CN218628510U - Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap - Google Patents

Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN218628510U
CN218628510U CN202223012204.6U CN202223012204U CN218628510U CN 218628510 U CN218628510 U CN 218628510U CN 202223012204 U CN202223012204 U CN 202223012204U CN 218628510 U CN218628510 U CN 218628510U
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
adjusting
adjusting rod
movable cavity
middle shaft
bearing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CN202223012204.6U
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
刘昭
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shanghai Yinuo Instrument Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Shanghai Yinuo Instrument Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shanghai Yinuo Instrument Co Ltd filed Critical Shanghai Yinuo Instrument Co Ltd
Priority to CN202223012204.6U priority Critical patent/CN218628510U/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN218628510U publication Critical patent/CN218628510U/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P10/00Technologies related to metal processing
    • Y02P10/20Recycling

Landscapes

  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of a scraper flowmeter, in particular to a scraper flowmeter with adjustable clearance, which comprises an adjusting spring, a middle shaft and a middle baffle, wherein the adjusting spring is sleeved on the middle shaft, and one end of the adjusting spring is propped against the middle baffle; the movable cavity is arranged at the middle shaft and extends from one end of the middle shaft connected to the cover plate to the other end of the middle shaft; one end of the adjusting rod is positioned in the movable cavity, is used for bearing the bearing and is extruded with the other end of the adjusting spring; the adjusting rod is matched with the middle shaft to realize the reciprocating movement of the adjusting rod along the extending direction of the movable cavity; according to the scraper flowmeter, the gap between the rotor assembly and the bottom plate can be adjusted on the premise that the scraper flowmeter is not required to be disassembled by operating the adjusting rod, so that the assembly difficulty of the scraper flowmeter is reduced, and the working efficiency is improved; when ball wearing and tearing in the bearing seriously lead to the rotor subassembly tenesmus, can adjust again the clearance between rotor subassembly and the bottom plate, avoid rotor subassembly and bottom plate to rub, prolong scraper blade flowmeter's life.

Description

Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap
Technical Field
The utility model relates to a scraper blade flowmeter technical field, specifically speaking relates to a scraper blade flowmeter in adjustable clearance.
Background
Because the normal operating condition of scraper blade flowmeter's rotor subassembly is high-speed rotation under unsettled state to scraper blade flowmeter needs the clearance of guaranteeing the bottom in actual assembly, reaches unsettled state.
As shown in fig. 3-4, at present, the support sleeve is often used to support the rotor assembly to ensure that the gap between the bottom plates is 0.2mm, but in actual operation, the gap is often less than 0.2mm or greater than 0.2mm, and the length of the support sleeve can only be changed back and forth to adjust, and the scraper flowmeter can be frequently disassembled and assembled repeatedly by changing the length of the support sleeve, so that the working strength is high, and the working efficiency is low.
Simultaneously, in the exploitation technology in domestic oil field, the crude oil of exploiting out from the oil well contains a large amount of fine sand, and the granule is big is filtered by the filter, and the granule is little then can't be filtered, the serious condition of ball wearing and tearing in the ball bearing often appears, and long-term, the ball diameter can diminish, causes the whole tenesmus of rotor subassembly of inside and rubs with the casing, and the 0.2 mm's of bottom clearance will not exist again, finally causes the damage of scraper flowmeter.
SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL
To the above-mentioned problem that exists among the prior art, the utility model provides a scraper flowmeter in adjustable clearance.
In order to solve the technical problem, the utility model discloses a following technical scheme can solve:
an adjustable clearance scraper flowmeter, which comprises,
the adjusting spring is sleeved on the middle shaft, and one end of the adjusting spring is abutted against the middle partition plate;
the movable cavity is arranged at the middle shaft and extends from one end of the middle shaft connected to the cover plate to the other end of the middle shaft;
one end of the adjusting rod is positioned in the movable cavity, is used for bearing a bearing and is extruded with the other end of the adjusting spring;
the adjusting rod is matched with the middle shaft to realize reciprocating movement of the adjusting rod along the extending direction of the movable cavity.
Preferably, the intermediate shaft is provided with a through hole communicated with the movable cavity,
the through hole penetrates through the intermediate shaft, the axis of the through hole is intersected with the axis of the movable cavity, and one end of the adjusting rod is matched with the bearing and the adjusting spring through the through hole.
