Instruments for flow meters

Abstract

Some embodiments of an instrument for a flow meter can automatically adjust in response to the rotational direction of the drive shaft of the flow meter, thereby permitting the instrument device to perform its intended function regardless of the fluid flow direction through the flow meter. In one example, the instrument may comprise a corrector instrument that includes a counter.

1 . A method for mounting an instrument to a flow meter, the method comprising:
 identifying a flow meter installed in a fluid flow system such that fluid passes through the flow meter in a flow direction defined by a first flow direction or a second opposite flow direction; and   mounting an instrument to the flow meter without manually adjusting an internal gear of the instrument to account for the flow direction through the flow meter, the instrument comprising a counter device that provides information related to the fluid flow through the flow meter,   wherein the step of mounting the instrument causes the instrument to automatically adjust so that the counter device counts in positive increments independent of whether fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction or in the second opposite flow direction.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the instrument which includes a self-adjusting gear system that automatically shifts position in response to fluid flow through the flow meter in the first flow direction or in the second opposite flow direction. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of providing the instrument comprises providing at least one of a corrector instrument, an instrument drive device, and an index instrument. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of mounting the instrument comprises mounting the corrector instrument indirectly to the flow meter. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mounting the instrument to the flow meter includes coupling an input shaft of the instrument to a portion of the flow meter such that the input shaft is driven to rotate in a first direction or in a second opposite direction when the fluid passes through the flow meter in the flow direction. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein mounting the instrument to the flow meter causes an output shaft of the instrument to rotate in a forward rotational direction in response to any rotation of the input shaft in the first direction and any rotation of the input shaft in the second opposite direction, the rotation of the output shaft causing a data device to collect information related to the flow meter. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein mounting the instrument to the flow meter causes the input shaft of the instrument to rotate in the first direction when the fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction and causes the input shaft of the instrument to rotate in the second opposite direction when the fluid passes through the flow meter in the second opposite flow direction, wherein the instrument comprises a gear system that automatically adjusts to thereby direct the output shaft in the forward rotational direction in response to any rotation of the input shaft in the first direction and any rotation of the input shaft in the second opposite direction. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the output shaft of the instrument rotates only in the forward rotational direction both when fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction and when fluid passes through the flow meter in the second opposite flow direction. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mounting the instrument to the flow meter comprises mounting the instrument to a rotary positive displacement meter. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mounting the instrument to the flow meter comprises activating a data device of the instrument to transmit a signal to a location remote from the flow meter, the signal indicating a volume of fluid passing through the flow meter. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of mounting the instrument causes the instrument to automatically adjust so that the data device indicates the volume of fluid passing through the flow meter independent of whether fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction or in the second opposite flow direction. 
   
   
       12 . A method for mounting an instrument to a flow meter, the method comprising:
 identifying a flow meter installed in a fluid flow system such that fluid passes through the flow meter in a flow direction defined by a first flow direction or a second opposite flow direction; and   mounting a corrector instrument to an instrument drive device of the flow meter, the corrector instrument comprising an input shaft that is driven to rotate in a first direction or in a second opposite direction by the instrument drive device of a flow meter, an output shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the input shaft, and an electronic data device that detects rotation of magnet coupled to the output shaft and that generates information related to an amount of fluid flow through the flow meter,   wherein the step of mounting the corrector instrument causes the corrector instrument to automatically adjust so that the electronic data device determines the amount of fluid flow through the flow meter independent of whether fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction or in the second opposite flow direction.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein mounting the corrector instrument to the instrument drive device of the flow meter causes a mechanical counter device to be driven by the output shaft and to indicate information related to a measured amount of fluid flow through the flow meter, the mechanical counter device being different from the electronic data device. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising physically accessing the mechanical counter device only after removal of the mechanical counter device from the corrector instrument. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the output shaft of the corrector instrument rotates only in a forward rotational direction both when fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction and when fluid passes through the flow meter in the second opposite flow direction. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein mounting the corrector instrument to the instrument drive device of the flow meter comprises mounting the corrector instrument to the instrument drive device a rotary positive displacement meter. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising activating the electronic data device of the corrector instrument to transmit a signal to a location remote from the flow meter, the signal indicating the amount of fluid passing through the flow meter. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein mounting the corrector instrument to the instrument drive device of the flow meter causes the electronic data device to determine the amount of fluid flow through the flow meter both when fluid passes through the flow meter in the first flow direction and when fluid passes through the flow meter in the second opposite flow direction. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating the electronic data device of the corrector instrument causes the electronic data device to wirelessly transmit the signal to a location remote from the flow meter.