Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
  • G01F1/05—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects
  • G01F1/10—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with axial admission

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a measuring apparatus for measuring flow, such as liquid or gas flow, and/or its characteristics, the said apparatus comprising a housing provided with a flow channel and a tubular member fitted therein, into which tubular member there is coaxially installed a flow control member and thereafter, in the flow direction, a rotor, or a combination of the two; and which housing is provided at least with a rotor revmeter or equivalent detector as well as connecting means for connecting the measuring apparatus into the flow circuit.
• the measuring apparatus of the invention is designed for measuring a physical or chemical magnitude of the medium substance, the said magnitude being for instace -v ⁇ lu-ne flow, mass flow, thermal capacity, content, mixture ratio or the like.
• the inclined position of the turbine blades causes a remarkably strong power component to be directed towards the turbine, which p ⁇ wer component- uat be received by means of a bearing arrangement. This naturally has an effect both on the sensitivity of the apparatus and on its working age.
• measuring apparatuses brings forth several drawbacks and problems. Disturbances and malfunction are regular difficulties. Separate measuring apparatuses are needed for measuring flow and/or its various characteristics. Among the prior art devices, none are suitable for measuring several different magnitudes. A measuring apparatus of a special type is generally required for a special target. This apparatus is not replaced until it is out of order or needs maintenance. The replacement of a measuring apparatus is always costly.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate, among others, the above described drawbacks and to realize a low-operated measuring apparatus where, for instance during maintenance, only a certain part can be replaced through a simple procedure. This is achieved by means of the characteristic novel features of the invention which are mainly enlisted in the patent claim 1.
• the housing of the measuring apparatus which housing comprises means for connecting the apparatus to the surrounding circuit and a detector whereby the rotation of the rotor or equivalent can be observed, is identical in all of the modifications of the said measuring apparatus.
• the inside of the housing is formed of a replacement part, i.e. a separate tubular part, wherein there is installed for example a rotor and a flow control member, and possibly also a sensor which measures such properties - for instance temperature - of the flow that have an effect on the rotor and the control member.
• the described structure of the measuring apparatus allows for an easy replacement of the movable and erodible parts of the apparatus, which are in contact with the flow; the tubular replacement piece is removed from within the principal housing, and a new replacement piece is installed.
• the calibration of the apparatus stipulated to be carried out at regular intervals, simply becomes unnecessary; it suffices to replace the tubular replacement piece with a new one. This leads to remarkable savings in the expenses, because now it is neither necessary to detach the measuring apparatus proper, to install a substitute apparatus nor to carry the apparatus proper to be readjusted by the responsible authority or office .
• the present invention offers good possibilities for the modification and application of the measuring apparatus according to specific needs.
• the replacement piece is provided with a flow control member which sets the flow in a spiralling motion, which has. a further influence in the rotation of the rotor
• the measuring apparatus can be used for measuring volume flow owing to the specific replacement piece.
• the replacement piece is provided with a suitable bimetallic sensor which sets the flow in a spiralling motion depending on the temperature, which motion again respectively influences the rotation of the rotor,- the measuring apparatus is suited, owing to this specific replacement piece, for measuring the thermal energy contained in the flow, for instance the consumption of warm service water.
• a temperature-sensing element other suitable sensors can also be employed for measuring the characteristics of the flow. Particularly suitable for this purpose are such sensors that change their appearance due to the influence of the magnitude to be measured.
• FIG. 1 is an illustration of a volume flow meter where a replacement piece according to the invention is employed
• Figure 2 is an illustration of a caloric capacity meter of the flow, similarly provided with a respective replacement piece.
• the measuring apparatuses illustrated in the drawings comprise the housing 1, through which the flow channel 2 runs. At both ends of the flow channel 2, the housing 1 is provided for instance with threadings 21, 22 as well as with matching connecting means for connecting the measuring apparatus to the pipework or equivalent flow circuit.
• the sensor 3 for detecting the speed of rotation of the rotor or the like, and the protective cover 4 of the said sensor.
• the sensor 3 is connected, by means of the service connection 5, to the unit 6 processing the messages sent by the sensor, which unit 6 can be for example a calculator or a larger data processing unit.
• a detachable and replaceable tubular member i.e. the replacement piece 7. Its length is profitably about 3/4 of the length of the whole flow channel.
• a suitable turbine construction or flow control member Inside the replacement piece 7 there is installed a suitable turbine construction or flow control member and the rotor 10.
• the flow channel 2 is provided with the shoulder 8, against which the tubular piece 7 is positioned. Now the rotor 10 and the rotor revmeter are placed side by side.
• the shoulder 8 can be placed either at the distance of the length of the replacement piece 7 from the end of the flow channel 2, in which case the end of the replacement piece rests against the shoulder, or the shoulder 8 can be placed in the middle of the replacement piece as is illustrated in the drawing, so that an extra shoulder 9 is also arranged on the outer surface of the replacement piece 7.
• the other end of the replacement piece 7 is located within the flow channel 2, on the same level with the end of the housing 1.
• the replacement piece 7 can be easily removed from the flow channel 2.
