US3206977A - Fluid metering process and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

p 1965 G. c. MAYER 3,206,977

mum METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Jan 15, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR GERALD 6. MA YER BY W 4'6W ATTORNEYS Sept. 21, 1965 G. c. MAYER 3,206,977

FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll 3 l Lever counfer ba/anced so zhaf when Zm=2r and G VH/=O (a 4, v +(r,,,-t )a i/Ka V INVENIOR GER/v.0 C. MAYER ATTORNEYJ Sept. 21, 1965 G. c. MAYER FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 mNM Em mmw INVENTOR. 659,440 C MA YER M flAZZmm wmz Sept. 21, 1965 G. c. MAYER 3,206,977

FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. GERALD C. MAYER ArroR/wss Sept. 21, 1965 G. c. MAYER FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTOR. @zmw C. MA YER Sept. 21, 1965 G. c. MAYER FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTOR zwALo C Mrs? M wmwv Sept. 21, 1965 G. c. MAYER 3,206,977

FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNE Y6 p 1965 G. c. MAYER 3,206,977

FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 559 INVENTOR.

GERALD C. MA YER M 4- Kai/mam AT IEYS United States Patent 3,206,977 FLUID METERING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Gerald C. Mayer, Wayne, N.J., assignor to The Richardson Scale Co., Clifton, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,181 32 Claims. (CL 73-224) This invention relates to a process and apparatus for metering a body of matter composed of two principal ingredients and determining the volume content referred to a standard condition of each ingredient.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application filed November 16, 1960 and bearing the Serial Number 69,768 now abandoned.

A particular application of interest is in the oil industry. For example, a pipeline company normally purchases oil from an oil field producer on the basis of a standard specific gravity referred to a specific temperature. The oil pumped from the wells is contaminated by water, and is subject to ambient temperature fluctuations. The problem in such purchases resides in determining the standard volume of an oil in the mixture transferred to the pipeline company to be used as the basis for payment.

Various measuring methods and systems are presently employed primarily for determining the oil content of a wells production as a basis for royalty payment and/ or for oil well testing as required by certain States, but all systems known to be in use either are only approximate at best, or involve the use of auxiliary equipment to separate the oil and Water into two separate streams before metering, and/or remove samples of the fluid and based on an analysis of the samples, make an estimate of the quantity of oil.

The present invention provdes, for the first time, accurate metering without the need for such auxiliary equipment, and in addition provides automatically without need for additional manual computation volume figures of all the fluid, and of all the oil in the fluid referred to the standard temperature condition. Further, it is capable of continuous unattended operation which results in relatively inexpensive measurements, particularly over long periods.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a metering apparatus, particularly a fluid metering apparatus which will determine the amount, referred to the conditions desired, of a certain ingredient substance in a combination of substances, such as a fluid mixture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus mentioned in the preceding paragraph which will operate continuously without manual control or manipulations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an accurate metering apparatus for measuring the amount of a certain ingredient in a mixed fluid, and which also measures the total amount of fluid flowing through a line.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for metering a body of matter comprised of a combination of substances having a weight determining device and temperature compensating mechanism for transmitting a force proportional to the amount of a certain ingredient in the body of matter to a register section for indicating the amount of the ingredient referred to a certain temperature.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for metering all of the amount of an ingredient in a fluid and also metering the entire amount of fluid without the necessity of removing the fluid from the system in which it is flowing.

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Still another object of the present invention is to provide an accurate metering apparatus which will determine the amount of a selected ingredient in a body of metered fluid containing a plurality of ingredients and which will provide a manifestation of the amount corrected to a standard temperature for the ingredient.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a metering apparatus as set forth in the preceding object in which a simplified unitary counterweighted scale beam is employed to compare the difference in weights produced by the presence of the selected ingredient in the body of fluid and to modify a resultant unbalanced force produced by such a comparison for providing the manifestation of the amount of the selected ingredient at a standarized temperature.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel apparatus for determining the volume of a selected one of a plurality of ingredients contained in a fluid body of predetermined volume in which the fluid body is disposed in container suspended from a counterweighted scale beam.

Another object of the present invention resides on the provision of a novel apparatus as set forth in the preceding apparatus in which a single valve is employed to fill the container and to facilitate discharge of the fluid therefrom.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel apparatus for determining the volume of a selected one of a plurality of ingredients contained in a fluid body confined in a container of predetermined volume in which an automatic system is employed to cyclically fill and empty the container with successive batches of the fluid with the rate of discharge of each fluid body from the container being increased by application of a pressurized fluid during the discharge cycle.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the appended claims and the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the metering system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic force diagram of the resolver lever illustrated in FIGURE 1 with explanatory equations;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the resolver lever illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view illustrating a metering apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention in which the scale and resolver beams 3f FIGURES 1-3 are combined into a unitary scale eam;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the metering apparatus as illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a right-hand elevational view of the metering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 4 with certain components thereof partially broken away to illustrate details of the apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken substantially along lines 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken substantially along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8A is an enlarged fragmentary partially sectioned elevational view of the left-hand hanger assembly illustrated in FIGURE 8 and pivotally suspending the apparatus scale beam;

FIGURE 8B is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially along lines 8B-8B of FIGURE 8 and illustrating details of the hanger assembly shown in FIG- URES 8 and 8A;

FIGURE 9 is a section taken substantially along lines 99 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a section taken substantially along lines 10-10 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 11 is a schematic view of a modified automatic weighing system embodying the apparatus as illustrated in FIGURES 4*10; and

FIGURE 12 is a further modified system embodying the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 4-10.

' According to the invention in its preferred embodiment which will be explained in connection with determining the amount of crude oil in a fluid being extracted from a well, a specfic volume of the fiuid mixture is weighed and has its temperature measured. These measurements are then automatically converted to record and/ or totalize the corresponding crude oil content at the standard temperature. It will be understood that in accord with the present invention any body of matter composed primarily of a combination of two substances can be measured which combinations may be two granular solids, a liquid solution, emulsion or mixture, and a liquid solid mixture for example.

In explanation of the principles of the operation first assume that a constant volume V of the fluid mixture is weighed and that the temperature of this mixture is measured and found to be t,,,. Asssume further that the mixture is composed primarily of water and oil, and that the Weight per unit volume at the standard temperature of oil is known and designated as b and that of the weight per unit volume of the water is designated as a The specific weight a and b may be experimentally determined by known methods and will remain substantially constant for any particular lease or well. Once determined, they are set into the metering system by adjustments as will hereinafter appear.v

According to the laws of thermal expansion the specific weights of the oil and water will vary with temperature in the following form:

To refer this volume X to the standard temperature, the laws of thermal expansion can again be applied so:

Where X is the volume of oil in the original mixture referred back to standard conditions.

Substituting values in the above equation yields:

an?) 1+K.om-t.) W 1 n tr a( m r) b( m r) Which can be reduced by eliminating second order affects which can be shown to be negligible to:

5;. If the metering is to be accomplished in standard units of volume V, then & V

will be the fractional portion of a unit to be recorded and/ or totalized, and the equation becomes:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a system comprising a weighing device operably interconnected with a recording apparatus and providing a practical solution for accurately metering the entire fluid passed through the system, computing the content of ingredient b, at reference or standard conditions, recording and totalizing this result, and totalizing the total fluid output.

The total fluid flow is from the oil well or group of oil wells in a field, through conduit 1, through inlet control valve 2, and into the calibrated constant volume metering tank 3 having volume V. Tank 3 is connected to line 1 by a T-shaped connector 4 which is connected at opposite ends to flexible conduit couplings 7 and 8. After being metered, the fluid in tank 3 is discharged into the line and tank 3 is refilled for metering the next portion of line fluid. Thus, it is apparent that all of the line fluid passes through the metering apparatus as opposed to the taking of mere samples as in previous measuring systems.

To admit line fluid to tank 3 and initiate metering action by the metering system, the system ON-OFF valve 10 is placed in the ON position as shown in FIG- URE l, with a 3-way control valve 5 in the position shown. Inlet valve 2 is opened by the action of pneumatic motor 12 operated thru control valve 10a by pressure from a pressure source 14:: (indicated by an arrow in FIGURE 1) which may be a pump or any other suitable source of pressure. This allows line fluid from conduit 1 to flow through valve 2 into tank 3. Metering tank outlet valve 16 is held closed by pneumatic motor 18 until energized by pressure from pressure source 14a as will be explained.

Pneumatic motors 22a and 22b are positioned on opposite sides of valve 5. They are small diaphragm motors with a latch for shifting valve 5 Which is preferably the type shuttle valve manufactured by Garrett Oil Tools, Inc. of Longview, Texas and known as type E. When tank 3 holds slightly less than standard volume V a high level switch 20 is actuated by the fluid level acting on adjustable switch float 21 thereby applying pressure to pneumatic motor 22a causing 3-way control valve 5 to shift and close metering tank inlet valve 2 in response to pressure from source 14a acting oppositely on pneumatic motor 12 through line 23. As valve 2 is closed, tank 3 will contain V units of fluid volume having a weight of W pounds. The total volume V is calibrated after assembly of the systems of the present invention by adjusting the position of float 21 so that the volume V includes the volume of both flexible couplings 7 and 8, connectors 4, float chamber 21a about float 21, and of course, the volume of tank 3.

The metering tank 3 is part of a Weighting device supported by trunnions 24 on knife edges or the like 26 on a main scale lever 28 fulcrumed at a point 30 on a ground support member (not shown) intermediate its. ends. The lever ratio of scale lever 28 is preferably 1:1. An adjustable counterweight 32 is held on main lever 28 at its end opposite tank 3 by knife edges 31 engaging support trunnions 33 on weight 32. Weight 32 is of suificient size as to provide a moment about fulcrum 30 equivalent to that produced by a. volume V filled with water, i.e., a V.

A force transfer rod 34 is connected at one end to lever 28 over the center of gravity of weight by pivot mount 35 engaging knife edge 31a, which is in line with knife edges 31, but inverted with respect to them, and is connected at its other end by a pivot mount 38 on knife edge 40 to a resolver lever 36 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 42.

The force exerted on transfer rod 34 and therefore to knife edge 40 on lever 36 is equal to a V-W which is proportional to the amount of ingredient b in the measured fluid.

Resolver lever 36 is equipped with an automatic adjustment mechanism comprised of a positioning cylinder 44 and pneumatic positioner 45 in fluid communication with cylinder 44 which compensates the system for changes in specific gravity caused by deviations from standard temperature of the fluid being measured by adjusting the position of a longitudinally movable rod 50 and position of a counterweight 51 secured thereto. Such compensations enable resolver lever 36 to convert the force (a ,VW) exerted at knife edge 40 into a force directly proportional to the amount of oil in volume V at standard temperature and to apply the force to the recording section of the system, as will be described, by transmitting it from the resolver lever force take-off trunnion 52 (also mounted on rod 50) to force transfer rod 54.

The automatic adjustment mechanism is operated in response to a pressure input proportional to temperature variations in the fluid being metered from standard conditions received through line 46 from a temperature transmitter 48 which senses the temperature of fluid in tank 3 by a sensor unit 49. Pneumatic positioner 45 is a device which is commercially available from several manufacturers; however, a particularly suit able one is the Vernier Valvactor manufactured by the Foxboro Company of Foxboro, Massachusetts, and described in Foxboro Bulletin 5C02lA, April 1956, which bulletin is hereby incorporated by reference for a detailed description of the positioner. Temperature compensations are made by providing a longitudinally movable rod 50 to automatically compensate for fluid temperature changes by proportionally positioning counterweight 51 and varying the lever ratio of lever 36 as it is shifted longitudinally by the positioning mechanism. Such adjustments compensate for the expansion of the fluid due to temperature which cause a variation in specific gravity.

As shown in diagrammatic FGURE l a force takeoff trunnion 52 on resolver lever 36 is afiixed to movable rod 50' of automatic adjustment mechanism (44, 45) and has a vertical link 54 connected thereto. Movable rod 50 is connected at one end to cylinder 44, and poistioner 45 is connected to rod 50 by a mechanical link 4501. Rod 50 and weight 51 will be longitudinally displaced, powered by cylinder 44 whose positioning pressure is controlled through lines 45b illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the pneumatic positioner 45 in response to temperature changes of the fluid in tank 3 as transmitted thru line 46.

As is apparent from Equation 8 set out above, only the last terms on the right-hand side of the equation in both numerator and denominator are affected by tem perature. The numerator indicates that the torque on the resolver should be decreased as temperature rises, while the denominator calls for a change in lever length. The torque is varied by adjustment of weight 51 relative to fulcrum 42 whereas the lever length between fulcrum 42 and trunnion 52 is varied by longitudinal movement of rod 50.

For original system calibration assume that temperature sensor 49 is held at the standard temperature t Referring now to FIGURE 2, wherein resolver lever 36 is diagrammatically illustrated, the distance from resolver lever main fulcrum 42 to knife edge 40 is arbitrarily established as L, and the distance from fulcrum 42 to force take-off trunnion 52 is adjusted to be (a ,.b VL according to a calibrated scale (not shown) on lever 36 to which indicator arm 53 (shown in FIG- URE 3) on trunnion 52 extends. The scale may conveniently indicate units of difference between the specific gravities of the a and b liquids. With this adjustment established, the lever is balanced by counterweight 57 (shown in FIGURE 3) whereby, when f zt and EZt -VZW, then F52 Xt ):0.

Next the automatic adjustment mechanism is calibrated so that movable rod 50, and elements aifixed thereto, will have their position vary with temperature in the following relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The total Weight of the moving elements on resolver lever 36 includes the cylinder piston, trunnion 52, rod 50 and link 54, and positioner arm 45a. The size of weight 51 is selected so that the weight of these moving elements has a total effect equal to pounds (as indicated in FIG. 2). As described above, longitudinal movement of rod 50 adjusts the length of the lever arm between fulcrum 42 and 52, and also varies the position of weight 51 about the fulcrum, thus varying the force output of the resolver lever at trunnion 51 which is impauted to link 54. This shifting motion of rod 50 compensates the force proportional to the amount of ingredient b for temperature change in the fluid being metered which is transmitted through link 54 to the register mechanism.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that once tank 3 has been filled and line 1 closed to fluid flow the weighing device including tank 3, scale lever 28, and counterweight 32 will effect a downward pull on transfer rod 34 equal in amount to a comparison of the difference in weight between the fluid in tank 3 and the weight of a like amount of water at standard conditions. Such pull will unbalance resolver lever 36 causing an upward force on trunnion 52, which produces an upward force on vertical link 54 proportional to the volume of ingredient b in the fluid at standard temperature.

By positioning fulcrum 42 the effective lever arm between it and knife edge 40 is constant whereas the effective lever arm between fulcrum 42 and link 54 is regulated by the automatic adjustment mechanism (44, 45) operating on rod to which trunnion 52 is attached. Thus, in response to temperature the actual volume of ingredient b at standard temperature is computed to determine the force which will be transmitted from resolver lever 36 to the indicating and recording apparatus through link 54. This force, proportional to the amount of ingredient h under standardized conditions, is transmitted from resolver lever output trunnion 52 to vertical link 54 which is connected to a toothed rack 56. A pinion fixed to a rotatable indicator shaft 62 is meshed with rack 56 for rotating shaft 62 in response to movements of rack 56 and link 54. A tension spring 64 is attached to link 54 between the lower end of rack 56 and ground support 66. This causes link 54 to assume a position directly proportional to the force exerted at trunnion 52. A pointer 68 is attached to one end of indicator shaft 62 which when rotated by rack 56, causes the pointer to move over a graduated scale 70. At this point in the operation of the preferred system of the present invention, the indicator will read at a number equivalent to the fractional content of ingredient b at standard temperature contained in the standard volume V. The spring constant of tension spring 64 is so selected, that the indicator shaft 62 will make one complete revolution (360) as the force developed at trunnion 52 varies from zero to maximum, i.e., when the fluid in tank 3 is all a to all P (see Fig. 2) =(t t )a VK r b (i.e., all water to all oil for example).

As Qought out above, 3-way valve was shifted to the left from its position shown in FIGURE 1 to effect closure of tank inlet valve 2 after volume V had entered the measuring system. As valve 5 shifts, cylinder rod 78 of motor 80 is caused to travel downward at a slow rate adjustable by flow control valve 82. At the time cylinder rod 78 begins its slow downward travel, lever 36 is in balance and indicator shaft 62 is positioned in accord with the amount of oil in tank 3, which amount is indicated by pointer 68 on scale 70. The speed of cylinder rod 78 is to (1) allow the scale system to stabilize after accepting volume V, and (2) to allow sufficient time for engagement of clutch 83 to provide a driving interconnection between rotatable shaft 62 and totalizing counter 85.

In its downward path, an arm 78a aflixed to rod 78 first actuates a pneumatic limit switch 88 thereby engaging clutch 83. Spring 88:: on switch 88 allows for overtravel of arm 78a. Next, arm 78a physically depresses resolver lever 36 to relieve the force exerted on spring 64 permitting it to compress and rotate shaft 62 by pulling rack 56 downward and totalizing counter 85, until the mechanical stop 86 is reached when the indicator 68 reads 0.

As rod 78 continues downward it actuates a ratchet counter 89 which is advanced one unit each time a volume V is measured by the system, and then actuates a second pneumatic limit switch 90. The latter causes switch 88 to disengage clutch 83 by venting its pressure and connects pressure to pneumatic motor 18 opening valve 16 and permitting the fluid V in tank 3 to drain from the measuring system.

As the fluid is drained from tank 3, low level limit switch 92 located below outlet valve 16 in line 1 will have its float 94 displaced upwardly as chamber 95 is filled. The downward movement of switch 92 vents pneumatic motor 22b resetting its latch. When chamber 95 drains, float 94 will fall due to gravity and restore switch 92 to its original position which thereby connects pressure through line 98 from source 96 to reset motor 22b. This results in motor 22b resetting valve 5 in its original position, opening of valve 2, closing valve 16, and the cycle for determining the amount of oil in the fluid in tank 3 is then repeated.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 3, resolver lever 36 is shown in detail in its preferred form. The main body of the lever has two substantially parallel elongated body members 100, 104 spaced apart by supporting cross plates 108, 112 at opposite ends thereof. Positioning cylinder 44 is mounted on plate 112 and pneumatic positioner 45 is secured in place by a vertically disposed mounting block 116 which is supported by plate 112 or otherwise suitably secured to body member 104.

Extending longitudinally along lever 36 is movable rod 50 which has polished rod portions 120, 124 and a reduced end portion 130 which is the piston rod of cylinder 44.