Preferably, the through hole extends towards the direction of the middle partition plate; a transverse pin is arranged on the adjusting rod,
the transverse pin is fixedly connected to one end of the adjusting rod, one end or two ends of the transverse pin extend out of the middle shaft through the through hole and are used for bearing the bearing and extruded by the adjusting spring;
the transverse pin can reciprocate in the through hole along the extending direction of the through hole.
Preferably, the device also comprises a sliding sleeve sleeved on the middle shaft; the adjusting spring is sleeved outside the sliding sleeve; the end part of the sliding sleeve, which is close to the bearing, is provided with a ring-shaped ferrule along the circumferential direction of the sliding sleeve, and the transverse pin is extruded with the adjusting spring through the ferrule.
Preferably, the other end of the adjusting rod extends out of the movable cavity and is fixedly connected with an adjusting handle; the adjusting rod is in threaded fit with the intermediate shaft.
Preferably, the other end of the adjusting rod is positioned in the movable cavity; also comprises an adjusting screw which is arranged on the frame,
one end of the adjusting screw extends into the movable cavity and is matched with the intermediate shaft through threads.
Preferably, the outer side wall of the adjusting rod is in threaded connection with the inner side wall of the movable cavity.
Preferably, one end of the intermediate shaft is provided with a first locking nut; the outer side wall of the adjusting rod is connected with the first locking nut through threads.
Preferably, the adjusting screw is in threaded connection with the inner side wall of the movable cavity.
Preferably, one end of the intermediate shaft is provided with a second locking nut; the adjusting screw is connected with the second locking nut through threads.
The utility model discloses possess following beneficial effect at least:
according to the scraper flowmeter, the gap between the rotor assembly and the bottom plate can be adjusted on the premise that the scraper flowmeter is not required to be disassembled by operating the adjusting rod by a worker, so that the assembling difficulty of the scraper flowmeter is reduced, the production cost is further reduced, and the working efficiency is improved; simultaneously, when ball wearing and tearing in the bearing seriously lead to the rotor subassembly tenesmus, can be under the prerequisite of not dismantling scraper flowmeter, through the operation to the regulating stem, readjust the clearance between rotor subassembly and the bottom plate, avoid rotor subassembly and bottom plate to rub, prolonged scraper flowmeter's life.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the internal structure of a flow meter in accordance with the present application;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 at A;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a prior art drag-flight flow meter;
fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view of fig. 3 at B.
The names of the parts indicated by the numerical references in the drawings are as follows:
100. a support sleeve; 110. adjusting the spring; 120. an intermediate shaft; 130. a middle partition plate; 140. a movable cavity; 150. adjusting a rod; 160. a bearing; 161. a ball bearing; 170. a rotor assembly; 180. a base plate; 190. a through hole; 210. a transverse pin; 220. a sliding sleeve; 221. a ferrule; 230. an adjusting screw; 240. a second lock nut; 250. and (7) a cover plate.
Detailed Description
For a further understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the examples are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the present invention.
Fig. 3-4 are schematic diagrams of the internal structure of a prior art drag-blade flow meter.
As shown in fig. 1-2, the present embodiment provides an adjustable gap blade flowmeter, comprising,
the adjusting spring 110 is sleeved on the middle shaft 120, and one end of the adjusting spring abuts against the middle partition plate 130;
a movable chamber 140 provided at the intermediate shaft 120 and extending from one end of the intermediate shaft 120 connected to the cover plate 250 toward the other end of the intermediate shaft 120;
an adjusting rod 150 having one end positioned in the movable chamber 140 and used for carrying a bearing 160 and pressing the other end of the adjusting spring 110;
wherein the adjusting rod 150 is matched with the middle shaft 120 to realize the reciprocating movement of the adjusting rod 150 along the extending direction of the movable chamber 140.
In this embodiment, when the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is less than 0.2mm, the adjusting rod 150 is operated to move the adjusting rod 150 in the moving cavity 140 toward the direction away from the middle partition plate 130, and since one end of the adjusting rod 150 is pressed against the adjusting spring 110, the adjusting spring 110 is extended in the moving process of the adjusting rod 150, and meanwhile, one end of the adjusting rod 150 drives the bearing 160 to move away from the middle partition plate 130, so that the entire rotor assembly 170 connected with the bearing 160 moves toward the direction away from the bottom plate 180, thereby achieving the purpose of enlarging the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180;
when the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is greater than 0.2mm, the adjusting rod 150 is operated to move the adjusting rod 150 in the moving cavity 140 toward the middle partition plate 130, so that the adjusting rod 150 extrudes the adjusting spring 110 to compress the adjusting spring 110, and meanwhile, one end of the adjusting rod 150 drives the bearing 160 to move close to the middle partition plate 130, so that the entire rotor assembly 170 moves toward the bottom plate 180, and the purpose of reducing the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is achieved;
it should be noted that in this embodiment, through the operation of the adjusting lever 150 by the operator, the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 can be adjusted without detaching the scraper flowmeter, so that the assembly difficulty of the scraper flowmeter is reduced, the production cost is further reduced, and the working efficiency is improved; meanwhile, when the rotor assembly 170 drops due to the abrasion of the balls 161 in the bearing 160, the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 can be readjusted by operating the adjusting rod 150 on the premise of not disassembling the scraper flow meter, so that the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 are prevented from being rubbed, and the service life of the scraper flow meter is prolonged.
