Flowmeter

• US 20030110868A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co., KG
• Original Assignee: GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co., KG
• Inventors: Muller, Fritz, Heger, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 6,988,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.57
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/22 by variable-area meters , e.g. rotameters

Abstract

A flowmeter includes a floating body which floats freely in a stream in a measuring tube, and is acted upon by a flowing force, buoyancy and a weight. In order to generate a counterforce, a measuring spring is fixedly connected to the floating body. The floating body is preferably self-stabilized through a selection of corresponding geometrical relationships. The measuring spring can optionally be rotatably supported on the floating body and/or the measuring tube. The floating body is suitably made of light weight plastic material, so that the density (mass/volume) of the floating body matches the density of the flowing medium.

Claims

1. A flowmeter, comprising:

a measuring tube;

a floating body which floats freely in a medium stream in the measuring tube and is acted upon by a flowing force, buoyancy and a weight; and

a measuring spring fixedly connected to the floating body for generating a counterforce against the flowing force, against buoyancy and against weight.

2. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the measuring spring is so connected to the floating body as to be substantially received in the floating body, when the floating body assumes a zero position.

3. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the floating body has a self-stabilizing configuration.

4. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the measuring spring is rotatably supported by the floating body.

5. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the measuring spring is rotatably supported by the measuring tube.

6. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the floating body is made of plastic material.

7. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the floating body has a density which matches a density of the medium.

8. The flowmeter of claim 8, wherein the measuring tube has a conical configuration.

9. The flowmeter of claim 8, wherein the measuring tube has a cylindrical configuration.