Rod 50 is supported approximately at fulcrum 42 (not shown) by a roller 142 mounted on bracket 144, which roller engages polished rod section 124 to permit longitudinal movement of rod 50 with minimum friction resistance.

Polished rod section 120 at the other end of rod 50 is supported by rollers 150, 152 held in poistion by brackets 156, 158 secured to cross support plate 108.

Force take-off trunnion 52 is located intermediate polished rod sections 124 and 150 on rod 50 and is fixed to pivoted force rod connector 160, which is adapted to be secured to vertical force transmitting link 54 (not shown in FIGURE 3). The movable rod counterweight 51 is fixed to the rod 50 by means of a set screw or any other suitable means.

Counterweight 57 utilized in the original calibration of the system is adjustably mounted on scale 180 on lever 36. Scale 180 has connecting rods 182 located substantially opposite knife edge 40 and fulcrum 42.

It is also contemplated to use measurements of the h ad in tank 3 through pressure or differential pressure transducers in place of a weight measurement with forces exerted on a lever similar to that previously described.

It is also contemplated to use the invention herein described with any two ingredient mixture, that is two granular solids, a liquid solution, emulsion, or mixture and a liquid solid mixture.

To avoid temperature compensations it is possible to design the metering tank so that its volumetric capacity will decrease with temperature in the proper ratio if changes in the ratios are over a narrow range.

FIGURES 411 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention in which the main scale lever 28 and revolver lever 36 of FIGURES 1-3 are combined into a unitary scale beam 200 having three parallel spaced apart beam bars or members 202, 204 and 206. Beam bars 202, 204 and 206 are each block shaped in cross section with bar 204 being disposed between bars 202 and 206 and nearer to bar 202. Bars 202 and 204 are of the same length and are rigidly joined together adjacent their corresponding ends by parallel spaced apart cross pieces 208 and 210. Bar 206 is somewhat shorter than bars 202 and 204, and is rigidly joined to bar 204 by means of parallel spaced apart tubular cross pieces 212 and 214 extending at right angles to bars 204 and 206.

Cross piece 214 extends from the left-hand end of bar 206, as viewed from FIGURE 4, and is fixed to bar 204 intermediate to the ends thereof. Cross piece 212 is fixed to bars 204 and 206 inwardly of the right-hand ends thereof by approximately the same distance.

With continued reference to FIGURES 4-6, metering tank 3 and counterweight 32 are suspended from scale beam 200 in a manner to be presently described with scale beam 200 being fulcrumed in a rigid frame 218. Frame 218 is generally of box-like shape and is made up of upright corner structural beam members 219 together with a s ries of horizontally disposed transverse and longitudinal members 220. A pair of ground engaging channel like runners 221 at the base of frame 218 enable the frame to he slid along a support surface.

As will presently become apparent, scale beam 200, metering tank 3 and counterweight 32 may be fixedly clamped in place on frame 218 to facilitate ready transportation of the assembly from one location to another without causing damage by movement of the component parts of the scale mechanism.

In carrying out the foregoing object of the present invention and with continued reference to FIGURES 4-6 and 8, scale beam 200 is suspended from frame 218 by means of a pair of parallel spaced apart upright mounting screws 222 and 224 (FIGURE 8). Each of the mounting screws 222 and 224 threadedly extends through a collar 226 fixedly secured by any suitable means to a top transverse structural beam member 227 of frame 218. Secured to the upper end of each of the screws 222 and 224 is a handwheel 228 which is mounted on its respective collar 226. Lock nuts 230 threaded onto the upper ends of mounting screws 222 and 224 above handwheels 228 may be tightened to retain handwheels 228 in place.

Mounting screws 222 and 224 respectively terminate vertically above beam bars 204 and 206 and carry hanger support nuts 232 and 234 at their lower ends. Respectively suspended from nuts 232 and 234 are beam support hangers 236 and 238 which carry scale beam 200. Each of the hangers 236 and 238 are of inverted U-shaped having parallel spaced apart upstanding arms 240 and 242 (FIGURE 8A) extending one on each side of its respective beam bar (204, 206) and rigidly joined by a cross piece 243 through which respective ones of the mounting screws 222 and 224 freely extend. As best shown in FIGURES 8A and 8B, each of the arms 240 and 242 is of frame like form having a rectangularly shaped aperture 244 and carrying a notched pivot seat block 245 fixedly seated at the lower end of aperture 244.

Hanger 236 engages oppositely facing aligned knife edges 246 and 248 (FIGURE 8A) fixed to beam bar 204 inwardly of cross piece 212. Knife edges 246 and 248 respectively extend through apertures 244 of hanger 236 and are seated on the upwardly directed notched surfaces of pivot blocks 245, as best shown in FIGURE 8B. Similarly, hanger 238 engages oppositely facing aligned knife edges 250 and 252 fixed to beam bar 206 in alignment with knife edges 246 and 248 and along an axis extending in parallel relation to crosspiece 212. Knife edges 250 and 252 respectively extend through apertures 244 of hanger 238 and are seated on the upwardly directed notched surfaces of blocks 245 carried by hanger 238.

With the structure thus far described, it will be appreciated that scale beam '200 is suspended from hangers 236 and 238 and may be bodily raised and lowered by manipulation of handwheels 228 to advance screws 222 and 224 in either direction. During operation, scale beam 200 is pivotally suspended from hangers 236 and 238 to a fulcrum about an axis extending through knife edges 246, 248, 250 and 252.

-In order to secure scale beam 200 against movement during transit of the assembly from one location to another, a pair of cradles 256 and 258 are fixedly secured to frame 218 vertically beneath cross pieces 212 and 214 respectively as best shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. Cradles 256 and 258 are respectively provided with upwardly facing V-shaped notches 260 and 262 formed in spaced apart cradle plate sections extending in parallel relation to beam bars 204 and 206 and indicated at 263. The apexes of notches 260 and 262 respectively align with the centers of cross pieces 212 and 214 and receive cross pieces 212 and 214 when scale beam 200 is lowered by manipulation of handwheels 228. Cradles 258 and 256 are disposed approximately midway between the ends of cross pieces 212 and 214 to support scale beam 200 when the scale beam is lowered into its rest position.

In order to lock scale beam 200 in its resting position on cradles 256 and 258 and to thereby prevent movement thereof, a pair of clamping screws 264 and 266 are respectively threadedly carried by brackets 268 and 270 which are fixedly secured to the frame 218 as best shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. Clamping screw 264 is threaded through bracket 268 along a vertical axis passing through the center of cross piece 212 when the latter is seated in notch 260 and has an enlarged head 272 facing cross piece 212. When cross piece 212 is resting in cradle 256, clamping screw 264 is advanced downwardly to abuttingly engage head 272 with cross piece 212 to thereby clamp cross piece 212 between head 272 and cradle 256. Screw 264 is locked in place by means of a locking nut and washer assembly 274 mounted on the upper end of screw 264 on the side of bracket 268 facing away from head 272.

Similarly, clamping screw 266 is threaded upwardly through bracket 272 along a vertical axis passing through the center of cross piece 214 when the latter is seated in notch 262 and has an enlarged head 276 at its lower end facing cross piece 214. With cross piece 214 resting on cradle 258, clamping screw 266 is advanced downwardly to abuttingly engage head 276 with cross piece 214 thereby clamping cross piece 214 between head 276 and cradle 258. Clamping screw 266 is locked in place by means of a nut and washer assembly 278 mounted on screw 266 on side of bracket 270 facing away from head 276.

During the operation of the assembly, mounting screws 222 and 224 are advanced upwardly to raise scale beam 200 to its weighing position where cross pieces 212 and 214 are in spaced relation above cradles 256 and 258 with clamping screws 264 and 266 backed out to be in spaced relation above cross pieces 212 and 214. In this weighing position, scale beam 200 is free to fulcrum about its knife edges 246, 248, 250 and 252. To secure scale beam 200 against movement, handwheels 228 are manipulated to advance screws 222 and 224 downwardly to lower scale beam 200 sufficiently until it rests on cradles 256 and 258. By advancing screws 222 and 224 by a further distance, hangers 236 and 238 are lowered sufficiently to separate seats 245 from knife edges 246, 248, 250 and 252 thereby allowing cradles 256 and 258 to be the sole support for scale beam 200. With scale beam 200 resting on cradles 256 and 258, clamping screws 264 and 266 are advanced downwardly to abut heads 272 and 276 with cross pieces 212 and 214 and thereby lockingly clamp scale beam 200 against movement.

With reference now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 7, metering tank 3 is suspended from scale beam 200 by means of a pair of hangers 282 and 284 each having a pair of upstanding arms 286 and 288 extending one on each side of their respective beam bar (204, 206). Each arm 286 and 288 is provided with a frame-like form having a rectangularly shaped opening 289 (FIGURE 5).

Received in each opening 289 at the upper end thereof is a pivot seat block 290 (FIGURE 5) having a downwardly facing notched knife edge engaging surface and being fixedly secured to the respective hanger arm (286, 288).