In this embodiment, the middle shaft 120 is provided with a through hole 190 communicated with the movable cavity 140,
the through hole 190 penetrates through the intermediate shaft 120, the axis of the through hole 190 intersects with the axis of the movable chamber 140, and one end of the adjustment rod 150 is engaged with the bearing 160 and the adjustment spring 110 through the through hole 190.
Through the arrangement of the through hole 190 in the embodiment, the adjustment rod 150 inside the intermediate shaft 120 can be better matched with the bearing 160 and the adjustment spring 110 outside the intermediate shaft 120, and the linkage between the adjustment rod 150 and the bearing 160 as well as the adjustment spring 110 is realized;
in this embodiment, the axis of the through hole 190 is orthogonal to the axis of the movable chamber 140, but in actual use, the axis of the through hole 190 and the axis of the movable chamber 140 may be at a plurality of angles, and a corresponding function may be achieved.
In this embodiment, the through hole 190 extends toward the middle partition 130; the adjusting lever 150 is provided with a cross pin 210,
the cross pin 210 is fixedly connected to one end of the adjusting rod 150, and one end or two ends of the cross pin 210 extend out of the intermediate shaft 120 through the through hole 190 and are used for bearing the bearing 160 and are pressed by the adjusting spring 110;
the horizontal pin 210 is reciprocally movable in the through hole 190 along the extending direction of the through hole 190.
Through the structure in the embodiment, when the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is less than 0.2mm, the adjusting rod 150 moves towards the direction away from the middle partition plate 130, so as to drive the cross pin 210 to move towards the direction away from the middle partition plate 130, at this time, the bearing 160 abutting against one side surface of the cross pin 210 close to the cover plate 250 moves towards the direction away from the middle partition plate 130, the adjusting spring 110 abutting against one side surface of the cross pin 210 close to the middle partition plate 130 extends, and then the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is expanded;
when the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is greater than 0.2mm, the adjustment rod 150 moves close to the middle partition 130, so that the cross pin 210 synchronously moves close to the middle partition 130, at this time, the bearing 160 synchronously moves close to the middle partition 130, the adjustment spring 110 is compressed, and then the gap between the rotor assembly 170 and the bottom plate 180 is reduced.
In this embodiment, the device further includes a sliding sleeve 220 sleeved on the middle shaft 120; the adjusting spring 110 is sleeved outside the sliding sleeve 220; the end of the sliding sleeve 220 close to the bearing 160 is provided with a ring-shaped ferrule 221 along the circumference of the sliding sleeve 220, and the cross pin 210 is pressed against the adjusting spring 110 through the ferrule 221.
With the configuration in the present embodiment, the sliding sleeve 220 and the collar 221 move away from the intermediate partition 130 or close to the intermediate partition 130 following the adjustment spring 110 during the expansion or compression of the adjustment spring 110;
it should be noted that, through the arrangement of the sliding sleeve 220, the adjusting spring 110 can be preferably prevented from contacting and rubbing the intermediate shaft 120 in the processes of extension and compression, and the adjusting spring 110 and the intermediate shaft 120 are prevented from being damaged due to friction; through the arrangement of the ferrule 221, the acting force of the adjusting spring 110 is transmitted to the transverse pin 210 through the ferrule 221, and because the other end of the adjusting spring 110 may not be a plane, in this case, the acting force of the adjusting spring 110 on the transverse pin 210 is not balanced, which is easy to cause damage to the transverse pin 210, so that the adjusting spring 110 directly acts on the ferrule 221 and is transmitted to the transverse pin 210 through the ferrule 221, which can better protect the transverse pin 210 and improve the service life of the transverse pin 210;
it can be understood that, in the embodiment, the adjusting rod 150 and the transverse pin 210 are manufactured separately and then fixedly connected, but on the premise that the intermediate shaft 120 is manufactured separately, the adjusting rod 150 and the transverse pin 210 may be manufactured integrally, that is, the adjusting rod 150 and the transverse pin 210 are first placed in the movable cavity 140 and the through hole 190, and then the intermediate shaft 120 manufactured separately is fixedly connected.
