Patent US3795131A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3795131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spin testing apparatus for turbine-type flow meters
Assignee: Sensus Spectrum LLC
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Filing: 1971-03-17
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Granted: 1974-03-05
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Expires: 1991-03-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring a performance-indicating parameter in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which the turbine meter rotor and other operative rotatable parts of the turbine meter are selectively accelerated and then allowed to coast so that the rate of the rotor rotational speed is dependent upon accuracyimpairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the turbine meter rotor. The measured performance-indicating parameter is comparable with a reference parameter to determine if an increase has occurred in the mechanical friction which is developed by the operative meter parts under test. The measured performance indicating parameter may be the time required by the coasting turbine meter rotor to decay from one pre-selected speed to a lower pre-selected speed, or it may be the change in decaying rotor speed that occurs in a pre-selected time period.
Inventors
- 👤 Z Wade
- 👤 W Kolash
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F25/00; G01F25/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for providing fluid flow turbine meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast, whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising means for detecting the occurrence of different first and second preselected magnitudes of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor, said second pre-selected magnitude being less than said first pre-selected magnitude, and means responsive to the detection of said first and second preselected magnitudes of the rotor rotational speed for providing a predetermined parameter than can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test subsequent to the determination of said reference parameter, said predetermined parameter being the time required by the coasting rotor to decelerate froM said first pre-selected magnitude to said second pre-selected magnitude.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for providing fluid flow turbine meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast, whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising means for detecting the occurrence of different first and second preselected magnitudes of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor, said second pre-selected magnitude being less than said first pre-selected magnitude, and means responsive to the detection of said first and second preselected magnitudes of the rotor rotational speed for providing a predetermined parameter than can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test subsequent to the determination of said reference parameter, said predetermined parameter being the time required by the coasting rotor to decelerate froM said first pre-selected magnitude to said second pre-selected magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means providing a measurement of said parameter comprises a timing device, and wherein said detecting means comprises signal producing means for producing a signal that represents the rotational speed of said rotor, and means controlled by said signal, said signal controlled means being effective (a) to activate said timing device when said signal corresponds to said first pre-selected magnitude and (b) to de-activate said timing device when said signal corresponds to said second pre-selected magnitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means providing a measurement of said parameter comprises a timer, and wherein said detecting means comprises electrical signal-producing means adapted to be operatively associated with one of the rotatable components of said meter for producing an electrical signal that represents the rotational speed of said rotor, and means controlled by said signal, said signal controlled means being effective (a) to activate said timer when said signal corresponds to said first pre-selected magnitude and (b) to de-activate said timer when said signal corresponds to said second pre-selected magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said signal producing means comprises a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses with a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said rotor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said detecting means further comprises means for converting the pulses generated by said pulse generator into an analog output, and means controlled by said analog output for completing a circuit to activate said timer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said detecting means further comprises a circuit having an input connected to receive the pulses generated by said pulse generator for producing a train of output pulses whose pulse widths are proportional to the frequency of the generator produced pulses, means for counting the number of pulses produced by said circuit and for producing a predetermined triggering signal upon the accumulation of a pre-selected number of counted-in pulses, and means responsive to said triggering signal for de-activating said timer by breaking the circuit that was established to activate said timer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first pre-selected magnitude of the rotor rotational speed is within that range of relatively low rotor rotational speeds in which the deceleration of the coasting rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising first means operative by activation and subsequent deactivation to produce an output that represents a predetermined, performance-indicating parameter which can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test, second means effective upon the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to a pre-selected magnitude to activate said first means, and third means effective upon the expiration of a pre-selected time period following the decay of said coasting rotor speed to said pre-selected magnitude for deactivating said first means, said performance indicating parameter being the change that occurs in the rotational speed of the coasting rotor during said preselected time period.