• the replacement piece 7 can be locked into place in the flow channel by means of a suitable connecting means, such as an intermediate collar matched into the threading 22, or by means of some other fitting piece.
• the tube or collar of the replacement piece 7 can be manufactured of metal , such as steel, or of plastic.
• the replacement piece 7 is provided with the rotor 10 and the flow control member 12.
• the rotor 10 is fitted with bearings coaxially inside the replacement piece 7, in between the boss of the control member 12 and the support member 15.
• the blades 11 of the rotor 10 are essentially parallel to their own rotation axis, the central axis A-A of the replacement piece 7 and to the flow channel 2.
• the flow control member 12 is installed in front of the rotor 11 with respect to the flow direction.
• the control member 12 is formed of a blade arrangement, the blades 13 whereof are placed in an angle deviant from the central axis A-A of the housing and of the rotor blades.
• the replacement piece 7 is provided with such means that the apparatus functions as caloric capacity meter. Also in this case, the rotor 10 and the flow control member 16 are installed in the replacement piece 7. The rotor 10 is attached with bearings similarly as in the case of the replacement piece of figure 1, i.e. in between the boss of the control member 16 and the supporting members 15.
• the control member 16 comprises two parts, which can be wound with respect to each other, i.e. the director 17 and the controller 18.
• the controller 18 is permanently fastened within the flow channel 2, and the director 17 is attached with bearings into the center thereof.
• a sensor In between the director 17 and the wall of the flow channel 2, there is installed a sensor.
• the sensor is a spiralling bimetal spring 23.
• the structure of the control member 16 is described in the Finnish Patent Publication No. 63 489.
• the director 17 and the controller 18 are at right angles to each other, and the flow proceeds in the principal flowing direction B directly and symmetrically via the channels 19, 20, around the director 17. Now the rotor 10 does not rotate. While the medium warms up, the bimetal sensor 23 detects the change and winds the director 17 by aid of the axis. As a consequence, the cross-sectional areas of the channels 19, 20 located betweeen the director 17 and the conroller 18 are changed, and the medium receives a spiralling motion component, which again makes the rotor to rotate.
• the sensor 3 - ' attached to the housing 1 is advantageously a Hall sensor or a similar sensor detecting the changes within the magnetic field.
• the two blades 11 of the rotor 10, which blades are located symmetrically on opposite sides of the axis, are respectively provided with magnets 24.
• the sensor 3 detects the rotation of the rotor 10 as a change in the magnetic field, caused by the passing magnets 24.
• Other kinds of sensors, such as optical or the like, can also be employed.
• the processing unit 6 for the messages sent by the sensor 3 is advantageously similar in all the different modifications of the measuring apparatus. It may comprise for example the central unit 61 and the first memory unit 62, the output device 63 and possibly the second memory unit 64, all connected to the central unit 61.
• the first memory unit 62 contains all relevant information of the replacement piece 7, i.e. its parameters, and thus also knows the nature of the measuring operation in question.
• the central unit 61 the messages are processed by utilizing the information contained in the memory unit 62.
• Within the second memory unit 64 there can be recorded for instance the measuring results until they are written out by means of the output device 63 which can be a display terminal or a printer.
• both measuring apparatuses are suited for measuring volume flow and the caloric capacity of the flow, i.e. the thermal energy contained in the flow.
• both measuring apparatuses can be modified to function either as a volume flow meter or a thermal energy meter. This is carried out by replacing the tubular members, i.e. the replacement pieces 7 so that they are provided with the necessary equipment for the desired measuring operation, and by replacing the memory unit 62 in the processing unit 6 with a memory unit corresponding to the respective replacement unit, or by replacing the respective part of the calculator.
• the central unit 61 defines either the volume flow in the flow channel 2, or the thermal energy contained in the liquid/gas passing through the flow channel .
• the sensor 25 measuring the temperature of the flow.
• This sensor is installed for instance within the bore 26 located in the housing. In case the temperature sensor 25 is not needed, the bore can be empty.
• the temperature sensor 25 can be easily connected to the above mentioned processing unit 6, for instance by means of the same wire as the sensor 3 detecting the rotation of the rotor 10.
• the bore 26 and the sensor 25 are in the vicinity of the disc of the rotor 10.
• the sensor 25 can, on the cross-sectional plane, be located in a position which is for example 15° - 345° deviant with respect to he above mentioned sensor 3 measuring the rotation speed of the rotor.
• the temperature sensor 25 is placed on the opposite side of the housing 1 with respect to the sensor 3. The proposed location of the temperature sensor 25 is advantageous because when passing the rotor 10, the flow has assumed at least a winding motion, in which case the flow temperature near the housing corresponds well to the real flow temperature.
• the replacement piece can be fitted into any apparatus measuring the properties of liquid or gas and employing a rotating rotor or an equivalent member, the rotation speed whereof is detected and the received reading further utilized in a desired fashion for example in a control process .

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8519292

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (5)

Citations (6)

• 1984
  • 1984-06-21 FI FI842542A patent/FI78781C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1985
  • 1985-06-20 WO PCT/FI1985/000059 patent/WO1986000403A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1985-06-20 DE DE8585902997T patent/DE3572534D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1985-06-20 EP EP19850902997 patent/EP0183814B1/en not_active Expired
  • 1985-06-20 JP JP50273185A patent/JPS61502490A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

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