GB1564546A - Measuring device for measuring a predeternmined parameter of a fluid medium - Google Patents

Description

(54) A MEASURING DEVICE FOR MEASURING A PREDETERMINED PARAMETER OF A FLUID MEDIUM (71) We, SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a German company of Berlin and Munich, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a measurement device for measuring a predetermined parameter of a fluid medium.

According to the invention there is provided a measurement device for measuring a predetermined parameter of a fluid medium, said device comprising a valve body having a first inlet and a first outlet for the fluid medium and a second inlet and a second outlet for a further fluid medium, a valve member mounted in the valve body and having a through-flow passage, and a measuring element mounted in the valve member and having a sensor arranged in said passage; in which the valve member is rotatable in said valve body between a first position in which the throughflow passage communicates with said first inlet and said first outlet so that the sensor of the measuring element can measure the predetermined parameter of said fluid medium, and a second position in which the through-flow passage communicates with said second inlet and said second outlet.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of a measuring device according to the invention; Figures 2 to 4 are diagrammatic lateral sectional views of the measuring device, the Figures illustrating different operating modes thereof; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a measuring installation incorporating a plurality of measuring devices according to the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a four-way valve 1 (here a ball cock) has a valve-body 2 formed with first inlet and outlet apertures 3,4. For connection with attached pipelines, flanges 5 are (as is conventional) provided.

The substantially spherical valve member 6 has a central passage 7 connecting the inlet 3 and the outlet 4 in the valve body 2 in the "open" position shown, and having equal clear inside diameter. Arranged between the valve member 6 and the body 2 is also a packing 8.

A rod-form electrical metering sensor 10 (for example a pH electrode) is pushed into a bore 9 coaxial to the pivot axis 17 of the valve member 6, in such manner that its active element 11 projects into the passage 7 and therewith into the flow path of the metered medium, whereas its electrical connections 12 extend out of a pressure-tight securing arrangement. The said pressure-type securing arrangement comprises a sleeve 13 adapted to be screwed into a coaxial port stub 14 of the valve member 6 and pressing a packing or sealing ring 15 against the periphery of the rod-form metering sensor 10.

For rotary actuation of the valve member 6, a square element 16, which also extends coaxially outwardly, is provided.

Referring to Figure 2, the rotary valve 1 connects, in a first position, two line elements connected to the first inlet 3 and the first outlet 4 and carrying the medium 18 which is to be metered. The active element 11 of the metering sensor projects into the passage 7 of the valve member 6 and therewith into the medium 18.

For maintaining or servicing the metering sensor. the rotary member 6 of the rotary valve 1 is (as shown in Figure 3) rotated through 90" into a second position, the line carrying the medium 18 is shut-off, and the passage 7 in the rotary member 6 connects two line sections carrying another medium (here, via ducts 20 or 20' and 21 opening into funnel-like systems 19 of the valve seat which form a second inlet and a second outlet of the valve body 2). In the position shown, a cleansing or flushing medium 22 is injected or sprayed, via the duct 20 and by means of a dosing device (not shown), into the passage 7, leaving the latter via the line section 21.

Referring to Figure 4, a calibrating medium, for example a solution adjusted to a pre-determined pH value, is dosed into the passage 7 via the duct 20', and calibration of the cleansed measurement sensor is effected.

The calibrating agent leaves the body of the rotary valve 1 again via the line section 21 debouching into the open air.

Since the passage 7 of the valve member 6, serving as a throughflow vessel, and also the connected ducts and line sections 20,20', 21 have, together, a relatively small volume, it becomes possible to dose flushing and calibrating agents especially economically thereby reducing frequency of maintaining the automatic metering station.

Figure 5 shows, diagrammatically, the application of rotary valves of the type described hereinabove in an automated metering station for waste water (or sewage).

The waste water flows through the main line 24 in the direction A to B. Arranged one after the other in the flow path are three rotary valves the rotating members 6 of which are fitted with metering feelers or sensors 10 for conductivity, pH value and redox potential. By means of a timer (or timingpulse generator), arranged in the metering station, or via a remote-control signal, there can be cut-in a drive 25, displacing the valve member 6 into the second position shown, via a push-rod 27 to which are coupled the actuating levers 26 of the rotary valves. Connected to the injection duct 20 of the first rotary valve having conductivity metering sensors is a supply vessel 28 for cleansing liquid and having a dosing pump 29.

Into the valve having the pH value metering sensor debouche on one side three ducts 20. 20' and 20" each of which is connected with supply vessels 28, one of which contains a cleansing liquid whereas the others contain calibrating liquids adjusted to pH 5 or pH 7 and which are sprayed-in into the passage 7 of the rotary valve, in pre-set sequence. by the automatically controlled dosing pumps 29.

The third rotary valve, containing a metering sensor for redox potential, is also connected with a container 28 for cleansing liquid, having a dosing pump 29.

After effecting cleansing and optionally.

calibration of the metering sensors. the valve members 6 are once again cut. by means of the drive 25, into the line carrying the waste water and metering of the medium is continued.

It is also possible, if necessary, to attach in the valve member of one of the rotary valves described, with its axis-parallel to the pivot axis, a further metering sensor (for example for temperature) and to arrange the connections thereof to extend, jointly with those of the first metering sensor, out of the valve member.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A measurement device for measuring a predetermined parameter of a fluid medium, said device comprising a valve body having a first inlet and a first outlet for the fluid medium and a second inlet and a second outlet for a further fluid medium, a valve member mounted in the valve body and having a through-flow passage, and a measuring element mounted in the valve member and having a sensor arranged in said passage; in which the valve member is rotatable in said valve body between a first position in which the through-flow passage communicates with said first inlet and said first outlet so that the sensor of the measuring element can measure the predetermined parameter of said fluid medium, and a second position in which the through-flow passage communicates with said second inlet and said second outlet.

2. A measurement device according to claim 1. including first lines connected to said first inlet and said first outlet for conveying said fluid medium, and second lines connected to said second inlet and said second outlet for conveying said further fluid medium.

3. A measurement device according to claim 2 and including means for storing said further fluid medium, in which said further fluid medium is a liquid flushing or cleaning medium, or a calibrating medium for use in calibrating the measuring element.

4. A measurement device according to claim 3, in which said further fluid medium includes both a liquid flushing or cleaning medium and a calibrating medium and said second inlet is selectively chargeable with either said flushing or cleaning medium, or with said calibrating medium.

5. A measuring installation comprising a common line for carrying a fluid medium a predetermined parameter of which is to be measured, a plurality of measurement devices, each according to any one of the preceding claims, connected sequentially to said common line, dosing devices for supplying said further medium to each of said measurement devices when the valve members thereof are in said second position and drive means coupled with said measurement devices and operable automatically to move the valve members thereof from said first position to said second position.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. passage 7 in the rotary member 6 connects two line sections carrying another medium (here, via ducts 20 or 20' and 21 opening into funnel-like systems 19 of the valve seat which form a second inlet and a second outlet of the valve body 2). In the position shown, a cleansing or flushing medium 22 is injected or sprayed, via the duct 20 and by means of a dosing device (not shown), into the passage 7, leaving the latter via the line section 21. Referring to Figure 4, a calibrating medium, for example a solution adjusted to a pre-determined pH value, is dosed into the passage 7 via the duct 20', and calibration of the cleansed measurement sensor is effected. The calibrating agent leaves the body of the rotary valve 1 again via the line section 21 debouching into the open air. Since the passage 7 of the valve member 6, serving as a throughflow vessel, and also the connected ducts and line sections 20,20', 21 have, together, a relatively small volume, it becomes possible to dose flushing and calibrating agents especially economically thereby reducing frequency of maintaining the automatic metering station. Figure 5 shows, diagrammatically, the application of rotary valves of the type described hereinabove in an automated metering station for waste water (or sewage). The waste water flows through the main line 24 in the direction A to B. Arranged one after the other in the flow path are three rotary valves the rotating members 6 of which are fitted with metering feelers or sensors 10 for conductivity, pH value and redox potential. By means of a timer (or timingpulse generator), arranged in the metering station, or via a remote-control signal, there can be cut-in a drive 25, displacing the valve member 6 into the second position shown, via a push-rod 27 to which are coupled the actuating levers 26 of the rotary valves. Connected to the injection duct 20 of the first rotary valve having conductivity metering sensors is a supply vessel 28 for cleansing liquid and having a dosing pump 29. Into the valve having the pH value metering sensor debouche on one side three ducts 20. 20' and 20" each of which is connected with supply vessels 28, one of which contains a cleansing liquid whereas the others contain calibrating liquids adjusted to pH 5 or pH 7 and which are sprayed-in into the passage 7 of the rotary valve, in pre-set sequence. by the automatically controlled dosing pumps 29. The third rotary valve, containing a metering sensor for redox potential, is also connected with a container 28 for cleansing liquid, having a dosing pump 29. After effecting cleansing and optionally. calibration of the metering sensors. the valve members 6 are once again cut. by means of the drive 25, into the line carrying the waste water and metering of the medium is continued. It is also possible, if necessary, to attach in the valve member of one of the rotary valves described, with its axis-parallel to the pivot axis, a further metering sensor (for example for temperature) and to arrange the connections thereof to extend, jointly with those of the first metering sensor, out of the valve member. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A measurement device for measuring a predetermined parameter of a fluid medium, said device comprising a valve body having a first inlet and a first outlet for the fluid medium and a second inlet and a second outlet for a further fluid medium, a valve member mounted in the valve body and having a through-flow passage, and a measuring element mounted in the valve member and having a sensor arranged in said passage; in which the valve member is rotatable in said valve body between a first position in which the through-flow passage communicates with said first inlet and said first outlet so that the sensor of the measuring element can measure the predetermined parameter of said fluid medium, and a second position in which the through-flow passage communicates with said second inlet and said second outlet.

2. A measurement device according to claim 1. including first lines connected to said first inlet and said first outlet for conveying said fluid medium, and second lines connected to said second inlet and said second outlet for conveying said further fluid medium.

3. A measurement device according to claim 2 and including means for storing said further fluid medium, in which said further fluid medium is a liquid flushing or cleaning medium, or a calibrating medium for use in calibrating the measuring element.

4. A measurement device according to claim 3, in which said further fluid medium includes both a liquid flushing or cleaning medium and a calibrating medium and said second inlet is selectively chargeable with either said flushing or cleaning medium, or with said calibrating medium.

5. A measuring installation comprising a common line for carrying a fluid medium a predetermined parameter of which is to be measured, a plurality of measurement devices, each according to any one of the preceding claims, connected sequentially to said common line, dosing devices for supplying said further medium to each of said measurement devices when the valve members thereof are in said second position and drive means coupled with said measurement devices and operable automatically to move the valve members thereof from said first position to said second position.

6. A measurement device according to

claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. -