WO1996010161A1 - Flowmeter alignment device - Google Patents
Flowmeter alignment device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996010161A1 WO1996010161A1 PCT/US1995/011268 US9511268W WO9610161A1 WO 1996010161 A1 WO1996010161 A1 WO 1996010161A1 US 9511268 W US9511268 W US 9511268W WO 9610161 A1 WO9610161 A1 WO 9610161A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- flowmeter
- tabs
- alignment
- plate
- pipe flange
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
- G01F15/18—Supports or connecting means for meters
- G01F15/185—Connecting means, e.g. bypass conduits
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S439/00—Electrical connectors
- Y10S439/927—Conductive gasket
Definitions
- the present invention relates to arrangements for aligning a flowmeter with a pipe end, and in particular with a raised face pipe flange.
- An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an alignment mechanism similar to that of U.S. Patent No. 4,986,574 but with a reduced number of separate components to improve alignment, simplify installation, and reduce inventory.
- An object of another aspect of the invention is to provide an alignment mechanism for a flowmeter which permits lateral installation and removal of the flowmeter.
- a flowmeter is adapted for coupling to a raised face pipe flange.
- the flowmeter includes a flowtube having an end surface and an alignment ring affixed to the end surface, the alignment ring sized to engage at least a portion of the raised face of the pipe flange.
- the alignment ring is truncated to an arc, or alternately to a plurality of raised areas, in such a way as to permit lateral installation or removal of the flowtube from the pipe flange.
- an alignment ring is adapted for use as an electrical grounding ring or as an orifice plate.
- the alignment ring comprises a unitary flat plate having a first and second set of tabs defined therein and bent outward from the plate in opposite directions.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional representation of a flowmeter incorporating the alignment device of the present invention, positioned between two pipe flanges;
- FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the flowmeter of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2;
- FIG. 3 is an end view of a flowmeter with another embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the flowmeter of FIG. 3, taken along line 4-4, together with a mating pipe flange and a sealing gasket
- FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but where a spring finger arrangement is substituted for the flat thick alignment component
- FIG. 6 is a front view of an alignment device useable also as an electrical grounding plate
- FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of a pipe flange/flowmeter connection utilizing the alignment device of FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is a front view of a combination alignment device/orifice plate.
- FIG. 9 is a view of the plate of FIG. 8 along line 9-9.
- flowtube 10 of flowmeter 12 is to be installed between pipe flanges 14,16 to measure fluid flow therethrough.
- flowmeter 12 includes alignment rings 18,20 affixed at both ends thereof, which alignment rings engage at least a portion of the raised faces 22,24 of pipe flanges
- alignment rings 18,20 comprise unitary metallic sheets with tabs 26 punched or stamped therefrom which act as spring fingers. Tabs 26 are sized and shaped such that as the flowmeter is brought into contact with the pipe flange, the free edges 28 of tabs 26 are compressed inward by flange faces 30,32 toward a central axis 34 of the flowtube bore, until such edges firmly gri the circumference
- flowtube 10 which is a so-called “wafer” style flowtube, is sandwiched between pipe flanges 14,16 using bolts or studs (not shown) passing through holes 36, and tightened with nuts at the ends thereof.
- the alignment rings 18,20 can also be used with and affixed to so-called "flanged” style flowtubes.
- annular gasket not shown in FIG. 1, is placed between the pipe flange and the flowtube end (whether flanged or not) to promote sealing between the raised face of the pipe flange and the raised face of the flowtube end.
- Such gasket can be held in place by tabs 26.
- Flowmeter 12 includes an electronics module 38, shown in block form, which receives power from an outside power source and provides an output indicative of flow.
- Flowmeter 12 can be any one of a variety of flowmeter types, including for example vortex, electromagnetic, and orifice plate/differential pressure.
- flowmeter 12 is of the electro- magnetic variety as indicated by the thin (electrically insulating) liner 40 covering the wetted surfaces of the flowtube bore.
- flowtube 10 is shown as a thick solid cylinder, but can of course be of any appropriate construction.
- FIG. 2 shows a view of flowtube 10 along line
- Ring 18 is preferably fabricated from a single piece of a high-strength corrosion-resistant metal, such as 316 stainless steel.
- the metal thickness should be great enough to make the tabs sufficiently stiff that they do not curl, twist, or otherwise deform during alignment under the weight of the flowtube. However, the metal thickness should not exceed the height 42 of the flowtube raised faces (see FIG. 1) .
- a metal thickness in the range of about 0.015 to 0.060 inches (0.38 - 1.5 mm) is preferred.
- An inner diameter 44 of ring 18 is sized to mate with an outer diameter of flowtube raised face 46, to ensure alignment of the ring relative to the flowtube.
- diameter 44 can be larger or smaller and the ring aligned to the flowtube with a separate fixture.
- ring 18 is preferably permanently affixed to the flowtube end, such as by spot welding at positions 48, or by seam welding, or by other known means.
- the affixed alignment ring can also serve as a temporary holder for the sealing gasket mentioned above.
- Semi-permanent methods of attachment of the alignment ring to the flowtube end can also be used. Such methods permit the removal and replacement of an alignment ring if it becomes damaged, or if the flowmeter is to be coupled to a nonstandard pipe flange.
- semi ⁇ permanent attachment methods are generally not preferred in most industrial applications because of the potential for corrosion or damage to the,, screws or other attachment devices and the potential for misalignment.
- FIG. 3 a view of a flowtube similar to that of FIG. 2 is shown, but with a thick alignment arc 50 substituted for each of the alignment rings 18,20.
- FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along line 4-4, together with mating pipe flange 14 and a sealing gasket 52.
- Alignment arc 50 has a thickness T that satisfies the following inequality:
- Alignment arc 50 has multiple areas 50a, 50b, 50c which mate with an outer edge 54 of the pipe flange raised face. Such areas are preferably part of a unitary part (as shown) for simplicity and ease of manufacture, but they can also be distinct individual parts separately attached to the flowtube. If desired, undercut areas 56 of arc 50 can be eliminated (i.e., filled in) . Also, arc 50 can be extended to broken-line outlines 58 to increase contact between the alignment arc and the pipe flange raised face.
- no portion of arc 50 that mates with the pipe flange raised face should extend to the half of the flowmeter end below line 60- 60.
- alignment arc 50 operates as a zero- clearance alignment device because it allows the flowmeter to be lowered into, or removed from, mating contact with the pipe flange with little or substantially no axial separation.
- gasket 52 can be held to the flowtube end by an adhesive backing.
- Alignment arc 62 has an arcuate shape similar tc that of arc 50 shown in FIG. 4 to permit lateral installation of the flowmeter as described in the preceding paragraph. However, in other respects it resembles alignment rings 18,20, since it is of relatively thin construction and has spring fingers such as tab 64 along its length to engage the edge of the pipe flange raised surface.
- An advantage of using spring fingers in the arcuate embodiment is the ability of alignment arc 62 to hold the flowtube in place for a wider range of separation between the flowtube end and pipe flange than the design of FIG. 4, if such separation should exceed the gasket thickness.
- alignment arcs 50 and 62 are preferably made of corrosion-resistant metal such as most grades of stainless steel, and they preferably are permanently affixed to the flowtube end, although they can also be semi-permanently affixed thereto.
- combination ring 66 is shown in FIG. 6. It is known to use electrical grounding rings with electromagnetic flowmeters in order to fix the electric potential of the fluid at the grounding ring position. According to one aspect of the invention, combination ring 66 can be used both as an alignment ring and as a grounding ring.
- combination ring 66 is made of a unitary flat plate 68 from which both a first set 70 and a second set 72 of alignment tabs are punched. From the perspective of FIG. 6, tabs 70 are then bent away from the plate out of the page, and tabs 72 are bent away from the plate in the opposite direction, into the page.
- combination ring 66 from a single unitary flat plate simplifies the manufacturing process and lowers the production cost relative to an alignment device such as is taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,986,574.
- Use of a single unitary flat plate also yields tabs 70,72 that have the same thickness as that of the surrounding annular portion 74 of plate 68. Therefore, a lower overall ring thickness is achieved for a given required tab thickness.
- FIG. 7 shows an exploded sectional view of combination ring 66 between pipe flange 14 and one end of a flanged electromagnetic flowmeter flowtube 76.
- a short cable 78 provides galvanic contact between the conductive ring 66 and the metal flowmeter housing, and also, if required, to an earth ground.
- ring 66 has a contact tab 80 with a hole 82 therein to facilitate electrical connection thereto. Installation workers can also use contact tab 80 as a handle for manipulating the combination ring during installation.
- tabs 70 engage the outer diameter of pipe flange raised face 22 and tabs 72 engage the outer diameter of flowmeter raised surface 82 when the flanges are bolted together.
