Fluid control apparatus and method
AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.
InventorsBo-Goran Andersson, Bengt Ingamar Larsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid control apparatus and method in which a valve unit having a plurality of inlets is respectively connected to multiple fluid sources and an outlet. A unit containing a flowmeter is also provided which cooperates with the valve unit in a manner so that, upon rotation of one of the units relative to the other, the flow of fluid is controlled from the selected fluid source to the valve unit outlet. The flowmeter is adapted to measure variations in the flow rate of the fluid, and the flow of the fluid is controlled in response to one or more related parameters.
Claims65
An apparatus for controlling the flow of vapor from a nozzle adapted to be inserted into a tank containing the vapor, the apparatus comprising a first unit having an inlet adapted to be connected to the nozzle and an opening, a second unit having an inlet and an outlet which are normally out of communication to prevent flow therethrough, drive means for moving one of the units relative to the other unit so that the inlet of the first unit registers with the inlet of the second unit and so that the opening of the first unit communicates the inlet of the second unit with the outlet of the second unit, and means for passing the vapor from the tank to the inlet of the first unit prior to passing through the inlet of the seconds unit, and then to the outlet of the second unit for discharge therefrom.
A method for processing the flow of vapor from one or more nozzles adapted to be inserted into a tank containing the vapor, the method comprising the steps of connecting the nozzles to corresponding inlets of a first unit and a second unit having and inlet and establishing relative rotation between the first unit and a second unit having an inlet and an outlet which are normally out of communication to prevent flow therethrough, and controlling the relative rotation in response to predetermined vapor flow-related information so that one of the inlets of the first unit registers with the inlet of the second unit and so that the opening of the first unit communicates the inlet of the second unit with the outlet of the second unit, and passing the vapor from the one inlet of the first unit, through the inlet of the second unit, and to the outlet of the second unit for discharge therefrom.
A method for processing the flow of fluid from one or more sources, the method comprising the steps of connecting the sources to corresponding inlets of a first unit having at least one opening, establishing relative rotation between the first unit and a second unit having an inlet and an outlet which are normally out of communication to prevent flow therethrough, metering the fluid flow, and controlling the relative rotation in response to the metering so that one of the inlets of the first unit registers with the inlet of the second unit and so that the opening of the first unit communicates the inlet of the second unit with the outlet of the second unit to permit fluid flow from the one inlet of the first unit, through the inlet of the second unit, and to the outlet of the second unit for discharge therefrom.
An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid from one or more sources, the apparatus comprising a first unit having a num her of inlets respectively connected to the sources and at least one opening;
- a second unit having an inlet and an outlet which are normally out of communication to prevent flow therethrough;
- drive means for moving one of the units relative to the other unit so that one of the inlets of the first unit registers with the inlet of the second unit and so that the opening of the first unit communicates the inlet of the second unit with the outlet of the second unit to permit fluid flow from the one inlet of the first unit, prior to passing through the inlet of the second unit, and then to the outlet of the second unit for discharge therefrom;
- a flowmeter associated with one of the units for metering the fluid flow;
- and control means associated with the flowmeter and the drive means and responsive to the fluid flow for varying the movement to vary the fluid flow accordingly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.