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising first means operative by activation and subsequent deactivation to produce an output that represents a predetermined, performance-indicating parameter which can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test, second means effective upon the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to a pre-selected magnitude to activate said first means, and third means effective upon the expiration of a pre-selected time period following the decay of said coasting rotor speed to said pre-selected magnitude for deactivating said first means, said performance indicating parameter being the change that occurs in the rotational speed of the coasting rotor during said preselected time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said pre-selected magnitude of the decaying rotor speed is within that range of relatively low rotOr rotational speeds in which deceleration of the rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for providing fluid flow turbine meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast, whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of said rotor, said apparatus comprising means for producing an electrical signal that represents the decaying speed of the coasting rotor, and means under the control of said signal for measuring the time required for the speed of the coasting rotor to decay from one pre-selected speed to a lower preselected speed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for providing fluid flow turbine meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast, whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of said rotor, said apparatus comprising means for producing an electrical signal that represents the decaying speed of the coasting rotor, and means under the control of said signal for measuring the time required for the speed of the coasting rotor to decay from one pre-selected speed to a lower preselected speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said signal producing means comprises a pulse generator that is operatively associated with a rotatable component of said meter for generating pulses at a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said rotor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said means under the control of said signal comprises a timer, first means responsive to a generator produced pulse frequency corresponding to said one pre-selected speed for completing a circuit to activate said timer, and second means responsive to a generator produced pulse frequency corresponding to said lower pre-selected speed for de-activating said timer by breaking said circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said means under the control of said signal comprises a counter for continuously counting the pulses supplied by said generator during the entire time interval between the occurrence of said one preselected speed and the occurrence of said lower pre-selected speed, said one pre-selected speed being within the range of relatively low rotor rotational speeds in which deceleration of said rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising first means for supplying a train of electrical pulses having a characteristic that is indicative of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor, a counter for counting said pulses, second means connected between said counter and said pulse supplying means for controlling the supply of said pulses to said counter, third means responsive to the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to a pre-selected value to condition said second means to supply said pulses to said counter, and fourth means responsive to the expiration of a preselected time after the rotational speed of the coasting rotor has decayed to said pre-selected value for conditioning said second means to block the supply of said pulses to said counter, said counter upon counting the pulses supplied to it during said pre-selected time providing an indication of the change in rotor rotational speed that occurred during said pre-selected time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising first means for supplying a train of electrical pulses having a characteristic that is indicative of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor, a counter for counting said pulses, second means connected between said counter and said pulse supplying means for controlling the supply of said pulses to said counter, third means responsive to the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to a pre-selected value to condition said second means to supply said pulses to said counter, and fourth means responsive to the expiration of a preselected time after the rotational speed of the coasting rotor has decayed to said pre-selected value for conditioning said second means to block the supply of said pulses to said counter, said counter upon counting the pulses supplied to it during said pre-selected time providing an indication of the change in rotor rotational speed that occurred during said pre-selected time.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising a timer operative by activation and subsequent deactivation to produce an output that represents a predetermined, performance-indicating parameter which can be compared with a reference parameter to detErmine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test, said performance-indicating parameter being the time required for the speed of the coasting rotor to decrease from a first pre-selected magnitude to a second pre-selected magnitude that is less than said first pre-selected magnitude, second means effective upon the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to said first pre-selected magnitude to activate said timer, and third means effective upon the decay of the rotor rotational speed to said second pre-selected magnitude to deactivate said timer, said first pre-selected magnitude of the decaying rotor speed being within that range of relative low rotor rotational speeds in which deceleration of the rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising a timer operative by activation and subsequent deactivation to produce an output that represents a predetermined, performance-indicating parameter which can be compared with a reference parameter to detErmine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test, said performance-indicating parameter being the time required for the speed of the coasting rotor to decrease from a first pre-selected magnitude to a second pre-selected magnitude that is less than said first pre-selected magnitude, second means effective upon the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to said first pre-selected magnitude to activate said timer, and third means effective upon the decay of the rotor rotational speed to said second pre-selected magnitude to deactivate said timer, said first pre-selected magnitude of the decaying rotor speed being within that range of relative low rotor rotational speeds in which deceleration of the rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for providing fluid flow turbine meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast, whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising means for detecting the occurrence of first and second pre-selected conditions, said first condition being a pre-selected magnitude of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor, and said second condition being the expiration of a pre-selected time period following the detection of said pre-selected magnitude of the rotor rotational speed, and means responsive to the detection of said first and second conditions for providing a measurement of a predetermined parameter than can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test subsequent to the determination of said reference parameter, said predetermined parameter being the change in the rotational speed of the coasting rotor that occurs during said pre-selected time period.