- tabs 70 can carry a first gasket 84 and tabs 72 can carry a second gasket 86.
- flowtube-facing tabs 72 can be bent in the same direction as tabs 70, and combination ring 66 can be aligned with and then attached to the flowtube end with screws or the like. In such case attachment is preferably made to a lower face 88 of the flowtube end, with standoffs between ring 66 and face 88 having a thickness equal to the raised face 82 thickness plus gasket 86 thickness to keep such modified ring 66 flat and unwarped.
- orifice plate 90 comprises a unitary flat plate 92 having a precisely drilled orifice 94 therein, and also having a first set of stamped tabs 96 bent out of the plane of the page and a second set of stamped tabs 98 bent into the plane of the page.
- Orifice 94 is smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe flanges between which it is sandwiched, such inner diameter being represented by broken circle 100.
- Orifice 94 is centered relative to the inner (free) edges of tabs 96,98.
- tabs 96,98 are significantly more rigid than tabs 26,64, 70, and 72 discussed previously. As a result tabs 96,98 are sized such that their inner edges mate with the shoulders of opposed pipe flange raised faces with little or no compression of the tabs.
- the combination orifice plate/alignment ring thereby helps to align not only the pipe conduits but also the precision orifice relative to such conduits. Ridges, pins, and the like can be substituted for tabs 96,98.
- FIG. 9 shows the portion of plate 90 along line 9-9 in cross-section.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP95932407A EP0783668A1 (en) | 1994-09-29 | 1995-09-08 | Flowmeter alignment device |
MX9702224A MX9702224A (en) | 1994-09-29 | 1995-09-08 | Flowmeter alignment device. |
JP51178196A JP3543008B2 (en) | 1994-09-29 | 1995-09-08 | Flow meter alignment device |
BR9509102A BR9509102A (en) | 1994-09-29 | 1995-09-08 | Flow meter device for aligning a flow meter with a pipe flange for electrical grounding ring for installation between a flow meter and a pipe flange and orifice plate for placement between two flanges |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/314,873 US5632632A (en) | 1994-09-29 | 1994-09-29 | Flowmeter alignment device |
US08/314,873 | 1994-09-29 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1996010161A1 true WO1996010161A1 (en) | 1996-04-04 |
Family
ID=23221842
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1995/011268 WO1996010161A1 (en) | 1994-09-29 | 1995-09-08 | Flowmeter alignment device |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5632632A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0783668A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3543008B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1216105A (en) |
BR (1) | BR9509102A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2201137A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX9702224A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996010161A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016053492A1 (en) * | 2014-09-29 | 2016-04-07 | Dieterich Standard, Inc. | Lugged wafer alignment ring |
WO2017053162A1 (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2017-03-30 | Dieterich Standard, Inc. | Wafer alignment device |
Families Citing this family (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19751806C1 (en) * | 1997-11-24 | 1999-02-11 | Ibg Monforts Gmbh & Co | Electric earthing lead esp for pipelines in chemical installations |
US6416084B1 (en) | 2000-08-03 | 2002-07-09 | Canplas Industries Ltd. | Replacement flange |
US20060022466A1 (en) * | 2004-06-23 | 2006-02-02 | Kim Sand | Flange adapter |
US7562913B1 (en) * | 2005-05-20 | 2009-07-21 | Anheuser-Busch, Inc. | Magmeter flange adapter |
DE102005044677A1 (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2007-03-29 | Abb Patent Gmbh | Electromagnetic flowmeter with a ground washer |
US7637169B2 (en) * | 2008-01-25 | 2009-12-29 | Rosemount, Inc. | Flangeless magnetic flowmeter with integrated retention collar, valve seat and liner protector |
US8429983B2 (en) | 2010-08-26 | 2013-04-30 | General Electric Company | Insertion type flow measuring device for measuring characteristics of a flow within a pipe |
CN103649690B (en) * | 2011-08-18 | 2016-02-17 | 西门子公司 | Electromagnetic flowmeter and its earthing method |
