US3988933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid mass sensor for a zero gravity environment
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1974-11-07
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Granted: 1976-11-02
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Expires: 1994-11-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for determining the mass of a fluid comprising: a housing having an inlet and outlet for receiving and dumping the fluid, a rotary impeller within the housing for imparting centrifugal motion to the fluid and a pressure sensitive transducer attached to the housing to sense the rotating fluid pressure. In the method the fluid may be drawn into the housing by entrainment within a gas stream. The resulting mixture is then separated into two phases: gas and liquid. The gas is removed from the housing and the pressure of the liquid, under centrifugal motion, is sensed and correlated with the mass of the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with respect to an invention of Fletcher
- 👤 G. L. Fogal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/76; G01F1/78; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/20; A61B5/207; A61B5/208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for sensing and measuring fluid mass, said apparatus comprising: housing means having inlet means for receiving a liquid-gas fluid stream into said housing means; outlet means in said housing means for the dumping of fluid from said housing means; means for introducing a liquid-gas stream into said housing means through said inlet means; multi-bladed rotary impeller means within said housing means for imparting centrifugal motion to said fluid to form a liquid vortex within said housing means and to separate said fluid into its gas and liquid phases; power means connected to said rotary impeller means for effecting rotation thereof; speed controller means operatively associated with said power means for maintaining the rotary speed of said impeller means at a constant number of revolutions per minute; and pressure sensitive transducer means mounted in said housing for sensing the centrifugal liquid pressure and producing an electrical signal indicative of said pressure and representative of said fluid mass.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for sensing and measuring fluid mass, said apparatus comprising: housing means having inlet means for receiving a liquid-gas fluid stream into said housing means; outlet means in said housing means for the dumping of fluid from said housing means; means for introducing a liquid-gas stream into said housing means through said inlet means; multi-bladed rotary impeller means within said housing means for imparting centrifugal motion to said fluid to form a liquid vortex within said housing means and to separate said fluid into its gas and liquid phases; power means connected to said rotary impeller means for effecting rotation thereof; speed controller means operatively associated with said power means for maintaining the rotary speed of said impeller means at a constant number of revolutions per minute; and pressure sensitive transducer means mounted in said housing for sensing the centrifugal liquid pressure and producing an electrical signal indicative of said pressure and representative of said fluid mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing a liquid-gas stream into said housing means includes a draft blower means for drawing a liquid-gas fluid mixture into said housing means whereby said apparatus is operative in gravity and zero gravity environments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said rotary impeller means has a hollow hub in fluid communication with said inlet means and flowways through the blades thereof and in fluid communication with said hub whereby fluid received through said inlet means is dispensed through the blades of the impeller means into said housing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1956309A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-02 | 1980-05-03 | 1980-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-02 | 1984-05-03 | 1984-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-02 | 1988-05-03 | 1988-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |