Back to results
US 6,644,344 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for metering a flow rate of a fluid
AssigneeAshland Inc.
InventorDavid B. Tibbott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring the flow rate of a fluid based on the fluid weight. A container is provided between a fluid source and a fluid removal system. A valve is arranged between the fluid source and the container, to control the admitting of fluid into the container from the source, and removal of fluid from the container by the removal system. The valve is controlled by a weight-responsive mechanism, which detects a change in weight of the container due to the admitting and removal of fluid, and opens or closes the valve accordingly. A flow rate of the fluid may be determined in terms of a time period between the closing and subsequent opening of the valve.
Claims22
A metering device comprising:
- a valve connected between a fluid source and a container;
- a weight-responsive means opening and closing said valve to control an amount of fluid supplied by said source to said container, said weight-responsive means comprising a balance arm and at least first and second switches, wherein;
- said container is arranged at a first end of said balance arm;
- pre-determined changes in weight of said container set a status of said first and second switches by causing said balance arm to establish or break contact with either of said first and second switches to open or close said valve;
- and
- the status of said first and second switches provides an indication of one of a filling period, during which said container is filled with fluid, and a timing cycle, during which fluid is removed from said container a flow rate of said fluid is measured.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- arranging a container on a balance arm between a fluid source and fluid removal means;
- arranging a valve between said container and said fluid source;
- opening and closing said valve based on a status of first and second switches to control admitting of fluid to said container from said source;
- moving said balance arm to establish or break contact with either of said first and second switches, and thereby setting the status of said first and second switches, in response to pre-determined changes in weight of said container caused by the admitting of fluid to said container and removal of fluid from said container;
- and
- measuring a flow rate of said fluid based on a change in the weight of said container during a timing cycle, wherein said timing cycle is indicated by the status of said first and second switches.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a container on a balance arm between a fluid source and fluid removal means;
- providing a valve in a feed line between said fluid source and said container, said valve when open allowing fluid from said source to enter said container, and when closed allowing said removal means to remove said fluid, said valve being open or closed based upon a status of first and second switches;
- varying an amount of fluid in said container and thereby causing a change in a weight of said container, by causing fluid from said source to enter said container and removing fluid from said container with said removal means;
- moving said balance arm in response to a pre-determined change in the weight of said container to establish or break contact with either of said first and second switches to set the status of the first and second switches, and thereby controlling opening and closing of said valve;
- and
- measuring a flow rate of said fluid based on a change in the weight of said container during a timing cycle, wherein said timing cycle is indicated by the status of said first and second switches.
3 more elements
A metering device comprising:
- a valve connected between a fluid source and a container;
- an adjustable weight-responsive means opening and closing said valve to control an amount of fluid supplied by said source to said container, said adjustable weight-responsive means comprising a balance arm and at least first and second switches, wherein:
- said container is arranged at a first end of said balance arm;
- pre-determined changes in weight of said container set a status of said first and second switches by causing said balance arm to establish or break contact with either of said first and second switches to open or close said valve;
- and
- the status of said first and second switches provides an indication of one of a filling period, during which said container is filled with fluid, and a timing cycle, during which fluid is removed from said container a flow rate of said fluid is measured.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.