Fluid handling – Systems – With flow control means for branched passages
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-21
2001-02-06
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
With flow control means for branched passages
C137S597000, C251S148000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182701
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to adapters for mounting a fluid pressure sensor and more particularly to such an adapter that has a selectively angularly orientable mounting surface for detachably supporting the fluid pressure sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
Pressure sensors are typically used in fluid flow or process systems to sense fluid pressure at one or more points in the system and transmit a signal correlative of the sensed pressure. For example, the pressure differential across a predefined orifice, commonly referred to as &Dgr;P, is typically transmitted to a computer controlled data acquisition system which uses the sensed pressures in the calculation of system flow rates. It is also often desirable to separately measure the static pressure of the fluid, typically the pressure on the upstream side of the orifice. For such purposes, a static pressure transmitter is connected to a port that is in fluid communication with the corresponding pressure line. Such ports have, heretofore, often been difficult to access and did not provide any selectivity with respect to angular orientation, or placement, of the static pressure transmitter.
Also, it has been found that very small errors in the measured value of the respective pressures can produce significant errors in calculated fluid flow rates. Both static and differential pressure values are required to in the calculation of fluid flow rates. It is therefore desirable that the static pressure transmitter be placed as close to the &Dgr;P transmitter as possible to minimize errors attributable to transient pressure fluctuations.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above. It is desirable to have an adapter for mounting a static pressure transmitter in immediate proximity with a &Dgr;P pressure transmitter. It is also desirable to have a adapter that has a mounting surface for the static pressure transmitter which can be selective oriented in a desired angular direction to permit installation in confined or limited access areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an adapter having a construction suitable for interposition between a manifold and a first test instrument and detachably supporting a second test instrument having a single inlet port, includes a stationary bar, a rotatable body detachably connected to an end portion of the stationary bar, and a means for securing the rotatable body in a predetermined angular relationship with respect to the stationary body and simultaneously providing a stabilized sealed connection between the rotatable body and the stationary bar. The stationary bar has at least two primary flow passageways arranged to provide fluid communication between respective predefined ports of the manifold and the first test instrument, an outlet port defined in an extended end portion of the bar, and an internal passageway providing fluid communication between a preselected one of the primary flow passageways and the outlet port in the end portion of the bar. The rotatable body has an outlet port defined on a selectively orientable surface that can be positioned at a desired angular position with respect to the stationary bar, an internal passageway providing fluid communication between the outlet port defined in the end portion of the stationary bar and the outlet port defined in the angularly orientable surface of the rotatable body, and a valve disposed in the body at a position whereat the valve is capable of selectively blocking fluid flow through the internal passageway in body.
In other aspects of the present invention, the end portion of the stationary bar of the adapter has a first set of external threads formed proximate an outer end of the end portion and arranged to be threadably received within a threaded pocket provided in the rotatable body, and a second set of external threads formed inwardly from the outer end of the end portion of the bar which have a diameter greater than that of the first set of external threads. Alternatively, the first and second sets of external threads formed inwardly from the outer end of the bar may have the same diameter. Furthermore, the means for securing the rotatable body in a selected angular relationship with respect to the stationary bar and simultaneously providing a stabilized sealed connection between the rotatable body and the stationary bar includes a nut having internal threads adapted to engage the second set of external threads on the end portion of the bar and a face surface capable of being aligned in forced abutment against the rotatable body when the angularly orientable surface of the rotatable body is selectively positioned in a desired angular relationship with respect to the stationary bar.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4726399 (1988-02-01), Miller
patent: 4920626 (1990-05-01), Nimberger
patent: 5209258 (1993-05-01), Sharp et al.
patent: 5277224 (1994-01-01), Hutton et al.
Chambers A. Michael
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Kirk, Jr. John R.
PGI International Ltd.
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