Abstrict A flow meter and a flow monitoring system using a plurality of
such flow meters. The flow meter includes a tubular turbine housing
having an axial flow passage containing a turbine. The turbine includes
a turbine body and a plurality of turbine blades centrally connected
to a turbine hub, which rotate the turbine upon fluid flow through
the turbine housing. The rotation of the turbine is proportionate
to the amount of fluid flowing through the turbine housing. A magnet
is connected to the turbine for rotation with the turbine about
a circular path of rotation. A reed switch housing is connected
to the turbine housing. The reed switch housing includes a pair
of parallel gusset plates connected to the turbine housing oriented
in perpendicular relationship to the intended direction of fluid
flow through the turbine housing, and end walls connected to the
gusset plates to form a closed reed switch compartment. A reed switch
assembly is contained in the reed switch housing. The reed switch
housing is configured to hold the reed switch of the reed switch
housing close by the path of travel of the magnet on the turbine
so that the magnet closes the reed switch each time it passes, generating
a pulse that is sent to a meter interface card and that represents
passage of a certain quantity of fluid through the flow meter. A
potting fills the reed switch compartment to hold the reed switch
in place and protect the reed switch assembly.
Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A fluid flow meter for generating an electrical pulse indicative
of fluid flow through a pipe, comprising: a turbine housing having
a central axial flow passage for fluid flow, an inlet end for connection
to an upstream end of a fluid flow pipe, and an outlet end for connection
to a downstream end of a fluid flow pipe; said axial passage having
a turbine chamber for accommodation of a turbine; a turbine having
a turbine body with a cylindrical sidewall installed in the turbine
chamber, a turbine hub centrally aligned in the flow passage, and
a plurality of turbine blades connected at inner ends to the turbine
hub and at outer ends to the cylindrical sidewall, said blades canted
at an angle of attack to the intended direction of fluid flow to
cause rotation of the turbine responsive to fluid flow and proportionate
to the amount of fluid flow; a magnet installed on the turbine for
rotation with the turbine about a circular path of travel as the
turbine spins; a reed switch assembly including a reed switch; a
reed switch housing connected to the turbine housing having a reed
switch compartment for containing a reed switch assembly with a
reed switch located in the compartment close by the path of travel
of the magnet and spaced from it by a housing wall; said reed switch
assembly installed in the reed switch housing so that the reed switch
closes each time the magnet passes by on its circular path of travel
with the turbine in order to count revolutions of the turbine as
indicative of a quantity of passing fluid; and a potting filling
the reed switch compartment.
2. The fluid flow meter of claim 1 including: an upstream vane
structure installed in the meter housing upstream of the turbine
chamber, and a downstream vane structure installed in the meter
housing downstream of the turbine chamber.
3. The fluid flow meter of claim 2 wherein: said turbine assembly
includes a turbine shaft attached to the turbine hub and having
upstream and downstream ends; said upstream vane structure having
an upstream bearing seat for the upstream end of the turbine shaft,
and said downstream vane structure having a downstream bearing seat
for the turbine shaft.
4. The fluid flow meter of claim 3 wherein: said downstream vane
structure includes a retainer having a cylindrical sidewall closely
fitting in the fluid flow passage of the turbine housing, a central
hub, and a plurality of vanes connected between the hub and the
retainer sidewall; said hub having said downstream bearing seat
for the turbine shaft.
5. The fluid flow meter of claim 4 wherein: the retainer sidewall
is fixed to the turbine housing.
6. The fluid flow meter of claim 1 wherein: said turbine housing
is generally cylindrical and has threaded inlet and outlet ends
for connection in a fluid supply pipe; said reed switch housing
including a pair of parallel gusset plates connected to the meter
housing perpendicular to the intended direction of fluid flow, and
end walls connected to the gusset plates to form said compartment.
7. The flow meter of claim 6 including: a meter interface card
connected to the reed switch to accumulate pulses generated by the
reed switch.
8. The fluid flow meter of claim 7 including: an upstream vane
structure installed in the meter housing upstream of the turbine
chamber, and a downstream vane structure installed in the meter
housing downstream of the turbine chamber.
9. The fluid flow meter of claim 8 wherein: said turbine assembly
includes a turbine shaft attached to the turbine hub and having
upstream and downstream ends; said upstream vane structure having
an upstream bearing seat for the upstream end of the turbine shaft,
and said downstream vane structure having a downstream bearing seat
for the turbine shaft.