As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, arms 286 and 288 of hanger 282 are pivotally secured in sideby-side relationship to an upstanding ear 292 rigidly fixed to metering tank 3. Similarly, arms 286 and 288 of hanger 284 are pivotally secured in side by-side relationship to an 'upstanding ear 294 rigidly fixed to metering tank 3. Engaging the notched seating surfaces of the pivot seats 290 in hanger 282 are aligned knife edges indicated at 296 and fixed to beam bar 204 on oppositely facing sides thereof along an axis extending parallel to the fulcrum axis of scale beam 200. Similarly, the notched knife edge seating surfaces of pivot seats 290 in hanger 284 engage aligned knife edges indicated at 298 and fixed to beam bar 206 on opposite facing sides thereof along a common axis with knife edges 296. Knife edges 296 and 298 are fixed to beam bars 204 and 206 respectively between the fulcrum of scale beam 200 and the left-hand ends of bars 204 and 206 to provide a predetermined lever length between the knife edge axis from which metering tank 3 is suspended and the fulcrum axis of scale beam 200.

Knife edges 296 and 298 extend freely through the openings 289 in hangers 282 and 284 respectively with openings 289 being of sufficient length to allow knife edges 296 and 298 to be separated from their pivot seats 290.

In order to secure metering tank 3 against movement during transit of the metering apparatus, preferably three brackets indicated at 302 (two shown) are fixed to frame 86 vertically beneath metering tank 3 as best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Brackets 302 are equiangularly spaced apart about the longitudinal axis of metering tank 3 and each has an upstanding section 304 formed with an inwardly directed flat face and apertured to receive bolts 306 of a bolt and nut assembly indicated at 308 in FIGURE 5. The fiat inwardly directed surfaces of the bracket sections 304 closely face flat surfaces of downwardly extending ears 310 rigidly fixed to the bottom side of metering tank 3 and extending downwardly beyond the top edge of bracket sections 304.

Ears 310 are provided with apertures which register with the apertures formed in bracket sections 304 when metering tank 3 is located approximately in its weighing position.

With metering tank 3 positioned to align the apertures in ears 310 and bracket sections 304, bolts 306 are mounted in place as shown, extending through bracket sections 304 and ears 310 to fixedly secure metering tank 3 to brackets 302. When scale beam 200 is lowered from its weighing position with tank 3 fixed in place, knife edges 296 and 298 are separated from their respective pivot seats 290.

With reference now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, counter weight 32 is suspended from scale beam 200 by means of a pair of hanger assemblies 314 and 316 carried by beam bars 204 and 206 respectively. Each of the hanger assemblies 314 and 316 comprises an upstanding threaded rod 318 extending through a horizontally extending arm 320 fixed to counter weight 32. A nut 322 threaded on the lower end of rod 318 extending beyond arm 320 abuttingly supports arm 320 with counter weight 32 suspended between hanger assemblies 314 and 316. The upper end of each rod 318 extends through a cross piece 321 of a U-shaped hanger member 322 and is supported therefrom by a nut 322a. Hanger member 322 is formed with spaced parallel upstanding arms 323 and 324 rigidly joined by cross piece 321 and extending upwardly one on each side of its respective beam bar (204, 206). Arms 323 and 324 are formed with aligned rectangular openings indicated at 326 in FIGURE 5 and receiving pivot seats 330. Each pivot seat has a downwardly facing notched seating surface and is fixedly secured to its respective hanger arm by any suitable means. Pivot seats 330 carried by hanger assembly 314 engage aligned knife edges indicated at 332 and fixed to beam bar 304 on opposite sides thereof adjacent to the right-hand end of bar 204 (as viewed from FIGURE 5) and to the right of the scale beam fulcrum axis. Similarly, pivot seats 330 carried by hanger assembly 316 engage a pair of aligned knife edges indicated at 334 in FIGURE 6 and fixedly secured to beam bar 206 in alignment with knife edges 332.

In order to secure counter weight 32 against movement when the metering apparatus is in transit, a counter weight support 340 is provided for and comprises four rigid angle iron posts 342 fixed to frame 218 at the corners of counter weight 32, the casing of which is rectangular in cross section. Fixed to posts 342 are a pair of spaced apart horizontal members 346 (FIGURE 6) extending transversely of scale beam 200 and providing an upwardly directed fiat horizontal seating surface 348 for counter weight 32. Posts 342, which are made from angle iron, extend upwardly beyond seating surface 348 with their mutually perpendicular plate portions closely facing corresponding mutually perpendicular side wall surfaces of counter weight 32 to provide a cradling guide channel for counter weight 32.

By lowering scale beam 200 from its weighing position, counter weight 32 is also lowered until it engages its support seat 348. With further lowering movement of scale beam 200, knife edges 332 and 334 are disengaged from their respective pivot seats 330, thus allowing counter weight 32 to be supported solely by support 340. In seated position on support 340, counter weight 32 is abuttingly clamped in place between locking screws 350 threaded through posts 342 above seat 348 on each side of the counter weight.

Thus, with the foregoing structure it is evident that the metering apparatus is quickly and easily prepared for transportation from one location to another simply by turning handwheels 228 to lower scale beam 200 to its rest position on cradles 256 and 258 and by securing metering tank 3 to brackets 302 in the manner previously described. In the course of lowering scale beam 200, counter weight 32 will seat on support 340 and is secured in place by screws 350. After counter weight 32 is seated and metering tank 3 is fixedly secured to brackets 302 by nut and bolt assemblies 308, further downward displacement of scale beam 200 by manipulation of handwheels 228 will relieve knife edges 296, 298, 342 and 344 in the manner previously described. The arrangement of parts is such that disengagement of these knife edges with their respective pivot seats will occur before cross pieces 212 and 214 abuttingly engage cradles 256 and 258. After scale beam 200 is lowered sufliciently to seat on cradle 256 and 258, further advancement of screws 222 and 224 by manipulation of handwheels 228 relieves knife edges 246, 248, 250 and 252.

Scale beam 200 then is clamped in place by turning clamping screws 264 and 266 inwardly until their respective heads 272 and 276 abuttingly engage cross pieces 212 and 214 respectively to secure scale beam 200 in its seated position on cradles 256 and 258. By now removing the pipe connections to metering tank 3, the assembly is prepared for transport with all of the components of the apparatus including scale beam 200, metering tank 3 and counter weight 32 fixedly secured in position.

With continued reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, positioning cylinder 44, described in the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-3, is fixedly secured to a generally U shaped bracket 356 having arm portions 358 and 360 bent rearwardly along the sides of positioning cylinder 44 and secured to beam bars 202 and 204 respectively. Positioning cylinder 44 is disposed between arm portions 358 and 360 of mounting bracket 356 and between beam bars 202 and 204 to the right of the fulcrum axis of scale beam 200 as viewed from FIGURES 4 and 5. The longitudinal axis of cylinder 44 extends in parallel relation to beam bars 202 and 204. Rod 50 is aligned with the axis of positioning cylinder 44 and extends from positioning cylinder 44 toward the left-hand end of scale beam 200, terminating near the left-hand end of beam bars 202 and 204 which as previously mentioned are somewhat longer than beam bar 206. Rod 50 is supported on scale beam 200 by means of a pair of rollers 364 and 366 which respectively engage the polished cylindrical portions 124 and previously described. Roller 364 is journalled on a cross piece 368 about an axis extending at right angles between beam bars 202 and 204. Cross piece 368 is fixed at its opposite ends to beam bars 202 and 204 between the pivot axis of metering tank 3 and the fulcrum axis of scale beam 200.

Roller 366 is journalled on cross piece 208 which as previously described is secured to beam bars 202 and 204 adjacent to their left-hand ends as viewed from FIGURES 4 and 5.

The force take-off trunnion 52 is located intermediate polished rod sections 124 and and is pivotally secured to rod connector to which the vertical force transmitting link 54 is fixed in the manner previously described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. The movable rod counter weight 51 is also fixed to rod 50 in the same manner as previously described. Thus, it is clear that with trunnion 52 together with link 54 disposed on the opposite side of the scale beam fulcrum axis from counter weight 32, rod 50 exerts a force which is transmitted to link 54 and which opposes the moment established by counter weight 32. The opposing moment produced by rod 50 is varied by adjustment of its effective lever arm length under the control of positioner 45.

When metering tank 3 is at least partially filled with a fluid other than water, an unbalancing force is exerted on link 54 which is proportional to the amount of ingredient b (the oil) in the measured oil well fluid as previously described. This force is modified by the movement of rod 50 which is regulated by the positioning cylinder 44 under the control of positioner 45 in the manner previously described. The effective lever arm length between the scale beam fulcrum axis of scale beam 200 and the pivot axis of link 54 is regulated by positioning cylinder 44 under the control of positioner 45 in the manner previously described to vary the moment of force opposing the moment of force established by counter weight 32. Thus, a manifestation of the oil volume (ingredient B) corrected to standard temperature (60 F.) is provided for.

In order to maintain link 54 plum, the components of the recording apparatus including rack 56, pinion 60, pointer 68 and dial 70, shaft 62, clutch 83, totalizing counter 85 and counter 89 and weight spring 64 are all mounted in a casing 372 having a back plate 374 on which the foregoing components are mounted. Rigidly extending outwardly from the lower end of back plate 374, are a pair of horizontally spaced apart parallel guide rail members 376 and 378 (FIGURE forming a horizontal channel through which a horizontal guide rail 380 slidably extends. Guide rail 380 is fixed to frame 218. Thus, horizontal displacement of rod 50 during operation causes casing 372 together with the component parts mounted therein to slide horizontally along rail 380 to maintain link 54 plum.

A dash pot 379 (FIGURE 5) of conventional form is operatively connected to beam bar 202 in the manner shown to stabilize scale beam 200.

With reference now to FIGURE 11, a modified sys tem for automatically refilling metering tank 3 is illustrated and comprises a gas separator 390 to which fluid to be metered is delivered through an inlet pipe 392. Separator 390 may be of any conventional form of separating gas and liquid phases and have a liquid outlet connected to a bottom fill and discharge port 394 of metering tank 3 by means of a conduit 396. Conduit 396 is provided with a flexible pipe section 398 adjacent to metering tank port 394 to permit movement of metering tank 3 with scale beam 200.

Passage of fluid from separator 390 to metering tank 3 is controlled by a three-position center closed metering valve 400. Metering valve 400 comprises a ported valve member 402 shiftable disposed in a housing 404 and rigidly connected to an operating stern 406. Operating stem 406 extends beyond housing 404 and is fixedly secured to a diaphragm 408 in a valve operator 410. Valve operator 410 is provided with two enclosed chambers 412 and 414 separated by diaphragm 408 such that introduction of pressurized fluid into chamber 412 displaces valve member 402 in one direction and introduction of pressurized fluid into chamber 414 displaces valve member 402 in the opposite direction.

Valve 400 is provided with a supply port 415, a discharge port 416 and an operating port 418. By introducing pressurized fluid into chamber 414, valve member 402 is positioned to establish fluid communication between ports 415 and 418 for admitting fluid to be measured to metering tank 3. By introducing pressurized fluid into chamber 412, valve member 402 is positioned to establish fluid communication between ports 416 and 418 for discharging fluid from metering tank 3 through a discharge conduit 420. In its intermediate centered posi tion, valve member 402 interrupts fluid communication between separator 390 and metering tank 3 and also between discharge conduit 420 and metering tank 3, thus precluding introduction and discharge of fluid with respect to metering tank 3.

With the foregoing arrangement, all of the fluid delivered from separator 390 must pass through metering tank 3 before it is discharged through conduit 420. Con duit 420 is connected to a float mechanism chamber 422 having an outlet connected to suitable apparatus for processing the metered fluid such as an oil treater.

With continued reference to FIGURE 11, metering valve 400 is under the control of a shuttle valve 426 which is essentially of the same construction as valve 5 described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. As shown, shuttle valve 426 comprises a housing 428 in which shuttle valve member 430 is shiftably disposed. Fixedly joined to opposite ends of shuttle valve member 430 are operating valve stems 432 and 434 which extend in opposite directions beyond housing 428 and which are respectively connected to diaphragms 436 and 438 of pneumatic valve operators 440 and 442. Valve operator 440 is provided with a pressure operating chamber 444 delimited by diaphragm 36 and valve operator 442 is provided with a pressure operating chamber 448 delimited by diaphragm 448.

Shuttle valve 426 is provided with a supply port 449, an exhaust port 450 and two distinct operating ports 451 and 452. When pressurized fluid is introduced into chamher 448 to shift shuttle valve member 430 to the position shown in FIGURE 11, fluid communication is established between ports 449 and 451, and also between ports 450 and 452. When pressurized fluid is admitted to chamber 444 to shift shuttle valve member 430 downwardly, as viewed from FIGURE 11, fluid communication is established between ports 449 and 452 and also between ports 450 and 451.

Supply port 449 is connected by means of a conduit 453 to a fluid pressure source 454 as indicated by the arrow. Operating port 452 is connected to chamber 414 of metering valve 400 by means of a conduit 456. Disposed in conduit 456 between chamber 414 and operating port 452 is a manually operable on-otf valve 458. Actuation of valve 458 to its on position allows fluid to flow from operating port 452 through conduit 456 to chamber 414. By positioning valve 458 in its oil position, fluid flow through conduit 456 is interrupted.

With continued reference to FIGURE 11, a conventional float 462 is disposed in float chamber 422 and is connected to a valve stem 464 to a control valve 466 which controls flow of pressurized fluid to chamber 448. Valve 466 is disposed in a conduit 468 connected at one end to chamber 448 and intersecting conduit 453 at its other end. Operating stem 464 is connected to a ported valve member 470 shiftably disposed in a housing 472 having a supply port 474, an exhaust port 475 and an operating port 476. Ports 474 and 476 are connected to conduit 468 in fluid communication with supply source 454 and chamber 448 respectively.

When metered fluid in float chamber 422 is drained, float 462 is lowered to displace valve member 470 to a position where fluid communication is established between ports 474 and 476, thus admitting pressure fluid to chamber 448 for displacing shuttle valve member 430 to the position shown in FIGURE 11. As fluid enters float chamber 422 during the removal of fluid from metering tank 3, float 462 is raised to shift valve member 470 to a position where fluid communication is established between ports 475 and 476 to vent pressurized fluid in chamber 448 in preparation for resetting shuttle valve 426 in a manner to be presently explained.

Pressurized fluid is introduced and discharged with respect to valve operating chamber 444 through a conduit 480 connected at one end for fluid communication with chamber 444. The other end of conduit 480 intersects conduit 468 between supply port 474 of valve 466 and supply source 454.

Flow of pressurized fluid through conduit 480 is controlled by a three-way valve 482 having a ported valve member 484 shiftably received in a housing 485 and rigidly connected to a valve operating stem 486. Valve 482 is provided with a supply port 488 connected to conduit 480 in fluid communication with source 454, an operating port 489 connected to conduit 480 in fluid communication with valve operating chamber 444 and an exhaust port 490.

Operating stem 486 is connected to an upper level control float 494 disposed in a float chamber 496. Depression of float 494 by draining fluid from chamber 496 shifts valve member 484 to a position where fluid communication is established between ports 489 and 490 to vent fluid in chamber 444. When float 494 is raised by introducing fluid into chamber 496, valve member 486 is shifted to a position where fluid communication is established between ports 488 and 489 to supply pressurized fluid to chamber 444 from pressure source 454.

Float chamber 496 has a top port 497 connected to separator 390 by means of a vent conduit 498 and a bottom port 499 connected to top opening 500 in metering tank 3 as by a conduit 501. Conduit 501 is provided with a flexible conduit section 501a immediately adjacent to metering tank 3 to allow movement of metering tank 3 with scale beam 200.

Controlling fluid flow through conduit 501 is twoposition seal valve 502 having a valve member 504 shiftably disposed in a valve casing 506. A valve operating stem 508 rigidly connected to valve member 504 is se cured to a diaphragm 510 of a valve operator 512.

Valve operator 512 is provided with a valve operating pressure chamber 514 which is delimited by diaphragm 510 and which is in fluid communication with shuttle valve operating port 451 through conduit 456. When pressure is applied to diaphragm 510 in chamber 514, valve member 504 is shifted to a position where valve 502 is opened to establish fluid communication between the interior of metering tank 3 and float chamber 496 with float chamber 496 being continuous fluid communication with separator 390 through its top venting port 497. When pressurized fluid in valve operating chamber 514 is vented, valve member 504 is shifted to its closed position, thus interrupting fluid flow between the bottom port 499 of float chamber 496 and metering tank 3.

With the structure thus far described, it is apparent that seal valve 502 will be open during the time in which metering valve 400 is open to admit fluid into metering tank 3 from gas separator 390. With seal valve 502 open, the fluid introduced through valve 400 will raise to fill metering tank 3, conduit 501 and the portion of conduit 396 between valve 400 and metering tank 3. As the fluid level raises into chamber 496 upon further introduction of fluid through metering tank port 394, float 494 is raised to displace valve member 484 of valve 482 to its position where fluid communication is established between pressure source 454 and valve operating chamber 444, thus applying pressure to diaphragm 436 for shifting shuttle valve member 430 downwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 11. When valve 400 is in its center closed position, as established by venting both valve operating chambers 412 and 414, or in its position for allowing fluid in metering tank 3, seal valve 502 will be closed.

With continuing reference to FIGURE 11, operating port 452 of shuttle valve 426 is connected to a conduit 524 for controlling flow of pressurized fluid to chamber 412 of valve 400. Disposed in conduit 524 between chamber 412 and port 452 is a hold-run valve 526. With valve 526 in run position, the metering sequence of filling and discharging fluid with respect to metering tank 3 will be automatically repeated. With valve in its hold position, weighing cycle will be stopped until valve 526 is returned to its run position. 9

Controlling flow of fluid between shuttle valve operating port 452 and valve operating chamber 412 is a fourway pilot valve 530 having a valve member 532 shiftably disposed in a housing 533 and rigidly connected to a value operating stem 534. Pilot valve 530, being of the con ventional four-way type, is provided with a supply port 535, an exhaust port 536 and two distinct operating ports 537 and 538. Supply port 535 is connected to conduit 524 by means of a conduit 539 for fluid communication with shuttle valve operating port 452 through valve 526. Operating port 538 is connected to valve operating chamber 412 by means of a conduit 540.

With continued reference to FIGURE 11, valve stem 534 is secured to a spring biased diaphragm 542 of a valve operator 544 having a pressure operating chamber 546 delimited by diaphragm 542. By introducing pressurized fluid into chamber 546, valve member 532 is shifted to one position where fluid communication is established between operating port 537 and exhaust port 536. In this position of pilot valve 530, fluid communication also is established between supply port 535 and operating port 538 to furnish pressurized fluid to valve operating chamber 412 of, metering valve 400. When fluid in chamber 546 is vented, valve member 532 is shifted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11 where supply port 535 is connected to operating port 537 and exhaust port 536 is connected to operating port 538 to vent fluid in valve operating chamber 412.

