Device for flow measurement in hose and/or plastic pipe systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9939303-B2
Application number	US-201314649285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2013
Priority date	Dec 4, 2012
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for installation into a hose and/or plastic pipe system and mounting of flow measurement sensors which comprises a plastic flow part as a hollow body with a centrally arranged and deformable region with a rectangular cross section. The present invention further relates to the use of the abovementioned device as well as to a method of flow measurement using the device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for installation into a plastic hose and/or plastic pipe system and mounting of flow measurement sensors, comprising;
a plastic flow part ( 1 ) defining a hollow body extending in a longitudinal direction and having two connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) for connecting to hoses and/or plastic pipes on opposite ends thereof, a centrally arranged and deformable region ( 2 ) of rectangular cross section arranged centrally between the two connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) and formed of a first material, two opposing sensor contact surfaces ( 3 , 4 ) and two opposing pressure region surfaces ( 5 , 6 ) being arranged on outer surface areas of the centrally arranged region ( 2 ), and at least one elastic or partially elastic contacting means ( 15 ) provided at least in areas of the centrally arranged region ( 2 ) and formed of a second material that is more flexible and softer than the first material.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising internal cross section transitions in the connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) from a round cross section to the rectangular cross section.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pressure region surfaces ( 5 , 6 ) and the sensor contact surfaces ( 3 , 4 ) of the centrally arranged region ( 2 ) are interconnected via film hinges, articulations or via a multi-component plastic system.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor contact surfaces ( 3 , 4 ) have flat outer surfaces.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor contact surfaces ( 3 , 4 ) are parallel to each other.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pressure region surfaces ( 5 , 6 ) have contact surfaces for a flowmeter to be closed by pressure around the pressure region surfaces ( 5 , 6 ).

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the centrally arranged region ( 2 ) and the connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) are interconnected thermally, by adhesion or mechanically.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plastic flow part ( 1 ) is manufactured by injection molding, extrusion, turning and/or milling, vacuum pressure injection, 3D printing, laser sintering or stereolithography.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plastic flow part is made from a thermoplast selected from the group of polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), copolyester, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) or styrene acrylonitrile (SAN); an elastomer selected from the group of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and liquid silicone (LSR); a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), preferably based on urethane or as a styrene block copolymer; a multi-component plastic selected from a mixture of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polypropylene (PP) and a thermoplastic elastomer, polycarbonate and a thermoplastic elastomer, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) and polypropylene (PP).

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device withstands an operating pressure of ≤6 bar and a safety pressure of ≤7 bar.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device withstands a temperature from 5 to 50° C.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) are adapted to hose and/or plastic pipe internal diameters from ⅛″ to 2″.

13. A device for installation into a plastic hose and/or plastic pipe system and mounting of ultrasound flow measurement sensors, comprising:
a plastic flow part ( 1 ) defining a hollow body extending in a longitudinal direction and having two connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) for connecting to hoses and/or plastic pipes on opposite ends thereof, a centrally arranged and deformable region ( 2 ) of rectangular cross section arranged centrally between the two connection regions ( 7 , 8 ) and formed of a first material, two opposing sensor contact surfaces ( 3 , 4 ) and two opposing pressure region surfaces ( 5 , 6 ) being arranged on outer surface areas of the centrally arranged region ( 2 ), and at least one elastic or partially elastic contacting means ( 15 ) provided at least in areas of the centrally arranged region ( 2 ) and formed of a second material that is more flexible and softer than the first material.

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Inventors

• Regen Thomas
• Purmann Sebastian
• Boettcher Lars

Classifications

• E04B2/7422

  with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts · CPC title

• B29C45/0055

  Shaping · CPC title

• B29D23/001

  Pipes; Pipe joints (pleated hoses B29D23/18) · CPC title

• B29B13/024 Primary

  Hollow bodies, e.g. tubes or profiles · CPC title

• B29C66/5221

  for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other · CPC title