10. A flow monitoring system for monitoring flow in a fluid flow
pipe, comprising: a plurality of flow meters, each flow meter having
a turbine housing having a central axial flow passage for fluid
flow, an inlet end for connection to an upstream end of a fluid
flow pipe, and an outlet end for connection to a downstream end
of a fluid flow pipe; said axial passage of the turbine housing
of the flow meter having a turbine chamber for accommodation of
a turbine; a turbine having a turbine body with a cylindrical sidewall
installed in the turbine chamber of the turbine housing, a turbine
hub centrally aligned in the flow passage, and a plurality of turbine
blades connected at inner ends to the turbine hub and at outer ends
to the cylindrical sidewall, said blades canted at an angle of attack
to the direction of fluid flow to cause rotation of the turbine
responsive to fluid flow and proportionate to the amount of fluid
flow; a magnet installed on the turbine for rotation with the turbine
about a circular path of travel as the turbine spins; a reed switch
assembly including a reed switch; a reed switch housing connected
to the turbine housing having a reed switch compartment for containing
a reed switch assembly with a reed switch located in the compartment
close by the path of travel of the magnet and spaced from it by
a housing wall; said reed switch assembly installed in the reed
switch housing so that the reed switch closes each time the magnet
passes by on its circular path of travel with the turbine in order
to count revolutions of the turbine as indicative of a quantity
of passing fluid; a potting filling the reed switch compartment;
a meter interface card connected to the reed switch of each of the
flow meters to accumulate pulses generated by the reed switches
of the flow meters and configured to generate a signal when a predetermined
number of pulses from the reed switches have been accumulated; a
transmitter connected to the meter interface card for receipt of
signals from the meter interface indicative of a quantity of fluid
passing through the flow meters and retransmitting the signal wirelessly
to a remote receiver for collection and processing of the signals.
11. The flow monitoring system of claim 10 including: an upstream
vane structure installed in the meter housing upstream of the turbine
chamber, and a downstream vane structure installed in the meter
housing downstream of the turbine chamber.
12. The flow monitoring system of claim 11 wherein: said turbine
assembly includes a turbine shaft attached to the turbine hub and
having upstream and downstream ends; said upstream vane structure
having an upstream bearing seat for the upstream end of the turbine
shaft, and said downstream vane structure having a downstream bearing
seat for the turbine shaft.
13. The flow monitoring system of claim 12 wherein: said downstream
vane structure includes a retainer having a cylindrical sidewall
closely fitting in the fluid flow passage of the turbine housing,
a central hub, and a plurality of vanes connected between the hub
and the retainer sidewall; said hub having said downstream bearing
seat for the turbine shaft.
14. The flow monitoring system of claim 13 wherein: the retainer
sidewall is fixed to the turbine housing.
15. The flow monitoring system of claim 11 wherein: said turbine
housing is generally cylindrical and has threaded inlet and outlet
ends for connection in a fluid supply pipe; said reed switch housing
including a pair of parallel gusset plates connected to the meter
housing perpendicular to the intended direction of fluid flow, and
end walls connected to the gusset plates to form said compartment.
16. The flow monitoring system of claim 15 including: an upstream
vane structure installed in the meter housing upstream of the turbine
chamber, and a downstream vane structure installed in the meter
housing downstream of the meter housing.
17. The flow monitoring system of claim 16 wherein: said turbine
assembly includes a turbine shaft attached to the turbine hub and
having upstream and downstream ends; said upstream vane structure
having an upstream bearing seat for the upstream end of the turbine
shaft, and said downstream vane structure having a downstream bearing
seat for the turbine shaft.
Description CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/512642 filed Oct. 15 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Typically water consumption to individual units of a multiple
living unit complex is not metered. The usual plumbing scheme of
the complex makes such a task difficult. Commonly a single unit
of the complex receives water through multiple supply lines which
supply other units as well. For example, a single supply line can
supply cold water to the kitchen sinks of multiple units while another
supply line might supply water to the showers in the bathrooms of
those units. For this reason it has been difficult to measure the
water consumption of any individual unit for purposes of allocation
of water consumption costs to the units. To address this problem,
small meters have been developed which are installed in individual
water lines in a unit. These meters generate and transmit signals
indicative of water usage through the line, to a location which
accumulates signals from a multiple of such meters installed in
water supply lines to the unit for the purpose of measuring the
total water consumption of the unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to a flow meter for monitoring the
flow of a fluid, particularly water, to an individual water consuming
fixture, and to a system for metering the collective water usage
of a number of metered fixtures such as those in a single unit of
an apartment in an apartment complex.
[0004] The flow meter comprises an inline turbine type flow meter
for installation in an existing water line to be metered for purposes
of cost allocation, leak detection or the like. The flow meter includes
an inline turbine housing for connection in an existing or new water
line. The turbine housing is tubular and has a cylindrical flow
passage. A turbine assembly is installed in the flow passage. An
upstream radial vane structure spans the flow passage and provides
an upstream bearing seat for the turbine assembly. A downstream
vane structure is provided by a retainer installed in the turbine
housing downstream of the turbine assembly. The retainer provides
a downstream bearing seat for the turbine assembly. The turbine
assembly includes a tubular body with a cylindrical sidewall mounted
for rotation about an axis parallel to the direction of fluid flow
in the flow passage of the turbine housing. Turbine blades span
the interior of the body. A central turbine shaft connects the turbine
blades. The downstream end of the turbine shaft is seated in the
downstream bearing seat. The upstream end of the turbine shaft is
seated in the upstream bearing seat.
[0005] The turbine carries a magnet that travels a circular path
of rotation as the turbine spins. A reed switch housing is attached
to the turbine housing for containing a reed switch assembly. A
reed switch is confined in the reed switch housing at a location
close to the path of rotation of the magnet as it spins with the
turbine assembly. The reed switch compartment is filled with a potting
compound to secure and protect the reed switch assembly. The reed
switch closes and generates a meter pulse each time the magnet passes
the reed switch as the turbine spins.
[0006] The reed switch is connected to a meter interface card.
A number of like flow meters can also be connected to the meter
interface card. For example, a number of flow meters can be installed
in a bathroom, one in a water supply line to the toilet, one in
a water supply line leading to the bathtub/shower, and another leading
to the sink. Hot and cold water usage at the shower and sink can
be metered individually. The various meters can be connected to
a common meter interface card. The meter interface card counts or
accumulates the meter pulses received from the reed switches of
the various meters. The meter interface card accumulates a number
of meter pulses equaling a preselected total, such as a number corresponding
to one gallon of water. Upon reaching such a level the meter interface
card outputs a signal to a transmitter. The transmitter wirelessly
communicates the signal to a receiver that is connected to a computer
which can compile water consumption data separately from a number
of meter interface cards. The data can subsequently be used for
billing purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a flow meter installed in a
water line and connected to a metering system;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flow meter of FIG. 1
with a section of the flow turbine housing removed for purposes
of illustration;
[0009] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the flow meter of
FIG. 2 viewed from the opposite end of that of FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the flow meter of
FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the flow meter of FIGS. 2
and 3;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the retainer of the flow
meter of FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the retainer of FIG. 6 taken
along the line 7-7 thereof;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the turbine assembly of
the flow meter of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a front view of the turbine assembly of FIG. 8;
and
[0016] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the turbine assembly of FIG.
9 taken along the line 10-10 thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a flow
meter 20 installed intermediately in a water line 21 that has an
upstream section 24 and a downstream section 22. Water line 21 can
be a water supply line to a household plumbing fixture such as a
sink or a toilet. Flow meter 20 meters the water consumption of
the individual plumbing component. Flow meter 20 generates meter
pulses indicative of the quantity of water passing through water
line 21. Flow meter 20 is connected by lead 26 to a meter interface
module or card 28. A plurality of other such flow meters can be
connected to the meter interface card as well by means of electrical
leads 29.
[0018] The meter interface card 28 counts or accumulates pulses
from the various flow meters such as the flow meter 20. A predetermined
number of flow meter pulses is representative of a larger known
or determinable quantity of water such as a gallon. Meter interface
card accumulates a number of flow meter pulses until the accumulated
total reaches the predetermined number whereupon the meter interface
card sends a signal to a transmitter 30. The signal represents a
quantity of water that has passed through the various flow meters
collectively. Once a signal is sent the internal counting register
of the meter interface card resets to zero. The transmitter 30 wirelessly
transmits to a computer 34 through a remote receiver 32. Receiver
32 identifies the signal as having come from a particular transmitter
30 and records it accordingly with the use of computer 34. The signals
received from the interface cards are accumulated and translated
into billing data. This enables, for example, the metering of water
usage in individual apartments in an apartment complex.
[0019] As shown in assembled relationship in FIGS. 2 and 3 flow
meter 20 includes a turbine housing 36 a retainer 38 a turbine
assembly 40 and a reed switch assembly 41. Turbine housing 36 is
tubular and has a central flow passage 42. The outlet end of turbine
housing 36 has interior threads 44 for connection to a downstream
supply line section. The inlet end of turbine housing 36 has exterior
threads 46 for connection to a corresponding upstream supply line
section. Various types of fittings or connectors can be used.
[0020] Turbine assembly 40 is centrally located in a turbine chamber
50 of central flow passage 42. Retainer 38 is located downstream
of the turbine assembly 40. Central passage 42 has a downstream
section 48 for holding the retainer (FIG. 4). Turbine chamber 50
is upstream of section 48 and separated from it by a shoulder 52.
A web structure 54 is fixed to turbine housing 36 upstream of the
turbine chamber 50. Web structure 54 includes radially extended
upstream vanes 58 connected between turbine housing 36 and a central
hub 56. Vanes 58 are slender and parallel to the direction of fluid
flow to minimally impede fluid flow. Hub 56 provides an upstream
bearing seat or pocket to the turbine assembly 40.
[0021] A reed switch housing 60 is attached to turbine housing
36. The purpose of reed switch housing 60 is to contain reed switch
assembly 41 as will be described.
[0022] The turbine assembly is shown in FIGS. 8 through 10. Turbine
assembly 40 includes a body 61 with a cylindrical wall 62. The outer
surface of cylindrical wall 62 closely conforms to and is slightly
spaced from the walls defining the turbine chamber 50. A hub 64
is connected to the wall 62 by turbine blades 66. Turbine blades
66 are flat and canted at an angle of attack to rotate of the turbine
upon fluid flow. The turbine rotates an amount proportionate to
the amount of fluid flow. A magnet 68 is installed in the sidewall
62. Magnet 68 can be pressed into the sidewall 62 so as to be flush
with it. A counterweight 69 can be installed in sidewall 62 diametrically
opposite to magnet 68. A turbine shaft 70 extends outward from either
end of the hub 64. Ends of shaft 70 sit in upstream and downstream
bearing seats for rotation of the turbine assembly 40 responsive
to fluid flow.
[0023] Retainer 38 is shown in FIGS. 6 through 7. Retainer 38 has
a cylindrical sidewall 72 that closely fits in the first section
48 of the turbine housing 36 and is intercepted by the shoulder
52. Retainer 38 has a central hub 74 supported centrally in the
sidewall 72 by downstream radial vanes 76. Vanes 76 are flat and
parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The upstream end of the
hub 74 has a central bearing pocket 78. Bearing pocket 78 provides
a downstream bearing seat for the turbine shaft 70.
[0024] In the assembled relationship of FIGS. 2 through 5 the turbine
assembly 40 is in the turbine chamber 50 for rotation about an axis
parallel to the direction of flow. The turbine 40 substantially
fills passage 42. The upstream end of shaft 70 is seated in the
upstream seat of hub 56 of web 54. The downstream end of shaft 70
is seated in the bearing pocket 78 of the hub 74 of the retainer
38. Retainer 38 can be secured to the turbine housing by suitable
means such as ultrasonic welding.
[0025] Reed switch housing 60 includes a pair of parallel, spaced
apart gussets or side walls 63 attached to the turbine housing perpendicular
to the direction of fluid flow. A front wall 65 and a back wall
67 are connected to side walls 63 to form an enclosed compartment
for containment of reed switch assembly 41.
[0026] Reed switch assembly 41 is located in the reed switch housing
60 in the vicinity of the turbine assembly 40. Reed switch assembly
41 includes a reed switch 80 that is closely spaced from the turbine
40 and separated from it by a wall of the turbine housing 36. As
shown in FIG. 4 reed switch 80 is close enough to the turbine to
sense passage of magnet 68 on its rotational path with the turbine
sidewall 62 responsive to fluid flow.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows the parts of the meter 20 is assembly view
relationship. The reed switch assembly 41 includes the reed switch
80 and a terminal box 81. Lead wires 82 connect the reed switch
to terminals 84 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The terminals 84 are accessible
for connection to a plug or to wires that connect the flow meter
to the meter interface card 28. The reed switch assembly 41 fits
in the reed switch housing 60 attached to turbine housing 36. Reed
switch 80 is held in place by suitable potting 86 (FIG. 4). A reed
switch typically is delicate and easily damaged. The potting 86
not only holds the reed switch 80 in place but protects it as well.
Potting 86 can be epoxy potting or other preferred potting material.
[0028] In use the flow meter is installed in an existing water
line 21 between upstream and downstream sections 22 24. Turbine
assembly 40 spins in turbine housing 36 responsive to the flow of
fluid through the passage 42. The rotation of the turbine assembly
40 is proportionate to the volumetric flow of fluid through the
water line. Magnet 68 closes the reed switch 80 each time it passes.
The reed switch upon closing generates a meter pulse. The meter
pulse is transmitted to the meter interface card 28. The meter interface
card accumulates pulses that it receives from the various flow meters
connected to it. Upon accumulation of a predetermined number of
pulses, the meter interface card transmits a signal to the transmitter
30. The signal represents a quantity of water. The transmitter transmits
the signal to a remote receiver 32 which distinguishes the meter
interface card and transfers the information to the computer 34
in order to record water consumption by the collective meters connected
to a particular meter interface card.
[0029] The various components of the flow meter are preferably
formed of a hard, low friction, material such as a hard plastic.
This will result in a low friction contact between the cylindrical
sidewall 62 of the turbine assembly 40 and the corresponding interior
sidewall of the flow passage 42. An example of such a plastic is
that sold under the trademark Noryl. |