Adjustable flow nozzle for air flow meter

• US 7,634,938 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Liverman, Ivan Neil, Stegner, Eric Allen, Sattora, Christopher John, Stegner, Robert William, Maresh, Mark Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHABMAN, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US11/282,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20070114691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 73/38, 264/40.3
• US Class Current: 73/38
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/60 Measuring, controlling or regulating

Abstract

The aspects of the present invention provides for an apparatus for conveying air into foam so that the flow of air within the foam may be monitored to determine one or more characteristics of the foam. The apparatus includes a nozzle and an adjustable member having a substantially planar surface. The nozzle is configured for operative connection to an air flow meter. The nozzle includes a tube sized and dimensioned to be inserted easily into the foam. The tube has a wall and an aperture formed in the wall. The aperture is sized and dimensioned to allow air to flow through the aperture and into the foam, and the aperture extends partially about the circumference of the tube. The adjustable member is operatively connected to the nozzle. The member adjusts axially to control the depth of insertion into the foam.

Claims

1. A method of measuring flow of air in a foam, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a depth of insertion in the foam;

adjusting a flange member to the identified depth of insertion, wherein the flange member has a substantially planar surface adapted to form a substantially air tight seal when abutting an external surface of the foam, and wherein the flange member is directly connected to a nozzle;

inserting the nozzle into a point of insertion in the foam, wherein the nozzle comprises;

a tube sized and dimensioned to be inserted into the foam, said tube having a wall; and

an aperture formed in the wall of the tube, wherein the aperture is sized and dimensioned to allow air to flow through the aperture and into the foam, and wherein the aperture extends partially about the circumference of the tube;

using the planar surface of the flange member to form a substantially air tight seal with the external surface of the foam, proximate to the point of insertion of the nozzle;

receiving air from an air source; and

disbursing the air through the aperture, thereby causing the air to flow around fused beads of the foam;

using an air flow meter to measure the air flow around the fused beads in the foam to obtain a measurement of air flow, wherein the air flow meter is directly connected to the nozzle to allow unimpeded flow between the air flow meter and the nozzle; and

determining the density of the fused beads based on the measurement of air flow.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nozzle is threaded, distal to the air flow meter.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the member is operatively connected to the threads on the nozzle and wherein the member adjusts axially along the threads.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising locking, by a locking mechanism, to hold the member in place.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flange member comprises a compliant material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tube further comprises a plurality of apertures evenly distributed along the length of the nozzle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tube further comprises the aperture having the shape of a parallelogram.

8. An apparatus for measuring flow of air in a foam, the apparatus comprising:

an air source;

a nozzle having a tube that is sized and dimensioned to be inserted into the foam, wherein the tube has a wall;

an adjustable flange member directly connected to the nozzle, wherein the flange member has a substantially planar surface adapted to form a substantially air tight seal when abutting a surface of the foam, and wherein the flange member adjusts axially to control a depth of insertion of the nozzle into the foam;

an aperture in the wall of the tube, wherein the aperture is sized and dimensioned to allow air to flow into the foam, and wherein the aperture extends partially about a circumference of the tube; and

an air flow meter directly connected to the nozzle to allow unimpeded flow between the air flow meter and the nozzle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the nozzle is threaded, distal to the air flow meter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the flange member is operatively connected to the threads on the nozzle and wherein the flange member adjusts axially along the threads.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a locking mechanism to hold the flange member in place.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the flange member comprises a compliant material.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the nozzle further comprises a plurality of apertures evenly distributed along the length of the nozzle.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the nozzle further comprises the aperture having the shape of a parallelogram.