FLOW INDICATOR

• US 3,857,277 A
• Filed: 12/29/1972
• Issued: 12/31/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Moore
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kreitman, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US05/319,662
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 73/28,228 200/81.9R 340/239R
• US Class Current: 73/861.74
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/26 of the valve type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A flow indicator comprising a housing having a chamber therein and including inlet and outlet openings communicating with opposite ends of the chamber. A flexible flap hingedly connected to the housing for flexure within the chamber in response to fluid flow through the chamber is visible through a transparent observation port to provide direct indication of fluid flow. A magnet carried by the flap actuates at least one magnetically responsive switch mounted in the housing and adapted for connection in an external circuit to alter the condition of the circuit in response to at least one predetermined flow condition. The flap also functions as a check valve to prevent retrograde fluid flow through the housing.

Claims

1. A flow indicator comprising a housing having a chamber and including fluid inlet and outlet openings respectively communicating with opposite ends of said chamber, a flexible flap, means supporting said flap within said chamber at the inlet end thereof to depend from the upper wall of said chamber for hinged flexure about generally parallel axes and generally toward said outlet opening in response to fluid flow through said housing from said inlet to said outlet opening, said flap under condition of no flow from said inlet to said outlet opening providing a closure for said inlet opening to prevent fluid flow through said housing from said outlet opening to and through said inlet opening, said upper wall curving arcuately downwardly from said flap supporting means and generally toward said outlet opening and comprising means for changing the axis of hinged flexure of said flexible flap in response to change in the rate of fluid flow through said chamber from said inlet to said outlet opening, a magnet cArried by said flexible flap, and at least one magnetically responsive switch supported by said housing and adapted for connection in an external circuit, said one switch being within the magnetic influence of said magnet during a portion of the flexure of said flap toward said outlet opening.

2. A fluid indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a transparent observation port through which the relative position of said flap may be observed.

3. A fluid indicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said observation port has indicia of fluid flow condition associated therewith.

4. A fluid indicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said observation port comprises a removable cover.

5. A flow indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said flap comprises means for releasably retaining said flap in assembly with said housing.

6. A flow indicator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said retaining means comprises a groove in said housing opening through a wall of said chamber and an integral bead on said flap received in said groove.

7. A flow indicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said housing included a body, a cover, and means for releasably retaining said cover in assembly with said body and said groove is exposed when said cover is removed from said body to permit said flap to be slidably assembled with said body and removed therefrom.

8. A flow indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnet is sealed within said flap and said switch is supported in said housing externally of said chamber.

9. A fluid flow indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower wall of said chamber has an arcuate contour which generally complements the arcuate path generated by the lower edge of said flap in its flexure toward said outlet end.