US4730500A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vortex generating mass flowmeter
Assignee: Hughes Technology Group LLC
•
Filing: 1984-01-12
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Granted: 1988-03-15
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Expires: 2004-01-12
Abstract
Abstract One or more rods are employed in the flow passage of the above-described flowmeter as the drag-producing bluff body. Conveniently, the rods can also serve as probes for sensing the pressure in the flow passage. In the preferred embodiment, one rod is radially oriented upstream of the restriction and another rod is radially oriented at an angle to the first rod within the restriction. The rods have hollow interiors connected to a ΔP transducer. The first rod has a chamfered end facing upstream.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathaniel Hughes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/34; G01F1/36; G01F1/40; G01F1/44; A; A61; A61M; A61M15/00; A61M16/00; A61M16/08; A61M16/0816; A61M16/0841; A61M16/0858; A61M16/10; A61M16/12; A61M16/122; A61M16/125; B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/34; B05B7/00; B05B7/02; B05B7/06; B05B7/062; B05B7/066; B05B7/10; G01F1/20; G01F1/32; G01F1/3209; A61M11/00; A61M11/06; A61M2206/00; A61M2206/10; A61M2206/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A vortex generating flowmeter comprising: a first port; a second port; a flow measurement passage between the ports; a restriction formed in the flow passage between the first and second ports, the restriction comprising a converging-diverging nozzle; a rod producing drag in the passage between the restriction and the second port; and means for sensing gas pressure in the vicinity of the rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A vortex generating flowmeter comprising: a first port; a second port; a flow measurement passage between the ports; a restriction formed in the flow passage between the first and second ports, the restriction comprising a converging-diverging nozzle; a rod producing drag in the passage between the restriction and the second port; and means for sensing gas pressure in the vicinity of the rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flowmeter of claim 1, in which the first port, the second port, and the passage are aligned with a common flow axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The flowmeter of claim 2, in which the rod lies in a plane transverse to the flow axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The flowmeter of claim 3, in which the converging-diverging nozzle has a cylindrical throat section between the converging and diverging sections of the nozzle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The flowmeter of claim 4, in which the portion of the passage between the restriction and the second port is cylindrical and larger in cross-sectional area than the nozzle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The flowmeter of claim 5, in which the sensing means comprises a pressure sensor and a passage through the rod from the interior of the flow measurement passage to the pressure sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flowmeter of claim 6, additionally comprising a rod extending into the restriction in a plane transverse to the flow axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The flowmeter of claim 7, in which the pressure sensor is a ΔP transducer having first and second inlets, a passage through the first recited rod being connected to the first inlet, the flowmeter additionally comprising a passage through the rod extending into the restriction and being connected to the second inlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The flowmeter of claim 8, in which the first rod is chamfered to face away from the restriction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flowmeter of claim 9, in which the rod extending into the restriction is squared off.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flowmeter of claim 10, in which the rod extending into the restriction extends into the restriction beyond the center of the passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The flowmeter of claim 11, in which the rods are oriented at an angle to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flowmeter of claim 1, additionally comprising a rod extending into the restriction in a plane transverse to the flow axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flowmeter of claim 13, additionally comprising a thick rod in the passage between the second port and the first recited rod.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The flowmeter of claim 14, in which the thick rod is diametrically disposed all the way across the passage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The flowmeter of claim 15, in which the thick rod is longitudinally aligned with the rod in the restriction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The flowmeter of claim 15, in which the thick rod is transverse to the rod in the restriction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The flowmeter of claim 17, in which one of the first rod and the second recited rod is chordially arranged.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The flowmeter of claim 17, in which the first and second rods are chordially arranged.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flowmeter of claim 13, in which the first and the second recited rods form an angle of approximately 30° with each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The flowmeter of claim 13, in which the sensing means comprises a pressure sensor and further comprises a passage through the rod extending into the restriction from the interior of the flow measurement passage to the pressure sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The flowmeter of claim 7, in which the first named rod is on one side of the restriction, the flowmeter additionally comprising a second rod extending into the passage on the other side of the restriction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flowmeter of claim 22, in which the first and second rods are both chamfered to face in the same direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The flowmeter of claim 23, in which the rod extending into the restriction extends completely across the passage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The flowmeter of claim 24, in which the first and second rods extend approximately to the middle of the passage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
The flowmeter of claim 25, in which the pressure sensor is a ΔP transducer having first and second inlets and the second rod comprises a passage, the passage through the first rod being connected to the first inlet, and the passage through the second rod being connected to the second inlet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flowmeter of claim 26, in which the rod extending into the restriction is thicker than the first and second rods.
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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) | 1991-03-15 | 1991-09-14 | 1992-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-15 | 1995-09-14 | 1996-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-15 | 1999-09-14 | 2000-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |