Flow sensor turbine assembly with sapphire bearing and metallic insert

• US 6,019,003 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cito Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cito Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Wieder, Horst K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US08/909,522
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.77, 73/861.78, 73/861.79, 73/861.91, 73/861.92
• US Class Current: 73/861.79
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/115 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved flow sensor turbine assembly for fluid flow measurement. The flow sensor turbine is connected in fluid communication with a conduit through which a fluid whose flow rate is to be measured flows. The flow sensor turbine assembly includes a turbine, rotatably mounted on a turbine shaft, including turbine blades which rotate in response to the flow of fluid through the turbine assembly. Synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearings are provided adjacent to one or both ends of the turbine shaft to provide a low and consistent friction level and a high wear resistant bearing for the rotating turbine. Rotation of the turbine in the turbine assembly may be detected using an infrared rotation detector. Alternatively, a metallic insert may be positioned in one or more of the turbine blades. In such a case, rotation of the turbine may be detected using an inductive pick-up. The rate of flow through the turbine assembly is calculated from signals provided by the infrared or inductive pick-up rotation sensor in response to rotation of the turbine.

Claims

1. A flow sensor turbine assembly, comprising:

(a) a turbine shaft having first and second ends;

(b) a tubular turbine shaft bearing having first and second ends of a tubular wall and rotatably mounted on the turbine shaft;

(c) a turbine having at least one turbine blade mounted on the turbine shaft bearing;

(d) first and second shaft support means for fixedly supporting the first and second ends of the turbine shaft;

(e) a sidewall positioned between the first and second shaft support means and forming an enclosure for the turbine assembly;

(f) apertures in the shaft support means for allowing a fluid flow through the turbine assembly;

(g) a ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the first shaft support means and positioned therein to bear against the first end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the first end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing; and

wherein the turbine shaft has a clearance notch formed therein adjacent to the ball shaped thrust bearing and the ball shaped thrust bearing is spherical in shape and positioned adjacent to the clearance notch formed in the turbine shaft.

2. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 1 wherein the ball shaped thrust bearing is a synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearing.

3. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 1 comprising additionally a second ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the second shaft support means and aligned with the second end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the second ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the second end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing.

4. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 3 wherein the second ball shaped thrust bearing is a synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearing.

5. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one turbine blade is made of a non-magnetic material and comprising additionally a non-magnetized metallic insert positioned in the at least one non-magnetic turbine blade.

6. A flow sensor turbine assembly, comprising:

(a) a turbine shaft having first and second ends;

(b) a tubular turbine shaft bearing having first and second ends of a tubular wall and rotatably mounted on the turbine shaft;

(c) a turbine having at least one turbine blade mounted on the turbine shaft bearing;

(d) first and second shaft support means for fixedly supporting the first and second ends of the turbine shaft;

(e) a sidewall positioned between the first and second shaft support means and forming an enclosure for the turbine assembly;

(f) apertures in the shaft support means for allowing a fluid flow through the turbine assembly;

(g) a ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the first shaft support means and positioned therein to bear against the first end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the first end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing; and

wherein the turbine shaft has a clearance notch formed therein adjacent to the ball shaped thrust bearing and the ball shaped thrust bearing has a clearance surface formed therein and is positioned such that the clearance notch formed in the turbine shaft is adjacent to the clearance surface formed in the ball shaped thrust bearing.

7. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 6 wherein the ball shaped thrust bearing is a synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearing.

8. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 6 comprising additionally a second ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the second shaft support means and aligned with the second end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the second ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the second end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing.

9. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 8 wherein the second ball shaped thrust bearing is a synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearing.

10. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 6 wherein the at least one turbine blade is made of a non-magnetic material and comprising additionally a non-magnetized metallic insert positioned in the at least one non-magnetic turbine blade.

11. A flow sensor turbine assembly, comprising:

(a) a turbine shaft having first and second ends;

(b) a tubular turbine shaft bearing having first and second ends of a tubular wall and rotatably mounted on the turbine shaft;

(c) a turbine having at least one turbine blade mounted on the turbine shaft bearing;

(d) first and second shaft support means for fixedly supporting the first and second ends of the turbine shaft;

(e) a sidewall positioned between the first and second shaft support means and forming an enclosure for the turbine assembly;

(f) apertures in the shaft support means for allowing a fluid flow through the turbine assembly;

(g) a ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the first shaft support means and positioned therein to bear against the first end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the first end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing; and

wherein the turbine shaft is cylindrical in shape and the ball shaped thrust bearing has a clearance notch formed therein and is positioned such that the clearance notch formed in the ball shaped thrust bearing is positioned adjacent to the turbine shaft.

12. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 11 wherein the ball shaped thrust bearing is a synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearing.

13. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 11 comprising additionally a second ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the second shaft support means and aligned with the second end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the second ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the second end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing.

14. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 13 wherein the second ball shaped thrust bearing is a synthetic sapphire ball thrust bearing.

15. The flow sensor turbine assembly of claim 11 wherein the at least one turbine blade is made of a non-magnetic material and comprising additionally a non-magnetized metallic insert positioned in the at least one non-magnetic turbine blade.