ES318387A1 - Apparatus for measuring the volumetric flow of a liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

A separator for separating air from a liquid being pumped through a volumetric flow gauge (not shown) comprises a body 11 having an inlet pipe 5 feeding tangentially into an annular channel 13 with perforated distributing partitions 14, 12 a float 19 being contained within the body 11, the float carrying a cylindrical tube 20 sliding in a bush 22, and having apertures 21 which allow escape of air from the body 11 when the float is in its lowermost position, as shown, a casing part 18 of the float, with the float in this position obturating apertures 17 leading to the liquid outlet pipe 7 of the separator. As liquid is pumped into the body 11 via the pipe 5, the float 19 rises allowing the liquid to escape through the apertures 17. This rise of the float 19 also obturates the apertures 21 so that the air pressure in the body 11 helps to pump the liquid out through the pipe 7. Upward movement of the pipe 20 also actuates a pivoted lever 29 to open a normally closed switch 28 to close an air escape valve 27 in a pipe 26. This valve is open when the apertures 21 are in communication with the interior of the body 11 to allow ready escape of air. Thus if only air entering via the pipe 5 the float will fall and the apertures will be obturated the air escaping through the pipe 26 and no air entering the liquid outlet pipe 7. A weighted pivoted lever 36 is also provided and this is actuated by a trip device 41 on the tube 20 which only actuates the lever on downward movement of the tube 20. This lever controls a switch 35 to open a valve 33 in a pipe 32 supplying compressed air to the interior of the body 11. This ensures that when the back pressure in the pipe 7 is greater than the pressure in the inlet pipe 5, the compressed air will force the liquid out of the pipe 7 until the apertures 17 become obturated as before.