Swirler for a fluid flowmeter and method of making same
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorLeonard P. Gau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A swirler for a fluid flowmeter comprises a plurality of axially and circumferentially overlapping swirl blades within a flow conduit which impart a swirling motion to fluid passing therethrough. The swirler is constructed of a first element containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping and a second element containing the remaining blades which are also circumferentially non-overlapping; the two elements are assembled so as to bring the blades of each element into overlapping relationship with those of the other element.
Claims17
In a fluid swirler or like device comprising a plurality of blades which are both axially and circumferentially overlapping, the combination of:
- a first element containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping;
- and
- a second element containing other selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping;
- said two elements being assembled such that at least one blade of one of said elements circumferentially and axially overlaps a blade of the other of said elements;
- said first element including a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of the blades thereof and an integral ring joining outer peripheral edge portions of the blades thereof, said second element comprising an integral central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of the blades thereof, said two hubs engaging each other, and including locating slots in said ring and locating tabs on the blades of said second element disposed in said locating slots.
In a fluid swirler or like device comprising a plurality of swirl blades wherein each blade axially and circumferentially overlaps immediately adjacent blades, the combination of:
- a first molded plastic element containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping;
- a second molded plastic element containing other selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping;
- and
- a locating tab protruding from a blade of one of said two elements into a matching locating slot in the other of said two elements for axially and circumferentially locating said two elements with respect to each other.
A fluid swirler or like device having a plurality of swirl blades wherein each blade axially and circumferentially overlaps immediately adjacent blades, and being of two piece construction, comprising:
- a first molded plastic piece containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said selected ones of said blades, and an outer ring joining radially outer peripheral edge portions of said selected ones of said blades;
- and
- a second molded plastic piece containing other selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, and a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said other selected ones of said blades, said other selected ones of said blades having portions thereof extending axially forwardly beyond the central hub of their own piece and and being disposed between the ring and the hub of said first piece.
A fluid swirler or like device having a plurality of swirl blades wherein each blade axially and circumferentially overlaps immediately adjacent blades, and being of two piece construction, comprising:
- a first molded plastic piece containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, and a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said selected ones of said blades, said selected ones of said blades having portions thereof extending axially rearwardly beyond the hub of their own piece;
- and
- a second molded plastic piece containing other selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, and a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said other selected ones of said blades, said other selected ones of said blades having portions thereof extending axially forwardly beyond the hub of their own piece to be disposed axially overlapping and radially outwardly of the hub of said first piece, said portions of said selected ones of said blades being disposed axially overlapping and radially outwardly of the hub of said second piece.
The method of making, from only two pieces, a fluid swirler or like device having a plurality of swirl blades wherein each blade axially and circumferentially overlaps immediately adjacent blades comprising:
- molding a first plastic piece containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said selected ones of said blades, and an outer ring joining radially outer peripheral edge portions of said selected ones of said blades;
- molding a second plastic piece containing other selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping and a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said other selected ones of said blades with said other selected ones of said blades having portions thereof extending axially forwardly beyond the hub of their own piece;
- and then assembling the two pieces by positioning one axially of the other, and then axially and circumferentially moving them toward each other to interdigitate the blades thereof and dispose the axially forwardly extending portions of said other selected ones of said blades between the hub and the ring of said first piece.
The method of making, from only two pieces, a fluid swirler or like device having a plurality of swirl blades wherein each blade axially and circumferentially overlaps immediately adjacent blades comprising:
- molding a first plastic piece containing selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, and a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said selected ones of said blades with said selected ones of said blades having portions thereof extending axially rearwardly beyond said central hub;
- molding a second plastic piece containing other selected ones of said blades which are circumferentially non-overlapping, and a central hub joining radially inner peripheral edge portions of said other selected ones of said blades with said other selected ones of said blades having portions thereof extending axially forwardly beyond the central hub of their own piece;
- and
- then assembling the two pieces by positioning one axially of the other, and then axially and circumferentially moving them toward each other to interdigitate the blades thereof and dispose the axially forwardly extending portions of said other selected ones of said blades axially overlapping and radially outwardly of the hub of said first piece and also dispose the axially rearwardly extending portions of said selected ones of said blades axially overlapping and radially outwardly of the hub of said second piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.