Measuring and testing – Volume or rate of flow – Tank type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-05
2001-03-20
Patel, Harshad (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Volume or rate of flow
Tank type
C073S30400R, C222S639000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202483
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flow measuring and metering devices and more specifically to a volumetric flow measuring and metering devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many types of known flow metering and measuring devices and they include the following. Mass flow meters utilize temperature sensors that are placed upstream and downstream of a heating coil. The mass flow rate is inversely proportional to the temperature difference between the sensors. These flow meters are designed primarily for metering gas flow.
Turbine flow meters utilize a flowtube that contains a small propeller, or turbine, mounted co-axially. The angular speed of the tube is equivalent to flow rate. These flow meters produce an electrical output proportional to turbine speed.
In positive displacement flow meters, fluid enters the flow sensor chamber forcing a piston to move. Piston motion is proportional to flow rate and the flow meter produces an output signal based on the frequency of piston motion.
In vortex transmitter flow meters, flow passes baffles inside a transmitter, causing vortices to form. The frequency of the vortices is directly proportional to flow rate. Vortices cause pressure fluctuations which are sensed, amplified, and converted to an output signal.
Doppler flow meters utilize an ultrasonic beam that is transmitted at an angle into a fluid to be metered. Impurities in the fluid reflect the beam at a slightly different frequency to a receiving sensor. The Doppler shift value is proportional to flow velocity.
In magnetic flow meters, movement of a conductive fluid through a magnetic field generates a signal proportional to velocity. This technique utilizes the Faraday principle.
In differential pressure flow meters, a pressure difference is measured across an orifice. Flow is proportional to this pressure difference.
Though these flow meters have had a beneficial impact on flow metering, they are disadvantageous for one or more of the following reasons. They present an undesirable high back pressure to the sensed fluid. They are sensitive to particulates in the fluid or they require high particulate concentration for the fluid to be measured. Air bubbles can effect the accuracy of flow rate determination or can block flow. Many of these sensors measure flow indirectly by measuring the velocity and hence may provide undesirably inaccurate flow rates. The cost of some of the sensors used in these systems is undesirably high.
A need thus exists for a flow measuring and metering devices that has low susceptibility or sensitivity to particulate levels, does not produce back pressure and is accurate and inexpensive to produce and use, amongst other features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flow measuring and metering devices that has low susceptibility to substances or air bubbles in a flow being metered.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a flow measuring and metering devices that does not produce a back pressure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flow measuring and metering devices that utilizes gravitational forces in metering flow rate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flow measuring and metering devices that is accurate in performance and economical to produce and operate.
These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of the volumetric flow measuring apparatus described herein.
The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2966798 (1961-01-01), Smith
patent: 3122920 (1964-03-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 3350937 (1967-11-01), Brewer
patent: 4253332 (1981-03-01), Sabaatino et al.
patent: 4306454 (1981-12-01), Orlik et al.
patent: 5016790 (1991-05-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5564305 (1996-10-01), Cadeo
patent: 5901740 (1999-05-01), Sanchelima
Adamson Steven J.
Patel Harshad
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