In this embodiment, the other end of the adjusting rod 150 extends out of the movable cavity 140 and is fixedly connected with an adjusting handle; the adjustment rod 150 is in threaded engagement with the intermediate shaft 120.
In this embodiment, the outer sidewall of the adjusting rod 150 is connected to the inner sidewall of the movable chamber 140 by a screw.
In this embodiment, a first locking nut is disposed at one end of the intermediate shaft 120; the outer side wall of the adjusting rod 150 is connected with the first locking nut through threads.
With the configuration of the present embodiment, on the premise that the other end of the adjustment rod 150 extends out of the movable cavity 140, the following two connection ways for the adjustment rod 150 to the middle shaft 120 are provided:
1) An adjusting handle is fixed at the other end of the adjusting rod 150, and the outer side wall of the adjusting rod 150 is in threaded connection with the inner side wall of the movable cavity 140;
when the adjustable handle is used, the outer side wall of the adjusting rod 150 and the inner side wall of the movable cavity 140 move towards the middle partition 130 or away from the middle partition 130 in the movable cavity 140 through threads by rotating the adjusting handle.
2) An adjusting handle is fixed at the other end of the adjusting rod 150, and a first locking nut is arranged at one end of the intermediate shaft 120; the outer side wall of the adjusting rod 150 is connected with the first locking nut through threads;
when the adjustable handle is used, the outer side wall of the adjusting rod 150 and the first locking nut realize that the adjusting rod 150 moves towards the middle partition 130 or away from the middle partition 130 in the movable cavity 140 through threads by rotating the adjusting handle.
In this embodiment, the other end of the adjusting rod 150 is located in the movable cavity 140; there is also included an adjustment screw 230 which,
one end of the adjusting screw 230 extends into the movable chamber 140 and is in threaded engagement with the intermediate shaft 120.
In this embodiment, the adjusting screw 230 is connected to the inner sidewall of the movable chamber 140 by a screw thread.
In this embodiment, a second lock nut 240 is disposed at one end of the middle shaft 120; the adjusting screw 230 is in threaded connection with the second lock nut 240.
With the configuration of the present embodiment, the following two ways of connecting the adjustment rod 150 to the middle shaft 120 are provided with the other end of the adjustment rod 150 in the movable cavity 140:
1) One end of the adjusting screw 230 extends into the movable cavity 140, and the adjusting screw 230 is in threaded connection with the inner side wall of the movable cavity 140;
when the adjustable spring 110 is used, the adjusting screw 230 is rotated, the adjusting screw 230 and the inner side wall of the movable cavity 140 move towards the middle partition 130 through threads, then the adjusting screw 230 extrudes the adjusting rod 150, so that the adjusting rod 150 moves towards the middle partition 130, and then the adjusting spring 110 is compressed; the adjusting screw 230 is reversed again, the adjusting screw 230 and the inner side wall of the movable chamber 140 are moved in a direction away from the middle partition 130 through threads, and then the adjusting spring 110 is extended, so that the adjusting rod 150 is moved in a direction away from the middle partition 130 until the adjusting rod is pressed against the adjusting screw 230.
2) One end of the adjusting screw 230 extends into the movable cavity 140, and a second locking nut 240 is arranged at one end of the intermediate shaft 120; the adjusting screw 230 is in threaded connection with the second locking nut 240;
in use, the adjusting screw 230 is rotated, and the adjusting screw 230 and the second locking nut 240 are screwed to move toward the middle partition 130 or away from the middle partition 130, so as to compress or expand the adjusting spring 110.
In short, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all the equivalent changes and modifications made in the claims of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. The utility model provides a scraper blade flowmeter of adjustable clearance which characterized in that: comprises the steps of (a) preparing a substrate,
the adjusting spring is sleeved on the middle shaft, and one end of the adjusting spring is abutted against the middle partition plate;
the movable cavity is arranged at the middle shaft and extends from one end of the middle shaft connected to the cover plate to the other end of the middle shaft;
one end of the adjusting rod is positioned in the movable cavity, is used for bearing a bearing and is extruded with the other end of the adjusting spring;
the adjusting rod is matched with the middle shaft to realize reciprocating movement of the adjusting rod along the extending direction of the movable cavity.
