GB2222264A

GB2222264A - Combined flowmeter and valve assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2222264A
Application number: GB8820094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Kerwin; Edward Hand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-08-24
Filing date: 1988-08-24
Publication date: 1990-02-28
Also published as: GB8820094D0

Abstract

A flow measuring apparatus comprises a body defining a water flow passage (44) in which is located a rotatable impeller (37) adapted to be driven by flow of water through the passage and operatively connected to a measuring device (46) or meter calibrated to indicate the rate of flow or volume of water passing through the flow passage in a given period of time. The apparatus forms part of a stop-cock with the normal seal (34) apertured and shaft (35) hollow, to allow fluid to flow to the impeller via apertures (36). Flow can be shut off by a tubular member inside the shaft (35) and turned via shaft (41) actuated by a mechanism (46) when a predetermined flow rate has been exceeded e.g. indicating leakage. <IMAGE>

Description

FLOW MEASURING APPARATUS This invention relates to a flow measuring apparatus with or without a flow control facility.

The apparatus is particularly applicable to a water supply system but may equally well be used in other liquid systems. Reference hereinafter to "water" should be construed accordingly.

The inventon is especially but not exclusively concerned with the adaptation of a conventional stop tap or cock to provide not only the customary flow control facility but also 2 flow measuring facility Where both flow control and measuring facilities are provided it is an object of the present invention to provide that the flow control facility is operated by the flow measuring facility in dependence upon the rate of flow or volume of water flowing through the apparatus.

In its broadest inventive aspect the apparatus comprises a body defining a water flow passage in which is located a rotatable impellor adapted to be driven by flow of water through the passage and operatively connected to a measuring device or meter calibrated to indicate the rate of flow or volume of water passing through the flow passage in a given period of time.

The measuring device .or meter preferably includes a counting mechanism calibrated in cubic feet per second or gallons per second thus to shown the quantity of water passing through the flow passage.

The apparatus can thus operate as a water meter.

The apparatus body may also incorporate within the flow passage a flow control valve having a valveacutating mechanism operatively associated with the water flow measuring device or meter whereby the control valve is operated by the latter under predetermined conditions.

Preferably the flow control valve is an on/off valve. Preferably the flow measuring device or meter is preset to operate the valve-actuating mechanism to close the valve when the rate of flow or volume of water passing through the flow passage exceeds a predetermined value indicating, for example, a water leakage downstream of the apparatus.

Another and more specific aspect of the present invention is a stop tap or cock adapted te act as a water flow control apparatus and a water meter.

This is achieved, according to the present invention by modifying a conventional stop tap or cock so that the usual valve disc (or plug) is permanently seated on its valve seat, the valve disc and its operating shaft being bored to provide a water flow passage through and out of the latter into a chamber housing a rotatable impellor operatively connected to a rate-of-flow or volumetric measuring device or meter.

Preferably there is means within the tubular operating shaft to shut-off flow of water into the chamber Preferably, the flow shut-off means comprises a rotatable tubular member within the hollow operating shaft, the latter and the tubular member having angularly-spaced circumferential apertures adapted to be either in register thus allowing water flow into the chamber, or out of register to prevent water flow into the chamber.

Preferably, the rotation of the rotatable tubular member is effected by an actuating mechanism operatively coupled with the water flow measuring device which can be preset to operate the tubular member actuating mechanism to rotate the tubular member to an aperture out of register position relative to the tubular operating shaft if, for example, a water leakage condition arises downstream of the stop tap or cock.

The tubular member may be provided with a manual reset facility.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of water flow measuring and control apparatus according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional stop tap or cock modified in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown diagrammatically a water flow measuring and control apparatus which is dimensionally suitable to replace an existing stop tap or cock arrangement. Depending on the space available the apparatus maybe either an in line arrangement as indicated generally at 10 or an off set arrangement as generally indicated at 11, but in each case the apparatus is identical.

The apparatus according to the present invention is located in and associated with a water flow line, for example, a pipe generally indicated at 13.

Within the water pipe 13 there is provided a rotatable impellor 14 adapted to be driven by water flowing therethrough.

Downstream of the impellor 14 is an on/off flow control valve 15.

The position of the control valve 15, i.e. fully open or fully closed, is determined by a suitable valve actuating mechanism 16 which includes a manual reset lever 17 or similar.

The impellor 14 and the valve actuating mechanism 16 operationally associated or connected by a water flow measuring device 18 adapted to operate the valve actuating mechanism 16.

The water flow measuring device 18 serves to operate a counting mechanism 19 which will indicate the rate of flow or volume of water flowing through the water pipe 13.

The water flow measuring device 18 is preferably electronic in nature and incorporates a sensor 20 which detects the . revolutions per minute of the impellor 14 which is provided with a magnet 21 to transmit the necessary signals to the sensor 20.

This arrangement thus provides a measurement and indication of the rate of flow or volume of water flowing through the pipe 13 so that it operates as a water meter.

The water flow measuring device can be preset so that if there is an excessive rate of flow or volumetric passage of water detected indicating, for example, a leakage in the water system downstream of the apparatus then the water flow measuring device operates to cause the valve actuating mechanism to close the valve 15 until the water leak is detected and repaired. At this stage the valve 15 can be manually reset to open condition.

It is to be understood that the valve 15 and its actuating mechanism 16 and reset lever 17 may be omitted and in this case the apparatus serves as a simple water meter.

It has been stated that the apparatus is dimensionally suitable to replace an existing stop tap or cock and it is to be noted that at each end of the pipe 13 there is fitted a compression fitting (not shown) which defines that length of type within which the apparatus is disposed.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 and 3 which illustrate a conventional stop tap or cock modified in accordance with the present invention.

The stop cock generally indicated at 30 comprises a body 31 with a water. passage therethrough there being the normal valve seat 22 to define a through aperture 33.

The stop tap or cock 30 comprises the usual valve disc 34 and operating shaft 35, but, in this instance and in accordance with the present invention, the valve disc 34 is apertured and is permanently seated on the valve seat. 32 and the operating shaft 35 is hollow and is open to the flow passage through the disc aperture so that water from upstream of the stop tap or cock will flow through the valve disc 34 and up the operating shaft 35.

Adjacent its top the tubular operating shaft 35 is provided with two or more angularly spaced circumferential apertures 36.

Adjacent to these apertures 36 and at each side of the operating shaft 35 is an impellor 37.

The top of the hollow operating shaft 35 is closed or sealed as indicated at 38 and disposed within the top of the hollow operating shaft 35 is a rotatable open bottomed tubular member 39 also provided with circumferential angularly-spaced apertures 40. This rotatable tubular member 39 has connected thereto an operating shaft 41.

The impellor 37 is housed within a body 42 sealed to the stop tap or cock 30 as indicated at 43 and defining a chamber 34 within which the impellor is located, the valve operating shaft 35 and tubular member operating shaft 41 extending into this chamber 44. The chamber 44 is in communication as indicated at 45 with the body 31 of the stop tap or cock 30 downstream, in terms of water flow, of the valve disc 34.

A water flow measuring device and valve actuating mechanism is generally indicated at 46. A counting mechanism 47 is operably connected to the water flow measuring device 46 which, in turn, is connected to a sensor 48 adapted to pick up electrical signals from a magnet 49 associated with the impellor 37.

The water flow measuring device 46 can be preset to define an upper limit of rate of flow or volumetric passage water through the stop tap or cock 30.

The shaft 41 is operable by the valve actuating mechanism 46 to bring the apertures 40 into register with the apertures 36 or to ensure non-register between these apertures 40 and 36.

In one condition of use, water flows through the stop tap of cock 30, the water flowing through the valve disc 34, up the operating shaft 35, through the registering apertures 36 and 40, through the impellor 37 thus driving same, into the chamber 45, through communication aperture 45 and out of the stop tap or cock 30. Rotation of the impellor causes signals to be transmitted to the sensor 48 which are received by the water flow measuring device 46 which operates the counter 47 to indicate the rate of flow of water of volume of water flowing through the stop tap or cock 30. Thus, the stop tap or cock 30 is provided with a water meter.

The water flow measuring device 46 can be preset to an upper limit and if this upper limit is exceeded, i.e. the rate of flow or volume of water, is greater than the preset value, then the water flow measuring and valve actuating device 46 pperates to cause rotation of the shaft 41 to move the apertures 40 out of register with the apertures 36, thus closing the modified stop tap or cock 30. A condition where such action would be effected would be if there was a water leakage downstream of the stop tap or cock 30.

A manual reset device 50 is fitted to the operating shaft 41 and tubular member 39 and can be rotated to bring the apertures 40 and 36 into register once the leakage has been repaired.

Claims

1. Flow measuring apparatus comprising a body defining a water flow passage in which is located a rotatable impellor adapted to be driven by flow of water through the passage and operatively connected to a measuring device or meter calibrated to indicate the rate of flow of volume of water passing through the flow passage in a given period of time.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the measuring device or meter includes a counting mechanism calibrated in cubic feet per second or gallons per second thus to shown the quantity of water passing through the flow passage.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 incorporating within the flow passage a flow control valve having a valve-actuating mechanism operatively associated with the water flow measuring device or meter whereby the control valve is operated by the latter under predetermined conditions.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the flow control valve is an on/off valve.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the flow measuring device or meter is preset to operate the valve-actuating mechanism to close the valve when the rate of flow or volume of water passing through the flow passage exceeds a predetermined value indicating, for example, a water leakage downstream of the apparatus.

6. Flow measuring apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A stop cock comprising a valve disc (or plug) permanently seated on its valve seat with the valve disc (or plug) and an operating shaft therefor being bored to provide a water flow passage through and out of the latter into a chamber housing a ratSta-ble impellor operatively connected to a rate-of-flow or volumetric measuring device or meter.

8. A stop cock as claimed in claim 7 comprising means within the tubular operating shaft to shut-off flow of water into the chamber.

9. A stop cock as claimed in claim 8 in which the flow shut-off means comprises a rotatable tubular member within the hollow operating shaft, the latter and the tubular member having angularly-spaced circumferential apertures adapted to be either in register thus allowing water flow into the chamber, or out of the register to prevent water flow into the chamber.

10. A stop cock as claimed in claim 9 in which the rotation of the rotatable tubular member is effected by an actuating mechanism operatively coupled with the water flow measuring device which can be preset to operate the tubular member actuating mechanism to rotate the tubular member to an aperture out of register position relative to the tubular operating shaft if, for example, water leakage condition arises downstream of the stop tap or cock.

11. A stop cock as claimed in claim 9 or 10 in which the tubular member is provided with a manual reset facility.

12. A stop cock, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.