US8979557B2 (en) | 2011-11-10 | 2015-03-17 | Thomas & Betts International, Inc. | Liquid-tight conduit fitting with grounding element |
US9350154B2 (en) | 2011-11-10 | 2016-05-24 | Thomas & Betts International Llc | Liquid-tight conduit fitting with grounding element |
DE102014215498A1 (en) * | 2014-08-06 | 2016-02-11 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Electric contact arrangement |
US9255825B1 (en) | 2014-09-30 | 2016-02-09 | Rosemount Inc. | Self-aligning wafer-style process instrument |
CA3202041A1 (en) * | 2015-08-28 | 2017-03-09 | Crisi Medical Systems, Inc. | Flow sensor system including spring contacts |
CN107940146A (en) * | 2017-12-01 | 2018-04-20 | 深圳市拓安信计控仪表有限公司 | A kind of screwed pipe and flow meter assembly with Telescopic |
CN109029613B (en) * | 2018-07-20 | 2020-10-30 | 山东科尔自动化仪表股份有限公司 | Intelligent control type fluid metering valve |
CN109538857A (en) * | 2019-01-26 | 2019-03-29 | 汝州神盾众安实业有限公司 | Intelligent yard piping connector |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1217490A (en) * | 1958-02-24 | 1960-05-04 | Scottish Agricultural Ind Ltd | Conduit fittings |
US4345464A (en) * | 1980-10-31 | 1982-08-24 | Fischer & Porter Company | Centering device for flowmeters interposed in flow line |
GB2192725A (en) * | 1986-07-18 | 1988-01-20 | Amoco Corp | Leak free orifice plate mounting |
EP0437193A1 (en) * | 1990-01-11 | 1991-07-17 | Fisher Controls International, Inc. | Raised face flange alignment tool |
EP0446538A1 (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1991-09-18 | Manufacture D'appareillage Electrique De Cahors | Device and method for fastening a water meter to a base |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US865498A (en) * | 1906-04-27 | 1907-09-10 | James B Etherington | Implement for coupling pipe. |
US3603617A (en) * | 1969-05-15 | 1971-09-07 | Brown & Root | Method and apparatus for making submerged conduit connections |
US4492815A (en) * | 1983-08-23 | 1985-01-08 | Cooper Industries, Inc. | Shielded jacketed flat cable and grounding clip for use therewith |
US5462313A (en) * | 1993-10-26 | 1995-10-31 | Form Rite Corporation | Quick connect coupling |
US5433490A (en) * | 1994-05-09 | 1995-07-18 | General Mills, Inc. | Cooker die removably securing mechanism |
-
1994
- 1994-09-29 US US08/314,873 patent/US5632632A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1995
- 1995-09-08 JP JP51178196A patent/JP3543008B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-09-08 MX MX9702224A patent/MX9702224A/en unknown
- 1995-09-08 WO PCT/US1995/011268 patent/WO1996010161A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-09-08 CA CA002201137A patent/CA2201137A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-09-08 EP EP95932407A patent/EP0783668A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1995-09-08 BR BR9509102A patent/BR9509102A/en unknown
- 1995-09-08 CN CN95195405A patent/CN1216105A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1217490A (en) * | 1958-02-24 | 1960-05-04 | Scottish Agricultural Ind Ltd | Conduit fittings |
US4345464A (en) * | 1980-10-31 | 1982-08-24 | Fischer & Porter Company | Centering device for flowmeters interposed in flow line |
GB2192725A (en) * | 1986-07-18 | 1988-01-20 | Amoco Corp | Leak free orifice plate mounting |
EP0446538A1 (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1991-09-18 | Manufacture D'appareillage Electrique De Cahors | Device and method for fastening a water meter to a base |
EP0437193A1 (en) * | 1990-01-11 | 1991-07-17 | Fisher Controls International, Inc. | Raised face flange alignment tool |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016053492A1 (en) * | 2014-09-29 | 2016-04-07 | Dieterich Standard, Inc. | Lugged wafer alignment ring |
US9341290B2 (en) | 2014-09-29 | 2016-05-17 | Dieterich Standard, Inc. | Lugged wafer alignment ring |
WO2017053162A1 (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2017-03-30 | Dieterich Standard, Inc. | Wafer alignment device |
US9846022B2 (en) | 2015-09-25 | 2017-12-19 | Dieterich Standard, Inc. | Wafer alignment device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1216105A (en) | 1999-05-05 |
JP3543008B2 (en) | 2004-07-14 |
EP0783668A1 (en) | 1997-07-16 |
JPH11511848A (en) | 1999-10-12 |
BR9509102A (en) | 1998-07-14 |
MX9702224A (en) | 1997-06-28 |
US5632632A (en) | 1997-05-27 |
CA2201137A1 (en) | 1996-04-04 |
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