FLOW MEASURING DEVICE FOR LUBRICATION SYSTEMS
A flow measuring device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet, a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis and a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed partially within the passage, such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the axis. A magnet is mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector and a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector. Preferably, the sensor includes a switch adjustable from open and closed states when either one of the poles of the magnet is proximal to the switch. A processor is connected with the switch and determines flow volume and/or flow rate through the passage.
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The present invention relates to flow measuring devices, and particularly to such devices for use with highly viscous lubricants.
Flow detecting or measuring devices are particularly important for lubrication systems as such devices confirm that sufficient lubrication has in fact been dispensed to critical system components. Such flow measuring devices typically include a housing containing a passage for carrying a portion of the flow to be measured and a detection/measurement component or assembly for detecting, or actually measuring, the flow through the passage. Previous measuring devices have used components such as thermistors, transducers, induction sensors or other complex electronic devices to detect or measure flow and often required specialized equipment, such as a customized controller, to receive and evaluate the information from the particular measuring unit. These known measuring devices are generally relatively expensive and often inadequately robust to operate in the temperature extremes often experienced by many lubrication systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the present invention is a device for measuring flow of a fluid, the device comprising a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet. A shaft is disposed within the housing and is rotatable about a central axis. A flow detector is mounted on the shaft and is disposed at least partially within the passage such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the central axis. Further, a magnet is mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector and a sensor is disposed within the housing. The sensor is configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector.
In another aspect, the present invention is again a device for measuring flow of a fluid, the flow measuring device comprising a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet. A shaft is disposed within the housing and is rotatable about a central axis. A flow detector is mounted on the shaft and is disposed at least partially within the passage, such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the central axis. Further, a magnetic rod is mounted on the shaft, spaced axially from the detector, and having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, one rod end providing a north pole and the other rod end providing a south pole. The rod end is generally centered on the axis, such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends displace generally along a circular path about the central axis. Furthermore, a switch is disposed within the housing and is configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches a position on the circular path most proximal to the switch, and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approach a separate one of two positions on the circular path located generally equidistant from the switch. One of the first and second configurations is a closed state and the other one of the first and second configurations is an open state.
In a further aspect, the present invention is a device for measuring flow of a highly viscous fluid, the flow measuring device comprising a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet. A shaft is disposed within the housing and is rotatable about a central axis, the axis extending generally perpendicular to at least one section of the passage. A generally cylindrical flow detector disk is mounted on the shaft, has a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis and is disposed at least partially within the passage so as to substantially obstruct the section of the passage. As such, the fluid flowing through the passage contacts the disk, at least partially fills at least one of the cavities and rotates the disk about the central axis while the disk transports the fluid through the flow passage section. Further, a sensor is disposed within the housing and is configured to sense rotation of the shaft about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the detector disk. A processor is electrically coupled with the sensor and is configured to determine a flow rate of the fluid through the passage and/or a total volume of flow of the fluid through the passage.