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for providing fluid flow turbine meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast, whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising means for detecting the occurrence of first and second pre-selected conditions, said first condition being a pre-selected magnitude of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor, and said second condition being the expiration of a pre-selected time period following the detection of said pre-selected magnitude of the rotor rotational speed, and means responsive to the detection of said first and second conditions for providing a measurement of a predetermined parameter than can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test subsequent to the determination of said reference parameter, said predetermined parameter being the change in the rotational speed of the coasting rotor that occurs during said pre-selected time period.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said pre-selected magnitude of the rotor rotational speed is within that range of relatively low rotor rotational speeds in which the deceleration of the coasting rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
201 words
The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said means providing a measurement of said predetermined parameter comprises a counter means, and wherein said detecting means comprises a pulse generator adapted to be operatively associated with a rotatable component of said meter for generating electrical pulses at a frequency that is proportional to the rotational speed of said rotor, timing oscillator means for generating pulses at a pre-selected frequency that corresponds to said pre-selected magnitude, circuit means operatively connected to said generator and said oscillator and being effective to provide a predetermined signal when the frequency of pulses generated by said generator matches the frequency of the pulses produced by said oscillator means, a network forming a part of said circuit means and being operatively connected to said generator for producing output pulses whose widths are proportional to the frequency of the generator-produced pulses, a timer, means responsive to said predetermined signal for enabling the pulses supplied by said network to be applied to said counter means and for activating said timer means, said timer means being effective upon a pre-selected time after it is activated to supply another signal that inhibits the transmission of the network-supplied pulses to said counter means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent uPon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising first means operative by activation and subsequent deactivation to produce an output that represents a predetermined, performance-indicating parameter which can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test, second means effective upon the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to a first pre-selected magnitude to activate said first means, and third means effective upon the decay of said coasting rotor speed to a second pre-selected magnitude that is less than said first pre-selected magnitude for deactivating said first means, said output of said first means being indicative of the time required for the speed of the coasting rotor to decay from said first pre-selected magnitude to said second pre-selected magnitude.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent uPon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising first means operative by activation and subsequent deactivation to produce an output that represents a predetermined, performance-indicating parameter which can be compared with a reference parameter to determine if there has been a change in the mechanical friction developed by the operative meter parts under test, second means effective upon the decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor to a first pre-selected magnitude to activate said first means, and third means effective upon the decay of said coasting rotor speed to a second pre-selected magnitude that is less than said first pre-selected magnitude for deactivating said first means, said output of said first means being indicative of the time required for the speed of the coasting rotor to decay from said first pre-selected magnitude to said second pre-selected magnitude.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein said first pre-selected magnitude of the decaying rotor speed is within that range of relatively low rotor rotational speeds in which deceleration of the rotor is substantially constant.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising means for detecting the occurrence of a pre-selected magnitude of the decaying rotational speed of the coasting rotor, and means rendered effective by the detection of said pre-selected magnitude by said detecting means to indicate the change that occurs in the decaying rotor rotational speed in a preselected time period following the detection of said pre-selected magnitude to provide a measurement which is capable of comparison with a reference parameter for determining if there has been a change in the mechanical friction that is developed by the operative meter parts under test.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for providing meter performance data in a fluid flow turbine meter spin test in which rotatable turbine meter components forming a part of a fluid flow turbine meter and comprising a turbine meter rotor are accelerated and then allowed to coast whereby the rate of decay of the rotational speed of the coasting rotor is dependent upon accuracy-impairing mechanical friction which resists rotation of the rotor, said apparatus comprising means for detecting the occurrence of a pre-selected magnitude of the decaying rotational speed of the coasting rotor, and means rendered effective by the detection of said pre-selected magnitude by said detecting means to indicate the change that occurs in the decaying rotor rotational speed in a preselected time period following the detection of said pre-selected magnitude to provide a measurement which is capable of comparison with a reference parameter for determining if there has been a change in the mechanical friction that is developed by the operative meter parts under test.
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) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |