Apparatus for monitoring cumulative flow of fluid through a filter medium
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring a flow of fluid through a conduit, comprising:
- an outer housing having an input port and an output port, connectable with said conduit;
a gear housing within said outer housing, having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, a top portion, and a bottom portion with a gear train output opening;
a reduction gear train positioned within said gear housing and including;
a first gear array extending along a first gear axis,a second gear array extending along a second gear axis,each said first and second gear axes being parallel with and spaced from said centrally disposed longitudinal axis,said first and second gear arrays being mounted for rotation about said first and second axes, respectively, and operatively meshed to define first to last gear reduction stages exhibiting a predetermined reduction ratio,an offset gear component rotatable about said first gear axis and meshed in driving relationship with said second gear array, andan output gear in driven relationship with said last gear reduction stage, extending from said gear train output opening, and having an axis of rotation spaced from said longitudinal axis;
a drive gear mounted for rotation adjacent said gear housing bottom portion having an engaging portion, engaged in driven relationship with said output gear, and having an oppositely disposed valve drive portion;
a turbine mounted adjacent to said gear housing top portion, rotatably drivable about said longitudinal axis by fluid incident thereon from said input port, and having an outwardly depending turbine gear meshed in driving relationship with said offset gear;
a valve seat within said outer housing adjacent said output port and including an open valve portion and a valve close portion;
a valve member mounted within said outer housing adjacent said drive gear, having an upwardly disposed engaging component engageable in driven relationship with said drive gear valve drive portion, and having a valve actuating portion extending from said upwardly disposed engaging component and movable with respect to said open valve portion to provide an open valve orientation to permit fluid flow through said output port and movable with respect to said valve close portion to provide a closed valve orientation to effect blockage of fluid flow through said output port; and
a reset assembly actuable to effect positioning said valve member actuating portion to provide said open valve orientation for permitting the flow therethrough of a predetermined quantity of fluid.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for use as an in-line fluid flow monitor through filter media of a variety typically employed in domestic applications upstream of a kitchen faucet as well as unusually low pressure water supplies. Apparatus includes an outer housing with an input port leading to a rotatable turbine within the housing. The turbine, rotatable about a longitudinal axis, is coupled to an offset gear which, in turn, is coupled to a reduction gear train which includes first and second gear arrays mounted for rotation about a first and second axis located parallel with and spaced from the longitudinal axis. Fluid communication is provided from the turbine chamber through the gear train to an output port. The gear train ends in an output which is engaged in driving relationship with an oppositely disposed rotatable valve member having resilient pawl legs extending therefrom. The pawls are configured to engage the output to provide rotatable ratcheting movement. Fluid flow through the output port is inhibited when a camming stem affixed to the valve member encounters a slot component. Valve closure provides a cue to the user that a predetermined quantity fluid flow occurred. Resetting the apparatus to selected metering quantities occurs by hand manipulating the camming stem from the slot. Apparatus is additionally adaptable to be used with a fluid treatment system including a filter supported from a filter base. Resetting the monitor within the system can occur only when the filter is removed from the base.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a flow of fluid through a conduit, comprising:
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an outer housing having an input port and an output port, connectable with said conduit; a gear housing within said outer housing, having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, a top portion, and a bottom portion with a gear train output opening; a reduction gear train positioned within said gear housing and including; a first gear array extending along a first gear axis, a second gear array extending along a second gear axis, each said first and second gear axes being parallel with and spaced from said centrally disposed longitudinal axis, said first and second gear arrays being mounted for rotation about said first and second axes, respectively, and operatively meshed to define first to last gear reduction stages exhibiting a predetermined reduction ratio, an offset gear component rotatable about said first gear axis and meshed in driving relationship with said second gear array, and an output gear in driven relationship with said last gear reduction stage, extending from said gear train output opening, and having an axis of rotation spaced from said longitudinal axis; a drive gear mounted for rotation adjacent said gear housing bottom portion having an engaging portion, engaged in driven relationship with said output gear, and having an oppositely disposed valve drive portion; a turbine mounted adjacent to said gear housing top portion, rotatably drivable about said longitudinal axis by fluid incident thereon from said input port, and having an outwardly depending turbine gear meshed in driving relationship with said offset gear; a valve seat within said outer housing adjacent said output port and including an open valve portion and a valve close portion; a valve member mounted within said outer housing adjacent said drive gear, having an upwardly disposed engaging component engageable in driven relationship with said drive gear valve drive portion, and having a valve actuating portion extending from said upwardly disposed engaging component and movable with respect to said open valve portion to provide an open valve orientation to permit fluid flow through said output port and movable with respect to said valve close portion to provide a closed valve orientation to effect blockage of fluid flow through said output port; and a reset assembly actuable to effect positioning said valve member actuating portion to provide said open valve orientation for permitting the flow therethrough of a predetermined quantity of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for treating fluid flowing along a fluid path, comprising:
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a filter base assembly having a receiving and supporting region and an oppositely disposed service region; a filter cover removably mounted upon said base assembly receiving and supporting region; a filter located within said filter cover, having a support portion removably receivable and supportable upon said filter base assembly at said receiving and supporting region; a flow monitor for determining the flow of a predetermined quantity of said fluid along said path, including; a housing mounted at said filter base assembly service region, having an input port for receiving fluid from said fluid path and an output port for returning said received fluid to said path, a reduction gear train positioned within said housing and having first to last gear reduction stages exhibiting a predetermined reduction ratio, a turbine mounted within said housing adjacent said input port, rotatably drivable by fluid incident thereon from said input port and coupled in driving relationship with said first gear reduction stage, a valve seat within said housing and including an open valve portion and a valve close portion, and a valve assembly mounted within said housing, having a drive component engaged in driven relationship with said last gear reduction stage, a valve member coupled in driven relationship with said drive component to move from a reset orientation on said valve seat open portion to a closed valve orientation at said valve close portion, said drive component including a ratchet assembly coupled to provide a rotatable driven relationship within said valve member first rotational sense and rotatable in an opposite sense by an applied reset force, said valve member being resiliently biased toward said valve seat, being movable under said bias from said reset orientation to said closed valve orientation to block fluid along said fluid path, and being rotatable between said reset orientation and said closed valve orientation, and said valve assembly having a reset component engageable to reposition said valve member to said reset orientation by moving it against said bias and applying said reset force thereon; and an access channel extending through said filter base assembly at said receiving and supporting region adjacent said reset component for providing access from said receiving and supporting region to engage said reset component only when said filter is removed from said filter base assembly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for monitoring a flow of fluid through a conduit, comprising:
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an outer housing having an input port and an output port, connectable with said conduit; a gear chamber within said outer housing having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis; a reduction gear train positioned within said gear chamber and including; a first gear array extending along a first gear axis, a second gear array extending along a second gear axis, said first and second gear arrays being mounted for rotation about said first and second axes, respectively, and operatively meshed to derive a predetermined reduction ratio, and an output gear extending from and in driven relationship with said gear train; a drive gear mounted for rotation adjacent said output gear, having an engaging portion meshed in driven relationship with said output gear, and an oppositely disposed valve drive portion comprising an array of radially disposed ratchet teeth; a turbine rotatably drivable about said longitudinal axis by fluid incident thereon from said input port, and meshed in driving relationship with said gear train; a valve seat within said outer housing adjacent said output port and including an open valve portion and a valve close portion; a valve member mounted within said outer housing adjacent said drive gear, having an upwardly disposed engaging component comprising at least two outwardly disposed resilient pawls engageable in driven relationship with said drive gear ratchet teeth for movement in a first rotational direction and movable in an opposite resetting rotational direction to effect a ratchet defining coupling, and having a valve actuating portion extending outwardly from and rotatable with said engaging component for movement with respect to said open valve portion to provide an open valve orientation permitting fluid flow through said output port and movable to a said valve close portion to provide a closed valve orientation to effect blockage of fluid flow through said output port; and a reset assembly actuable to move said engaging component in said resetting rotational direction to effect positioning said valve member actuating portion to provide said open valve orientation for permitting the flow therethrough of a predetermined quantity of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for monitoring a flow of fluid through a conduit, comprising:
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an outer housing having an input port and an output port, connectable with said conduit; a gear chamber within said outer housing having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis; a reduction gear train positioned within said gear chamber and including; a first gear array extending along a first gear axis, a second gear array extending along a second gear axis, said first and second gear arrays being mounted for rotation about said first and second axes, respectively, and operatively meshed to derive a predetermined reduction ratio, and an output gear extending from and in driven relationship with said gear train; a drive gear mounted for rotation adjacent said output gear, having an engaging portion including a ring with internally disposed teeth meshed in driven relationship with said output gear, and an oppositely disposed valve drive portion; a turbine rotatably drivable about said longitudinal axis by fluid incident thereon from said input port, and meshed in driving relationship with said gear train; a valve seat within said outer housing adjacent said output port and including an open valve portion and a valve close portion; a valve member mounted within said outer housing adjacent said drive gear, having an upwardly disposed engaging component rotatably engageable in driven relationship with said drive gear valve drive portion to effect a ratchet defining coupling, and having a valve actuating portion extending outwardly from and rotatable with said engaging component for movement with respect to said open valve portion to provide an open valve orientation permitting fluid flow through said output port and movable to a said valve close portion to provide a closed valve orientation to effect blockage of fluid flow through said output port; and a reset assembly actuable to effect positioning said valve member actuating portion to provide said open valve orientation for permitting the flow therethrough of a predetermined quantity of fluid.
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Specification