer, a high pressure flange connector having an internal chamber formed therein with an outlet opening communicating with the inlet of the high pressure body of the differential pressure transducer, fluid duct means interconnecting said internal chambers, an orifice plate having an aperture therein, removably supported across the outlet opening of the low pressure flange connector and a straight fluid inlet pipe connected into the internal chamber of the low pressure flange connector, said pipe having its axis of flow aligned with the aperture of the orifice plate to provide a straight flow path into the low pressure side of the differential pressure transducer, said inlet pipe having smooth inner surfaces and a controlled diameter and length.