US2557072A - Rotameter - Google Patents

Description

N. BREWER June 19, 1951 ROTAMETER Filed June 7, 1946 mw W a m mfi 2 B 1 a Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTAMETER Nathaniel Brewer, Newtown, Pan, assignor to Fischer & Porter Company, Hatboro, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 7, 1946, Serial No. 674,996-

3 Claims. (Cl. 73-209) The present invention relates to remote indication and control of fluid flow-rate and it relates more particularly to new and improved apparatus of the rotameter-type for remote indication and control of the rate-of-flow of milk or the like.

An object of the present invention is to providenew and improved apparatus for remote indication and control of fluid flow-rate. Another object of the'present invention is to provide an instrument of the rotameter-type for remote indication and control of the rate-offlow of milk or other fluid requiring special handling for protection against contamination, bacterial degeneration, pollution, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

Apparatus for remote indication and control of fluid flow-rate has been widely used in the past. However, conventional apparatus, as heretofore employed, has been found inacceptable for use with milk or other fluid which must be carefully handled to prevent contamination, bacterial degeneration, etc.

Thus, in the commercial handling of milk the like, it has been found desirable to employ inert materials, such as stainless steel, etc., and to minimize joints, cracks, ledges, corners, blind holes or stagnant pockets wherein bacteria can lodge and multiply. In addition, apparatus for the industrial handling of milk or the like must be capable of ready dismantling to permit frequent cleaning, which usually consists of flushing the apparatus down with a hot water hose or submerging it in a tank of hot water.

In view of this, it is desirable, in indicating, recording, integrating and/or controlling the flow-rate of milk or the like passing through industrial pipe-lines, to have the indicating, re-

metering float within the tube is determined by the rate-of-flow of the fluid) to provide an exas to energize appropriate remote indicating,.

integrating, recording and controlling mechanism. Apparatus of this general type i disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 511,649, filed November 25, 1943, now Patent No. 2,414,086, issued January 14, 1947.

It is apparent, however, that this conventionaltype apparatus heretofore employed, cannot be employed with milk, since the stagnant well would permit the excessive bacterial growth such as would contaminate the milk.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a new and improved construction for remote indication, recordation, integration and control of theilow-rate of milk or other perishable fluid, which eliminates undesirable features heretofore present and which provides for effective measurement, etc., and, at the same time, minimizes bacterial growth and permits quick and easy dis-assembly for frequent cleaning.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalitie of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a top plan view of the apertured coil-cartridge-supporting head formiIlg part of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified form of coil-and-armature arrangement.

In one embodiment of the present invention.

shown generally in Figures 1 to 3, I may provide a rotameter-type unit for installation within a pipe-line or the like, having a fluid-inlet line It and a fluid-outlet line H.

As indicated particularly in Figures 1 and 2. the fluid-inlet line l3 may be generally horizontal and may be screw-threadedly connected, as at Iii-a, to the horizontal arm of a lowermost T-shaped head or fitting l2 having a bottom clean-out cover I3 and having its upper end screw-threadedly engaged, as at |2-a, to the bottom of a generally cylindrical vertical tube i4.

The upper end of the cylindrical tube i4 is flanged; the flange provided with a plurality (for example, 3) of circumferentially-spaced screw-threaded ears l5, adapted for adjustable engagement with wing-bolts is passing through similarly-disposed apertured ears I1 formed at the lower flanged end of a metering chamber or tube i8 disposed generally in axial alignment with the cylindrical tube l4.

A cylindrical tube I9 is fastened, in fluid-tight 1 relationship to the upper end of the metering chamber or tube l8 and the upper end of the tube I9 is screw-threadedly connected, as at 20, to the fluid-outlet line I I.

A generally disc-like head 2|, shown particularly in Figure 3, is adapted to be fastened intermediate the opposed flanges of the tubes l4 and IS. The head 2| is provided with a plurality of arcuate openings 22 extending axially therethrough and is also provided with a central axial opening 23, the function of which will be hereinafter described. A conduit 24 extends generally radially through said head 2| and opens on the underside of said head 2|, slightly removed from the center thereof. The'outer end of the conduit 24 communicates with a connector member 25.

Upper and lower annular gaskets 26 are provided so as to create a fluid-tight peripheral seal intermediate the head 2| and the opposed flanges of the tubes i4 and I3 when the'wingbolts are tightened.

A hermetically-sealed elongated coil-cartridge 21 is fastened to the underside of the center portion of the head 2| and extends downwardly therefrom within said cylindrical tube l4.

The coil-cartridge 21 has a central axial opening 21-a extending therethrough and communicating, at its upper end, with central opening 23 in the head 2|.

Disposed within the coil-cartridge 21 are lower and upper end-to- end transmitter coils 28 and 29 forming part of an electrical impedance circuit of the general character of that described in my co-pending application Serial No. 511,649, filed November 25, 1943, referred to above.

