GB2169140A

GB2169140A - Fluid flow controller

Info

Publication number: GB2169140A
Application number: GB08530386A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian J Graves
Original assignee: Emhart Industries Inc
Current assignee: Emhart Industries Inc
Priority date: 1984-12-31
Filing date: 1985-12-10
Publication date: 1986-07-02
Also published as: JPS61161422A; AU575419B2; AU4564985A; GB2169140B; CA1246396A; FR2575553A1; GB8530386D0; DE3533917A1

Abstract

In a fluid flow detector having a saddle (12) overlying an opening in a conduit (16), a seal (60) is provided between the saddle (12) and the conduit (16). The seal (60) comprises a curved plate having an aperture that mates with an aperture in the conduit (16) through which the actuator (38) of the detector extends. A boss (64) surrounds the aperture in the seal (60). The seal (60) is fabricated from an elastomer. A bracket (70) may hold the saddle (12) in a sealing relation to the conduit (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid flow controller The present invention pertains to a flow detecting mechanism and, especially, to a flow detecting mechanism for detecting flow in a fluid carrying conduit useful for operating other mechanisms such as a switch.

Flow detecting mechanisms of the type referred to have many varied applications for sensing and controlling flow in fluid carrying apparatus as well as operating associated structure in response to the presence or absence of fluid flow. Many such mechan isms now available sense fluid flow by movement of a vane or like detector disposed in a fluid carrying conduit. Physical movement of the detector is accomplished either directly by fluid flow impinging thereon or by use of structure such as orifices, blades or turbines in the conduit that creates a pressure differential which causes shifting ofthe detector. This physical movement mustthen be transmitted exter nally of the conduit to operate a switch, usually electrical,to indicate the presence of flow.

Atypical example of such flow detecting mechanisms is that described in US 4,454,768 issued June 19, 1984. As is typical of such devices described in this patent, the housing orsaddlewhich carries the actuator means is secured directly to the fluid carrying conduit at an opening in the wall ofthe conduit.

Naturally, the connection must be made in a tight sealing relationship.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid flow detector assembly wherein the saddle of the assembly is secured to a conduit through an adapter.

The present invention, in one aspect, provides a fluid flow detector assembly comprising a saddle adapted for securementto a conduit in overlying relationship to an opening to the conduit, an adapter plate for providing asealing relation between the saddle and the conduit and flow detecting means adapted for insertion in the conduit and shiftable in responseto fluid flowtherethrough including a reactor member extending into the saddle.

In a preferred assembly embodying the invention the saddle includes boss means adapted to engage the conduit at its opening.

These and otherfeatures of the invention will become appa rent from the fol lowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view taking in section showing a flow detecting mechanism employing the features of the invention in combination with a conduit th rough which afluid may flow; Figure 2 is a view similarto Figure 1 showing another side elevation of the mechanism in conjunction with the conduit; Figure 3 is an isometric view of an adapter; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of a conduit to which the fluid detector assembly is connected Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a flow detecting mechanism 10 which is enclosed in a housing or saddle 12 that is adaptedto be connected to an opening 14 of conduit 16. The saddle 12 is comprised of a cup-shaped member 20 having an open end 22 and a base 24 having an opening 26 therein. The opening 22 is closed by a resilient member 28 which forms a tight seal with the housing.

A rigid plate 30 holds seal 28 and backup plate 32 in place.

A flow detection means 34 responds to fluid flow in conduit 16. Detecting means 34 includes a reactor member 36 and an actuator means 38. Reactor member 36 includes a shaft 40 and a rigid arm 42 which is fixed to the shaft. Shaft 40 extends through apertures 44 of plate 30 and 46 of backup plate 32 and is held in a seal tight relation with resilient member 28.

Shaft 40 is made to pivot about point 48 through the pivoting of the distal ends 42' and 42" engaging grooves in backup plate 32.

Actuator means 38 includes a paddle 50 that is carried in conduit 16 and is pivotally mounted on pin 52 through coil springs 54 and 56. More specifically, the distal ends 54' and 56' are connected to the paddle 50. The reactor member and the actuator means are pivotally connectedtogetherthrough the other ends 54" and 56" being connected to or engaged with a sleeve 58 carried on the arm 42 ofthe reactor member.

The saddle 12 is held in a sealing tight relationship through an adapter 60 which isfabricatedfrom an elastomerthat is substantially impervious to water. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the adapter, in the illustrative embodiment, is a semi-circular plate that is shaped to fit conduit 14forwhich it is being used. The adapter includes an aperture 62 which is placed in line with opening 14 of conduit 16. In orderto further provide a tight seal around the opening, the adapter further includes a boss 64 surrounding aperture 62.As shown in Figure 1, the adapter is squeezed between the conduit andthe saddle by having a plurality of bolts 66 orotherfastening means connectthesaddle to a bracket 70 which extends around the conduit where the flow detector is to be located.

Afurtherseal is also provided by boss means 76 extending from saddle 12. Boss means 76 includes two sets of oppositely disposed fingers 72 and 74 which carries pin 52. When pin 52 is inserted between the fingers they are forced apart to provide a tight fit with the fingers.

In operation, and referring in particularto Figure 2, with a fluid flow in the direction indicated by the arrow, paddle 50 is forced counterclockwise about the pin 52 which in turn pivots arm 42 and thus shaft 40 in a clockwise direction to close a switch means 80.

When fluid flow in the conduit stops, there being no force acting on the paddle 50, spring 82 causes shaft 48 to pivot counterclockwise to open the switch 80 and return the paddle 50 to its "at rest" position through the coil springs 54 and 56. The factthatthe actuator means and the reactor member both have a pivot point requires less force to open the switch 80.

1. Afluid flow detector assembly comprising: a) a saddle adapted forsecurement to a conduit, b) an adapter providing a sealing relationship between said saddle and around an opening in said conduit, and c) flow detection means adapted for insertion in said

