In-line parallel proportionally partitioned by-pass metering device and method

Claim 1

A method for measuring total fluid flow within a closed conduit system utilizing a reduced size flowmeter comprising the steps of: providing an inlet tube with a first portion within a main conduit and aligned substantially parallel with the fluid flow and a second portion extending from inside the main conduit to outside the main conduit and in communication with a reduced size flowmeter; extracting via said inlet tube a measurable proportional amount of fluid from said fluid flow within said main conduit; measuring the flow of said extracted portion of said fluid with said reduced size flowmeter external to said fluid flow; providing a outlet tube with a first and second portion, said second portion being in communication with said reduced size flowmeter and said first portion disposed within said main conduit and aligned substantially parallel to said fluid flow; returning via said outlet tube said extracted portion of fluid to said fluid flow within said main conduit; promoting said extraction of fluid from said fluid flow within said main conduit by providing a reduced cross-sectional area within said main conduit substantially equally between the points of extracting and returning said proportional amount of said fluid flow said reduced cross-sectional area having a venturi configuration with a length and a height, said length being approximately three to five times said height; determining the proportion of said extracted fluid flow; and determining total fluid flow within said main conduit.

Claim 2

A method for measuring total fluid flow within a closed conduit system utilizing a reduced size flowmeter comprising the steps of: providing an inlet tube with a first portion within a main conduit and aligned substantially parallel with the fluid flow and a second portion extending from inside the main conduit to outside the main conduit and in communication with a reduced size flowmeter; extracting via said inlet tube a measurable proportional amount of fluid from said fluid flow within said main conduit; measuring the flow of said extracted portion of said fluid with said reduced size flowmeter external to said fluid flow; providing a outlet tube with a first and second portion, said second portion being in communication with said reduced size flowmeter and said first portion disposed within said main conduit and aligned substantially parallel to said fluid flow; returning via said outlet tube said extracted portion of fluid to said fluid flow within said main conduit; promoting said extraction of fluid from said fluid flow within said main conduit by providing a reduced cross-sectional area within said main conduit substantially equally between the points of extracting and returning said proportional amount of said fluid flow said reduced cross-sectional area having a venturi configuration with a length and a height, said length being approximately three to five times said height; determining the proportion of said extracted fluid flow; and determining total fluid flow within said main conduit.

Claim 3

An apparatus for measuring fluid flow within a closed conduit system comprising; a main conduit for conducting said fluid flow to be measured, said conduit having a longitudinal axis; an inlet tube having a first portion aligned with said longitudinal axis and a second portion which extends from inside said main conduit to outside said main conduit and having a substantially constant diameter, said first portion being operable for extracting a measurable proportional amount of said fluid flow; a flowmeter coupled to said second portion of said inlet tube for measuring the flow of said extracted proportional amount of said fluid flow; an outlet tube having a substantially constant diameter, a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion of said outlet tube is coupled to said flowmeter to receive said extracted proportional amount of said fluid flow after it has been measured and said first portion of said outlet tube is disposed within said fluid flow in said main conduit downstream of said inlet tube, said first portion of said outlet tube being aligned substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis and being operable for returning said extracted portion of fluid to said fluid flow and wherein said outlet tube diameter is approximately equal to said inlet tube diameter; and means for promoting said extraction of said proportional amount of said fluid flow by said first portion of said inlet tube, wherein said promotion means comprises a streamlined reduced cross-sectional area having a venturi configuration, said streamlined cross-sectional area having a length being approximately three to five times said height, within said main conduit located substantially equally between said first portion of said inlet tube and said first portion of said outlet tube.

Claim 4

An apparatus for measuring fluid flow within a closed conduit system comprising; a main conduit for conducting said fluid flow to be measured, said conduit having a longitudinal axis; an inlet tube having a first portion aligned with said longitudinal axis and a second portion which extends from inside said main conduit to outside said main conduit and having a substantially constant diameter, said first portion being operable for extracting a measurable proportional amount of said fluid flow; a flowmeter coupled to said second portion of said inlet tube for measuring the flow of said extracted proportional amount of said fluid flow; an outlet tube having a substantially constant diameter, a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion of said outlet tube is coupled to said flowmeter to receive said extracted proportional amount of said fluid flow after it has been measured and said first portion of said outlet tube is disposed within said fluid flow in said main conduit downstream of said inlet tube, said first portion of said outlet tube being aligned substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis and being operable for returning said extracted portion of fluid to said fluid flow and wherein said outlet tube diameter is approximately equal to said inlet tube diameter; and means for promoting said extraction of said proportional amount of said fluid flow by said first portion of said inlet tube, wherein said promotion means comprises a streamlined reduced cross-sectional area having a venturi configuration, said streamlined cross-sectional area having a length being approximately three to five times said height, within said main conduit located substantially equally between said first portion of said inlet tube and said first portion of said outlet tube.

Claim 8

An apparatus for measuring fluid flow within a closed conduit system comprising: a main conduit for conducting said fluid flow to be measured, said conduit having a longitudinal axis; an inlet tube having a first portion within said main conduit and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second portion extending from inside said main conduit to outside said main conduit, said inlet tube being operable for extracting a measurable proportional amount of said fluid flow; an outlet tube having a first portion within said main conduit and downstream of said inlet tube and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second portion extending from inside said main conduit to outside said main conduit, said outlet tube being operable for returning said extracted measurable proportional amount to said fluid flow; said inlet tube second portion and said outlet tube second portion converging to and communicating with a flow meter, whereby said flow meter measures said extracted proportional amount of fluid flow; and venturi means for promoting said extraction of said proportional amount of said fluid flow by said first portion of said inlet tube, said venturi means having a length and a height and wherein said length is approximately three to five times said height, and said venturi means being located substantially equally between said first portion of said inlet tube and said first portion of said outlet tube.

Claim 9

An apparatus for measuring fluid flow within a closed conduit system comprising: a main conduit for conducting said fluid flow to be measured, said conduit having a longitudinal axis; an inlet tube having a first portion within said main conduit and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second portion extending from inside said main conduit to outside said main conduit, said inlet tube being operable for extracting a measurable proportional amount of said fluid flow; an outlet tube having a first portion within said main conduit and downstream of said inlet tube and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second portion extending from inside said main conduit to outside said main conduit, said outlet tube being operable for returning said extracted measurable proportional amount to said fluid flow; said inlet tube second portion and said outlet tube second portion converging to and communicating with a flow meter, whereby said flow meter measures said extracted proportional amount of fluid flow; and venturi means for promoting said extraction of said proportional amount of said fluid flow by said first portion of said inlet tube, said venturi means having a length and a height and wherein said length is approximately three to five times said height, and said venturi means being located substantially equally between said first portion of said inlet tube and said first portion of said outlet tube.