US 6,615,673 B1 · Integral shedder and mounting pad

Abstract

A vortex flow meter has a vortex shedder that spans a diameter or other chord of a fluid-guiding pipe, and protrudes partially externally through two opposed openings in the pipe wall. The vortex shedder includes two spaced-apart mounting pads and an elongate portion spanning therebetween. At least one mounting pad includes a cavity for seating a sensor. One preferred practice of the invention inserts the shedder through the openings into the fluid-guiding pipe such that the elongate section resides within the flowing fluid and produces a stream of space-apart vortices, and the mounting pads protrude at least partially through the openings. The sensor produces electrical signals in response to the induced vortices, and an electronic module receives the electrical signals and calculates the flow velocity of the fluid based on the frequency of the electrical signals.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A vortex sensing apparatus for producing at least one electrical signal based on a flow velocity of a fluid, the vortex sensing apparatus comprising

a conduit having a wall forming a passage for guiding said fluid, said wall having inner and outer surfaces and first and second openings extending from said inner surface to said outer surface, said first and second openings at opposite ends of a chord of said wall cross-section,
a vortex-creating obstruction element including
an elongate portion with first and second ends,
a first mounting pad integrally connected to said first end,
a second mounting pad integrally connected to said second end,
wherein said obstruction element is disposed in said passage with said first mounting pad extending through said first opening at least partially externally of said outer surface,
wherein said obstruction element is disposed in said passage with said second mounting pad extending through said second opening at least partially externally of said outer surface, and
wherein said elongate portion obstructs said flowing fluid to produce a stream of vortices, and
a sensor on said obstruction element for producing at least one electrical signal based on said vortices.

6 more elements

A vortex-producing element for creating a stream of vortices in a flowing fluid guided trough a passage formed by a conduit having a wall with inner and outer surfaces and first and second openings extending from said inner surface to said outer surface, said first and second openings at opposite ends of a chord of said wall cross-section, said element comprising

an elongate portion for producing said stream of vortices when disposed in said flowing fluid, said elongate portion having first and second ends,
a first mounting pad integrally connected to said first end of said elongate portion, and
a second mounting pad integrally connected to said second end of said elongate portion,
wherein said first mounting pad is configured to extend through said first opening at least partially externally of said outer surface when said elongate portion is disposed within said passage, said first mounting pad having a first dimension along a direction of said elongate portion greater than a thickness of said conduit wall, and
wherein said second mounting pad is configured to extend through said second opening at least partially externally of said outer surface when said elongate portion is disposed within said passage, said second mounting pad having a second dimension along a direction of said elongate portion greater than a thickness of said conduit wall.

2 more elements

A vortex sensing apparatus for producing at least one electrical signal based on a flow velocity of a fluid, the vortex sensing apparatus comprising

a conduit having a wall forming a passage for guiding said fluid, said wall having inner and outer surfaces and first and second openings extending from said inner surface to said outer surface, said first and second openings at opposite ends of a chord of said wall cross-section,
a vortex shedder including
an elongate portion with first and second ends,
a first mounting pad integrally attached to said first end of said elongate portion and having a first mounting pad dimension in a direction of said elongate portion larger than a thickness of said conduit wall, and
a second mounting pad integrally attached to said second end of said elongate portion and having a second mounting pad dimension in a direction of said elongate portion larger than a thickness of said conduit wall,
wherein said elongate portion and said first and second mounting pads are sized to fit within said first and second openings to allow said obstruction element to be disposed in said conduit by seating said mounting pads in said first and second openings,
wherein said first mounting pad extends at least partially externally of said outer surface through said first opening,
wherein said second mounting pad extends at least partially externally of said outer surface through said second opening, and
wherein said elongate portion partially obstructs said flowing fluid to produce a stream of vortices, and
a sensor on said vortex shedder for producing at least one electrical signal based on said vortices.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integral shedder and mounting pad

Life of this patent

Integral shedder and mounting pad

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18