Other

Universal Flow Monitors, Inc.

Nils O Rosaen

A valve for use in high pressure fluid systems includes means for moving a valve assembly between a position opening fluid flow through the valve and a position closing fluid flow through the valve. The valve is opened by the use of system pressure but when the valve is moved to a closed position the effect of the system pressure on the valve is neutralized and closing is accomplished by spring force only, thereby minimizing the effect of closing on the seals to increase seal life.

Valve for high pressure fluid systems

An air-oil mist sensor includes a collecting plate disposed immediately downstream from a plurality of narrow bores. Oil separates from the mist and deposits on the collecting plate. Thereafter, the separated oil is led to a reservoir where it is collected and stored during a collection cycle. At the beginning of a sampling cycle, a piston is moved into the reservoir to pressurize any oil contained therein. The force of the piston is transferred by the oil to a second, orthogonal piston which is used to actuate a switch mechanism and provide an indication whether oil is present. As the second piston is displaced, an opening is uncovered to drain oil from the reservoir. In the event that the reservoir contains air due to the collection of an insufficient amount of oil, the air is simply compressed by the piston and force is not transferred to the second piston to actuate the switch. About 98% of the oil in the mist is stripped from it by passage through the sensor.

Oil mist sensor

The present invention provides a fluid handling device which operates as a combination check valve and fluid flow meter. The fluid handling device comprises a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid passageway formed therebetween. A valve seat is contained within the housing in series with the fluid passageway while a valve member cooperates with the valve seat and is movable between an open and a closed position. A compression spring urges the valve member towards its closed position so that whenever the fluid pressure at the outlet exceeds the fluid pressure at the inlet, the valve moves to its closed position thus preventing reverse fluid flow through the device. Preferably, a tapered surface on the valve member forms a variable area opening at the valve seat which increases in area as the valve member moves from its closed and towards its open position. An indicator needle is mechanically connected to the valve member to produce an exteriorly visible signal of the position of the valve member which, in turn, is representative of the fluid flow rate through the fluid handling device.

Fluid handling device

The present invention provides a fluid handling device which operates as a combination check valve and fluid flow meter. The device includes a housing having an inlet and outlet and a fluid passageway formed therebetween. The housing forms a valve seat in series with the fluid passageway while a valve member movable between an open and closed position cooperates with the valve seat to open and close the fluid passageway. A tapered surface on the valve member forms a variable area opening at the valve seat which increases in area as the valve member moves from its closed and towards its open position while a compression spring urges the valve member towards its closed position. An indicator needle is mechanically connected to the valve member and reduces an exteriorly visible signal of the position of the valve member which, in turn, is representative of the fluid flow rate through the device. In addition, a seal member is secured to the housing around the valve seat and sealingly engages the valve member between its closed position and a partially open position. This seal member, which forms the surface between the valve member, also wipes and cleans the valve member as it moves between its closed and partially open position to prevent false readings from accumulated dirt on the valve member as well as enabling the device to indicate very small fluid flow rates.

An automatic shut off valve comprising a housing having a main inlet, an outlet, a user inlet and a user outlet. A valve assembly is contained within the housing and is movable between an open and a closed position. In its open position, the user inlet and outlet are fluidly connected in series with the main inlet and main outlet while, conversely, in its closed position, the valve assembly sealingly closes and isolates both the user inlet and outlet from the main inlet and main outlet. A compression spring urges the valve assembly towards its closed position while a fluid flow rate greater than a predetermined amount into the user inlet retains the valve assembly in its open position. Consequently, in the event of an interruption or blockage of the fluid flow between the user inlet and outlet, the compression spring snaps the valve assembly to its closed position thus isolating the inlet and outlet from the main inlet and terminating fluid flow through the shut off valve. In the preferred form of the invention, a flow indicator provides an exteriorly visible indication of the flow rate through the shut off valve.

Automatic shut off valve

A filter assembly for detachable connection with a housing, comprising an elongated tubular filter element; and a holder assembly for the filter element, which includes a closure plate which engages one end of the filter element and an annular retainer which engages the other end. An elongated rod extending axially through the center of the filter element connects the closure member and annular member together so that the filter element is entrapped therebetween. The filter assembly is insertable through the open end of the housing and into the filter chamber so that the housing inlet is open through the annular retainer to the interior of the filter element. The filter element is spaced radially inwardly from the walls forming the filtering chamber thus defining an annular chamber which is fluidly connected to the housing outlet. A closure cap is then secured to and closes the end of the housing. An indicator cap is secured to the upper end of the rod and a portion of the indicator cap is received within an aperture formed through the closure cap and visible exteriorly of the housing. The indicator member provides an exterior signal that the filter element is contained and properly seated within the fluid filtering chamber. A bypass valve directly fluidly connects the housing inlet with the outlet when the differential pressure across the filter element exceeds a predetermined amount.

Fluid filtering device

A fluid flow meter comprising a housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and defining an internal fluid chamber. A fluid passageway is formed in the housing for connecting the inlet with one end of the chamber while the outlet is open to the other end of the fluid chamber. The ends of the chamber are closed at the outlet end by an end cap and the other inlet end by a cartridge assembly which includes an end cap. Central to the housing fluid passageway and to the inlet end cap is attached to a rod having a conical metering portion. Attached to the metering rod is a freely centering piston assembly sealed nearest the outlet end by a flexible seal. An axial bore is formed through the piston and an orifice plate is detachably secured to the piston at near midpoint in the axial bore. One side of the plate is open to the inlet end while the other side of the plate is open to the outlet end of the chamber.

Fluid flow meter

A flow meter is provided having a housing with inlet and outlet ports respectively adapted to be connected with a source of fluid pressure and a fluid user. A semicircular vane member mounted within the housing is movable in response to a change in the flow rate between the inlet and outlet ports to rotate a shaft to which the vane member is attached. The shaft, in turn, extends externally of the housing and is operatively coupled to an indicator for providing an external visual indication of the rate of fluid flow through the flow meter. The improvement, however, comprises a unitary spring seal having a first portion rigidly secured to the housing and a second portion which extends between the housing and the vane shaft. This second portion extends along the shaft within the housing and is resiliently urged against the outer peripheral surface of the shaft in order to prevent fluid leakage between the vane shaft and the housing.

Fluid flow meter with improved sealing means

A device for recording the flow rate through a flow meter over a period of time is provided for use in conjunction with a flow meter having a rotatable member, the rotational position of which is indicative of the fluid flow rate through the flow meter. The recording device comprises a housing in which a recording medium is mounted and rotatably driven at a predetermined. rate. An elongated scribe arm is pivotally secured at one end to the housing and, at its other end, has a writing instrument which engages the writing medium and produces a visible mark thereon. Similarly, an elongated actuating arm has an axle which is pivotally mounted to the housing and this axle in turn is connected to the flow meter rotatable member. The actuating arm and scribe arm are in turn connected together by a connecting arm which is pivotally connected to the actuating arm at one end and pivotally connected to the scribe arm at its other end. Moreover, the pivotal connection between the connecting arm and both the scribe arm and the actuating arm are radially spaced from their respective pivotal mounting points so that pivotal movement of the actuating arm causes a like and proportional pivotal action of the scribe arm.

Flow meter recording device

A fluid flow meter is provided and comprises a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a fluid passage for connecting the inlet with the outlet. The fluid passage further includes an elongated cylindrical chamber having one end open to the inlet and the other end open to the outlet while a piston is axially slidably mounted within this housing chamber and is movable between a first and second position. The outer periphery of the piston is sealed with respect to the housing. The piston includes a removable orifice plate having a fluid port open to the inlet end of the chamber while a fluid passage formed through the piston fluidly connects the port with the outlet end of the chamber. A rod is positioned within the housing and held in place by removable housing end covers. The rod includes a tapered portion positioned through the port which variably restricts the port in dependence upon the axial position of the piston. A resilient member urges the piston towards the inlet end of the chamber while an indicator is connected to the piston to provide an exteriorly visible signal of the axial position of the piston member and thus of the flow through the flow meter. Further, the piston assembly is constructed as a cartridge assembly so that the top cover can be removed and a new cartridge assembly installed quickly and easily. A set point is provided so that the new cartridge can be quickly zeroed.

