Flow meter pitot tube with temperature sensor

• US 5,969,266 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dieterich Standard, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Dieterich Technology Holding Corp.
• Inventors: Garnett, John Everett, Verhaagen, Donald R., Mahoney, Ralene S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US09/020,096
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.65
• US Class Current: 73/861.65
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/46 Pitot tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/88 with differential-pressure measurement to determine the volume flow

Abstract

A combined temperature and pressure sensing probe assembly for a flow measurement system comprising a body, a portion of which is adapted for insertion into fluid flowing in a confined conduit, such as a pipe. Within the body are separated plenums which are exposed respectively to high and low fluid pressures in the flow. A manifold block is that portion of the body which is disposed outside of the pipe containing the fluid flow. Along with valves and fluid conveying channels, the block is equipped with a duct for carrying electrical conductors and also contains a traversing bore which is aligned with the body and is in communication with the conductor carrying duct. An electrically responsive temperature sensor is disposed within or formed from the body. Conductors from the temperature sensor are directed from the manifold'"'"'s bore through the connecting duct to a point exterior of the manifold.

Claims

1. A thermodynamic sensing probe for fluid measurement comprising,

a body, a portion of which is adapted for insertion into a fluid in a confined conduit, comprising a plurality of fluid carrying conductors which are respectively exposed to high and low pressures in the said fluid;

and

a temperature sensor carried by the body for sensing the temperature of the fluid.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is carried within at least one of the fluid conductors.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor is disposed within at least one of the fluid conductors exteriorly of the confined conduit.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is carried exteriorly of the fluid conductors.

9. The combination of claims 1 or 5 wherein the body includes,

a tubular housing in which the fluid conductors are disposed and further including,

a duct within said tubular housing wherein at least a portion of the temperature sensor is disposed.

5. A thermodynamic sensing probe for insertion into a confined conduit, through a single opening in the wall thereof, for measuring the characteristics of a fluid flowing therein, comprising,

a body, a portion of which is adapted for insertion through the opening in the wall of the conduit and into contact with the fluid in the conduit, where the body comprises;

an upstream facing component;

a plurality of fluid conductors which are respectively exposed to high fluid pressure on the upstream facing component of said body and low fluid pressure downstream of said upstream facing component; and

a temperature sensor carried by the body for sensing the temperature of the fluid within the conduit.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the temperature sensor is carried within at least one of the fluid conductors.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the temperature sensor is carried exteriorly of the fluid conductors.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein the temperature sensor is electrically responsive and has an output.

10. The combination of claim 5 and further including,

a manifold attached to that portion of the body that is disposed outside of the confined fluid carrying conduit, said manifold having a plurality of valved passages in fluid communication with the said high and low pressure fluid carrying conductors of the body.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the temperature sensor is disposed within at least one of the valved passages in the manifold.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein the manifold includes a bore therethrough and through which bore the temperature sensor may be passed in the process of inserting or removing the temperature sensor from within the body.

13. The combination of claim 10 and further comprising:

a pressure transducer in fluid communication with said valved passages of the manifold for converting the fluid pressures present therein to at least one electrical signal representative of the difference between the fluid pressure upstream of said body and the fluid pressure immediately downstream of said body.

14. The combination of claim 13 and further comprising:

a transmitter responsive to at least one electrical signal from said pressure transducer and to the temperature sensor.

15. A sensing probe assembly for measuring the characteristics of fluid flowing within a confined conduit, comprising,

a body, a portion of which is adapted for insertion through an opening in the wall of the said conduit and into contact with the fluid in the conduit, where the body comprises a pair of fluid conductors which are respectively exposed to high and low pressures in the said flowing fluid;

and

electrically responsive temperature sensing means carried by the body through the opening in the wall of the said conduit for sensing the temperature of the fluid within the conduit.

16. A thermodynamic state sensing probe assembly for insertion into fluid flowing in a conduit, having:

a body having an upstream facing component and comprising,

a first pressure conductor exposed to the fluid pressure upstream of said body,

a second pressure conductor exposed to the fluid pressure downstream of said upstream facing component; and

a temperature sensor carried by the body.