US3867840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Axial outlet flow transducer
Assignee: FLOSCAN INSTR CO
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Filing: 1973-05-29
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1993-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A flow transducer of the turbine or rotor type having a tangential input and axial outlet and zero-drag pickup means. The swirl chamber configuration of the transducer, together with other features, reduces or eliminates the effects of vapor bubbles in liquid flow by creating a spiral or helical flow pattern which separates the bubbles by a cyclonic or centripetal effect and minimizes their influence on rotor response. These bubbles can be trapped in a chamber in the rotor to buoy the rotor, thereby rendering it substantially weightless in the liquid. In addition, one or more baffles or irregularities are interposed within the chamber to disturb the flow in a non-linear fashion increasing with flow rate and compensating for an otherwise non-linear characteristic, thereby rendering the transducer highly linear over a wide range. The baffles are preferably of triangular cross-section wherein the apex is nearest the rotational path of the periphery of the rotor. Besides its linearity and ability to measure accurately the flow rate of liquid-vapor mixtures, the transducer is characterized by a very low pressure drop, simplicity and low cost.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfried Baatz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/06; G01F1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A flow transducer comprising: a. housing means defining a flow chamber having a wall, said wall being circular in cross-section; b. a rotor having a central rotational axis and having a plurality of blades extending outwardly from said central axis, and means mounting said rotor in said chamber for rotation about said axis responsive to fluid flow in said chamber; c. means in said housing for detecting the angular frequency of rotation of said rotor; d. inlet means in said housing means for injecting fluid into said chamber substantially tangentially to the wall of said chamber to establish flow around said chamber; e. outlet means located to discharge fluid from said chamber; and f. flow disturbing means in said chamber comprising a plurality of projections on the wall of said chamber, said projections having at least two side walls extending inwardly relative to the wall of said chamber and intersecting each other to form an edge located adjacent the peripheral portion of the path defined by the periphery of said blades when said rotor is rotating, said projections being triangularly shaped in crosssection, said flow disturbing means causing the rotational speed of said rotor to be reduced at high rotational speeds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A flow transducer comprising: a. housing means defining a flow chamber having a wall, said wall being circular in cross-section; b. a rotor having a central rotational axis and having a plurality of blades extending outwardly from said central axis, and means mounting said rotor in said chamber for rotation about said axis responsive to fluid flow in said chamber; c. means in said housing for detecting the angular frequency of rotation of said rotor; d. inlet means in said housing means for injecting fluid into said chamber substantially tangentially to the wall of said chamber to establish flow around said chamber; e. outlet means located to discharge fluid from said chamber; and f. flow disturbing means in said chamber comprising a plurality of projections on the wall of said chamber, said projections having at least two side walls extending inwardly relative to the wall of said chamber and intersecting each other to form an edge located adjacent the peripheral portion of the path defined by the periphery of said blades when said rotor is rotating, said projections being triangularly shaped in crosssection, said flow disturbing means causing the rotational speed of said rotor to be reduced at high rotational speeds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said flow disturbing means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transducer of claim 2 wherein said edge of each of said projections is substantially parallel to the axis of said rotor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein the side walls of the projections opposing the direction of flow in said chamber extend substantially radially inwardly from the wall of said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein the side wall of the projection next adjacent said inlet in the direction of flow in said chamber extends substantially radially inwardly from said outer wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The flow transducer of claim 1 wherein said chamber defines a primary portion of substantially cylindrical shape in which said rotor is mounted for rotation and a secondary portion offset axially from said primary portion and having a lesser diametral dimension than said primary portion, and wherein said outlet means is coupled with the secondary portion of said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The flow transducer of claim 5 wherein each of the blades of said rotor has rounded peripheral portion, said rounded portion being in a plane which inCludes the rotor axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The flow transducer of claim 1 wherein the indicator means comprises means for directing a beam of energy along a path intersected intermittently by the rotating rotor blades and means positioned to receive the energy beam and detect interruptions thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flow transducer of claim 1 wherein the rotor is constructed of material of specific gravity substantially equal to that of the fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The flow transducer of claim 9 wherein the rotor is mounted on a shaft extending along said central axis, the housing defining respective bearing means mounted adjacent said chamber to engage opposite ends of said shaft, said fluid outlet means having an opening thereto located adjacent to one of the bearing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said rotor further comprises an inverted bell-shaped element surrounding said central axis and forming a cavity open to the bottom of said rotor, said blades affixed to and extending outwardly from said bell-shaped element, said central axis being so oriented to entrap vapors from said fluid in said cavity in said bell-shaped element when said rotor rotates as said fluid flows through said chamber, said bell-shaped element and said rotor being so constructed as to entrap an amount of vapor sufficient to buoy said rotor in said fluid thereby to substantially equate the net specific gravity of said rotor to the fluid flowing through said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The flow transducer of claim 1 wherein the rotor has a plurality of tabs extending radially outwardly from the peripheral portion thereof, and wherein said indicator means comprises means for directing a beam of energy along a path intersected intermittently by the tabs as said rotor rotates and means positioned to receive the energy beam and detect interruptions thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
A flow transducer comprising: a. housing means defining a fluid flow chamber and fluid input and outlet means positioned to establish a substantially circular flow pattern about an axis within said chamber, said chamber having a peripheral wall spaced from and surrounding said axis; b. a bladed rotor mounted within said chamber for rotation about the axis in said chamber by fluid flowing therein; c. electrical indicator means mounted in said housing adjacent to said chamber for detecting the angular frequency of rotation of said rotor; and, d. a plurality of projections having a triangular cross-section extending inwardly from and spaced around the peripheral wall of said chamber, said projections having their inner terminus adjacent to the ends of the rotor blades to produce turbulence in the flow pattern around said chamber thereby inhibiting the rotational speed of said rotor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
A flow transducer comprising: a. housing means defining a fluid flow chamber and fluid input and outlet means positioned to establish a substantially circular flow pattern about an axis within said chamber, said chamber having a peripheral wall spaced from and surrounding said axis; b. a bladed rotor mounted within said chamber for rotation about the axis in said chamber by fluid flowing therein; c. electrical indicator means mounted in said housing adjacent to said chamber for detecting the angular frequency of rotation of said rotor; and, d. a plurality of projections having a triangular cross-section extending inwardly from and spaced around the peripheral wall of said chamber, said projections having their inner terminus adjacent to the ends of the rotor blades to produce turbulence in the flow pattern around said chamber thereby inhibiting the rotational speed of said rotor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The flow transducer of claim 13 wherein the chamber is substantially cylindrical.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The flow transducer of claim 14 wherein the input means is positioned to inject fluid into the chamber substantially tangentially thereof and the outlet means is positioned along the axis of the chamber to establish a helical flow pattern toward the center of the chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The flow transducer of claim 15 wherein the chamber includes a primary portion of substantially cylindrical shape and in which the rotor rotates, and a secondary portion offset axially from the primary portion and having a lesser diametral dimension than the primary portion, and wherein the outlet means is coupled with the secondary portion of the chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The flow transducer of claim 16 wherein the indicator means comprises means for directing a beam of energy along a path intersected intermittently by the rotating rotor blades and means positioned to receive the energy beam and detect interruptions thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |