Low velocity flow switch

Claim 2

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline, a housing including a base portion adapted for connection to a pipeline, said base portion including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, first lever means extending through said opening to enable a first end of the lever means to be positioned in the interior of a pipeline and a second end to be positioned within the housing, pressure responsive means supported on said first end of the lever means to establish contact with fluids and move in response to fluid flow, flexible seal means including an outer edge sealed to said base portion, flexible seal means including an opening through a central portion enabling said lever means to extend therethrough and providing a seal preventing fluids from entering said housing, rocker means, including a pivot bearing, coupled to the second end of said lever means to enable motion of said first end to be transmitted by the second end, pivot bearing means integral to a bracket fastened in said housing in engagement with said pivot bearing to provide a fulcrum about which the first lever means may rotate, second lever means fastened at one end to said rocker means, and a switch assembly including a plunger operated switch unit mounted on said bracket, said second lever means responding to motion imparted through said first lever means to the rocker means to operate said plunger.

Claim 3

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline comprising: a housing adapted for connection to a pipeline and including a base with an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, a bracket connected to said base, said bracket including first bearing means integral therewith, lever means in said housing extending through said opening to establish contact with fluids in said pipeline and respond to fluid flow therein, rocker means movably connected to said lever means, said rocker means including second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, said first bearing means and said second bearing means forming a pivot about which the lever means may rotate in response to said fluid flow, and switch means secured in said housing and coupled through coupling means to be operative responsive to motion imparted to said rocker means by rotation of said lever means about said pivot.

Claim 4

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline comprising: a housing adapted for connection to a pipeline and including a base with an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, a bracket connected to said base, said bracket including first bearing means integral therewith, lever means in said housing extending through said opening to establish contact with fluids in said pipeline and respond to fluid flow therein, rocker means movably connected to said lever means, said rocker means including second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, said first bearing means and said second bearing means forming a pivot about which the lever means may rotate in response to said fluid flow, and switch means secured in said housing and coupled through coupling means to be operative responsive to motion imparted to said rocker means by rotation of said lever means about said pivot.

Claim 5

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline, means comprising: a base adapted for connection to a pipeline and including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, a bracket fastened to said base, said bracket including first bearing means integral therewith, rocker means including second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, lever means extending through said opening, pressure responsive means engageable with a first end of the lever means to establish contact with fluids in a pipeline and respond to fluid flow, fastener means securing said rocker means to the second end of said lever means to receive motion from the lever means, said first bearing means and said second bearing means fitting together to form a pivot about which the lever means may rotate, said fastener means securing an actuator plate and spring to said rocker means and causing said actuator plate and spring to be deflected by motion of the lever at an angle of substantially 90° to that of the lever, flexible seal means fastened to the base to prevent fluid from exiting from the pipeline through the opening in the base through which the lever means extends, the flexible seal means enabling the lever means to transmit motion from its first end to its second end, and means mounted on said bracket responsive to motion of the rocker to provide indications of the status of fluid flow, said means mounted on said bracket including at least two electric switches coupled through two elements, an actuator arm and a second spring to assure uniform application of motion to the electric switches from said lever means through the rocker means.

Claim 6

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline, means comprising: a base adapted for connection to a pipeline and including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, a bracket fastened to said base, said bracket including first bearing means integral therewith, rocker means including second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, lever means extending through said opening, pressure responsive means engageable with a first end of the lever means to establish contact with fluids in a pipeline and respond to fluid flow, fastener means securing said rocker means to the second end of said lever means to receive motion from the lever means, said first bearing means and said second bearing means fitting together to form a pivot about which the lever means may rotate, said fastener means securing an actuator plate and spring to said rocker means and causing said actuator plate and spring to be deflected by motion of the lever at an angle of substantially 90° to that of the lever, flexible seal means fastened to the base to prevent fluid from exiting from the pipeline through the opening in the base through which the lever means extends, the flexible seal means enabling the lever means to transmit motion from its first end to its second end, and means mounted on said bracket responsive to motion of the rocker to provide indications of the status of fluid flow, said means mounted on said bracket including at least two electric switches coupled through two elements, an actuator arm and a second spring to assure uniform application of motion to the electric switches from said lever means through the rocker means.

Claim 7

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline, means comprising: a base adapted for connection to a pipeline and including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, a bracket fastened to said base, said bracket including first bearing means integral therewith, rocker means including second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, lever means extending through said opening, pressure responsive means engageable with a first end of the lever means to establish contact with fluids in a pipeline and respond to fluid flow, fastener means securing said rocker means to the second end of said lever means to receive motion from the lever means, said first bearing means and said second bearing means fitting together to form a pivot about which the lever means may rotate, said fastener means securing an actuator plate and spring to said rocker means and causing said actuator plate and spring to be deflected by motion of the lever at an angle of substantially 90° to that of the lever, flexible seal means fastened to the base to prevent fluid from exiting from the pipeline through the opening in the base through which the lever means extends, the flexible seal means enabling the lever means to transmit motion from its first end to its second end, and means mounted on said bracket responsive to motion of the rocker to provide indications of the status of fluid flow, said means to provide indications of the status of fluid flow including an electric switch assembly incorporating a plunger operated switch unit.

Claim 8

In a flow switch adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline, means comprising: a base adapted for connection to a pipeline and including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, a bracket fastened to said base, said bracket including first bearing means integral therewith, rocker means including second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, lever means extending through said opening, pressure responsive means engageable with a first end of the lever means to establish contact with fluids in a pipeline and respond to fluid flow, fastener means securing said rocker means to the second end of said lever means to receive motion from the lever means, said first bearing means and said second bearing means fitting together to form a pivot about which the lever means may rotate, said fastener means securing an actuator plate and spring to said rocker means and causing said actuator plate and spring to be deflected by motion of the lever at an angle of substantially 90° to that of the lever, flexible seal means fastened to the base to prevent fluid from exiting from the pipeline through the opening in the base through which the lever means extends, the flexible seal means enabling the lever means to transmit motion from its first end to its second end, and means mounted on said bracket responsive to motion of the rocker to provide indications of the status of fluid flow, said means to provide indications of the status of fluid flow including an electric switch assembly incorporating a plunger operated switch unit.

Claim 9

In a flow switch as claimed in claim 4, in which the means to provide indications in the switch unit comprises an actuator arm and a second spring secured to said rocker, said arm pivoted to the bracket in a manner enabling it to engage the plunger, and a set screw adjustable in said arm engaging said spring and altering the tension on said spring to thereby vary the force required to operate said plunger.

Claim 10

In a flow switch as claimed in claim 5, in which the switch assembly includes two plunger operated switch units, and the arm pivoted to the bracket is coupled through two elements to separately engage the plungers of the two switch units.

Claim 11

In a flow switch means adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline comprising: a base adapted for connection to a pipeline and including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, first bearing means forming part of an integral unit connected to said base, second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, pressure responsive means coupled to said second bearing means to establish contact with fluids in a pipeline and respond to fluid flow, said first bearing means and said second bearing means forming a pivot about which the pressure responsive means may rotate, a bracket fastened to said base, and means mounted on said bracket to provide indications of the status of fluid flow, including at least two electric switches coupled through two elements, an actuator arm and a spring to assure uniform applications of motion to the electric switches from said lever means through the rocker means.

Claim 12

In a flow switch means adapted to respond operatively to fluid flowing in a pipeline comprising: a base adapted for connection to a pipeline and including an opening for communication with the interior of a pipeline, first bearing means forming part of an integral unit connected to said base, second bearing means in engagement with said first bearing means, pressure responsive means coupled to said second bearing means to establish contact with fluids in a pipeline and respond to fluid flow, said first bearing means and said second bearing means forming a pivot about which the pressure responsive means may rotate, a bracket fastened to said base, and means mounted on said bracket to provide indications of the status of fluid flow, including at least two electric switches coupled through two elements, an actuator arm and a spring to assure uniform applications of motion to the electric switches from said lever means through the rocker means.