Measuring and testing – Volume or rate of flow – Using differential pressure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-26
2001-10-30
Patel, Harshad (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Volume or rate of flow
Using differential pressure
C073S305000, C073S323000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308582
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a measuring device for measuring the flow rate and the temperature of a flowable medium, as well as to means for providing one or plural branch pipings in a pipe containing such medium and including such a measuring device.
Disclosed in German utility model serial no. G 85 08 222 is a flowmeter for adjusting a heat flow which allows the measurement of f low rate and temperature of the flowable medium flowing therethrough. For measuring the temperature and the flow rate of a predetermined pipeline, said pipeline is cut open and this flowmeter is installed in the course of the pipeline. With heating circuit distributors, the problem often arises that what is to be measured is the temperature and the flow rate of the medium in a return branch, with such measurement often being conducted at a central site for several parallel heating circuits. In this case, plural branch pipings terminate in a main pipe, with a flowmeter of the aforementioned kind being installed in the course of the respective branch pipings shortly before the confluence in order to allow a central reading of flow rate and temperature of plural branches at this one central site. What is diadvantageous about this prior art flowmeter is that for each branch, a flowmeter has to be provided in the branch and a reflux connection has to be provided in the main pipeline. This is labor-intensive on the one hand, and on the other hand undesired in view of the little space usually available.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a measuring device for measuring the flow rate and the temperature of a flowable medium which overcomes these disadvantages.
This object is accomplished by a measuring device for measuring the flow rate and temperature of a flowable medium with an external pipe sleeve and an internal pipe contained within said external pipe sleeve, the diameter of said internal pipe having been selected such that a cavity forms between said internal pipe and said external pipe sleeve, with medium being allowed to flow into said internal pipe via an aperture provided at a first end of said internal pipe and an aperture being provided at the second end of the internal pipe via which said medium can exit said internal pipe and leave the measuring device via the cavity, with a flowmeter and a temperature meter being mounted in or along this flow path formed in the measuring device for the flowable medium.
Such a measuring device allows the measurement of flow rate and temperature when the internal pipe is connected to a branch, at the same time making it possible to return the medium made to flow through the measuring device into the main pipe. The measuring device of the present invention has the advantage that only two apertures need to be provided in a main pipe, the one aperture serving for introducing flowable medium from a branch into the measuring device, with the other aperture housing the measuring device through which the flowable medium from the branch flows and which returns said medium into the main pipe. As a consequence, with only a minimum space requirement, plural branches may be provided one next to the other at a main pipe, with the respective inventive measuring device indicating the temperature and the flow rate of the flowable medium returned into the main pipe from the branch.
Likewise, it is certainly possible to use the measuring device of the invention not as a reflux meter but for measuring the temperature and flow rate of a branch in which medium from the main pipe flows into the branch. Usually, however, what interests are the different flow rates and temperatures of the returned medium streams flowing in the branches since they differ from each other.
It is another object of the present invention to provide means for forming one or plural branches in a medium-containing pipe including a measuring device according to the present invention.
This object is accomplished according to the invention by a two-part unit mountable on said pipe comprising a lower part and an upper part, with two opposing apertures being formed in the pipe for each branch transversely to the pipe axis, said lower part including a through passage sealingly fitting on the lower aperture for the flowable medium, and said upper part including an insert fitting into the upper aperture, both parts being capable of being firmly connected to the pipe, with the measuring device of the invention being provided in the upper part.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the measuring device has the flowmeter provided within the internal pipe and the temperature meter within the cavity. The flowmeter preferably comprises a floating body movably mounted within said internal tube. Said floating body may contact a pressure spring exerting a spring power against the direction of flow of said medium.
In an advantageous manner, for indicating the flux rate measured, said floating body is connected to a pointer of an indicating device. Alternatively, the flux rate, in particular if part of the internal pipe and the external pipe sleeve is transparent, may be indicated by the floating body itself.
The temperature meter includes a thermometer, in particular comprising a thermometer tube and corresponding supporting and fixing means for mounting said thermometer in the cavity. In connection with said thermometer, said indicating device may include a memory pointer for marking the temperature value determined by the temperature meter.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, adjusting means movable relative to the internal pipe, preferably a spindle, is provided, with the position of the adjustment means relative to the internal pipe serving to adjust the flux rate through the measuring device. This measure will make it possible to simultaneously adjust the flux rate of the branch piping, besides the measurement of temperature and flux rate as well as the possibility of using this device in a simple manner for providing a branching.
The adjustment means may be connected to a turning handle, which—when actuated—will allow a variation of the position of the adjustment means relative to the internal pipe and thus of the flux rate through the branch piping.
In order to facilitate mounting it on a branch piping, the internal pipe protrudes somewhat from the external pipe sleeve.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device for forming one or plural branchings of a medium-containing pipe with a measuring device of the present invention, the lower part and the upper part are interconnected by means of a hinged joint. As an alternative thereto, or in combination with this embodiment, the lower part may be sealingly joined with the first end of the internal pipe. The connection to the branch piping is obtained in each case by the connection to the internal pipe, while the external pipe sleeve serves to return the flowable medium into the main pipeline via the cavity.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the subclaims.
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Patel Harshad
Reich KG Regel-Und Sicherheitstechnik
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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