US3838599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow meter
Assignee: TRI MATIC
•
Filing: 1973-02-05
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A flow meter for irrigation water uses an inverted U-tube with an upstream leg which drains into the pipe upstream of an orifice and a downstream leg which drains into a tank and the tank drains into the pipe downstream of the orifice. The tank has sufficient volume to trap sufficient air so the differential pressure is always measured from the tank to the water level in the upstream leg. All of the water in the system drains into the pipe to prevent freezing in cold weather and to catch a fresh charge of air into the U-tube. A ball floats to indicate the top of the water and a valve seat in the bight prevents bouncing the ball or water over the top. Air pumped in the water is captured in the Utube and drives out the water in the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 R Purtell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:01
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/46; G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/34; G01F1/36; G01F1/37; G01F1/375
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An indicator of the relative quantity of the flow of water in a pipe comprising: a. an orifice plate in the pipe, b. a post attached to the pipe at the orifice and extending vertically upward therefrom, c. an inverted U-shaped transparent tube attached to the post, said tube having i. an upstream leg and ii. a downstream leg, d. a tank attached to the top of the pipe, e. the tank having a volume greater than the volume of the tube, f. the bottom of the upstream leg of the tube fluidly connected to the top of the pipe upstream of the orifice plate so the water in the upstream leg drains into the pipe, g. the bottom of the downstream leg of the tube fluidly connected to the top of the tank so water in the downstream leg drains into the tank, and h. the bottom of the tank fluidly connected to the top of the pipe downstream of the orifice plate so water in the tank drains into the pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An indicator of the relative quantity of the flow of water in a pipe comprising: a. an orifice plate in the pipe, b. a post attached to the pipe at the orifice and extending vertically upward therefrom, c. an inverted U-shaped transparent tube attached to the post, said tube having i. an upstream leg and ii. a downstream leg, d. a tank attached to the top of the pipe, e. the tank having a volume greater than the volume of the tube, f. the bottom of the upstream leg of the tube fluidly connected to the top of the pipe upstream of the orifice plate so the water in the upstream leg drains into the pipe, g. the bottom of the downstream leg of the tube fluidly connected to the top of the tank so water in the downstream leg drains into the tank, and h. the bottom of the tank fluidly connected to the top of the pipe downstream of the orifice plate so water in the tank drains into the pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of j. a choke at the bottom of the upstream leg to prevent the water from surging into the tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitations of j. said tank in thermal conductive contact with said pipe, and k. having a volume of at least five times greater than the volume of the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of j. said tank having a volume of at least ten times greater than the volume of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of j. a ball having density less than water in the upstream leg.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 with an additional limitation of k. an annular ball stop in the bight of the U-shaped tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 with an additional limitation of m. said tank having a volume of at least 10 times greater than the volume of the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 with an additional limitation of n. said tank in thermal conductive contact with said pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 with an additional limitation of o. a choke at the bottom of the upstream leg to prevent the water from surging into the tube.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
166 words
The method of measuring the flow of water in a pipe comprising: a. restricting the flow of water in the pipe by an orifice of known size, b. flowing water from the pipe into an upstream leg of an inverted U-tube differential pressure meter responsive to water flow and water pressure in the pipe, c. flowing water from the pipe into a tank downstream of the orifice responsive to water pressure in the pipe, d. trapping sufficient air in the top of the tank and a connected downstream leg of the U-tube differential pressure meter, thus e. preventing any water flow into the downstream leg of the U-tube, thereby f. equalizing the air pressure in the upstream leg of the U-tube and the downstream leg of the U-tube and the top of the tank, thus, g. indicating by the height of the water in the upstream leg the differential pressure across the orifice and, thereby, h. indicating the rate of flow of water in the pipe.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
166 words
The method of measuring the flow of water in a pipe comprising: a. restricting the flow of water in the pipe by an orifice of known size, b. flowing water from the pipe into an upstream leg of an inverted U-tube differential pressure meter responsive to water flow and water pressure in the pipe, c. flowing water from the pipe into a tank downstream of the orifice responsive to water pressure in the pipe, d. trapping sufficient air in the top of the tank and a connected downstream leg of the U-tube differential pressure meter, thus e. preventing any water flow into the downstream leg of the U-tube, thereby f. equalizing the air pressure in the upstream leg of the U-tube and the downstream leg of the U-tube and the top of the tank, thus, g. indicating by the height of the water in the upstream leg the differential pressure across the orifice and, thereby, h. indicating the rate of flow of water in the pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 with an additional limitation of j. choking the flow of water into the upstream leg to prevent surging.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 with an additional limitation of j. flowing any air in the pipe into the upstream leg, thereby i. furnishing a visual indication of the amount of air pumped by the system, and further ii. driving the water from the tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 with an additional limitation of j. floating a ball on the top of the water of the upstream leg.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 with additional limitations of k. stopping the ball at the bight of the U-tube, and m. stopping fluid flow at the bight responsive to stopping the ball.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as defined in claim 14 with an additional limitation of n. choking the flow of water into the upstream leg to prevent surging.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as defined in claim 15 with an additional limitation of o. flowing any air in the pipe into the upstream leg, thereby i. furnishing a visual indication of the amount of air pumped by the system, and further ii. driving the water from the tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3600945A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |