Insertable flow meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9322682-B2
Application number	US-201414335156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A flow meter includes a magnet actuated switch, and an impeller configured to be insertable into a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting. Rotation of the impeller in response to a fluid flow actuates the magnet actuated switch with a frequency that is proportional to a flow rate of the fluid flow. The impeller has a cylindrical shaft and a plurality of extensions that extend from the cylindrical shaft that form a spiral shaped cross section. Each extension has an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface, and the inner curved surface is concave shaped to catch the flow of the fluid, and the outer curved surface is convex shaped to provide reduced counter resistance to the rotation of the impeller. A pipe section assembly includes a pipe section including a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting and the flow meter vertically inserted into the pipe fitting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flow meter comprising:
a magnet actuated switch; and
an impeller configured to be insertable into a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting;
wherein rotation of the impeller in response to a fluid flow actuates the magnet actuated switch with a frequency that is relatable to a flow rate of the fluid flow; and
wherein the impeller is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a direction corresponding to a direction of the fluid flow.

2. The flow meter of claim 1 , wherein the impeller has a cylindrical shaft and a plurality of extensions that extend from the cylindrical shaft.

3. The flow meter of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of extensions form a spiral shaped cross section.

4. The flow meter of claim 3 , wherein each extension has an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface, and wherein the inner curved surface is concave shaped to catch the flow of the fluid, and the outer curved surface is convex shaped to provide reduced counter resistance to the rotation of the impeller.

5. A flow meter comprising:
a magnet actuated switch;
an impeller configured to be insertable into a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting;
wherein rotation of the impeller in response to a fluid flow actuates the magnet actuated switch with a frequency that is relatable to a flow rate of the fluid flow; and
a drive shaft with a first end to which the impeller is connected such that the drive shaft rotates commensurately with the rotation of the impeller, and a second end located adjacent to the magnet actuated switch;
wherein:
the second end of the drive shaft is attached to a flywheel such that the flywheel rotates commensurately with the rotation of the drive shaft;
the flywheel has at least one magnet element; and
as the flywheel wheel rotates, the at least one magnet element passes adjacent the magnet actuated switch which causes the magnet actuated switch to open and close in an oscillating fashion.

6. The flow meter of claim 5 , wherein the at least one magnet element comprises a first magnet element and a second magnet element positioned on opposite sides of the flywheel 180 degrees apart relative to an axis of rotation of the flywheel.

7. The flow meter of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor body that houses the magnet actuated switch, and an NPT ¼″ thread body that is configured to be secured to a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting.

8. A pipe section assembly comprising:
a pipe section including a main pipe section and a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting that extends from the main pipe section; and
a flow meter comprising a magnet actuated switch and an impeller configured to be insertable into the NPT ¼″ pipe fitting;
wherein rotation of the impeller in response to a fluid flow through the main pipe section actuates the magnet actuated switch with a frequency that is relatable to a flow rate of the fluid flow through the main pipe section; and
wherein the impeller is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a direction corresponding to a direction of the fluid flow through the main pipe section.

9. The pipe section assembly of claim 8 , wherein the impeller has a cylindrical shaft and a plurality of extensions that extend from the cylindrical shaft.

10. The pipe section assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of extensions form a spiral shaped cross section.

11. The pipe section assembly of claim 10 , wherein each extension has an inner curved surface and an outer curved, and wherein the inner curved surface is concave shaped to catch the flow of the fluid, and the outer curved surface is convex shaped to provide reduced counter resistance to the rotation of the impeller.

12. A pipe section assembly comprising:
a pipe section including a main pipe section and a standard NPT ¼″ pipe fitting that extends from the main pipe section; and
a flow meter comprising a magnet actuated switch and an impeller configured to be insertable into the NPT ¼″ pipe fitting;
wherein rotation of the impeller in response to a fluid flow through the main pipe section actuates the magnet actuated switch with a frequency that is relatable to a flow rate of the fluid flow through the main pipe section; and
wherein the flow meter further comprises a drive shaft with a first end to which the impeller is connected such that the drive shaft rotates commensurately with the rotation of the impeller, and a second end located adjacent to the magnet actuated switch;
further wherein:
the second end of the drive shaft is attached to a flywheel such that the flywheel rotates commensurately with the rotation of the drive shaft;
the flywheel has at least one magnet element; and
as the flywheel wheel rotates, the at least one magnet element passes adjacent the magnet actuated switch which causes the magnet actuated switch to open and close in an oscillating fashion.

13. The pipe section assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one magnet element comprises a first magnet element and a second magnet element positioned on opposite sides of the flywheel 180 degrees apart relative to an axis of rotation of the flywheel.

14. The pipe section assembly of claim 8 , wherein a frequency of actuation of the magnet actuated switch has a linear relationship to the flow rate of the fluid flow through the main pipe section.

15. The flow meter of claim 5 , wherein the impeller defines a bore hole for receiving the first end of the drive shaft, and an inner surface of the impeller that defines the bore hole is flattened so as to impart the rotation of the impeller to the drive shaft.

16. The pipe section assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the drive shaft locates the impeller in an interior of the main pipe section oriented in a direction perpendicular to a direction corresponding to a direction of the fluid flow through the main pipe section.

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• White Michael Alton
• Templeman Christopher
• Thomas David
• Gibson Jeffery

Classifications

• G01F15/18

  Supports or connecting means for meters · CPC title

• G01F1/0755 Primary

  with magnetic coupling only in a mechanical transmission path · CPC title

• F17D5/00

  Protection or supervision of installations (arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00) · CPC title

• G01F1/075 Primary

  with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device · CPC title