The foregoing summary, as well as the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, which are diagrammatic, embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, left”, “lower”, “upper”, “upward”, “down” and “downward” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inner”, “inwardly” and “outer”, “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, a designated centerline or a geometric center of an element being described, the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description. Further, as used herein, the word “connected” is intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween and indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. Furthermore, the term “fluid” as used herein is intended to include both liquids and semi-solids capable of being transported through a passage, a channel, a tube or similar structure, and the term “flow” is intended to mean any such movement, conveyance or transportation of a “fluid”. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
Preferably, a magnet 30 is mounted on the shaft 14 and is spaced axially from the detector 16, such that the shaft 14, the flow detector 16 and the magnet 30 form a detector assembly 17, as best shown in
In preferred constructions, the magnet 30 includes a generally circular cylindrical rod 32 having two opposing ends 34A, 34B and a centerline 35 extending between the two ends 34A, 34B. One rod end 34A provides a north magnetic pole N and the other rod end 34B provides a south magnetic pole S. Further, the rod 32 is generally centered on the axis 15 such that the centerline 35 extends generally perpendicular to, and generally intersects, the central axis 15 and the two rod ends 34A, 34B are located generally equidistant from the axis 15. As such, the two rod ends 34A, 34B displace generally along a circular path PC (
With this arrangement, each of the north and south poles N, S angularly displaces through first, second, third and fourth angular positions A1, A2, A3 and A4, respectively, on the circular path CP, which are spaced circumferentially apart about the axis 15 by about ninety degrees) (90°), as depicted in
With the preferred magnet 30, the sensor 18 preferably includes a switch 40, most preferably a reed switch, disposed within the housing 12 and adjustable between first and second configurations C1, C2. One of the first and second configurations C1, C2 is a closed state (
Thus, the second and fourth angular positions A2, A4 are located a sufficient distance from the switch 40 such that magnetic fields of/about each of the two poles N and S are too weak to generate a sufficient force to affect the switch 40. Further, if the switch 40 is a “normally closed switch”, the first configuration C1 is a closed state and the second configuration C2 is an open state, as shown in
Further, the processor 26 is configured to detect when the switch 40 adjusts to the open state C2 or/and when the switch 40 adjusts to the closed state C1 and to use the detected opening and closing of the switch to determine the angular displacement of the detector 16 about the shaft central axis 15 and/or the angular velocity of the detector 16 about the axis 15. More specifically, each occurrence of the opening or closing of the switch 40 generates an electrical pulse, such that the processor 26 detects that the detector 16 has rotated approximately a “quarter turn” or ninety degrees (90°) about the axis 15 when it receives a pulse. By counting the number of pulses generated by the switch 40, the processor 26 can calculate the total angular displacement of the flow detector 16, and by simultaneously tracking the time elapsed between receipt of the pulses, can also calculate the angular velocity of the rotating detector 16. As the angular displacement of the flow detector 16 can be correlated with the volume of fluid F flowing through the passage measuring section 25, the processor 26 is configured (i.e., programmed or hard-wired) to determine total volume of the flow and/or the flow rate through the passage 24. Having described the basic elements and functions above, these and other elements of the present fluid measuring device 10 are described in greater detail below.
Referring now to
In a first construction of the flow measuring device 10, as shown in
In a second, presently preferred construction of the flow measuring device 10, depicted in
Referring to
Referring to
More specifically, the upper bore section 74 is generally circular and is sized diametrically so as to receive the detector body 50 with a minimal annular clearance between the perimeter of the body 50 and an inner circumferential surface 74a (
Referring to
Referring now to
More specifically, the “flow passage” hole 106 includes a front, radially-larger outer bore section 107 extending inwardly from the block front surface 101A, a rear, radially-larger outer bore section 109 extending inwardly from the block rear surface 101B, a two central, radially-smaller inner bore sections 111A, 111B each extending between a separate outer bore section 101A, 101B and the lobe-shaped hole 110, and a centerline 113 extending between the front and rear surfaces 101A, 101B. Preferably, the front bore section 107 is adapted to receive a male coupler (not shown) of the lubricant line first section 1a and the rear bore section 109 is adapted to receive a male coupler (not shown) of the lubricant line second section 1b. Further, the lobe-shaped detector hole 110 has a first partially-circular section 114 for receiving the detector body/wheel 50 and a second partially-circular section 116 for receiving the idler wheel 54, each section 114, 116 being sized diametrically such that there is minimal annular clearance between the perimeter of each wheel 50, 54 and a partially circular inner surface of each section 115, 117, respectively, of each hole section 114, 116.
Referring to
More specifically, the sensor hole 120 has a centerline 121 extending generally perpendicularly between the left and right side surfaces 103C, 103D and a substantially constant inside diameter (not indicated) at all points along the centerline 121, and extends generally adjacent to the central section 118c of the shaft hole 118. Thereby, when the sensor 18 is installed within the hole 120, the sensor switch 40, which is preferably centrally located within a sensor body 140, is positioned such that the magnetic field of either magnet rod end 34A or 34B, i.e., the north and south pole N, S, exerts a sufficient force to affect or adjust the switch 40 when the rod end 34A, 34B is at or proximal to the first angular position A1, but not when the two ends 34A, 34B are both proximal to the second or fourth angular positions A2, A4 (see
Referring particularly to
Referring now to
As shown in
Further, the first and second plug members 80, 82, besides functioning to support the detector assembly shaft 14, also function to each enclose a separate end 64a, 64b of the installation through hole 64. Each plug member 80, 82 includes a generally circular cylindrical body 94 having opposing, inner and outer ends 94a, 94b, respectively, and a threaded outer circumferential surface 95, and a hexagonal head 95 at the outer end 94b of the cylindrical body 94, each plug bore 90, 93 (described above) extending inwardly from the body inner end 94a. When the detector assembly 17 is installed in the housing 12, the first plug member 80 is threadably engaged with the upper bore section 74 of the installation hole 64, and a circular sealing member 96 (e.g., an O-ring) is preferably disposed between the first plug head 95 and the housing upper surface 61C, most preferably within an annular slot 97 in the head 95. After the first plug 80 is fully seated within the bore section 74, the detector body 50 is loosely sandwiched between the plug inner end 94a and the bore end radial surface 74b, which reduces the space about the detector body 50 to ensure fluid is transported by the detector 16 and as opposed to leaking around the body 50. Further, the second plug member 82 is threadably engaged with the lower bore section 75 of the installation hole 60 such that the head 95 is seated against the housing lower surface 61D. When the second plug 82 is seated within the bore section 75, the ball 92 contacts the shaft second end 14b to rotatably support the shaft 14.
Referring now to
Referring to
Prior to use, the fluid measuring device 10 is fluidly coupled into a lubrication system (not depicted) by connecting the lubricant line sections 1a, 1b with the front and rear bore sections 68, 69 or 107, 109 of the flow passage 24, as depicted in
The pulses generated by the cyclically opening and closing switch 40 are continuously transmitted to the processor 26 as lubricant flows through the fluid measuring device 10. As the amount of fluid flow required to rotate the detector 16 by ninety degrees)(90° can be readily predetermined, the total amount or volume of flow F through the passage measuring section 25, and thus through the flow detector 10, can be calculated. Further, using information from a timing circuit (not indicated), the processor 26 can correlate the fluid volume information with the angular velocity of the rotating shaft 16, determined by number of pulses per a given unit of time, to determine the fluid flow rate through the passage section 25, and thus through the flow measuring device 10.
The present fluid measuring device 10 has a number of advantages over previously known fluid detecting or measuring devices. By using a rotating wheel/gear as the flow detector 16 and a reed switch as the sensor 18, the fluid measuring components of the flow measuring device 10 are relatively simple to manufacture, and thus relatively low cost, and robust under all potential operating temperatures. In particular, the reed switch sensor 18 is a relatively inexpensive and simple device that can operate within a wide range of temperatures. Further, by utilizing a gear wheel 50 as the detector 16 and arranging the wheel 50 to substantially obstruct the fluid passage 24, the flow measuring device 10 is more accurate than many previous devices as substantially all of fluid flow must be transported by the detector 16. This feature is particularly important with higher viscosity lubricants which could otherwise shear and flow around a previous known detector without being detected.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as generally defined generally herein and in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device for measuring flow of a fluid, the flow measuring device comprising:
- a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet;
- a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis;
- a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the passage such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the central axis;
- a magnet mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector; and
- a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector.
2. The flow measuring device of claim 1 wherein:
- the magnet has north and south poles and is arranged such that each of the north and south poles angularly displaces through first, second, third and fourth angular positions spaced circumferentially apart about the axis by about ninety degrees, the first angular position being generally proximal to the sensor; and
- the sensor includes a switch configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches the first angular position and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approaches a separate one of the second and fourth angular positions, the first configuration being one of an open state and a closed state and the second configuration being the other one of an open state and a closed state such that the switch opens and closes twice for each revolution of the flow detector.
3. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 2 wherein the switch is a reed switch.
4. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 2 further comprising a processor electrically coupled with the sensor and configured to detect at least one of when the switch adjusts to the open state and when the switch adjusts to the closed state and to determine at least one of the angular displacement of the detector about the axis and the angular velocity of the detector about the axis.
5. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 2 wherein the magnet includes a generally cylindrical rod having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, each rod end providing a separate one of the north and south poles, the rod being generally centered on the axis such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends are located generally equidistant from the axis.
6. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 1 wherein the flow detector is at least partially disposed within a section of the flow passage and includes at least one generally cylindrical body having a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis, each cavity being at least partially fillable with a portion of the fluid such that the detector transports the fluid portions through the flow passage section during rotation about the central axis.
7. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one a pair of generally cylindrical bodies spaced axially apart
7. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 6 wherein the detector cylindrical body is formed as a gear wheel.
8. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 6 wherein the cylindrical body substantially obstructs the flow passage such that substantially all of the fluid is transported through the passage section by the detector.
9. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 1 wherein:
- the housing includes a block having first and second openings and a through-hole extending generally between the openings and generally transverse to the flow passage;
- the shaft has first and second ends spaced apart along the central axis; and
- the flow measuring device further comprises first and second plug members, the first plug member rotatably supporting the shaft first end and being removably disposed within the block first opening, the second plug member rotatably supporting the shaft second end and being removably disposed within the block second opening.
10. A device for measuring flow of a fluid, the flow measuring device comprising:
- a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet;
- a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis;
- a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the passage such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the central axis;
- a magnetic rod mounted on the shaft, spaced axially from the detector, and having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, one rod end providing a north pole and the other rod end providing a south pole, the rod being generally centered on the axis such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends displace generally along a circular path about the central axis; and
- a switch disposed within the housing and configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches a position on the circular path most proximal to the switch and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approach a separate one of two positions on the circular path located generally equidistant from the switch, one of the first and second configurations being a closed state and the other one of the first and second configurations being an open state.
11. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 10 wherein the switch is a reed switch.
12. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a processor electrically coupled with the sensor and configured to detect at least one of when the switch adjusts to the open state and when the switch adjusts to the closed state and to determine at least one of the angular displacement of the detector about the axis and the angular velocity of the detector about the axis.
13. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 10 wherein the flow detector is at least partially disposed within a section of the flow passage and includes a cylindrical body having a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis, each cavity being at least partially fillable with a portion of the fluid such that the detector transports the fluid portions through the flow passage section during rotation about the central axis.
14. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 13 wherein the detector cylindrical body is formed as a gear wheel.
15. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 14 wherein:
- the housing includes a pair of facing surfaces spaced apart by a distance and partially defining the section of the flow passage; and
- the detector cylindrical body has an axial width of about the spacing distance, a portion of the detector cylindrical body being disposed between the facing surfaces so as to substantially obstruct the flow passage section.
16. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 10 wherein:
- the housing includes a block having first and second openings and a through-hole extending generally between the openings and generally transverse to the flow passage;
- the shaft has first and second ends spaced apart along the central axis; and
- the flow measuring device further comprises first and second plug members, the first plug member rotatably supporting the shaft first end and being removably disposed within the block first opening, the second plug member rotatably supporting the shaft second end and being removably disposed within the block second opening.
17. A device for measuring flow of a highly viscous fluid, the flow measuring device comprising:
- a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet;
- a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis, the axis extending generally perpendicular to at least one section of the passage;
- a generally cylindrical flow detector disk mounted on the shaft, having a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis and being disposed at least partially within the passage so as to substantially obstruct the section of the passage such that the fluid flowing through the passage contacts the disk, at least partially fills at least one of the cavities and rotates the disk about the central axis while the disk transports the fluid through the flow passage section;
- a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the shaft about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the detector disk; and
- a processor electrically coupled with the sensor and configured to determine at least one of a flow rate of the fluid through the passage and a total volume of flow of the fluid through the passage.
18. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 17 wherein further comprising a magnet mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector disk, the sensor being configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector disk.
19. The flow measuring device of claim 18 wherein:
- the magnet has north and south poles and is arranged such that each of the north and south poles angularly displaces through first, second, third and fourth angular positions spaced circumferentially apart about the axis by about ninety degrees, the first angular position being generally proximal to the sensor; and
- the sensor includes a reed switch configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches the first angular position and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approaches a separate one of the second and fourth angular positions, the first configuration being one of an open state and a closed state and the second configuration being the other one of an open state and a closed state such that the switch opens and closes twice for each revolution of the flow detector.
20. The flow measuring device as recited in claim 19 wherein the magnet includes a generally cylindrical rod having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, each rod end providing a separate one of the north and south poles, the rod being generally centered on the axis such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends are located generally equidistant from the axis.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 18, 2016
Applicant: Lincoln Industrial Corporation (St. Louis)
Inventors: Paul CONLEY (Saint Charles, MO), Canlong HE (Saint Peters, MO)
Application Number: 15/026,185