US3822591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Precision, fluid flow metering device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-14
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1992-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for metering fluid flow which comprises a fluid flow chamber, fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto, and a moving member cyclically movable with an operative clearance therein and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough. The entire circumferential region of the moving member is relatively and automatically recedable from, and advanceable toward, the nearby inside wall of the flow chamber in accordance with, respectively, increasing and decreasing rates of the fluid flow. This feature controllably changes the circumferential clearance therebetween and insures that the cyclic speed of the member is proportional to the fluid flow rate, even at very low flow rates. The member may be provided with frictionless gas or liquid bearings for improved measuring accuracy and reliability. The device may also be mechanically temperature-compensated for measuring fluid mass flow, rather than fluid volumetric flow.
Inventors
- 👤 C Li
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/02; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/06; G01F1/08; G01F3/00; G01F3/02; G01F3/04; G01F3/06; G01F3/10; G01F3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A precision, fluid flow metering device comprising: a hollow but rigid body or housing forming a fluid flow chamber; fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto; and a moving member cyclically movable fittingly therein and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough, the circumferential region of the moving member being yieldable and adapted to automatically recEde from and advance toward the nearby, rigid inside wall of the flow chamber in response to variations in the fluid flow rate, so as to change accordingly the circumferential clearance therebetween and to insure that the cyclic speed of the moving member is proportional to the fluid flow rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A precision, fluid flow metering device comprising: a hollow but rigid body or housing forming a fluid flow chamber; fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto; and a moving member cyclically movable fittingly therein and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough, the circumferential region of the moving member being yieldable and adapted to automatically recEde from and advance toward the nearby, rigid inside wall of the flow chamber in response to variations in the fluid flow rate, so as to change accordingly the circumferential clearance therebetween and to insure that the cyclic speed of the moving member is proportional to the fluid flow rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
170 words
A precision, fluid flow metering device comprising: a hollow body or housing forming a fluid flow chamber; fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto; and a moving member cyclically movable fittingly therein about an axis of movement and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough, the axis of movement containing at least a stationary point thereon, the circumferential region of the moving member being automatically and relatively recedable from, and advanceable toward, the nearby inside wall of the flow chamber in response to variations in the fluid flow rate, so as to change accordingly the circumferential clearance therebetween and to insure that the cyclic speed of the moving member is proportional to the fluid flow rate, the relatively recedable and advanceable circumferential region being substantially symmetrically distributed with respect to the axis of movement so as to achieve substantially balanced forces laterally of the direction of the movement and to maintain alignment of the moving member relative to the inside wall thereby achieving improved metering accuracy and reliability.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A precision, fluid flow metering device comprising: a hollow body or housing forming a fluid flow chamber; fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto; and a moving member cyclically movable fittingly therein about an axis of movement and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough, the axis of movement containing at least a stationary point thereon, the circumferential region of the moving member being automatically and relatively recedable from, and advanceable toward, the nearby inside wall of the flow chamber in response to variations in the fluid flow rate, so as to change accordingly the circumferential clearance therebetween and to insure that the cyclic speed of the moving member is proportional to the fluid flow rate, the relatively recedable and advanceable circumferential region being substantially symmetrically distributed with respect to the axis of movement so as to achieve substantially balanced forces laterally of the direction of the movement and to maintain alignment of the moving member relative to the inside wall thereby achieving improved metering accuracy and reliability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 2 characterized by its being a fluid flowmeter wherein the moving member cyclically moves fittingly inside the flow chamber under the pressure of the fluid flow therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 2 including means operatively associated with the moving member and communicative with the flowing fluid inside the flow chamber for instantly and accurately sensing the fluid flow fluctuations within the flow chamber and for instantaneously responding thereto by initiating, immediately, the required changes in the circumferential clearance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the flow chamber has a constant cross-section and wherein within a specified range of the fluid flow rates the circumferential region is automatically and relatively recedable from and advanceable toward the nearby inside wall of the flow chamber in response to, respectively, increasing and decreasing fluid flow rates so as to increase and decrease, respectively, the circumferential clearance therebetween whereby the cyclic movement of the moving member is more linearly related to the amount of the fluid flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the moving member cyclically moves about a stationary and axially non-displaceable axis of movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the moving member moves about an axis of movement and the entire circumferential region is automatically movable relative to the inside wall in response to varying fluid flow rates so as to achieve balanced forces on the moving member laterally of the axis of movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the flow chamber comprises a tube of a pliable material, the inner surface of the tube forming the relatively movable inside wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the moving member is a linearly reciprocating piston in a piston-type, fluid metering device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the moving member comprises an axially fixed rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the moving member comprises a nutating disc in a nutating disc type, fluid metering device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the nearby inside wall is yieldable under the pressure of the fluid flow, and at reduced flow rates and fluid pressures the yieldable inside wall returns toward the circumferential region thereby minimizing the circumferential clearance and the critical fluid leakage across the moving member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the nearby inside wall is rigid and the circumferential region is yieldable relative thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 13 wherein the circumferential region is adApted to change monotonically the circumferential clearance with decreases in the fluid flow rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the yieldable circumferential region monotonically decreases the circumferential clearance with decreases in the fluid flow rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the circumferential region has on the fluid outlet side thereof resilient, curved blade means convex toward the fluid inlet side, so that at high fluid flow rates the pressure of the flowing fluid urges the yieldable circumferential region to recede from the inside wall, whereas at reduced fluid flow rates and fluid pressures the yieldable circumferential region returns toward the inside wall thereby minimizing the circumferential clearance and the resultant fluid leakage across the moving member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the flowing fluid has appreciable temperature variations and including means responsive to temperature of the fluid flow to decrease monotonically the speed of the cyclical movement at a given volumetric flow rate in accordance with increases in the fluid temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 17 wherein the temperature-responsive, movement-modifying means comprises a frictional mechanism to increase friction to the cyclic movement with increases in the fluid temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 17 characterized by its being a flowmeter having a rotor as the moving member thereof and wherein the temperature-responsive means comprises a torque-modifying mechanism to reduce with increasing fluid temperature the driving torque on the rotor as produced by the momentum of the flowing fluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the torque-modifying mechanism comprises a bimetallic element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 2 including means for discharging a portion of the fluid flow out of the circumferential region into the circumferential clearance to provide positive fluid lubrication therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 17 including means for inactivating the discharging means at preselected volumetric fluid flow rates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 21 wherein the discharging means comprises wall means defining at least an elongated discharge opening located in the moving member and having one end thereof terminating at the circumferential clearance to discharge the portion of the fluid flow thereinto.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the cross-sectional area of the elongated discharge opening is large relative to that of the circumferential clearance so that the resistance to discharge of the fluid from the circumferential region into the circumferential clearance is substantially less than the resistance of fluid leakage across the moving member through the same clearance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 21 wherein the moving member is a rotor and the circumferential fluid discharge has a tangential component directed oppositely of the direction of the rotor rotation so as to increase the speed of the rotor rotation through the reactive forces generated therefrom.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 characterized by its being a fluid flowmeter wherein the moving member cyclically moves fittingly inside the flow chamber under the pressure of the fluid flow therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the flow chamber has a constant cross-section.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the moving member moves cyclically about an axis of movement containing at least a stationary point thereon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the moving member moves about an axis of movement and wherein the recedable and advanceable circumferential region is substantially symmetrically distributed relative to the axis so as to achieve substantially balanced forces laterally of the direction of the movement of the moving member and to maintain alignment of the moving member relative to the inside wall thereby improving metering accuracy and reliability.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
91 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the entire circumferential region is adapted to automatically recede from and advance towaRd the nearby, rigid inside wall of the flow chamber in response to, respectively, increasing and decreasing rates of the fluid flow so as to increase and decrease, respectively, the circumferential clearance therebetween thereby minimizing the critical fluid leakage across the moving member at reduced fluid flow rates and, simultaneously, improving the linear relationship between the cyclic movement of the moving member and the amount of the fluid flow through the flow chamber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