The lead-wires from the coils 28 and 29 pass upwardly and outwardly through the conduit 24 in the head 2| and terminate in appropriate electrical contacts within the connector-member whereby quick attachment and detachment is possible by means of an electrical plug 30 carried by an electric coil 30-11 and adapted to connect with the member 25 so as to complete the electrical circuit between the transmitter coils 23 and 29 and the receiver coils (not shown) of the impedance circuit; the receiver coils being located within remote indicating, recording, in-

- tegrating and controlling unit 3|, which may 4 that manufactured by the Fischer 8: Porter Company of Hatboro, Pennsylvania.

The connector may be provided with a removable cap 32 to protect the electrical contacts when the plug 3|! is removed and when the unit is cleaned by flushing or immersing in hot water.

A metering float, indicated generally by the reference character 33, is disposed for up-anddown movement within the downwardly-tapered metering tube l3.

The metering float 33 includes a generally cylindrical body-portion 34, a lowermost reduceddlameter tail portion 35 and a concave umbrellalike flow-constricting head portion 36 extending downwardly and outwardly from the body portion 34 and terminating in a beveled or knifeedged periphery 31. v

The periphery 31 of the head portion 36 of the float 33 is generally the same, in diameter, as the smallest portion of the downwardlytapered metering tube I8. Thus, the annular clearance between the periphery 31 and the inner surface of the metering tube l8 increases as the float 33 moves upward within the tube I8; the position of the float within the tube being determined by the rate-of-flow of fluid passing upward through said tube l8, according to principles well-known in the art.

The tail portion 35 of the float 33 is provided with a lower elongated extension 38; the exten- $1011 38 being in axial alignment with the float 33 and extending through the opening 23 and into the central opening 21-11 of the coilcartridge 21.

An elongated armature 39 is sealed within the lower end of the extension 38. The extension 38 and the armature 33 are so proportioned that when the float 33 is in its lowermost position in the tube l8, the armature 39 is disposed generally with its lower half within the coil 28 and its upper half within the coil 29. When, on the other hand, the float is moved upward (responsive to increased upward-rate-of-flow of the fluid through said tube i3) the armature 39 is raisediso that its greater part is within the upper coil 29 as indicated in Figure 2. This creates an electrical unbalance within the electrical impedance circuit so as to move one or more armatures suspended within the receiver coils of the circuit as described in my co-pending application Serial No. 511,649 referred to above. The movement of the receiver armature or armatures can be made to actuate suitable indicating, recording, integrating and/or automatic flow-controlling mechanism disposed within the remote unit 3 I.

The body portion 34 of the float 33 is provided with an upper extension 40; a spider 4| being carried by the upper end of said extension 40. The spider is formed of a plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending rods whose outer ends are adapted to contact the inner surface of the upper cylindrical tube l9 so as to guide the float 33 during up-and-down movement.

A ring 42 is mounted adjacent the upper end of the tube l9 and serves as an upper stop for the float.

The various parts of the unit are constructed of stainless steel or other non-tarnishing material which is not aflected by milk or other fluid being metered and which can quickly and easily be cleaned and sterilized.

It is obvious that, with the unit described hereinabove, there are no stagnant fluid pockets in which bacteria can propagate so as to contaminate the milk, etc. That is, there is a continuous fluid pathfor the upwardly moving milk and there is a complete. absence of any well such as ordinarily is required for remote-indicating 'rotameters of this general nature.

It is apparent that the unit can be quickly and easily dis-assembled for cleaning and sterilizing thereof.

Thus, if it is desired to clean the unit, the electric cord is ,disconnected from the member 25 and the plug 30 is connected thereto.

The wing-bolts l6 are then opened so as to separate the tube l8 from the tube l4. The head 2| and the coil-cartridge 21 can then be removed for cleaning, as can also the float 33 and its associated extensions 38 and 40. The tubes themselves ean readily be flushed and cleaned by disconnecting from the pipeline and removing the clean-out cover l3.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified embodiment of the present invention, which generally resembles that of Figures 1-3 except for the construction of the transmitter coils, coil-cartridge and armature.

Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 4, the lower and upper transmitter coils 43 and 44 are constructed with fewer turns and the coil-cartridge 45 is constructed with an annular compartment having correspondingly lesser radial dimension to accommodate the coils 43 and 44. axial opening 46 of the coil-cartridge 45 has a larger diameter than the central opening 2'I-a of Figure 2.

The central To the lower end of the lower float extension 3| is fastened an armature 41 consisting of a thin-walled light-weight hollow open-ended cylinder of magnetic material, which fits within the opening 46 with only a slight annular clearance. The upper, end of the armature 41 is fastened to the float extension 38 by means of a spider 48.

Thus, instead of passing intermediate the armature and the central opening of the coil-cartridge. as in the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3-, the fluid passing up through the central opening 46 can pass through the hollow armature 41, thereby to provide greater circulation and further to minimize the possibility of development of any stagnant pockets within the coil-cartridge. In

addition, the hollow-cylinder armature construction of Figure 4 further reduces the weight of the float assembly, and permits the instrument to be used with lower flow-rates.

While the unit described herinabove is intended particularly for use in measuring and controlling flow-rate of dairy products, such as milk and cream, it is equally well adapted for use with other liquid food products such as vegetable oils, vinegar, egg mixes, coffee extract, tomato juice, carbonated beverages, etc.

The screw threads and fittings are of simple and sanitary construction, complying with National Milk Dealer Association specifications; there being no stuiflng-boxes, bearings, links or crevices to permit leakage or contamination.

The novel unit of the present invention provides great savings in space, time and money, when used in dairies or the like, inasmuch as costly and large stainless-steel or glass-lined tanks can be eliminated and since counting or integration of the total flow can be done simultaneously with the measurement, recordation and control of the flow-rate so that the tedious measuring of milk depth in open tanks is no longer necessary.

The umbrella-type Ultra-Stabl-Via" metering --spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A device for remote indication of fluid flowrate comprising a downwardly-tapered vertical metering tube, a chamber disposed in vertical alignment with said metering tube, a generally disc-likelhead disposed intermediate said metering tube and said chamber, said head having. a

central axial opening therethrough and beingaxially .apertured. to provide communicationbetween said chamber and said tube,.means for detachably connecting said metering tube and saidchamber and said head in fluid-tight sealing relationship, an elongated enclosed coilcartridge fastened to-said head and extending therefrom within said chamber in spaced relationship therewith, said coil-cartridge having a central axial opening therethrough in communication with the central opening in said head, said coil-cartridge having an annular compartment formed therewithin, a pair of endto-end transmitter coils disposed within said compartment, lead-wires extending from said coils through a conduit formed in said head and terminating in a quickly attachable and detachable electrical connection mounted on the outside of said device whereby said transmitter coils can be operatively connected to the receiver coils of an electrical impedance circuit, a metering float disposed within said metering tube and adapted for up-and-down movement therewithin responsive to variations in fluid flow-rate, a vertical extension carried by said float and extending through the central opening of said head and into the central opening of said coilcartridge, an elongated armature carried by the free end of said extension and disposed within the central opening of said coil-cartridge, and means for connecting the opposite ends of said tube and said chamber within a pipe-line or the like whereby fluid can pass vertically through said tube and said chamber and across said coilcartridge and through the central opening of said coil-cartridge.

2. A device for remote indication of fluid flowrate of foods or like materials, comprising a downwardly-tapered vertical metering tube having a flange at its lower end, a cylindrical tube disposed below said metering tube, said cylindrical tube having a flange at its upper end, a coil-cartridge comprising an elongated enclosed casing disposed in annularly-spaced relationship within said cylindrical tube and containing the transmitter coils of a remote-indicating impedance circuit and an annular flange constructed and arranged to be connected in fluid-tight sealing relationship intermediate the flanges of said metering tubeand said cylindrical tube, said coil-cartridge having a central axial opening extending therethrough, and a metering float having an annular flow-constricting headportion disposed within said metering tube and having a relatively thin elongated rod extending downwardly from said head and into the axial opening of said coil-cartridge and providing a slight annular clearance therewith, the lowermost free end of said rod carrying an armature disposed within said axial opening in operative juxtaposition to said coils. the fluid being capable ot-passing upward through said axial opening and around said coil-cartridge, said metering tube, cylindrical tube and coil-cartridge being constructed and arrangedto be taken apart quickly and easily as three separate units to facilitate frequent cleaning thereof.

3. 'A device for remote indication of fluid flowrate of foods or like materials, comprising a tapered vertical metering tube having a flange at one end, a-cylindrical tube disposed in vertical "alignment with said metering tube, said cylindrical tube having a flange at one end, a coil-cartridge comprising an elongated enclosed casing-disposed in annularly-spaced relationship within said cylindrical tube and containing the transmitter coils of a remote indicating impedance circuit and an annular flange=constructed-= and arranged to be connected in fluid-tight sealing relationship intermediate the flanges of said metering-tube and said cylindrical tube, said coil-cartridge having a central axial opening extending therethrough, and a metering float having an annular flow-constricting head-portion disposed within said metering tube and NATHANIEL BREWER.

REFERENCES one!) The following references are of record in the file 0! this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,437,247 Fischer Mar. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 377,299 France July 6, 1807 672,025 Germany Feb. 18, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES so A publication entitled New Rotameter Types (Fig. 2) on page 296 of vol. 11 of Instruments,

Dec. 1938, published by The Instruments Publishing C0,, 1117 Wolfendale St., Pittsburgh, Pa. (A copy is in the Scientific Library of the U. S. Patent Ofice and a photostat is in 73-209 in Div. 36.)

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