Measuring and testing – Volume or rate of flow – Using differential pressure
Patent
1986-06-18
1987-11-17
Goldstein, Herbert
Measuring and testing
Volume or rate of flow
Using differential pressure
G01F 126
Patent
active
047065044
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for indicating changes of a fluid flow, comprising a housing with an inlet and an outlet for the fluid, means in the housing forming a passage for the fluid on its way between said inlet and outlet, a valve member arranged in the housing and displaceable along a path relative to said means to successively increase or decrease the through-flow area of the passage, a support member connected with the housing, and a spring arranged between the valve member and the support member to actuate the valve member to decrease the through-flow area of the passage, the valve member being movable along said path by fluid flowing through the passage against the action of said spring. Said device also comprises indicating means arranged to indicate the position of the valve member in the housing. The invention also relates to a method of operating such a device.
A device of this kind is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,354. In this known device the valve member is adapted to compress a screw spring to a certain degree dependng on the rate of the flow through said passage. Changes of the flow rate in the passage will thus result in changes of the compression of the screw spring. By this device it is not possible to achieve the same high accuracy in indication of a small change of the flow rate at a large flow as at a small flow through the passage. The reason for this is the varying resistance to compression exerted by the screw spring at various stages of compression. It would thus be necessary to use different screw springs for various magnitudes of the fluid flow.
An object of the present invention is to provide a flow indicating device of the kind initially described, which is easily adjustable such that the same high accuracy can be obtained of an indication of a moderate change of the flow independent of the magnitude of the flow.
According to the invention this object is achieved by means of a device which is characterized in that the support member is adjustable relative to the housing in the moving direction of the valve member for adaptation of the position of the valve member to various magnitudes of flow through said passage.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the valve member is guided by the support member along said path. Preferably the support member is displaceable relative to the housing in a direction away from the valve member against the action of a further spring provided between the support member and the housing, said further spring being stronger than the spring arranged between the valve member and the support member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be described more closely in the following with reference to the accompaning drawing, which shows, as an example, a partial length section of a device according to the invention.
In the drawing there is shown a housing 1 with an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 for a stream of liquid. The housing is provided with a socket 4, in which a closure member 5 is fitted. In the closure member 5 there is a bore 6, in which a support member in the form of a spindle 7 is axially slidable. The spindle is threaded and provided with a nut 8 at its end situated outside the housing. A disc shaped projection 9 is provided on a spindle portion situated within the housing. Between the projection 9 and the closure member 5 there is a screw spring 10 fitted on the spindle. By means of the nut 8 and this spring the position of the spindle can be adjusted axially relative to the housing 1. A valve member 11 provided with a central bore is slidable on the spindle portion between the projection 9 and the spindle end situated within the housing 1. Movement of said valve member in a direction away from the projection 9 is limited by a shoulder 12 at the end of the spindle 7. The valve member 11 is being pressed against the shoulder 12 by a screw spring 13, supported by the projection 9. Coaxially with the valve member 11 there is arranged a passage 14 in the housing for the flow between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2459689 (1949-01-01), Dickey et al.
patent: 2647402 (1953-04-01), Ibbott
patent: 2952753 (1960-09-01), Kmiecik et al.
patent: 3805611 (1974-04-01), Hedland
patent: 3881354 (1975-05-01), Block
patent: 4254664 (1981-03-01), Graham
patent: 4552027 (1985-11-01), Larner
Alfa-Laval Marine & Power Engineering AB
Goldstein Herbert
Hapgood Cyrus S.
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