123 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the circumferential region of the moving member comprises hollow and flexible means provided thereon with at least one opening communicative with the fluid in the flow chamber for transmitting the pressure head of the flowing fluid therethrough to the interior of the flexible means, at high fluid flow rates the pressure head therein is increased to the extent to cause the flexible means to bulge and recede from the inside wall thereby increasing the circumferential clearance while at low fluid flow rates the same pressure head is reduced to the extent to cause the flexible means to return to its normal shape thereby reducing the circumferential clearance and minimizing the critical fluid leakage across the moving member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
98 words
The device of claim 1 including indicating means operatively coupled with the moving member for indicating the amount of fluid which has passed through the flow chamber in terms of the number of cyclic movements of the moving member, the indicating means comprising: magnetic device attached to the moving member to move cyclically therewith; external electromagnetic sensing system for sensing the cyclic movement of the magnetic device on the moving member through the wall of the flow chamber; and means for integrating the electromagnetically sensed signals to show the total amount of fluid flow through the flow chamber.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 1 including mechanism operatively associated with the moving member and communicative with the flowing fluid inside the flow chamber for instantly and accurately sensing the fluid flow fluctuations within the flow chamber and for instantaneously responding thereto by initiating, immediately, the required changes in the circumferential clearance.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
76 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the moving member comprises a rotor having a number of helical rotor blades, and wherein the torque-modifying mechanism comprises the same number of bimetallic elements, each such element being physically integral with every helical rotor blade to change, with increasing fluid temperature, the curvature thereof and to reduce the driving torque on the rotor as produced by the momentum of the flowing fluid at a given volumetric fluid flow rate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device of claim 21 wherein the moving member has an axis of movement and the circumferential fluid discharge is distributed substantially symmetrically relative to the axis to achieve balanced forces on the moving member and to center, align, and stabilize the moving member relative to the flow chamber thereby improving metering accuracy and reliability.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 22 wherein the inactivating means comprises an on-off fluid control valve attached to the moving member; and means sensitive to the fluid flow rates to turn the control valve from one of the on-off positions to the other.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
72 words
The device of claim 22 wherein the inactivating means comprises an on-off fluid control valve hingedly attached to the moving member; and resilient means normally urging the control valve to assume one of the on-off positions, fluid flow rate changes exceeding a prescribed level turning the control valve to the other of on-off positions against the force of resiliency thereby regulating the circumferential fluid discharge in response to changing fluid flow rates.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
157 words
A precision, fluid flow metering device for a fluid subjected to appreciable temperature variations comprising: a hollow body or housing forming a fluid flow chamber; fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto; a Moving member cyclically movable fittingly with an operative circumferential clearance therein about an axis of movement containing at least a stationary point thereon and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough; the circumferential region of the moving member being automatically and relatively recedable from and advanceable toward the nearby inside wall of the flow chamber in response to, respectively, increasing and decreasing rates of the fluid flow; temperature-responsive, movement-modifying mechanism mechanically coupled with the moving member for direct mechanical force interaction therewith, the movement-modifying mechanism being responsive to the temperature variations to change directly the speed of the cyclic movement at a given volumetric flow rate; and indicating means operatively coupled with the moving member for indicating the mechanically modified movement thereof.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
157 words
A precision, fluid flow metering device for a fluid subjected to appreciable temperature variations comprising: a hollow body or housing forming a fluid flow chamber; fluid inlet and outlet connected thereto; a Moving member cyclically movable fittingly with an operative circumferential clearance therein about an axis of movement containing at least a stationary point thereon and through momentum exchange mechanically interacting with the fluid flow therethrough; the circumferential region of the moving member being automatically and relatively recedable from and advanceable toward the nearby inside wall of the flow chamber in response to, respectively, increasing and decreasing rates of the fluid flow; temperature-responsive, movement-modifying mechanism mechanically coupled with the moving member for direct mechanical force interaction therewith, the movement-modifying mechanism being responsive to the temperature variations to change directly the speed of the cyclic movement at a given volumetric flow rate; and indicating means operatively coupled with the moving member for indicating the mechanically modified movement thereof.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 including means for discharging a portion of the fluid flow out of the circumferential region into the circumferential clearance to provide positive fluid lubrication therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |