Flow tube liner

• US 5,773,723 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Sheridan, Peter B. Lewis, Richard A. Bertone, Richard W. Kalinoski
• Inventors: Lewis, Peter B., Sheridan, Michael R., Bertone, Richard A., Kalinoski, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US08/535,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.11, 73/861.12, 73/861.14, 73/861.15, 131/109, 131/131, 131/133, 131/147, 131/178, 131/DIG. 11
• US Class Current: 73/861.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/58 by electromagnetic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/584 constructions of electrodes, accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/586 constructions of coils, magnetic circuits, accessories therefor G01F1/582 takes precedence; magnet; inductances; transformers; selection of materials for their magnetic properties per se H01F

Abstract

A magnetic flowmeter has a tube for carrying fluid along a longitudinal axis. The tube has faces transverse to the longitudinal axis and disposed at opposite ends of the tube. A liner on the inner surface of the tube extends out from an end of the tube and into a recess on one face to anchor the liner in place.

Claims

1. A magnetic flowmeter comprising

a tube having an inner surface defining a passage for carrying fluid along a longitudinal axis, the tube having faces transverse to the longitudinal axis and disposed at opposite upstream and downstream ends of the tube, at least one face having a recess spaced from the inner surface so that a portion of the face lies between the recess and the inner surface, and

a liner disposed on the inner surface of the tube, the liner extending out from an end of the tube and into the recess on the face to anchor the liner in place.

2. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the recess comprises a circular recess formed in the face and extending around the tube.

3. The flowmeter of claim 1 wherein the recess comprises a dovetail.

4. The flowmeter of claim 1 wherein each face comprises a recess, the liner extending out from the tube at both ends and into each recess.

5. The flowmeter of claim 1 wherein the tube further comprises at least one aperture in a surface of the tube for allowing an electrode to be inserted into the tube in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the liner extending up into the aperture to anchor the liner in place.

6. The flowmeter of claim 5 wherein the liner extending into the aperture is of sufficient thickness to electrically insulate the electrode from the tube.

7. The flowmeter of claim 1 further comprising a grid embedded in the liner.

8. The flowmeter of claim 1 wherein the liner comprises perfluoroalkoxy.

9. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the liner consists of a single layer.

10. An electromagnetic flowmeter, comprising

a tube for carrying fluid along a longitudinal axis,

an aperture in a surface of the tube for allowing an electrode to be inserted into the tube in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube,

a liner disposed on an inner surface of the tube, the liner comprising

a plastic layer and

a metal grid embedded in the plastic layer, the plastic layer and the metal grid having holes aligned with the aperture in the tube, the hole in the grid being larger than the hole in the plastic layer so that a portion of the liner near the aperture has no embedded grid, wherein the grid comprises a metal perforated cylinder having a spiral welding seam,

a button electrode inserted through the aperture and holes in the metal grid and plastic layer, the button electrode holding the portion of the liner against the tube.

11. The flowmeter of claim 10, wherein the grid is centered in the tube, and a portion of the plastic layer interposed between the tube and the grid has a constant thickness.

12. The flowmeter of claim 10, wherein the grid is welded to a first region of the tube.

13. The flowmeter of claim 12, wherein the grid is welded to a second region of the tube, and said first and second regions are on opposite ends of the tube.

14. The flowmeter of claim 10, wherein the button electrode has a head with a face having serrations, the serrations being embedded in the portion of the liner to hold the liner in place.

15. The flowmeter of claim 10, wherein the layer extends up into the aperture to hold the liner in place, the hole in the liner being smaller than the hole in the tube.

16. The flowmeter of claim 15 wherein the layer that extends up into the aperture is of sufficient thickness to electrically insulate the electrode from the tube.

17. The flowmeter of claim 10 wherein the plastic layer comprises perfluoroalkoxy.

18. The flowmeter of claim 10 wherein the tube further comprises faces transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube and disposed on opposite ends of the tube, at least one face having a recess, the layer extending out from an end of the tube and into the recess to anchor the liner.

19. The flowmeter of claim 18 wherein the recess comprises a dovetail.

20. An electromagnetic flowmeter comprising

a tube for carrying fluid,

a liner disposed on an inner surface of the tube, the liner comprising

a layer of material, and

a perforated cylindrical metal grid embedded in the layer, the grid having holes in its surface, wherein lines connecting a center of each of three adjoining holes form a substantially equilateral triangle.

21. The electromagnetic flowmeter of claim 20, further comprising

a wire disposed on an outside surface of the grid and along a longitudinal axis of the grid, the wire providing a constant spacing between the grid and the inner surface of the tube.

22. The flowmeter of claim 21, further comprising a second wire disposed on the outside surface of the grid and parallel to the first wire.

23. The electromagnetic flowmeter of claim 20 wherein the grid has a spiral seam.

24. The electromagnetic flowmeter of claim 20, wherein the grid is welded to the tube at a point.

25. The flowmeter of claim 20, wherein a diameter of each hole is approximately 1/8" and a distance between centers of the holes is approximately 0.188".

26. The flowmeter of claim 20, wherein a diameter of each hole is approximately 1/16" and a distance between centers of the holes is approximately 0.093".

27. The flowmeter of claim 20 wherein a diameter of each hole is in the range of from about 1/16" to about 1/8" and the distance between centers of the holes is in the range of from about 0.09" to about 0.2".

28. An electromagnetic flowmeter comprising

a tube for carrying fluid,

a liner disposed on an inner surface of the tube, the liner comprising

a layer of material,

a perforated cylindrical metal grid embedded in the layer, the grid having holes in its surface, and

a wire disposed on an outside surface of the grid and along a longitudinal axis of the grid, the wire providing a constant spacing between the grid and the inner surface of the tube.