Flowmeter with magnetic coupling
AssigneeEnvirotech Corporation
InventorsHenry L. Hendriks, Avery Hinds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic coupling is provided for a fluid flowmeter wherein the magnetic coupling includes a first and a second magnet assembly. The first magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets coupled to the counter mechanism of the flowmeter, and the second magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets coupled to the propeller. The two magnet assemblies are constructed and located so that they magnetically influence one another, and when the propeller rotates the second assembly, the first assembly is driven to rotate thereby driving the counter.
Claims7
A fluid flowmeter having a propeller which is rotated by flowing fluid and a counter which indicates the quantity of fluid which has rotated the propeller, the flowmeter comprising:
- a. first magnet assembly means coupled to rotate to drive the counter, said first magnet assembly means including a plurality of magnets located with the locus of their north poles forming a circle and a plurality of magnets with the locus of their south poles located substantially in the same circle;
- b. second magnet assembly means coupled to rotate with the propeller, said second magnet assembly means including a plurality of magnets have the locus of their north poles arranged to form a helix and the locus of their south poles arranged to form a second helix spaced apart from the helix formed by the locus of north poles, the second magnet means located so that it magnetically influences the first magnet means and rotation of the second magnet means induces the first magnet means to rotate;
- and,
- c. means disposed between said first and second magnet assemblies to form a liquid-impervious seal therebetween;
- whereby said first magnet assembly means can be removed from the flowmeter without removing said second magnet assembly means.
A fluid flowmeter having a propeller which is rotated by flowing fluid and a counter which indicates the quantity of fluid which has rotated the propeller, the flowmeter comprising:
- a. substantially vertical shaft coupled to said counter;
- b. a substantially horizontal plate coupled to the vetical shaft and spaced apart from said counter, with said vertical shaft located substantially in the center of said plate;
- c. a first magnet assembly means including a pluarlity of magnets affixed to said horizontal plate with a first half of said magnets having their north poles facing away from said vertical shaft and the second half of said magnets having their south poles facing away from said vertical shaft, the locus of said north poles forming a circle and the locus of said south poles located substantially in the same circle, and each of said magnets of said first half separated from one another by one of said magnets of said second half;
- d. a substantially horizontal shaft coupled to the propeller;
- e. second magnet assembly means coupled to the shaft of the propeller, said second magnet assembly means including a plurality of magnets having the locus of their north poles arranged to form a helix and the locus of their south poles arranged to form a second helix, said second magnet assembly means located so that it magnetically influences the first magnet assembly means, and rotation of the second magnet assembly means induces the first magnet assembly means to rotate, said second magnet assembly means being located spaced-apart from said first magnet assembly means a sufficient distance to permit liquid-impervious means to be disposed between said first and second magnet assembly means;
- and,
- f. means disposed between said first and second magnet assembly means and substantially surrounding said first magnet assembly means to form a liquid-impervious seal between said first and second magnet assembly means;
- whereby said first magnet assembly means can be removed from the flowmeter without removing said second magnet assembly means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.