Operating port 537 of pilot valve 530 is connected by means of a conduit 552 to an inlet port 554 of a zero limit switch valve 556 which is the same as valve 90 described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. Valve 556 comprises a valve member 560 shiftably disposed in a housing 562 and rigidly connected to an operating stem 564 which extends beyond housing 562 and which is rigidly connected to a piston 566 of the pneumatic motor described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. Motor 80 is provided with a rigidly fixed cylinder 570 in which piston 566 is slidably disposed. Valve 556 is provided with an operating port 571 connected to an expansible operating chamber 572 of clutch unit 83.

With continued reference to FIGURE 11, valve member 560 is biased by means of a spring 582 engaging piston 556 to a position where port 554 connects to port 571 to establish fluid communication between operating port 537 of pilot valve 530 and chamber 572.

Clutch 83 comprises a movable clutch member 584 slidably disposed in chamber 572 and engageable with a fixed clutch member 586 by introduction of pressurized fluid into chamber 572. In the same manner as described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, clutch member 586 is mounted on shaft 62 which carries pinion 60 meshing with rack 56, with rack 56 being fixed to the lower end of motion transmitting link 54. Clutch member 584 is mounted on a shaft 594 operatively connected to a gear 596 which is in constant meshing engagement with a gear 598. Gear 598 is mounted on a shaft 600 connected to totalizing counter 85. With the foregoing structure, it is clear that introduction of pressurized fluid into chamber 572 shifts clutch member 584 into engagement with clutch member 586 for transmitting the motion imparted to link 54 to rotate shaft 600 and thus actuate totalizing counter 85 in the same manner as described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3.

Controlling fluid flow to motor 80 is a control valve 604 having a valve member 606 shiftably disposed in a valve housing 608 and rigidly connected to a valve operating stem 610. Valve operating stem 610 is operatively connected to shaft 594 such that displacement of clutch member 584 shifts valve member 606 between two operating positions. Valve 604 is provided with two distinct operating ports 611 and 612, a supply port 613 connected to conduit 524 and an exhaust port 614. Operating port 611 is connected to cylinder 570 of motor 80 by means of a conduit 616. Operating port 612 is connected to valve operating chamber 546 of pilot valve 530 by means of a conduit 618.

When clutch member 584 is disengaged from clutch member 586, valve member 606 is shifted to a position where fluid communication is established between exhaust port 616 and cylinder 570 to vent pressurized fluid acting on piston 66. In this position of valve 604, supply port 613 is connected to operating port 612 for supplying pressurized fluid to valve operating chamber 546. When clutch member 584 is engaged with clutch member 586, valve member 606 is shifted to a position where supply port 613 is connected to operating port 611 for furnishing pressurized fluid to cylinder 570. In this second position of valve 604, operating port 612 is connected to exhaust port 614 for venting fluid from valve operating chamber 546.

With continued reference to FIGURE 11, removal of fluid in metering tank 3 is rapidly facilitated by applying pressure to the system through a conduit 630 which is connected to an inlet port 632 of a control valve 634. Control valve 634 comprises a valve member 636 shiftably disposed in a housing 637 and rigidly connected to an operating stem 638 extending beyond housing 636. Stem 638 is secured to a diaphragm 640 of a valve operator 642 having an operating chamber 644 delimited by diaphragm 640. In fluid communication with chamber 644 is a conduit 658 which intersects conduit 540 between chamber 412 and valve 530. Valve 634 is provided with a fluid operating port 648 which is connected by means of a conduit 650 to an operating port 672 of a pressure ejection valve 654 to be presently described in detail. Fluid communication between operating ports 648 of valve 634 and top port 500 of metering tank 3 is established by means of a conduit 656 which intersects conduits 650 and 501.

Pressurized fluid for actuating valve 634 is furnished by a conduit 658 which interconnects chamber 644 with conduit 540. Thus, when pressurized fluid is furnished to actuate metering valve 400 to its position for discharging the metered fluid from metering tank 3, pressurized fluid is simultaneously introduced into chamber 644 to open valve 634 by interconnnecting port 632 with port 648. As a result, pressurized fluid is introduced into the system and is applied to the metered fluid in tank 3 for ejecting the metered fluid through the bottom port 394 in tank 3. When pressurized fluid is vented from valve operating chamber 412, the fluid in chamber 644 is also vented to close valve 634 and thereby cut off the supply of pressurized fluid entering from conduit 630.

Pressure ejection valve 654 is actuatable to vent pressure fluid admitted by valve 634 after valve 634 is closed. Valve 654 comprises a valve member 660 shiftably disposed in a housing 662 and rigidly connected to an operating stem 664. Stem 664 is secured to a diaphragm 666 of a valve operator 668 having a valve operating pressure fluid chamber 670 delimited by diaphragm 666. Valve member 660 is shiftable between open and closed position for respectively establishing and interrupting fluid communication between an operating port 672 and a discharge port 674. Port 674 is connected to separator 390 by means of a conduit 676 which intersects conduit 498 between float chamber 496 and separator 390. Port 672 is connected to conduit 650.

Valve operating chamber 670 is connected to operating port 451 of shuttle valve 426 by means of a conduit 678. By supplying pressurized fluid to chamber 67 0, valve member 660 is shifted to a position where fluid communication is established between ports 672 and 674 for venting the pressurized fluid applied to the metered fluid in metering tank 3. When the pressure in chamber 670 is relieved, diaphragm 666, under a spring bias, is returned to a position where fluid communication between ports 672 and 674 is interrupted. concomitantly with applying fluid pressure to chamber 670 to open valve 654 fluid pressure also is applied to chamber 514 through a conduit 679 for opening valve 502.

Thus, valves 502 and 654 will close and open simultaneously. As a result, venting of fluid to separator 390 is cut off when pressure is applied through valve 634 to the metered fluid in metering tank 3 for removing the metered fluid in metering tank 3 through the bottom port 394, as will presently be described in further detail.

In operation of the system illustrated in FIGURES 4-1l, scale beam 200 is initially calibrated to conform to oil well conditions. In accomplishing the calibration, the specific gravity of the water mixed with the oil is determined. A poise 680 (FIGURE 5) slidably mounted on beam bar 202 is shifted along a scale 682 to a position reading at the determined specific gravity of water. Poise 680 is locked in place by means of a set screw 684. After determining the specific gravity of the oil, trunnion 52 together with pivoted connector 162 is loosened and slid along a scale indicated at 686 to a position corresponding to the difference between the specific gravity of the water and the specific gravity of the oil at the oil well from which the mixed liquid is to be removed for measuring. Casing 372 is slid simultaneously with trunnion 52 along rail 380 to maintain link 54 vertically plumb. In a final preliminary step, a poise 688 which is slidably mounted on beam bar 202 to the left of poise 680 (as viewed from FIGURE 5) is shifted along a scale 690 on beam bar 202 to a position corresponding to the difference between the specific gravities of the oil and of the water and is locked in this position by means of a set screw 692.

With scale beam 200 free to pivot about its fulcrum axis, the apparatus is prepared for measuring the fluid withdrawn from the oil well to which it is connected. To start the operation, valve 458 is shifted to its on position where fluid communication is established between operating port 451 of shuttle valve 426 and valve operating chamber 414 of metering valve 400. Valve 526 is shifted to its position where it permits fluid flow through conduit 524, thus establishing fluid communication between operating port 452 of shuttle valve 426 and supply port 613 of valve 604.

Thus, with valves 458 and 526 in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 11 and with pressurized gas applied to the system through conduits 453 and 630, the system will now begin to operate automatically for measuring the fluid withdrawn from the oil well to which the apparatus is connected. This set up of component parts initiates the filling cycle during which metering tank 3 is filled with the oil well fluid or other apparatus from which fluid is taken for measuring.

With the initial filling cycle, no liquid is present in float chambers 496 .and 422, thus lowering floats 494 and 462 respectively. By lowering float 494, valve 482 is actuated to vent any pressurized gas in valve operating chamber 444 of shuttle valve 426. With float 462 lowered, valve 466 is positioned to admit pressurized gas to valve operating chamber 448 thus shifting shuttle valve member 430 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11. As a result, pressurized gas is admitted to chamber 414 of valve operator 410 from operating port 452 of shuttle valve 426 to shift valve member 402 to its position where fluid communication is established between separator 390 and the bottom port 394 of metering tank 3 to admit oil well fluid from gas separator 390 for metering. Simultaneously with application of pressurized gas to chamber 414 for actuating valve 400 to its position for filling metering tank 3, pressurized gas is admitted to chamber 514 of valve operator 512 for opening valve 502. By opening valve 502, fluid communication is established between the top of metering tank 3 and separator 390 for venting any gases accummulated in metering tank 3.

Introduction of oil well fluid into metering tank 3 will continue until the tank is filled and the fluid enters float chamber 496 through valve 502. When sufficient fluid has entered chamber 496, float 494 is raised to shift valve member 484 of valve 482 to a position where pressurized gas is delivered to chamber 444 from conduit 468. Application of fluid pressure to diaphragm 436 of valve operator 440 shifts shuttle valve member 430 downwardly as viewed from FIGURE 11 to a position where the fiuid pressure in chamber 514 of valve operator 512 is vented through exhaust port 450 of shuttle valve 426. The relative pressures in chambers 444 and 448 may be regulated to facilitate this displacement of shuttle valve member 430 by introduction of pressurized gas into chamber 444. In addition, downward displacement of shuttle valve member 430 vents pressurized gas from chamber 412 of valve operator 410. As a result, seal valve 502 is shifted to its closed position and the valve member 404 of metering valve 400 is shifted to its centered closed position where admission or removal of oil well fluid from metering tank 3 is precluded. With seal valve 502 and metering valve 400 closed, the liquid trapped in metering tank 3 and in the pipeline connections between valves 400 and 502 is a measured amount and may be conveniently established to be one barrel or 42 gallons. Since the weight of oil well fluid contained in this measured metering tank volume bears a direct relationship to the quantity of oil in the fluid, then the volume of the oil corrected to 60 F. is read out in the manner previously described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. Thus, a determinable portion of the weight is exerted on scale beam 200 which is calibrated to the densities of the oil and water components. As a result, a force proportional to the oil content of the fluid is exerted at rack 592 through link 54 in the manner previously explained. The rack displacement under the control of the motion transmitting link 54 is transmitted to rotate dial 68 through pinion 60.

As a result of shifting shuttle valve member 430 downwardly from the position illustrated in FIGURE 11, pressurized gas from source 545 is transmitted through shuttle valve 426 and through pilot valve 530 to clutch chamber 572 for applying pressure to engage clutch member 584 with clutch member 586. By engagement of clutch members 584 and 586, pinion 60 is coupled to the totalizing counter 85 in the manner previously explained. When clutch members 584 and 586 are engaged, valve 604 is actuated to a position where pressurized gas is applied through valve member 608 to the cylinder of motor 80 for displacing piston 566 downwardly from the position illustrated in FIGURE 11.

Downward displacement of piston 566 displaces rack 592 downwardly in the manner explained in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3 to drive the indicator dial 68 to zero and advance totalizing counter 85 by a like amount. When dial 68 reaches zero as previously explained, valve 556 is tripped to connect chamber 572 with exhaust port 580 for venting the pressurized gas in chamber 572. As a result, clutch member 584 disengages from clutch member 586 under the bias of a spring 700. By disengaging clutch member 584 from clutch member 586, valve 604 is actuated to a position where pressurized fluid is applied through valve member 606 to chamber 542 of valve operator 540 for actuating valve 530. By disengaging clutch member 584 from clutch member 586, valve member 606 is positioned to vent the pressurized fluid in the cylinder of motor 80 through exhaust port 614.

By venting the pressure in the cylinder of motor 80, piston 566 is raised to shift valve member 560 of valve 566 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11 where valve 566 is set for subsequent filling cycle. As piston 566 returns, counter 89 is actuated in the manner described in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3.

As a result of disengaging clutch member 584 from clutch member 586, pressurized gas is supplied through valve 604 to valve operating chamber 546 to shift valve member 532 of pilot valve 530 to a position where supply port 535 connects to operating port 538. Consequently, pressurized gas is delivered to chamber 412 of metering valve 400 to shift valve member 402 to a position where port 416 is connected with port 418, thus allowing oil well fluid in metering tank 3 to discharge through valve 400.

When pressurized gas is admitted to chamber 412, it is simultaneously admitted to valve operating chamber 644 through conduit 646 for opening valve 634. By opening valve 634, pressurized fluid is admitted from con duit 630 for applying a pressure to the surface of liquid in metering tank 3 for forcing the liquid out through conduits 396 and 420.

The pressure admitted to the system through valve 634 is sealed from the vent conduit 498 and consequently from separator 390 by valve 654 and valve 502 which are both in their closed positions as illustrated in FIGURE 11. Thus, with the opening of valve 634, fluid pressure is admitted to forcibly and rapidly discharge the oil well fluid from metering tank 3 through metering valve 400 and through float chamber 422 to the oil treater or other process apparatus (not shown).

By filling float chamber 422, float 462 is raised to actuate valve 466 for venting pressurized gas from chamber 448 of valve operator 442. By venting pressurized gas from chamber 448 shuttle valve 426 is reset for the next filling cycle. Due to the presence of pressure in valve operating chamber 444, it is evident that shuttle valve member 430 remains in its lowered position where valve operating chamber 414 is vented through exhaust port 450.

When metering tank 3 is emptied and float chamber 422 has drained, float 462 drops to actuate valve 466 returning valve member 470 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11 where pressurized gas is again admitted to chamber 448 to drive shuttle valve member 430 back to its original position illustrated in FIGURE 11. By shifting shuttle valve member 430 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11, pressure fluid in valve operating chambers 412 and 644 of valve 400 and 634 respectively are vented through ports 452 and 450 of shuttle valve 426. As a result, valve 634 will close.

By returning shuttle valve member 430 to its position shown in FIGURE 11, pressurized gas is again applied to chambers 514 and 670 of valve operators 512 and 668 respectively.

Admission of pressurized gas to chambers 514 and 670 causes valves 502 and 654 to open simultaneously allowing the fluid trapped in float chamber 496 and in conduit 501 upstream from valve 502 to drain back into metering tank 3.

At the same time pressure fluid is admitted to valve operating chambers 514 and 670, pressure fluid also is admitted to valve operating chamber 414 of valve operator 410 to shift valve member 402 to a position where fluid communication is again established between separator 390 and the bottom port 394 of metering tank 3. Thus, it will be appreciated that oil well fluid drains into the top of metering tank 3 from the upper float chamber 496 concomitantly with the filling of metering tank 3 from the bottom. When float chamber 496 is completely drained, float 494 drops to shift valve member 486 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11 where chamber 444 of valve operator 440 is vented through exhaust port 490. In this manner the cycle of filling metering tank 3 and then discharging the measured oil well fluid is automatically repeated.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a modified form of the system shown in FIGURE 11 in which valve 502 is eliminated by locating valve 654 in conduit 498 between float chamber 496 and separator 390. v

In this embodiment of FIGURE 12, the position of the lower float control chamber 422 is changed to a location between metering valve 400 and the bottom port 394 of metering tank 3. As shown, conduit 420 is connected to discharge port 416 of valve 400, and supply port 415 is connected to conduit 396. Float chamber 422 is connected to operating port 418 and to port 394 of metering tank 3 by conduit 396. The remaining arrangement of components in the system in FIGURE 12 is the same as that illustrated in FIGURE 11 and consequently further description is not required.

In operation of the system illustrated in FIGURE 12, the filling cycle is initiated when float 494 is lowered to actuate valve 482 to a position where pressurized gas in the operating chamber 444 of shuttle valve operator 440 is vented through port 490. After the preceding volume of oil well fluid is completely discharged through metering valve 400, float 462 will be lowered as a result of draining float chamber 422 to actuate valve 466 to a position where pressurized gas is introduced into operating chamber 448 of valve operator 442 for actuating shuttle valve member 430 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 12. In this position, pressurized gas is supplied through operating port 451 of shuttle valve 427 to operating chamber 414 of metering valve 400.

By introducing pressurized fluid into operating chamber 414, valve member 402 is shifted to a position where supply port 415 is connected to operating port 418 for establishing fluid communication between separator 390 and metering tank 3. As a result, metering tank 3 is filled with oil well fluid through its bottom port 394 in the 21 manner previously described. When suflicient fluid has entered metering tank 3 and conduit 501 and to fill float chamber 496 sufiiciently to raise float 494, valve 482 is actuated to a position where pressurized gas is introduced into operating chamber 444 of shuttle valve operator 440.

While metering tank 3 is being filled, float 462 being below the level of metering tank 3 will raise to actuate valve 466 to a position where pressurized gas in operating chamber 448 of valve operator 442 is vented through exhaust port 475. As a result, when suflicient fluid has entered the upper float control chamber 496 to cause valve member 484 of valve 482 to be shifted to a position for admitting pressurized gas to operating chamber 444, shuttle valve member 430 will be shifted downwardly from the position illustrated in FIGURE 12 to connected operating port 451 with exhaust port 450 and also to connect operating port 452 with supply port 449.

As a result of this actuation of shuttle valve member 430, metering valve 400 is closed, and the oil volume at standard temperature is read out in the manner previously described. Thereafter, metering valve 400 is actuated in the manner previously described to shift valve member 402 to a position where operating port 418 is connected to discharge port 416 for discharging the oil well fluid in metering tank 3.

concomitantly with supplying pressurized gas to valve operating chamber 412 of metering valve 400, pressurized gas is also supplied to valve operating chamber 644 of valve operator 642 to open valve 634. This admits pressurized fluid into the system as previously described to increase the rate of discharge of oil well fluid contained in metering tank 3. Also, at the same time that valve 634 is opened, pressurized gas is vented from valve operating chamber 670 of valve operator 668 to close valve 654. As a result, the escape of pressurized fluid admitted by valve 634 is prevented, thus causing the pressurized fluid to act on the surface of oil Well fluid in metering tank 3 and upper float control chamber 496 to effectuate the rapid discharge of oil well fluid through port 394.

While oil well fluid is being discharged from metering tank 3, lower float control chamber 422 will remain filled to hold float 462 in its raised position thus maintaining valve member 470 of value 466 in a position where venting of valve operating chamber 448 continues. As soon as all of the oil well fluid in metering tank 3 has drained through float control chamber 422 and into discharge line 420, float 462 will be lowered sufficiently to actuate valve 466 to a position for once again admitting pressurized gas to valve operating chamber 448. As a result, shuttle valve member 430 is shifted to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 12, thus resetting the system for another filling cycle in the manner previously described.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A system for measuring the amount of one ingredient commingled with another ingredient in a body of fluid comprising a weighing device operably having a receptacle for receiving a predetermined volume of said fluid, means on said weighing device connected to said receptacle for transmitting a force proportional to the weight of said one ingredient, means for receiving said force and converting it into force proportional to the amount of said one ingredient corrected to a reference temperature, and register means operably connected with said system for indicating said corrected amount of said ingredient.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said force receiving means comprises a fulcrumed resolver lever, automatic adjustment means on said lever for automatically varying the lever ratio thereof, and temperature sensing means responsive to the temperature of said fluid in said receptacle and operably connected to said automatic adjustment means for varying said lever ratio in accordance with the temperature sensed thereby.

3. A process for measuring the amount of one ingredient commingled with at least another ingredient in a body of fluid comprising the steps of filling a constant volume receptacle with said fluid and weighing the receptacle in comparison with a predetermined weight corresponding to the Weight of said volume of another of said ingredients, converting the weight determination thus made into a force proportional to the amount of said one ingredient under standardized conditions, manifesting said force to indicate the amount of said ingredient present in said volume, and discharging said volume from the receptacle after the weight determination thereof is made.

4. In a system for measuring the amount of one ingredient commingled with another ingredient in a body of fluid, a fulcrumed lever, means for producing a force proportional to the volume of said one ingredient in a predetermined volume of said fluid 'and for applying said force to said lever; a force take-off member mounted for longitudinal movement on said lever and being operable to transmit said force applied to said lever, temperature compensating means responsive to the temperature of said fluid in the predetermined volume of said fluid for varying the effective lever arm length of said member to adjust said force to be proportional to the volume of said one ingredient at a predetermined stand ard temperature, and means operatively connected to said member and being responsive to the force transmitted thereby to manifest the volume of said one ingredient at said standard temperature.

5. The system defined in claim 4, wherein said temperature compensating means comprises a rod mounted for longitudinal movement on said lever and carrying said member, a motor unit operatively connected to said rod for longitudinally dispacing said rod, and a controller provided with temperature sensing means responsive to the temperature of said fluid and being operable to control the operation of said motor unit for displacing said rod in accordance with the temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means.

6. In an automatic system for measuring one ingredient commmgled with at least another ingredient in a body of fluid being transported through a flow line, weighing means having a fluid receiving receptacle disposed in fluid communication With said flow line and being operable to develop a force proportional to the amount of said one ingredient in a predetermined volume of said fluiddelivered to said receptacle, valve means disposed in said flow line and being operable to control the delivery and d1scharge of said fluid with respect to said receptacle, and automatic means controlling said valve means to cyclically fill said receptacle from said flow line only with an amount of said fluid substantially equal to said predetermined volume and to discharge each volume to said flow line before the next volume is introduced.

7. The automatic system defined in claim 6, wherein said valve means comprises a single valve.

8. The automatic system defined in claim 6, wherein said valve means comprises a valve having a supply port connected to said flow line upstream from said receptacle, a discharge port connected to said flow line downstream from said receptacle, 'an operating port in direct fluid communication with said receptacle, and a ported valve member under the control of a valve operator to alternately connect said supply and discharge ports with said operating port for respectively filling and emptying said receptacle.

9. The automatic system defined in claim 6, wherein said automatic mean comprises an upper float control means responsive to the level of fluid with which said receptacle is filled to actuate said valve means for mterrupting introduction of fluid into said receptacle when the volume of fluid introduced into said receptacle reaches said predetermined volume and to initiate the discharge of fluid in said receptacle, and lower float control means disposed in said flow line and being responsive to the discharge of fluid from said receptacle to actuate said valve means for introducing fluid to said receptacle from the upstream side of said flow line only after said receptacle is emptied.

10. An apparatus for measuring the amount of an ingredient in a fluid flowing through a pipeline comprising spaced flow control valves in said pipeline, a weighing device having a receptacle communicating with said line between said valves, means for intermittently opening and closing said valves in response to the level of fluid in said device for filling the weighing device with successive slugs of said fluid and discharging the same from the device, said weighing device having a fulcrumed lever arm supporting said receptacle, counterweight means on said lever for balancing said receptacle, a resolver lever means operably connected at one end to said lever arm, register means comprising two indicators operatively connected to the other end of said resolver lever means, said register means adapted to indicate the amount of said ingredient in said receptacle on an indicator in response to a force proportional to the amount of said ingredient under standardized conditions transmitted from said resolver lever means, and to record the cumulative amount of said ingredient in successive receptacle fillings on a second indicator.

11. A system for determining the amount of a certain ingredient substance in a combination of substances in a flow line comprising a weighing device, a temperature compensating lever mechanism, register means for recording the amount of said ingredient, and automatic control means adapted to permit said system to determine the amount of said ingredient in a portion of said combination of substances, record said amount, discharge said portion and receive another portion and repeat the amount determining cycle; said weighing device comprising a counter balanced lever having a receptacle in communication with said line mounted thereon; said temperature compensating mechanism comprising a fulcrumed lever connected at one end to said counter balanced lever, a rod mounted on said fulcrumed lever for longitudinal movement, said rod interconnected with said fulcrumed lever at its other end to said register means, positioning means on said fulcrumed lever having a temperature sensing element in communication with said receptacle operatively connected with said rod to shift the latter longitudinally relative to said fulcrumed lever in response to temperature variations in the portion of said combination of substances in said receptacle; said register means comprising a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said rod by link means for rotating said shaft in response to movements of said fulcrumed lever, a cumulative indicator on said shaft, and means for interconnecting said shaft and said indicator when operated in said cycle by said control means; said control means comprising a pressure source, switch means communicating with said pressure source, and valve means for controlling flow in said line operably connected with said switch means for filling and discharging said receptacle, pressure operated means in connection with said pressure source for connecting said shaft and said indicator before discharge of said receptacle, and switch means also in fluid communication with said pressure source for effect ing discharge of said receptacle, disconnection of said rod and shaft, and resetting of said system for measuring the amount of said substance in the next successive portion of said combination of substances in said line.

12. In an automatic system for measuring the amount of one ingredient commingled with another ingredient in a body of fluid, a weighing device having a lever displaceable about a fulcrum axis with a fluid receiving receptacle and a counterweight supported by said lever on opposite sides of said fulcrum axis, means for feeding and discharging said rfluid with respect to said receptacle in successive predetermined discrete volumes of uniform magnitude, said counterweight corresponding to the weight of said predetermined volume of said other ingredient and cooperating with said lever to produce a force substantially proportional to the volume of said one ingredient present in each of said discrete volumes in response to the presence of said one ingredient in the fluid admitted to said receptacle, and means responsive to said force for manifesting the volume of said one ingredient present in each of said discrete volumes.

13. In a system for measuring the amount of one ingredient commingled with at least another ingredient in a body of fluid, a weighing mechanism having a counterweighted unitary scale beam displaceable about a fulcrum axis, a fluid receiving receptacle supported by said scale beam with said scale beam being operable to manifest the volume of said one ingredient present in a predetermined volume of said fluid introduced into said receptacle, and weighted means mounted for longitudinal movement on said scale beam; and temperature compensating means operable in response to the temperature of said fluid for longitudinally moving said weighted means to a position relative to said fulcrum axis for resolving the movement of said scale beam to manifest the volume of said one ingredient at a predetermined standard temperature.

14. A portable weighing mechanism comprising a support, a scale beam pivotally mounted in one position on said support for displacement about a fulcrum axis, a fluid receiving receptacle and counterweight means supported by said scale beam at opposite sides of said fulcrum axis, manually operable means for bodily displacing said scale beam from said one position to a second position where said scale beam is seated on said support and restrained against pivotal displacement, means securing said scale beam against movement in said second position, and means on said support for separately seating said receptacle and said counterweight independently of said scale beam when said scale beam is in said second position to relieve the scale beam of the loads of said receptacle and counterweight.

15. The portable Weighing mechanism defined in claim 14 wherein said manually operable means comprises at least one threaded screw member threadedly mounted on said support means and carrying hanger means from which said scale beam is suspended, said scale beam being bodily displaceable between said first and second position by advancement of said screw member.

16. A portable weighing mechanism comprising a rigid support, a scale beam with load receiving means and a counter weight suspended therefrom, knife-edged pivot means carried by said scale beam for swinging said scale beam about a fulcrum axis, manipulatable means mounted on said support for selectively raising and lowering said scale beam with said scale beam being arranged to nonpivotally seat on said support in a lowered position, pivot seats carried by said manipulatable means and engageable with said knife-edged means for lifting said scale beam from its seated position and for pivotally supporting said scale beam about said fulcrum axis, and manipulatable means being operable to move said pivot seats out of engagement with said knife-edged means when said scale beam is seated on said support, and means for securing said scale beam against movement in its seated position on said support.

17. The portable weighing mechanism defined in claim 16, wherein said scale beam comprises a pair of spaced apart beam bars rigidly joined together by spaced transversely extending cross pieces disposed one on each side

Claims (1)

1. A SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF ONE INGREDIENT COMMINGLED WITH ANOTHER INGREDIENT IN A BODY OF FLUID COMPRISING A WEIGHING DEVICE OPERABLY HAVING A RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF SAID FLUID, MEANS ON SAID WEIGHING DEVICE CONNECTED TO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR TRANSMITTING A FORCE PROPORTIONAL TO THE WEIGHT OF SAID ONE INGREDIENT, MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID FORCE AND CONVERTING IT INTO FORCE PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF SAID ONE INGREDIENT CORRECTED TO A REFERENCE TEMPERATURE, AND REGISTER

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