Patent · US Expired

Single path adjustable flowmeter

US4324143A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
9References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 15, 1980
Grant dateApr 13, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 15, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F1/36
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A low pressure drop air flowmeter (10) for an automotive engine is disclosed. The meter includes a main air flow passage (26), a relatively small venturi tube (28) receiving a portion of the air flow, a pressure port (74) for sensing stagnation pressure in the main passage, a pressure port (70) for sensing static pressure in the throat of the venturi, and a complimentary pair of sets of stationary swirl vanes (30 & 32) disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to jointly impart a swirl through the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressures without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. The sets of swirl vanes are rotationally displaceable with respect to one another, allowing some of the air to bypass the effect of the swirl vanes without being diverted to a separate passageway. This arrangement results in a fluid flowmeter having a characteristic pressure drop which is less than that for a conventional device, particularly at high flow rates, and which can be easily reconfigured to suit a specific applic…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.