Flow meter

• US 5,877,429 A
• Filed: 07/28/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Management, Inc.
• Original Assignee: William H. Gauley
• Inventors: Nichol, Stacey W., Gauley, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US08/901,263
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.77, 277/607, 277/605, 277/625, 277/626
• US Class Current: 73/861.77
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/115 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device

Abstract

A portable flow meter for measuring the flush volume of a toilet by measuring the volume of water passing through the siphon of the toilet, and for measuring fluid flow through toilet openings of varying sizes. The flow meter has a flow tube with a fluid passageway provided therethrough, and a resilient compressible gasket is mounted on the flow tube to prevent fluid from circumventing the fluid passageway. A rotor is disposed within the fluid passageway for rotation by fluid passing therethrough, and means are provided for counting the rotations of the rotor and generating an output representative of the volume or flow rate of fluid passing through the fluid passageway. A handle extends upwardly from the flow tube, and a digital display is provided on the handle for displaying the output.

Claims

1. A portable flow meter for determining the flush volume of a toilet having a toilet bowl with a discharge opening, the flow meter comprising:

a flow tube having a fluid passageway therethrough;

a rotor having blades and disposed in said fluid passageway for rotation by the flow of a fluid through said fluid passageway;

detection means for detecting rotation of said rotor and generating an output in response thereto which is representative of the volume of fluid passing through said fluid passageway;

display means for displaying said output; and

a resilient compressible gasket mounted on said flow tube,

wherein in use said flow tube together with said gasket can be positioned in the toilet bowl such that substantially all fluid passing through the discharge opening during the flush cycle of the toilet will be forced through said fluid passageway.

2. A flow meter according to claim 1 including an elongate handle having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being connected to said flow tube.

3. A flow meter according to claim 2 including a display housing connected to the upper end of said handle, wherein said display means includes a digital display mounted in said housing and said handle is of sufficient length to support said display housing above a high water mark of the toilet bowl when said flow meter is in use.

4. A flow meter according to claim 3 wherein said gasket is made from water impermeable material and is removably mounted on said flow tube.

5. A flow meter according to claim 4 wherein said gasket is secured to said flow tube by frictional engagement therebetween.

6. A flow meter according to claim 5 wherein said gasket is made from closed cell sponge.

7. A flow meter according to claim 6 wherein said closed cell sponge has a density of between 3 pounds per cubic foot to 7 pounds per cubic foot.

8. A flow meter according to claim 3 wherein said flow tube has a generally cylindrical shape with a front portion and a rearward portion, said gasket being mounted on said front portion, and said handle extending upwards from said rearward portion.

9. A flow meter according to claim 8 wherein said front portion of said flow tube has an outer diameter less than the smallest distance across the discharge opening and said gasket has an outer diameter larger than the largest distance across the discharge opening.

10. A flow meter according to claim 3 wherein said detection means comprises:

magnetic field affecting means carried by at least one of said blades;

sensor means mounted on said flow tube for generating electrical signals in response to the movement of said magnetic field affecting means caused by rotation of said rotor; and

a control circuit for counting said signals and generating said output in response to said electrical signals.

11. A flow meter according to claim 10 wherein said magnetic field affecting means includes a magnet and said sensor means includes a Hall-effect sensor.

12. A flow meter according to claim 11 wherein a magnet is mounted on each of said blades.

13. A portable flow meter for measuring the flow of fluid through different openings having a range of sizes, comprising:

a flow tube having an axial fluid passageway therethrough;

measuring means for measuring the flow of fluid through said fluid passageway, said measuring means including a rotor disposed in said fluid passageway and rotatably solely by the flow of fluid through said fluid passageway;

display means for displaying an output from said measuring means; and

a resilient, compressible, water impermeable gasket member extending around an outer periphery of said flow tube, said gasket member and said flow tube being arranged such that in use said gasket member can provide a substantially fluid tight seal between said flow tube and the periphery of the opening through which the flow of fluid is being measured so that substantially all fluid passing through the opening will pass through said fluid passageway.

14. A flow meter according to claim 13 further including an elongate handle having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being connected to said flow tube.

15. A flow meter according to claim 14 wherein said gasket is removably mounted on said flow tube and is secured to said flow tube by frictional engagement therebetween.

16. A flow meter according to claim 15 wherein said gasket is made from closed cell sponge having a density of between 3 pounds per cubic foot to 7 pounds per cubic foot.

17. A flow meter according to claim 15 wherein said rotor has a plurality of blades;

said measuring means includes magnetic field affecting means mounted on at least one of said blades, sensor means mounted on said flow tube for generating electrical signals in response to the movement of said magnetic field affecting means caused by rotation of said rotor, and a control circuit for counting said signals and generating an output representative of the volume of liquid passing through said fluid passageway; and

said display means comprises a digital display located at the upper end of said handle for displaying said output.

18. A flow meter according to claim 17 wherein said magnetic field affecting means includes a magnet and said sensor means includes a Hall-effect sensor.

19. A flow meter according to claim 18 wherein the dimensions of said flow tube and said gasket are such that the flow meter can be used to measure the flush volume of a toilet by positioning said flow tube and said gasket at a discharge opening leading to a siphon of said toilet.

20. A flow meter according to claim 13 wherein said output is representative of the flow rate of fluid passing through said fluid passageway.

21. A method for measuring the flush volume of a toilet having a toilet bowl with a discharge opening, comprising the steps of:

providing a flow tube having an axial fluid passageway therethrough and a resilient compressible gasket mounted thereon;

providing means for measuring and displaying the volume of fluid passing through said fluid passageway;

inserting a portion of said flow tube into said discharge opening until said gasket forms a substantially water impermeable seal between said flow tube and the walls of said discharge opening so that substantially all fluid passing through the discharge opening will pass through said fluid passageway;

activating the flush cycle of the toilet; and

measuring the volume of fluid passing through said passageway during the flush cycle with said measuring and displaying means.