Abstract: A flowmeter comprises an axial flow measurement turbine having a relatively thin turbine disc secured to a shaft which is supported on at least one axial bearing. At high flow rates, it is possible for a large pressure differential to build up between the opposite axial sides of the disc, subjecting the turbine to an axial force which results in excessive friction at the bearing and therefore reduced life and reduced accuracy. To solve this problem, the disc is provided with apertures passing axially therethrough, and a set of blades is secured to the upstream face of the disc to force fluid to flow through these apertures, and thus substantially eliminate the pressure differential.

Abstract: The crankshaft bears a mark which passes in front of a sensor. When the crankshaft is rotated as the engine turns, the sensor delivers a squarewave signal when this mark passes in front of it. The mark and the sensor are positioned with respect to each other such that when the end of the mark passes in front of the sensor the piston is in a given low position and moves up toward the spark plug and such that when the other end of the mark passes in front of the sensor, the piston has substantially reached its maximum stroke within the cylinder in the vicinity of the spark plug, i.e. when it produces the maximum compression of the combustion gases located in the cylinder. The output of the sensor is connected to the input of a reset circuit of a counter and to the input of a count start and stop circuit of this counter and also to the input of a transfer control circuit.