Torus wedge flow meter

Abstract

A flow meter for measuring the volume of fluid flowing through the meter includes an inner cylindrical tube through which the fluid flows and an outer cylindrical tube tending over the inner cylindrical tube. The outer cylindrical tube is radially spaced from the cylindrical inner tube to provide an annular cylindrical space between the inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube. A seal between the inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube closes the annular cylindrical space adjacent ends of the annular cylindrical space. The inner cylindrical tube further defines at least one opening in a wall of the inner cylindrical tube to balance the fluid pressure in the annular cylindrical space with the pressure in the inner cylindrical tube. A torus wedge flow restriction member is integrally formed within full internal circumference the inner cylindrical tube for restricting the flow of fluid through the inner cylindrical tube and produces a pressure drop in the fluid as it flows past the flow restriction member. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube in combination further define at least one port for receiving a pressure sensing device to measure the pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow meter.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A flow meter for measuring the volume of fluid flowing through a passageway, the meter comprising:
 an outer housing having a first internal bore;   a removable inner member telescopically received in the first internal bore and suspended therein, the first internal bore and an outer surface of the inner member in combination defining a space therebetween, the space isolated from fluid flowing therethrough;   the inner member having a second internal bore of a first predefined cross-sectional area to accommodate the flow therethrough, the internal bore in pressure equalizing communication with the space;   a metering structure being formed within a wall of the inner member for measuring the fluid flow therethrough;   the outer housing has a first flange at a first end thereof, a recess defined within the flange, and at least two alignment pins extending from a surface of the recess; and   the inner member has a second flange at a first end thereof, the second flange abutting the first flange within the recess and further having holes receiving the alignment pins therein for centering the inner member within the bore of the outer housing.   
   
   
       13 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method for measuring the flow of a fluid through a tube, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an outer housing having an internal bore;   providing a calibrated tubular flow metering device having a flow restrictor being formed therein;   inserting the flow metering device within the outer housing internal bore in a telescoping fashion to create a cannular space between the outer housing and the metering device, equalizing the pressure of the cannular space with the internal pressure of the flow metering device;   coupling the combined outer housing and calibrated tubular flow metering device in the flow path of a fluid; and   measuring the pressure differential on each side of the flow restrictor.   
   
   
       23 - 31 . (canceled)