US3831446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring average flow rate
Assignee: Kendall Co
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Filing: 1973-05-14
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for measuring a duration of a liquid discharge having a hollow receptacle. The receptacle has an inlet port adjacent its upper end to receive the liquid discharge, and a cup-shaped pan below the inlet port to receive the liquid passing through the inlet port. The pan has a bore extending through the pan at a lower portion thereof and has an upper edge to direct overflow from the pan into a lower part of the receptacle. The receptacle also has a chamber below the pan communicating with the pan bore to collect liquid from the pan passing through the bore and to measure the period of time of the liquid discharge as indicated by the height of liquid collected in the chamber. Means is provided to also determine the total volume of the liquid discharge, and the average flow rate of the discharge may be determined from the measured volume and the time period of the discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 J Dye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:20
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F7/00; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/20; A61B5/207; A61B5/208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for measuring the duration of a liquid discharge comprising; a hollow receptacle having an inlet port adjacent the upper end of the receptacle to receive the liquid discharge, a cup-shaped pan below the inlet port to receive the liquid passing through the inlet port, said pan having a bore extending through the pan at a lower portion thereof and an upper edge to direct overflow from the pan into a lower part of the receptacle, and said receptacle having a chamber below said pan and communicating with the pan bore to collect liquid from the pan passing through the bore and measure the period of time of the liquid discharge as indicated by the height of liquid collected in the chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for measuring the duration of a liquid discharge comprising; a hollow receptacle having an inlet port adjacent the upper end of the receptacle to receive the liquid discharge, a cup-shaped pan below the inlet port to receive the liquid passing through the inlet port, said pan having a bore extending through the pan at a lower portion thereof and an upper edge to direct overflow from the pan into a lower part of the receptacle, and said receptacle having a chamber below said pan and communicating with the pan bore to collect liquid from the pan passing through the bore and measure the period of time of the liquid discharge as indicated by the height of liquid collected in the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The measuring device of claim 1 including means for directing the liquid discharge into the pan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The measuring device of claim 2 wherein said directing means comprises an inner baffle below the inlet port and above the pan to break the liquid discharge, with said baffle having a lower edge for directing the liquid into the pan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The measuring device of claim 3 wherein said receptacle includes a tapered portion adjacent the upper end of the receptacle to direct the liquid discharge against the baffle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The measuring device of claim 4 wherein said tapered portion directs the liquid to a rearward portion of the receptacle, said pan extends from a front wall of the receptacle, said baffle extends downwardly from a rear wall of the receptacle toward the front wall, and said baffle edge defines an opening between the baffle edge and the front wall above the pan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The measuring device of claim 1 including means for emptying collected liquid from said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The measuring device of claim 6 including means for venting said chamber to facilitate emptying of the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The measuring device of claim 6 wherein said receptacle includes a compartment below the upper edge of the pan to receive the overflow of liquid from the pan, and said emptying means comprises, valve means adjacent the lower end of the chamber for selectively opening and closing the chamber, and an exit tube communicating between the valve means and said compartment for passing liquid from the opened valve means to the compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The measuring device of claim 8 wherein said receptacle includes a depending tubular extension defining a lower portion of the compartment and said exit tube communicates with the compartment in said tubular extension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The measuring apparatus of claim 6 wherein the emptying means comprises upper and lower sections of said receptacle, said upper and lower sections being releasably secured to each other adjacent the upper end of the chamber and below the pan, whereby the upper section may be removed from the lower section for access to the liquid collected in said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The measuring apparatus of claim 10 wherein the upper end of said lower section and the lower end of the upper section have mating flanges to releasably secure the lower and upper sections together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The measuring device of claim 1 wherein said receptacle includes an upright wall partially defining said chamber and a compartment below the upper edge of the pan.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The measuring device of claim 12 including a container below the receptacle communicating with the compartment for passage of liquid from the compartment to the container and collection therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The measuring device of claim 13 including means for selectively emptying the collected liquid in said chamber into the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The measuring device of claim 13 including indicia on said container indicating the volume of liquid collected in tHe container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The measuring device of claim 1 including indicia on the receptacle indicating the period of time for the liquid discharge by the height of liquid collected in the chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The measuring device of claim 1 wherein said chamber has a substantially uniform cross sectional area from the bottom of the chamber to slightly below the bottom of said pan.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The measuring device of claim 1 wherein said receptacle includes a generally funnel-shaped member adjacent the upper end of the receptacle and defining said inlet port for directing the liquid discharge into the receptacle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The measuring device of claim 17 wherein said receptacle includes a cap adjacent its upper end for covering the receptacle, said cap having an aperture for removably receiving said funnel-shaped member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The measuring device of claim 1 including means for venting said chamber to facilitate passage of liquid from the pan into the chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The measuring device of claim 1 including indicia on the receptacle indicating the volume of liquid collected in the chamber.
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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |