US1374508A - Integrating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

J. W. LEDOUX.

INTEGRATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-21,1919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

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J. W. LEDOUX.

INTEGRATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2|, I919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INTEGRATING MECHANTSM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12 1921.

Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 889,719.

Toall'whomz'tmayconcem:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LEDOUX, a citizen of the United States residing at Swarthmore, in the county of elaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Integrating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in integrating mechanisms operated by differential pressures functionally with relation to a flow to be measured, and its primary object is to provide a simple construction that will effect the desired integration efficiently throughout variation in the flow of a fluid between the maximum and the minimum.

The invention is characterized by differential pressure mechanism comprising a case containing a fluid heavier than that to be measured, in combination with an inverted cylindrical vessel carried by said fluid within said case and carrying a displacement device shaped so that the cross sectional areas of the space within said vessel occupied by said fluid shall vary functionally with relation to a flowing fluid to be measured.

The invention is embodied in the mechanisms set forth in the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an irre lar art sectional elevation of a form 0 the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2"-- of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is apart sectional elevation of a second form of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line P -4f of Fig-.3.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the mechanism comprises a case 1 provided with a bottom channel 1', in which is a fluid body 2 (as mercury) heavier than the fluid to be -measured (as water).

A cylindrical bell or inverted cup 3, disposed in the case 1 concentrically with the channel 1', has a downwardly tapered float or displacement device 4 suspended centrally therein, the connected arts 3 and 4 being movable vertically un er control of rollers 5 supported by the case and engaging the bell. The top of the bell 3 and the body of the displacement device 4: have the axial c lindrica passage 4 extending therethrou and the interior of the bell is connecte with this passage by the passages t" which extend through the top of the d15- placement device. 'A check valve 6 in the top of the passage 4' permits the escape of air from the to of the bell.

The conduit for carrying the fluid to be measured, contains a Venturi section 7, a normal section of the conduit being connected by a conduit 8 with the interlor of the case 1 exterior to the bell 3 and above the mercury, and a conduit 8 connects the throat of the Venturi section 7 with the interior of the bell above the mercury therein extending through the bottom of the case and into the-passage. 4' above the highest level of the mercury.

A rack 9, of circular cross section, is'fixed by a yoke 9' to'the top of the bell 3, and engages a pinion 10 fixed on a shaft 11, which is j ournaled in. the top of the case and carries a hand 12 over a uniformly graduated dial 13.

[The mechanism. is so constructed that when there is no flow of water in the conduit 7 (the pressures in the conduits 8 and-8 being equal), the bell 3 and displacement device 4 will stand at their highest elevation with the bell sealed, the bottom extremity of.

that communicated through. the conduit 8',

the difierential pressure exterior to the bell 3 will cause it together with the device 4 to descend against the resistance of the mercury, the displaced mercury rising therein, and functionally with relation to the area of the surface of the mercury within the bell. The movement is regulated by the constant character of the displacement of the bell 3 and the variable character of the displacement of the float t, or the functionally equivalent difl'erential cross sections of the space between the bell and tapered displacement device, for the eflective water pressure within the bell is equal to that of the surface ofthemercury therein and varies therebottom to its top. The bell 3 has at its top, in the plane of the top of the device 4, the exterior channel 3 to provide increased space for the surface strata of the mercury exterior to the bell and to reduce to a minlmum the change in the displacement by the bell in moving at low'flow, when the apex of the float and the surface of mercury in the bell are at approximately the same level, the action being rendered more sensitive thereby.

An aperture 5 in the top of the bell is controlled by'a check valve 6 which is elevated by the superior pressure within the bell to Close the passage and will fall to permit the passage of air under other conditions.

The conduit 7 has itsVenturi section 7' connected by a pipe 8 with the interior of the case 1 above the mercury therein, and a normal section connected by the pipe 8 with the interior of the bell and above the mercury therein, the conduit 8' extending through the bottom of the case and into the cylindrical passage 4 extending axially through the displacement device 4?.

The rack 9 is connected with the top oi? the bell 3 and engages a pinion 10 carried by the shalt 11, which is journaled in the case and moves a hand 12 fixed thereon over a uniformly graduated dial. 13 of the case.

When the fluid in'the conduit 7 is stationary, the pressure communicated therefrom through the conduitsd and 8 are equal and the mercury will stand at the same level within and without the bell 3". The displacement device 45 is how submerged by its weight, with that of the connected parts, i

so that its top is level with the surface of the mercury, which is below the top vof the tube 8. As the flow in the conduit 7 rises from zero to the maximum, the pressure communicated to the interior of the bell 3 through the conduit 8 rises above that communicated to the exterior of the bell through the conduit 8. The resultant or differential acts upwardly on 'the bell and downwardly on the displacement device and mercury therein, the effective force tending to move the bell upward being that exerted on an area of the bell equ'al to the surface of the mercury therein, which area decreases as the bell rises in such mannerthat the movement shall be regular and the graduations of the dial 13 uniform.

A. characteristic advantage of these constructions is that they permit the combination of the hollow float of simple form with the shaped or tapered float having an exterior surface ofrevolution which is readily formed with accuracy, the combination etifecting the desideratum of providing the largest cfiective pressure surface at the lowest flow condition,

Having described my invention, ll claim:

An integrating mechanism comprising a case adaptedtor containing a fluid heavier sures from the lighter than another to be measured, a reciprocatory bell in said case and adapted to be sealed by the heavier fluid, a displacement device movable with said bell and occupying a space therein of variable cross section, and means for communicating differential pressures from the lighter fluid to the interior of said case said bell.

2. An integrating mechanism comprising a case containing afluid heavier than another to be measured, a reciprocatory cylindrical bell in said case and sealed by the heavier fluid, a shaped displacement device fixed to and within said bell and forming a space therein of variable cross section, and means for communicating differential presfluid to the interior of the case within and without said bell.

3. An integrating mechanism comprising a case containing a fluid heavier than another fluid to be measured, a cylindrical bell movable vertically in said case and sealed by the heavier fluid therein, a tapered displacement device fixed axially to and within said bell and forming a space therein of variable cross section within which the surface of the heavier fluid is movable, and means for diflerentiating the pressure oil the lighter fluid and communicating difl'erential pressures obtained thereby to the interior of the case withinand without said bell.

4. An integrating mechanism comprising a case provided with a dial, a shaft journaled in said case and a hand on said shaft movable thereby over said dial, in combination with a cylindrical bell movable in said case, means whereby saidbell revolves said within and without shaft, a tapered displacement device fixed to and within said bell so as to form a space therein which varies functionally in cross sectional area with the flow of a fluid to be measured, and means comprising conduits for communicating differential pressures from said fluid last named to the interior of said case within and without said bell;

5. An integrating mechanism comprising a case adapted for containing a fluid heavier than another to be measured, a reciprocatory bell in said case and adapted to be sealed by said heavier fluid, a device fixed to and within said bell for displacing said heavier fluid and forming therefor a space varying in cross section in functional relation with the flow of the fluid to be measured, and means comprising conduits for communicating difl'erential pressures from said fluid to bemeasured to said heavier fluid within and without said hell.

'6. An integrating mechanism comprising a case adapted for holding a fluid heavier than thatto be measured, a bell of regular cross sections adapted to be sealed by said heavier fluid, a displacement device of irregular cross sections a tapered en menses teiior surface of revolution. fixed to and within said bell, and means for communicating differential pressures from a lighter fluid to the interior of said case within and without said bell.

7. An integrating mechanism comprising a case adapted to contain a fluid heavier than another to be measured, a reciprocatory bell in said case and adapted to be sealed by said heavier fluid, a check valve in the top of said bell, a device fixed to and within said bell for displacing said heavier fluid and forming therefor a space varying level of the apex of said device of such character as to effect slight displacement, and

means comprising conduits for commumeating differential pressures from said fluid to be measured to said heavier fluid within and without said bell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, 1919.

JOHN w, LEDOUX.

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