Permanent magnet flowmeter having improved output terminal means

Claim 1

A magnetic flowmeter for measuring flow of a high temperature, high pressure potentially hazardous electrically conductive medium therethrough, comprising: an elongated body of nonmagnetic material having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, said body defining a wall surrounding said passageway for containing a longitudinal flow of conductive medium therein, said wall having a first thickness extending in a first direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the medium, said wall further having a second substantially greater thickness extending in a second direction perpendicular to both the direction of flow of the medium and said first direction; magnetic means for passing a magnetic field through said passageway in said first direction; and elongated terminal means extending in said second direction and integrally formed with said wall of said body, said terminal means formed by trepanning said wall in said second direction to form an inwardly extending cylindrical channel having a bottom, the bottom of said channel spaced from said passageway by a distance approximately equal to said first thickness whereby an electromotive force, generated in said flowing medium and proportional to the rate of flow of said medium through said flowmeter, is transmitted through said terminal means.