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fluid flow controller The present invention pertains to a flow detecting mechanism and, especially, to a flow detecting mechanism for detecting flow in a fluid carrying conduit useful for operating other mechanisms such as a switch. Flow detecting mechanisms of the type referred to have many varied applications for sensing and controlling flow in fluid carrying apparatus as well as operating associated structure in response to the presence or absence of fluid flow. Many such mechan isms now available sense fluid flow by movement of a vane or like detector disposed in a fluid carrying conduit. Physical movement of the detector is accomplished either directly by fluid flow impinging thereon or by use of structure such as orifices, blades or turbines in the conduit that creates a pressure differential which causes shifting ofthe detector. This physical movement mustthen be transmitted exter nally of the conduit to operate a switch, usually electrical,to indicate the presence of flow. Atypical example of such flow detecting mechanisms is that described in US 4,454,768 issued June 19, 1984. As is typical of such devices described in this patent, the housing orsaddlewhich carries the actuator means is secured directly to the fluid carrying conduit at an opening in the wall ofthe conduit. Naturally, the connection must be made in a tight sealing relationship. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid flow detector assembly wherein the saddle of the assembly is secured to a conduit through an adapter. The present invention, in one aspect, provides a fluid flow detector assembly comprising a saddle adapted for securementto a conduit in overlying relationship to an opening to the conduit, an adapter plate for providing asealing relation between the saddle and the conduit and flow detecting means adapted for insertion in the conduit and shiftable in responseto fluid flowtherethrough including a reactor member extending into the saddle. In a preferred assembly embodying the invention the saddle includes boss means adapted to engage the conduit at its opening. These and otherfeatures of the invention will become appa rent from the fol lowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view taking in section showing a flow detecting mechanism employing the features of the invention in combination with a conduit th rough which afluid may flow; Figure 2 is a view similarto Figure 1 showing another side elevation of the mechanism in conjunction with the conduit; Figure 3 is an isometric view of an adapter; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of a conduit to which the fluid detector assembly is connected Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a flow detecting mechanism 10 which is enclosed in a housing or saddle 12 that is adaptedto be connected to an opening 14 of conduit 16. The saddle 12 is comprised of a cup-shaped member 20 having an open end 22 and a base 24 having an opening 26 therein. The opening 22 is closed by a resilient member 28 which forms a tight seal with the housing. A rigid plate 30 holds seal 28 and backup plate 32 in place. A flow detection means 34 responds to fluid flow in conduit 16. Detecting means 34 includes a reactor member 36 and an actuator means 38. Reactor member 36 includes a shaft 40 and a rigid arm 42 which is fixed to the shaft. Shaft 40 extends through apertures 44 of plate 30 and 46 of backup plate 32 and is held in a seal tight relation with resilient member 28. Shaft 40 is made to pivot about point 48 through the pivoting of the distal ends 42' and 42" engaging grooves in backup plate 32. Actuator means 38 includes a paddle 50 that is carried in conduit 16 and is pivotally mounted on pin 52 through coil springs 54 and 56. More specifically, the distal ends 54' and 56' are connected to the paddle 50. The reactor member and the actuator means are pivotally connectedtogetherthrough the other ends 54" and 56" being connected to or engaged with a sleeve 58 carried on the arm 42 ofthe reactor member. The saddle 12 is held in a sealing tight relationship through an adapter 60 which isfabricatedfrom an elastomerthat is substantially impervious to water. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the adapter, in the illustrative embodiment, is a semi-circular plate that is shaped to fit conduit 14forwhich it is being used. The adapter includes an aperture 62 which is placed in line with opening 14 of conduit 16. In orderto further provide a tight seal around the opening, the adapter further includes a boss 64 surrounding aperture 62.As shown in Figure 1, the adapter is squeezed between the conduit andthe saddle by having a plurality of bolts 66 orotherfastening means connectthesaddle to a bracket 70 which extends around the conduit where the flow detector is to be located. Afurtherseal is also provided by boss means 76 extending from saddle 12. Boss means 76 includes two sets of oppositely disposed fingers 72 and 74 which carries pin 52. When pin 52 is inserted between the fingers they are forced apart to provide a tight fit with the fingers. In operation, and referring in particularto Figure 2, with a fluid flow in the direction indicated by the arrow, paddle 50 is forced counterclockwise about the pin 52 which in turn pivots arm 42 and thus shaft 40 in a clockwise direction to close a switch means 80. When fluid flow in the conduit stops, there being no force acting on the paddle 50, spring 82 causes shaft 48 to pivot counterclockwise to open the switch 80 and return the paddle 50 to its "at rest" position through the coil springs 54 and 56. The factthatthe actuator means and the reactor member both have a pivot point requires less force to open the switch 80. CLAIMS

1. Afluid flow detector assembly comprising: a) a saddle adapted forsecurement to a conduit, b) an adapter providing a sealing relationship between said saddle and around an opening in said conduit, and c) flow detection means adapted for insertion in said conduitthrough said opening andshiftablein re sponsetofluid flowthrough said conduit including a reactor member extending into said saddle.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said adapter includes a curved plate having a second opening mating said opening in said conduit.

3. An assembly according to claim 2further including a boss surrounding said second opening.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said saddleincludessecond boss meansadaptedto engage said conduit at said opening in said conduit.

5. An assembly according to claim 4wherein said second boss means includes fingers extending from said saddle.

6. Afluid flow detector assembly comprising: a) a saddle adapted forsecurementto a conduit in overlying sealing relationship thereto, b) flow detection means adapted for insertion in said conduitand shiftable in response tofluid flow therethrough including a reactormemberextending into said saddle, and c) a bracket securing said conduitto said saddle.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 further comprising an adapter disposed between said saddle and said conduit.

8. Afluid flow detector assembly constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.