Abstract: A flow meter having a magnetic base sensor for electrical feedback of flow rate is disclosed. A float rod carrying an indicator and a magnet moves within the flow meter body with and the flow being visually read and electronically read.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separating nitrogen gas from methanol liquid in a furnace hardening system. The furnace is housed in a building and connected by a piping system to a methanol storage tank located outside the building. The tank is capped with nitrogen to pressurize the system at high pressure and a pressure regulator reduces the pressure at the furnace. A flowmeter unit controls the flow rate. The gas separating apparatus includes a vessel having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in the lower end. The methanol containing nitrogen is introduced under pressure into the inlet and is discharged from the outlet at a lesser flow rate to provide an accumulation of the liquid in the vessel, while the nitrogen gas is released from the liquid and collects in the headspace of the vessel. A float is disposed in the vessel and floats on the accumulated liquid in the lower end of the vessel.

Abstract: An analog flow meter instrument includes a flow meter monitoring the flow of fluid. A sensor unit is secured to the flow meter and include an indicator rod in an oil filled tube. The rod extends into the flow meter and is positioned in accordance with the flow. The sensor includes a housing having a slot to visually read the location of the rod. A light beam unit is mounted to one side of the tube and a plurality of phototransistors in a linear array are mounted to the opposite side of the tube. The phototransistors are connected in a current summing network to generate an analog current signal, the amplitude of which is linearly related to the fluid flow. The output signal is amplified and connected to output devices. The analog signal can be reliably transmitted over relatively long distances within the factory environment using conventional low voltage wiring.

Abstract: A linear digital flow meter includes a float in a passageway as is located positioned with the rate of flow. A sight glass tube is secured to the end of the unit and a rod connects the float to a tube. A generally H-shaped housing has the tube located in an opening in the cross bar with a light chamber to one side and a detector chamber to the opposite. A bank of LEDs in the light chamber is aligned with a transmitting slot and a bank of phototransistors is aligned with a receiving slot in the detector chamber. A shadow mask between the phototransistors and the slot concentrate the light so the phototransistor receive light according to the length of rod in the sight glass. A bottom connector chamber is in the bottom of the housing with L-shaped passages to the light and detector chambers with the appropriate leads to the lamp and detector chambers. A multiplexer connects the phototransistors to a microprocessor which stores and processes the signal.

Abstract: A gas flowmeter includes an oil-filled tube coupled to the gas flow line and a float lifted by gas flow. An LED lamp transmitter and a photoresistor receiver are coupled to a guard telescoped over the tube. The LED lamp has an integrated concentrating lens to define a concentrated sharp beam passing through a small barrel located in a guard slot for close coupling the light beam to the tube. The photoresistor receiver includes a similar barrel in an opposite slot in accurate alignment with the transmitter barrel. The receiver includes a photoresistor connected in a dividing network to define an input node to a regenerative "Schmitt" switch which actuates a solid state control relay to indicate a limit position of the float. A mounting plate has a correspondingly mounted light transmitter housing and photoresistor housing. The housings are formed from the same casting. The housings include similar integral clamping tongues located in slots on the opposite sides of the guard.

Abstract: A protective shield for the sight glass of a flow meter. The flow meter includes an elongated guard having a slot that houses a sight glass, and a flow indicator carried by a float moves vertically within the sight glass and the fluid flow is read on a scale mounted on the guard and bordering the slot. A transparent open-ended protective sleeve is disposed around the guard and is retained on the guard by a spring clip that extends inwardly of the sleeve and engages an abutment on the outer surface of the guard.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for separating liquids and particularly separating oil from the surface of water contained in a tank. The apparatus includes a partially submerged drum mounted to rotate in the water tank and a film of oil and water is picked up on the surface of the rotating drum and removed by a doctor blade. The removed oil and water mixture flows through a trough and is discharged into the upper end portion of a vertical tube. The lower open end of the tube is located beneath the level of the water and the tube has an overflow outlet located at a higher level than the level of the water. The oil, having a lesser density than the water, will collect in the upper end in the tube and the level of oil will rise and is discharged through the overflow outlet, thereby providing a full separation of the oil from the water.