Flowmeter

Claim 2

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and including a substantially flat central section and a plurality of individually radially extending leaf spring members, each covering a different one of said first plurality of openings, said valve members being supported for rotation with said shaft wherein the surface portion of said turbine member adjacent said leaf spring members is conical and further including means holding said substantially flat central section of said valve member against said turbine member; impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; means including a spring Member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 3

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft, a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and comprising a thin plate having a plurality of individually movable leaf members, each covering a different one of said first plurality of openings, and means pressing each leaf member against said turbine member, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncovering said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, the surface portion of said turbine member which is adjacent to said plurality of individually movable leaf members being conical; impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 4

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft, a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and comprising a thin plate having a plurality of individually movable leaf members, each covering a different one of said first plurality of openings, and means pressing each leaf member against said turbine member, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncovering said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, the surface portion of said turbine member which is adjacent to said plurality of individually movable leaf members being conical; impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 5

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member also having a first plurality of openings therein separate from said plurality of angled surfaces which extend through said turbine member; a valve member adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and deflecting in response to fluid pressure to yieldingly uncover said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter; impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 6

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member also having a first plurality of openings therein separate from said plurality of angled surfaces which extend through said turbine member; a valve member adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and deflecting in response to fluid pressure to yieldingly uncover said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter; impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 7

A flowmeter as defined in claim 3, wherein said valve member has a substantially flat central hub section and a plurality of individual radially extending leaf spring members.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the outer ends of each of said radially extending members are arcuate.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said plurality of openings are located radially inward from said angled surfaces.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said valve member is in the form of a thin plate having a plurality of individually movable leaf members each covering a different one of said openings, and means pressing each leaf member against said turbine member.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said valve member is provided with a substantially flat central section and a plurality of individual radially extending leaf spring members and wherein each of said leaf spring members is disposed at an angle of approximately 20* relative to the plane of said flat section before assembly.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said turbine member has an interior conical surface forming an angle of approximately 65* relative to said shaft.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said openings are located between adjacent ones of said angled surfaces.

Claim 14

A turbine and valve assembly for a fuel flow transmitter comprising a turbine member in the shape of a frustrum of a cone having a plurality of fluid bypass holes therethrough and a plurality of turbine blade surfaces; a spring valve plate member having a plurality of spring members each aligned with one of said holes; and means holding said plate member engaged with said turbine member for rotation therewith with said spring members yieldingly covering said holes.

Claim 15

A turbine and valve assembly for a fuel flow transmitter comprising a turbine member in the shape of a frustrum of a cone having a plurality of fluid bypass holes therethrough and a plurality of turbine blade surfaces; a spring valve plate member having a plurality of spring members each aligned with one of said holes; and means holding said plate member engaged with said turbine member for rotation therewith with said spring members yieldingly covering said holes.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said holes are located radially inward from said blades.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said blade surfaces are defined by a plurality of slots cut at an angle around the outer edge of the cone.

Claim 18

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member having a substantially flat central hub section and a plurality of individual radially extending leaf-spring members, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncovering said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 19

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means; a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member having a substantially flat central hub section and a plurality of individual radially extending leaf-spring members, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncovering said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 20

A flowmeter as defined in claim 14, wherein the outer ends of each of said radially extending members are arcuate.

Claim 21

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means, a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncovering said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, said valve member being in the form of a thin plate having a plurality of individually movable leaf members each covering a different one of said openings, and means pressing each leaf member against said turbine member; impeller means supported for rotation in said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft to that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 22

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means, a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncovering said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, said valve member being in the form of a thin plate having a plurality of individually movable leaf members each covering a different one of said openings, and means pressing each leaf member against said turbine member; impeller means supported for rotation in said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft to that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 23

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means, a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member being provided with a substantially flat central section and a plurality of individual radially extending leaf-spring members and wherein each of said leaf-spring members is disposed at an angle of approximately 20* relative to the plane of said flat section before assembly, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncoveRing said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 24

A flowmeter comprising in combination: housing means having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid discharge opening; a shaft supported for rotation in said housing means, a turbine member secured to said shaft and having a plurality of angled surfaces which are positioned to react with fluid passing thereacross to cause rotation of said shaft, said member having a first plurality of openings therein which extend through said turbine member generally parallel to said shaft; a valve member positioned adjacent said turbine member and substantially covering said first plurality of openings, said valve member being provided with a substantially flat central section and a plurality of individual radially extending leaf-spring members and wherein each of said leaf-spring members is disposed at an angle of approximately 20* relative to the plane of said flat section before assembly, said valve member being supported for rotation with said shaft and turbine member and yieldingly uncoveRing said first plurality of openings with increases in flow through said flowmeter, impeller means supported for rotation inside said housing means; and means including a spring member coupling said impeller means to said shaft so that said impeller means rotates with but lags behind said shaft as a function of mass flow rate.

Claim 25

A flowmeter as defined in claim 17, wherein said turbine member has an interior conical surface forming an angle of approximately 65* relative to said shaft.