An improved return line filter is provided for use with a fluid system having a fluid reservoir which is at least partly filled with a fluid. The return line filter comprises an elongated housing having an open top and a partially open bottom and in which the housing is positioned within the reservoir so that the lower end of the housing is submerged in the reservoir fluid. A fluid inlet is formed on the lower end of the housing. A filter assembly is provided for use with the housing and comprises a tubular filter element open at each end and a holder assembly which is detachably secured to one axial end of the filter element. The entire filter assembly is insertable through the open top of the housing so that the tubular filter element is positioned coaxially around and spaced radially outwardly from a portion extending upwardly from the housing thus forming an annular chamber therebetween. Fluid seals sealingly connect both axial ends of the filter element with the housing portion while a fluid passageway fluidly connects the housing inlet with the annular inlet chamber. In addition, a deflection and antifoam tube secured to the holder assembly is positioned coaxially around and spaced radially outwardly from the filter element so that fluid flow from the filter element is deflected downwardly toward the partially open bottom of the housing. This construction for the filter assembly creates a reverse fluid flow in which the fluid must first flow upwardly from the bottom of the housing, out through the filter element and subsequently down through the lower open end of the housing.

Return line filter

A fluid filtering device is provided which is particularly suitable for connection with the suction line of a hydraulic system. The fluid filtering device comprises an elongated housing open at its upper end and secured to a fluid reservoir so that the lower end of the housing is positioned below the fluid level in the reservoir while fluid outlet means are formed on the lower submerged end of the housing. An annular housing member is coaxially positioned within and secured to the main housing below the fluid level of the reservoir so that the annular housing member is spaced radially inwardly from the main housing thus forming an annular chamber therebetween. The interior of the housing member is open to the filter outlet while fluid passageways through the housing member establish fluid communication between the annular chamber and the fluid outlet. Similarly, apertures through the main housing and near the top of the annular chamber provide fluid communication from the reservoir and into the annular chamber thus ensuring that entrained air is swept away and does not enter the filtered fluid flow. A filter assembly is also provided and comprises a tubular cylindrical filter element having an elongated extension rod coaxially secured at one end to one end of the filter element while an indicator cap is secured to the other end of the extension rod. The entire filter assembly is insertable through the open upper end of the main housing so that, upon insertion, the filter element is positioned within the annular chamber and thus fluidly between the fluid reservoir and the fluid outlet. The indicator cap, in turn, is received through an opening in a housing cover plate and provides an exteriorly visible indication that the filter is in place. A pressure indicator is also mounted to the housing and provides an indication of the degree of clogging of the filter element.

A differential fluid pressure indicating device for use in conjunction with a filter body carrying a filter element which provides an exteriorly visible signal when the differential pressure across the filter element exceeds a predetermined amount. The device comprises a housing having a cylindrical chamber in which a rotationally constrained piston is axially slidably disposed and movable between a first and second axial position while resilient means urge the piston towards its first axial position. The inlet fluid pressure communicates with one axial end of the piston while the outlet fluid pressure communicates with the other axial end of the piston. When the differential pressure across the filter element exceeds a predetermined value, the inlet fluid pressure moves the piston from its first to its second axial position and releases a spring loaded exteriorly visible member which rotates from a first to a second rotational position.

Differential fluid pressure indicating device

A fluid filtering device for use with a filter body having a chamber open at one end and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the chamber. The device comprises a housing formed by molding a plastic cap onto one axial end of a tubular cage. A filter element is disposed within the cage while an annular member is nondetachably secured to the other end of the cage to entrap the filter element within the cage. The cage is dimensioned so that upon insertion into the body chamber, the filter element is positioned between the inlet and outlet ports while the cap covers the open end of the chamber. In addition, a fluid bypass valve is contained within the cage and bypasses the fluid flow around the filter element from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet upon the occurrence of a predetermined differential pressure across the filter element.

A positive displacement flow meter is provided and comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A vane is secured to a rotatably mounted shaft extending through the housing and resilient means attached to the shaft urge the vane to a closed position whereby fluid communication is closed between the inlet and the outlet in the housing. An indicator is secured to one axial end of the shaft and provides a visual indication of the fluid flow rate through the fluid flow meter. The other axial end of the shaft is accessible exteriorly of the housing and is adapted for attachment to a tool for manually rotating the shaft.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Nils O Rosaen