Stator assembly for flowmeters and the like

• US 3,898,883 A
• Filed: 05/18/1973
• Issued: 08/12/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph Jaromir Stupecky, Zdenek Vaclav Kozak
• Original Assignee: Joseph Jaromir Stupecky, Zdenek Vaclav Kozak
• Inventors: Kozak, Zdenek Vaclav, Stupecky, Joseph Jaromir
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Application Number:
  US05/361,539
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 73/231R,231M,194B 415/216,210
• US Class Current: 73/861.33
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/10 using rotating vanes with axial admission
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/103 with radiation as transfer means to the indicating device, e.g. light transmission

Abstract

A unidirectional flowmeter of the design having a central bore with a stator installed therein, and a rotor mounted axially in the bore. The stator is assembled from a plurality of helically curved vanes, each of them having a curved peripheral support mating the next vane in the stator assembly. These vanes, extend to the center of the bore, and form an enclosure for the upstream bearing housing. The stator introduces rotary motion into the flow of fluid through the meter body and thereby the rotor having two straight radial blades, is rotated. In the event that reversed flow of fluid occurs, a bearing support column produces a wake in the flow of fluid within the meter body. The wake is separated from streamlined flow by a barrier of intensive vortices. These vortices causing the rotor to stop within the wake and align itself with the bearing support column. A photo-electronic pickup device is used to respond to the rotation of rotor and to indicate its position while being stopped.

Claims

1. An assembly for imparting a swirl to fluid past therethrough comprising a plurality of substantially identical elements each including rim segment portion and vane portion;

said rim segment portion including an outer surface constituting a portion of a circular tube with two edges defining inlet and outlet surfaces respectively and the remaining two edges defining surface configurations mating with the next segment edge to define an uninterrupted tubular rim;

wherein the surface configurations of said remaining two edges have portions that extend transverse to the axis of said tubular rim; and

the peripheral length of said rim segment being equal to the circumference of the assembly divided by the number of vanes;

said vane portion including the end joining said rim portion having a curve corresponding to the desired swirl deflection defining an axial hub opening;

said assembly including means axially biasing said assembly elements together to defind a rigid assembly;

said biasing means comprising an encircling tubular housing, a fixed ring within said tubular housing and an axially tightenable ring embracing said stator assembly.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said remaining two edges have edge configurations corresponding to the profile of the vane at the rim.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein one of said remaining two edges coincides with one side of said Vane.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein the second of said remaining two edges is a constant distance from the first of said remaining two edges.

5. An assembly for imparting a swirl to fluid past therethrough comprising a plurality of substantially identical elements each including rim segment portion and a vane portion;

said rim segment portion including an outer surface constituting a portion of a circular tube with two edges defining planar surfaces and the remaining two edges defining surface configurations mating with the next segment edge to define an uninterrupted tubular rim with planar faces;

said vane portion including the end joining said rim portion having a curve corresponding to the desired swirl deflection and a remote end generally planar;

wherein the vane portions of said assembly include;

a leading edge portion extending generally radially and including a straight section extending generally parallel to the direction of entering flow;

a skew surface constituting a ruled helicoid, and a transition region between said leading edge portion and said skew surface providing a continuous change of surface slope therebetween.