2. The adjustable gap drag flow meter of claim 1, wherein: a through hole communicated with the movable cavity is arranged at the middle shaft,
the through hole penetrates through the intermediate shaft, the axis of the through hole is intersected with the axis of the movable cavity, and one end of the adjusting rod is matched with the bearing and the adjusting spring through the through hole.
3. The adjustable gap drag flow meter of claim 2, wherein: the through holes extend towards the direction of the middle partition plate; the adjusting rod is provided with a cross pin,
the transverse pin is fixedly connected to one end of the adjusting rod, one end or two ends of the transverse pin extend out of the middle shaft through the through hole and are used for bearing the bearing and are extruded by the adjusting spring;
the transverse pin can reciprocate in the through hole along the extending direction of the through hole.
4. The adjustable gap blade flowmeter of claim 3, wherein: the sliding sleeve is sleeved on the middle shaft; the adjusting spring is sleeved outside the sliding sleeve; the end part of the sliding sleeve, which is close to the bearing, is provided with a ring-shaped ferrule along the circumferential direction of the sliding sleeve, and the transverse pin is extruded with the adjusting spring through the ferrule.
5. The adjustable gap blade flowmeter of claim 3, wherein: the other end of the adjusting rod extends out of the movable cavity and is fixedly connected with an adjusting handle; the adjusting rod is in threaded fit with the middle shaft.
6. The adjustable gap blade flowmeter of claim 3, wherein: the other end of the adjusting rod is positioned in the movable cavity; also comprises an adjusting screw which is arranged on the frame,
one end of the adjusting screw extends into the movable cavity and is matched with the intermediate shaft through threads.
7. The adjustable gap blade flowmeter of claim 5, wherein: the outer side wall of the adjusting rod is connected with the inner side wall of the movable cavity through threads.
8. The adjustable gap blade flowmeter of claim 5, wherein: a first locking nut is arranged at one end of the intermediate shaft; the outer side wall of the adjusting rod is connected with the first locking nut through threads.
9. The adjustable gap drag flow meter of claim 6, wherein: the adjusting screw is connected with the inner side wall of the movable cavity through threads.
10. The adjustable gap blade flowmeter of claim 6, wherein: a second locking nut is arranged at one end of the intermediate shaft; the adjusting screw is connected with the second locking nut through threads.
CN202223012204.6U 2022-11-11 2022-11-11 Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap Active CN218628510U (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202223012204.6U CN218628510U (en) 2022-11-11 2022-11-11 Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202223012204.6U CN218628510U (en) 2022-11-11 2022-11-11 Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN218628510U true CN218628510U (en) 2023-03-14

Family

ID=85446854

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202223012204.6U Active CN218628510U (en) 2022-11-11 2022-11-11 Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN218628510U (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP4187093A1 (en) Plunger pump and pump station
CN109931240A (en) Plunger type fluid compression engine
CN218628510U (en) Scraper flowmeter with adjustable gap
CN110871377A (en) Small-caliber top-mounted ball valve body grinding tool
CN109108612B (en) Semi-automatic press fitting tool
CN101900096B (en) Mechanical diaphragm metering pump with adjustable stroke
CN212077475U (en) Novel conical pulping machine
CN210087717U (en) Telescopic rotary hydraulic cylinder
CN201747549U (en) Mechanical diaphragm metering pump
CN113669222A (en) Swash plate limiting and adjusting mechanism and constant-pressure variable pump
KR20000031815A (en) Variable capacity swash plate type compressor
CN109812467A (en) A kind of servo cylinder
CN210264997U (en) Variable oil injection timing device with simple structure
AU2021356404A1 (en) Emulsion plunger pump and pump head assembly thereof
CN109555659B (en) Annular cam metering pump transmission mechanism
CN102689260B (en) Frosted working head and frosted tool by using frosted working head
CN220319819U (en) Assembled air compressor machine
CN113530779B (en) Plunger pump variable mechanism
CN109578235A (en) A kind of high-precision, wear-resistant, long-life inclined disc type axial variable plunger pump
JP2022518158A (en) Rotary compression assembly, compressor and air conditioning equipment
CN211105843U (en) Spring type balancer for open press
CN212003564U (en) Manual adjusting device of diaphragm type measuring pump
CN109751223A (en) A kind of air compressor machine and its piston structure
CN220819315U (en) Test tool for static balance of chemical pump impeller
CN219345043U (en) Multi-angle reversing fan device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant