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US 8,132,961 B1Granted
Flow plug with length-to-hole size uniformity for use in flow conditioning and flow metering
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsJohn Dwight England, Anthony R. Kelley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow plug of varying thickness has a plurality of holes formed therethrough. The plug fits in a conduit such that a fluid flow in the conduit passes through the plug's holes. Each hole is defined by a parameter indicative of size in terms of the cross-sectional area thereof. A ratio of hole length-to-parameter is approximately the same for all of the holes.
Claims27
A flow plug, comprising:
- a plug having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and adapted to be fitted in a conduit wherein a fluid flow in the conduit impinge on said plug and passes through said plurality of holes, said plug having a plug length at each of said holes wherein said plug length is defined in a direction coinciding with that of the fluid flow,
- each of said holes defined by a parameter indicative of size in terms of cross-sectional area thereof wherein a ratio of said plug length to said parameter is defined for each of said holes,
- said plug length varying such that said ratio is approximately equal for each of said holes and such that said plug length is different for at least two of said holes, wherein a vena contracta of the fluid flow is formed.
A flow plug, comprising:
- a plug having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and adapted to be fitted in a conduit wherein a fluid flow in the conduit impinges on said plug and passes through said plurality of holes, said plug having a plug length at each of said holes wherein said plug length is defined in a direction coinciding with that of the fluid flow,
- each of said holes defined by a parameter that is constant over said plug length, said parameter being indicative of size in terms of cross-sectional area thereof wherein a ratio of said plug length to said parameter is defined for each of said holes,
- said plug length varying such that said ratio is approximately equal for each of said holes and such that said plug length is different for at least two of said holes, wherein a vena contracta of the fluid flow is formed;
- and
- at least one port formed in said plug, each said port having an origination at an exterior surface of said plug and a termination at one of said holes along the length thereof, wherein said origination is not exposed to the fluid flow in the conduit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.