THREE-VALVES MANIFOLD FOR DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TYPE FLOW METER

• US 20110017325A1
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tokyo Keiso Company
• Original Assignee: Tokyo Keiso Company
• Inventors: Hoshi, Kaname, Kanda, Chikara
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/595
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/36 the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87161 With common valve operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A three-valves manifold for a differential pressure type flow meter including a valve unit 11 having a shaft portion 12, first valve portion 13a having first through hole 17a and first to third grooves 18a-18c and a second valve portion 13b having a second through hole 17b and fourth and fifth grooves 18d, 18e, and a housing 14 having a space 16 in which the shaft portion 12 and valve portions 13a, 13b are rotatably arranged, said first and second through holes and first to fifth grooves being formed at such positions that in a first rotational position, the first through hole 17a is communicated with first inlet and outlet openings 19a, 20a and the second through hole 17b is communicated with second inlet and outlet openings 19b, 20b; in a second rotational position, the first and second grooves 18a, 18b are communicated with the first inlet and outlet openings 19a, 20a, respectively and the fourth groove 18d is communicated with the second outlet opening 20b; and in a third rotational position, the third groove 18c is communicated with the first outlet opening 20a and the fifth groove 18e is communicated with the second outlet opening 20b.

Claims

1. A three-valves manifold for a differential pressure type flow meter comprising a valve unit including a shaft portion and first and second valve portions provided on the shaft portion separated from each other along a longitudinal direction of the shaft portion, each of said first and second valve portions having a circular cross section;

and a housing having a cylindrical space within which a substantial part of said shaft portion and said first and second valve portions are installed rotatably, said housing having formed therein first and second inlet openings to be communicated with a main conduit at upstream and downstream positions, respectively with respect to an orifice arranged within the main conduit through which a fluid whose flow rate to be measured, and first and second outlet openings to be communicated with respective sides of a pressure sensitive member of a differential pressure signal generator, said first inlet and outlet openings being diametrically opposed to each other and said second inlet and outlet openings being diametrically opposed to each other;

whereby said first valve portion has a first central through hole formed within the first valve portion and first, second and third grooves formed in an outer surface of the first valve portion and said second valve portion has a second through hole formed within the second valve portion and fourth and fifth grooves formed in an outer surface of the second valve portion, inner ends of said first to fifth grooves are opened to the cylindrical space of the housing;

said valve unit is rotated into first, second and third rotational positions;

in said first rotational position, said first central through hole of the first valve portion is communicated with said first inlet and outlet openings and said second central through hole of the second valve portion is communicated with said second inlet and outlet openings;

in the second rotational position, said first and second grooves of the first valve portion are communicated with said first inlet and outlet openings, respectively and at the same time said fourth groove of the second valve portion is communicated with said second outlet opening; and

in said third rotational position, said third groove of the first valve portion is communicated with the first outlet opening and said fifth groove of the second valve portion is communicated with said second outlet opening.

2. The three-valves manifold for differential pressure type flow meter according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second valve portions is formed into a spherical shape.

3. The three-valves manifold for differential pressure type flow meter according to claim 1, wherein sealing member are arranged at said first and second inlet and outlet openings such that the sealing member are brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second valve portions.

4. The three-valves manifold for differential pressure type flow meter according to claim 1, wherein an operating member to be handled by a user is secured to said shaft portion.

5. The three-valves manifold for differential pressure type flow meter according to claim 1, wherein a click mechanism is provided for locking the shaft portion in said first, second and third rotational positions.

6. The three-valves manifold for differential pressure type flow meter according to claim 1, wherein in said first rotational position, pressures in the main conduit at upstream and downstream positions with respect to the orifice are applied to respective sides of the pressure sensitive member of the differential pressure signal generator to measure a flow rate of the fluid passing through the main conduit, in said second rotational position, a pressure in the main conduit at one of said upstream and downstream positions is applied to both sides of the pressure sensitive member, and in said third rotational position, both sides of the pressure sensitive member are isolated from the main conduit and are communicated with each other.