Gas turbine meter

Claim 2

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 3

A gas turbine meter according to claim 1 in which said signal processor includes a representation of a K factor, K meas , determined for said measuring rotor at the operating conditions of the said gas turbine meter, and a representation of a K factor, K ref , determined for said reference rotor at the operating conditions of said gas turbine meter and the indication of accuracy is based also on the quotient of K ref divided by K meas .

Claim 4

A gas turbine meter according to claim 2 in which a representation of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter at time of its calibration for the operating conditions of said gas turbine meter, Accuracy cal is included within said signal processor, and the indication of accuracy is determined by the quotient of the frequency of the measuring frequency divided by the frequency of the reference signal, which quotient is multiplied by the quotient of the K ref divided by K meas , and multiplied by Accuracy cal .

Claim 5

A gas turbine meter according to claim 1 in which said signal processor includes a representation of the desired accuracy of said gas turbine meter and provides a measure of the differences between the desired accuracy and the indicated accuracy of said gas turbine meter.

Claim 6

A gas turbine meter according to claim 2 in which said signal processor includes a representation of the desired accuracy of said gas turbine meter and provides a measure of the differences between the desired accuracy and the indicated accuracy of said gas turbine meter.

Claim 7

A gas turbine meter according to claim 3 in which said signal processor includes a representation of the desired accuracy of said gas turbine meter and provides a measure of the difference between the desired accuracy and the indicated accuracy of said gas turbine meter.

Claim 8

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal having its frequency f meas proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal having its frequency f ref proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and said reference signal generator for determining the accuracy of said gas turbine meter according to the formula: ##EQU10## where at the operating conditions of the measuring rotor and reference rotor, K meas is the K factor of the measuring rotor, K ref is the K factor of the reference rotor, and Accuracy cal is the accuracy of the mechanical output of the measuring rotor determined during calibration of the meter.

Claim 9

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal having its frequency f meas proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal having its frequency f ref proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and said reference signal generator for determining the accuracy of said gas turbine meter according to the formula: ##EQU10## where at the operating conditions of the measuring rotor and reference rotor, K meas is the K factor of the measuring rotor, K ref is the K factor of the reference rotor, and Accuracy cal is the accuracy of the mechanical output of the measuring rotor determined during calibration of the meter.

Claim 10

A gas turbine meter according to claim 7 in which said signal processor compares the Accuracy cal to the current accuracy of the meter according to the formula: ##EQU11##

Claim 11

A gas turbine meter according to claim 8 in which the signal processor compares the difference between Accuracy cal and the current accuracy of the meter to the value of an error limit according to the formula: ##EQU12##

Claim 12

A gas turbine meter according to claim 7 in which said measuring signal generator responds to said turbine blades of said measuring rotor to generate the measuring signal, and said reference signal generator responds to said turbine blades on said reference rotor to generate the reference signal, and said signal processor produces a signal pattern representing signals generated by the rotation of said rotor blades.

Claim 13

A gas turbine meter according to claim 1 in which said measuring signal generator responds to said turbine blades of said measuring rotor to generate the measuring signal, and said reference signal generator responds to said turbine blades on said reference rotor to generate the reference signal, and said signal processor produces a signal pattern representing signals generated by the rotation of said rotor blades.

Claim 14

A gas turbine meter according to claim 7 in which said reference signal generator responds to the rotation of said turbine blades on said reference rotor to generate the reference signal, and said measuring signal generator responds to the rotation of said turbine blades on said measuring rotor to generate the measuring signal, and said signal processor includes an amplifier to amplify the reference signals and the measuring signals and further includes an isolator connected between both said measuring signal generator and said reference signal generator and said amplifier to isolate said measuring signal generator and said reference signal generator from said amplifier.

Claim 15

A gas turbine meter according to claim 1 in which said reference signal generator responds to the rotation of said turbine blades on said reference rotor to generate the reference signal, and said measuring signal generator responds to the rotation of said turbine blades on said measuring rotor to generate the measuring signal, and said signal processor includes an amplifier to amplify the reference signals and the measuring signals and further includes an isolator connected between both said measuring signal generator and said reference signal generator and said amplifier to isolate said measuring signal generator and said reference signal generator from said amplifier.

Claim 16

A gas turbine meter according to claim 7 in which said signal processor determines the value of the frequencies f meas and f ref used in determining the accuracy of said gas turbine meter by taking the average of a plurality of samples of measurements of these frequencies.

Claim 17

A gas turbine meter according to claim 7 in which said signal processor is a virtual instrument having a front panel which can display the flow rate of gas through said gas turbine meter, and the determined accuracy of said gas turbine meter.

Claim 18

A gas turbine meter according to claim 9 in which said signal processor is a virtual instrument having a front panel which can display the flow rate of gas through said gas turbine meter, the determined accuracy of said gas turbine meter, the results of the comparison of the Accuracy cal to the current accuracy of said gas turbine meter, and the result of the comparison of the difference between Accuracy cal and the current accuracy of said gas turbine meter to the value of an error limit for the difference.

Claim 19

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at approximately 18.5° blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed less than the speed of said measuring rotor approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 20

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at approximately 18.5° blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed less than the speed of said measuring rotor approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 21

A gas turbine meter according to claim 17 in which the blade angles of said turbine blades of said measuring rotor are set at approximately 45°.

Claim 22

A gas turbine meter according to claim 17 in which the blade angles of said turbine blades of said measuring rotor are set at approximately 30°.

Claim 23

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; said reference rotor flow straightener including a central housing, a plurality of fins extending radially and outwardly from said central housing and a cylindrical flow guide mounted on the radial ends of said fins and extending over said reference rotor; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 24

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; said reference rotor flow straightener including a central housing, a plurality of fins extending radially and outwardly from said central housing and a cylindrical flow guide mounted on the radial ends of said fins and extending over said reference rotor; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (g) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (h) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 25

A gas turbine meter according to claim 20 which includes reference rotor bearings mounted within said central housing and a shaft connecting said reference rotor to said reference rotor bearings; said reference flow straightener, said reference rotor bearings and said reference rotor comprising an integral assembly which is removable from said housing.

Claim 26

A gas turbine meter according to claim 21 in which said integral assembly, including said extension of said cylindrical flow guide, is constructed so as to enable said reference rotor to retain its calibration after said integral assembly is removed from said housing.

Claim 27

A gas turbine meter according to claim 21 which includes measuring rotor bearings mounted within said measuring cartridge and a shaft connecting said measuring rotor to said measuring rotor bearings; said reference rotor bearings being self-lubricating and having a longer normal useful life than said measuring rotor bearings.

Claim 28

A gas turbine meter according to claim 23 in which said reference rotor bearings are mounted within said central housing by a substantially solid structure which surrounds said bearings.

Claim 29

A gas turbine meter according to claim 23 in which said reference rotor bearings are constructed of a silicon nitride material.

Claim 30

A gas turbine meter according to claim 20 in which the blade angles of said turbine blades of said reference rotor cause said reference rotor to rotate at a speed slower than the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor.

Claim 31

A gas turbine meter according to claim 23 in which the blade angles of said turbine blades of said reference rotor cause said reference rotor to rotate at a speed slower than the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor and said self-lubricated bearings are made of a silicon nitride material.

Claim 32

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor at its upstream end which rotates about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades with their upstream tips extending toward said inlet port and mounted thereon at blade angles which cause said rotor to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) Said measuring cartridge having an interior surface forming the flow path for gas to be measured, said interior surface having a conical axial cross section around said turbine blades which over a predetermined length from its upstream end is tapered away from said turbine blades at an angle between about 5° and about 7°; (e) A mechanism included as a portion of said measuring cartridge which locates said upstream tips of said turbine blades at a preselected position with respect to said tapered interior surface of said cartridge; (f) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (g) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (h) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (i) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (j) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 33

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor at its upstream end which rotates about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades with their upstream tips extending toward said inlet port and mounted thereon at blade angles which cause said rotor to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) Said measuring cartridge having an interior surface forming the flow path for gas to be measured, said interior surface having a conical axial cross section around said turbine blades which over a predetermined length from its upstream end is tapered away from said turbine blades at an angle between about 5° and about 7°; (e) A mechanism included as a portion of said measuring cartridge which locates said upstream tips of said turbine blades at a preselected position with respect to said tapered interior surface of said cartridge; (f) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (g) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (h) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (i) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (j) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 34

A gas turbine meter according to claim 28 in which the clearance between the upstream tips of said rotor blades and said tapered interior surface of said cartridge can be adjusted by locating the position of said upstream tips within a range of from approximately 0.010 inches to approximately 0.045 inches of said tapered interior surface of said cartridge.

Claim 35

A gas turbine meter according to claim 28 in which said mechanism which locates the position of said upstream tips of said rotor blades includes at least one spacer used to mount said measuring rotor.

Claim 36

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) Said measuring rotor mounted at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge and including a cylindrical rotor hub on which said turbine blades are mounted; (e) Said measuring cartridge including a cylindrical chamber concentric with said rotor which has an upstream end through which said measuring rotor is mounted and has a downstream end, the outside diameter of said cylindrical chamber being slightly less than the inside diameter of said rotor hub, with the axial length of said cylindrical chamber being such that its upstream end extends beneath said rotor hub when said measuring chamber is mounted within said measuring cartridge, and that portion of the outside surface of said measuring chamber in the vicinity of said rotor being continuous and smooth so that contamination cannot accumulate near the clearance between said rotor hub and said cylindrical chamber; (f) Rotor bearings for said measuring rotor and a shaft for connecting said measuring rotor to said bearings; (g) Said cylindrical chamber including a structure within it for mounting said rotor bearings downstream of said location where said shaft is connected to said measuring rotor, with the downstream end of said structure being closed to the flow of gas through said gas turbine meter when said bearings are mounted within said structure; (h) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (i) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (j) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (k) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (l) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 37

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) Said measuring rotor mounted at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge and including a cylindrical rotor hub on which said turbine blades are mounted; (e) Said measuring cartridge including a cylindrical chamber concentric with said rotor which has an upstream end through which said measuring rotor is mounted and has a downstream end, the outside diameter of said cylindrical chamber being slightly less than the inside diameter of said rotor hub, with the axial length of said cylindrical chamber being such that its upstream end extends beneath said rotor hub when said measuring chamber is mounted within said measuring cartridge, and that portion of the outside surface of said measuring chamber in the vicinity of said rotor being continuous and smooth so that contamination cannot accumulate near the clearance between said rotor hub and said cylindrical chamber; (f) Rotor bearings for said measuring rotor and a shaft for connecting said measuring rotor to said bearings; (g) Said cylindrical chamber including a structure within it for mounting said rotor bearings downstream of said location where said shaft is connected to said measuring rotor, with the downstream end of said structure being closed to the flow of gas through said gas turbine meter when said bearings are mounted within said structure; (h) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (i) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (j) A measuring signal generator responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; (k) A reference signal generator responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor; and (l) A signal processor responsive to said measuring signal generator and reference signal generator for providing an indication of the accuracy of said gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal.

Claim 38

A gas turbine meter according to claim 31 which includes a register for measuring the flow of gas through said gas turbine meter; said measuring cartridge including a coupling chamber located downstream of said bearing holder; a coupling located within said coupling chamber and connected between rotor shaft and said register; and a cover plate attached to the downstream end of said measuring chamber to prevent gas from flowing into said coupling chamber.

Claim 39

A gas turbine meter according to claim 32 which includes an orifice in said cover plate and a filter cartridge mounted in said orifice to allow heat and pressure to dissipate while preventing contaminants from entering said coupling chamber.

Claim 40

A gas turbine meter according to claim 28 in which: (a) Said measuring rotor is mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge and includes a cylindrical rotor hub on which said turbine blades are mounted; (b) Said measuring cartridge including a cylindrical chamber concentric with said rotor which has an upstream end through which said measuring rotor is mounted and has a downstream end, the outside diameter of said cylindrical chamber being slightly less than the inside diameter of said rotor hub, with the axial length of said cylindrical chamber being such that its upstream end extends beneath said rotor hub when said measuring chamber is mounted within said measuring cartridge, and that portion of the outside surface of said measuring chamber in the vicinity of said rotor being continuous and smooth so that contamination cannot accumulate near the clearance between said rotor hub and said cylindrical chamber; and (c) Rotor bearings for said measuring rotor and the shaft for connecting said measuring rotor to said bearings; and (d) Said cylindrical chamber including a structure within it for mounting said rotor bearings downstream of said location where said shaft is connected to said measuring rotor, with the downstream end of said structure being closed to the normal flow of gas through said gas turbine meter when said bearings are mounted within said structure.

Claim 41

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of flow of a stream of gas comprising: (a) An elongated cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said elongated housing having an inlet port, a central axis and outlet port; (b) A flow straightening assembly mounted in said housing adjacent said inlet port to form a passage having a constant area to cause gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted adjacent said flow straightening assembly in said housing; (d) A measuring rotor mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge; (e) Said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said measuring rotor to rotate at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing, said turbine blades having upstream tips extending toward said inlet port; (f) Said measuring cartridge having an interior surface forming the flow path for gas to be measured, said interior surface having a conical axial cross section around said turbine blades which over a predetermined length from its upstream end is tapered in the range of between about five degrees and about seven degrees away from said turbine blades; and (g) A mechanism included as a portion of said measuring cartridge which locates said upstream tips of said turbine blades at a preselected position with respect to said tapered interior surface of said cartridge.

Claim 42

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of flow of a stream of gas comprising: (a) An elongated cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said elongated housing having an inlet port, a central axis and outlet port; (b) A flow straightening assembly mounted in said housing adjacent said inlet port to form a passage having a constant area to cause gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted adjacent said flow straightening assembly in said housing; (d) A measuring rotor mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge; (e) Said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said measuring rotor to rotate at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing, said turbine blades having upstream tips extending toward said inlet port; (f) Said measuring cartridge having an interior surface forming the flow path for gas to be measured, said interior surface having a conical axial cross section around said turbine blades which over a predetermined length from its upstream end is tapered in the range of between about five degrees and about seven degrees away from said turbine blades; and (g) A mechanism included as a portion of said measuring cartridge which locates said upstream tips of said turbine blades at a preselected position with respect to said tapered interior surface of said cartridge.

Claim 43

A gas turbine meter according to claim 35 in which said mechanism which locates the position of said upstream tips of said rotor blades includes at least one spacer used to mount said measuring rotor.

Claim 44

A gas turbine meter according to claim 35 in which the clearance between the upstream tips of said rotor blades and said tapered interior surface of said cartridge can be adjusted by locating the position of said upstream tips of said rotor blades within a range of approximately 0.010 inches to approximately 0.045 inches of said tapered interior surface of said cartridge.

Claim 45

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of flow of a stream of gas comprising: (a) An elongated cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said elongated housing having an inlet port and outlet port; (b) A flow straightening assembly mounted in said housing adjacent said inlet port to form a passage having a constant area to cause gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted adjacent said first flow straightener assembly in said housing; (d) A measuring rotor mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge; (e) Said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said measuring rotor to rotate at a speed proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing, said turbine blades having upstream tips extending toward said inlet port; (f) Said measuring cartridge having an interior surface which defines the flow path of the gas to be measured, said interior surface having a conical shape, adjacent the location where said upstream tips of said turbine blades are located, which gradually increases in diameter in a range of between about five degrees and about seven degrees over a predetermined length from the upstream end of said measuring cartridge to such an extent that the accuracy of said meter can be changed by changing the clearance between said turbine blades and said interior surface of said housing; and (g) A mechanism included as a portion of said measuring cartridge which locates a secured position of said upstream tips of said turbine blades of said metering rotor axially within the preselected distance of said interior surface.

Claim 46

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of flow of a stream of gas comprising: (a) An elongated cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said elongated housing having an inlet port and outlet port; (b) A flow straightening assembly mounted in said housing adjacent said inlet port to form a passage having a constant area to cause gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted adjacent said first flow straightener assembly in said housing; (d) A measuring rotor mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge; (e) Said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said measuring rotor to rotate at a speed proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing, said turbine blades having upstream tips extending toward said inlet port; (f) Said measuring cartridge having an interior surface which defines the flow path of the gas to be measured, said interior surface having a conical shape, adjacent the location where said upstream tips of said turbine blades are located, which gradually increases in diameter in a range of between about five degrees and about seven degrees over a predetermined length from the upstream end of said measuring cartridge to such an extent that the accuracy of said meter can be changed by changing the clearance between said turbine blades and said interior surface of said housing; and (g) A mechanism included as a portion of said measuring cartridge which locates a secured position of said upstream tips of said turbine blades of said metering rotor axially within the preselected distance of said interior surface.

Claim 47

A gas turbine meter according to claim 38 in which the clearance between the upstream tips of said turbine blade and said tapered interior surface of said cartridge can be adjusted by locating the position of said upstream tips within a range of from approximately 0.010 inches to approximately 0.045 inches of said tapered interior surface of said cartridge.

Claim 48

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of flow of a stream of gas through a pipe comprising: (a) An elongated housing defining a flow path for the gas, said elongated housing having an inlet port and outlet port; (b) A flow straightener mounted in said housing adjacent said inlet port; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said first flow straightener and adjacent it in said housing; (d) A measuring rotor mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge and includes a cylindrical rotor hub and a plurality or turbine blades mounted on said rotor rub; (e) Said measuring cartridge including a cylindrical chamber concentric with said rotor which has an upstream end through which said measuring rotor is mounted and has a downstream end, the outside diameter of said cylindrical chamber being slightly less than the inside diameter of said rotor bush, with the axial length of said cylindrical chamber being such that its upstream end extends beneath said rotor hub when said measuring rotor is mounted within said measuring cartridge, and that portion of the outside surface of said cylindrical chamber in the vicinity of said rotor being continuous and smooth so that contamination cannot accumulate near the clearance between said rotor hub and said cylindrical chamber; (f) Rotor bearings for said measuring rotor and a shaft for connecting said measuring rotor to said bearings; and (g) Said cylindrical chamber including a structure within it for mounting said rotor bearings downstream of the location where said shaft is connected to said measuring rotor, with the downstream end of said structure being closed to the normal flow of gas through said gas turbine meter when said bearings are mounted within said structure.

Claim 49

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of flow of a stream of gas through a pipe comprising: (a) An elongated housing defining a flow path for the gas, said elongated housing having an inlet port and outlet port; (b) A flow straightener mounted in said housing adjacent said inlet port; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said first flow straightener and adjacent it in said housing; (d) A measuring rotor mounted within said measuring cartridge and at the upstream end of said measuring cartridge and includes a cylindrical rotor hub and a plurality or turbine blades mounted on said rotor rub; (e) Said measuring cartridge including a cylindrical chamber concentric with said rotor which has an upstream end through which said measuring rotor is mounted and has a downstream end, the outside diameter of said cylindrical chamber being slightly less than the inside diameter of said rotor bush, with the axial length of said cylindrical chamber being such that its upstream end extends beneath said rotor hub when said measuring rotor is mounted within said measuring cartridge, and that portion of the outside surface of said cylindrical chamber in the vicinity of said rotor being continuous and smooth so that contamination cannot accumulate near the clearance between said rotor hub and said cylindrical chamber; (f) Rotor bearings for said measuring rotor and a shaft for connecting said measuring rotor to said bearings; and (g) Said cylindrical chamber including a structure within it for mounting said rotor bearings downstream of the location where said shaft is connected to said measuring rotor, with the downstream end of said structure being closed to the normal flow of gas through said gas turbine meter when said bearings are mounted within said structure.

Claim 50

A gas turbine meter according to claim 40 which includes a register for measuring the flow of gas through said gas turbine meter; said measuring cartridge including a coupling chamber located downstream of said bearing holder; a coupling located within said coupling chamber and connected between said rotor shaft and said register; and a cover plate attached to the downstream end of said measuring chamber to prevent gas from flowing into said coupling chamber.

Claim 51

A gas turbine meter according to claim 41 which includes an orifice in said end plate and a filter cartridge mounted in said orifice to allow heat and pressure to dissipate while preventing contaminants from entering said coupling chamber.

Claim 56

A method according to claim 44 which includes a step of comparing the Accuracy cal to the current accuracy of the meter according to the formula: ##EQU14##

Claim 57

A method according to claim 45 which includes the steps of: (1) comparing the difference between Accuracy cal and the current accuracy of the meter to the value of an error limit according to the formula: ##EQU15## (2) displaying an indication of the result of this comparison.

Claim 58

A method according to claim 44 including the steps of determining the flowrate of gas to the meter according to the formula: ##EQU16## displaying the flowrate, and adjusting the flowrate to a level desired for testing the accuracy of the meter.

Claim 59

A method according to claim 44 including the steps of: generating measuring signals through the use of a detector which senses rotor blades rotating on the measuring rotor, generating reference signals through the use of a detector which senses rotor blades rotating on the reference rotor, and producing a signal pattern representing signals generated by rotating rotor blades.

Claim 62

The method according to claim 49 which includes the step of storing signals representing the accuracy of the chosen gas turbine meter.

Claim 65

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough which is adapted to be used with a signal processor responsive to a measuring signal generator and a reference signal generator which are components of the gas turbine meter for providing an indication of the accuracy of the gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal, the gas turbine meter comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed less than the speed of said measuring rotor which is approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator adapted to be coupled to the signal processor and responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; and (g) A reference signal generator adapted to be coupled to the signal processor and responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor.

Claim 66

A gas turbine meter for measuring the volume of a stream of gas flowing therethrough which is adapted to be used with a signal processor responsive to a measuring signal generator and a reference signal generator which are components of the gas turbine meter for providing an indication of the accuracy of the gas turbine meter based on the quotient of the measuring signal divided by the reference signal, the gas turbine meter comprising: (a) An elongated, cylindrical housing defining a flow path for the gas, said housing having an inlet port, a central axis and an outlet port; (b) An inlet flow straightener mounted in said flow path adjacent said inlet port to form a constant area passage which causes gas from said inlet port to flow substantially axially in said housing; (c) A measuring cartridge mounted downstream of said inlet flow straightener and adjacent thereto and including a measuring rotor for rotation about the axis of said housing; said measuring rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon at blade angles which cause it to rotate in one direction with respect to the axis of said housing at a speed approximately proportional to the velocity of the gas flowing through said housing; (d) A reference flow straightener mounted in said housing downstream of said measuring rotor to form a constant area passage having an area approximately equal to that of the passage formed by said inlet flow straightener to cause gas from said measuring rotor to flow substantially axially in said housing; (e) A reference rotor mounted downstream of said reference flow straightener and adjacent thereto for rotation about the axis of said housing; said reference rotor having turbine blades mounted thereon with blade angles which cause said reference rotor to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said measuring rotor at a speed less than the speed of said measuring rotor which is approximately proportional to the velocity of gas flowing through said housing; (f) A measuring signal generator adapted to be coupled to the signal processor and responsive to said measuring rotor for generating a measuring signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said measuring rotor; and (g) A reference signal generator adapted to be coupled to the signal processor and responsive to said reference rotor generating a reference signal proportional to the speed of rotation of said reference rotor.