Flow measuring device for lubrication systems

Abstract

A flow measuring device includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet, a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis and a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed partially within the passage, such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the axis. A magnet is mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector and a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector. Preferably, the sensor includes a switch adjustable from open and closed states when either one of the poles of the magnet is proximal to the switch. A processor is connected with the switch and determines flow volume and/or flow rate through the passage.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for measuring flow of a fluid, the flow measuring device comprising:
 a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet;   a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis;   a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the passage such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the central axis;   a magnet mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector; and   a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector.   
     
     
         2 . The flow measuring device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the magnet has north and south poles and is arranged such that each of the north and south poles angularly displaces through first, second, third and fourth angular positions spaced circumferentially apart about the axis by about ninety degrees, the first angular position being generally proximal to the sensor; and 
 the sensor includes a switch configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches the first angular position and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approaches a separate one of the second and fourth angular positions, the first configuration being one of an open state and a closed state and the second configuration being the other one of an open state and a closed state such that the switch opens and closes twice for each revolution of the flow detector. 
 
     
     
         3 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the switch is a reed switch. 
     
     
         4 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a processor electrically coupled with the sensor and configured to detect at least one of when the switch adjusts to the open state and when the switch adjusts to the closed state and to determine at least one of the angular displacement of the detector about the axis and the angular velocity of the detector about the axis. 
     
     
         5 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the magnet includes a generally cylindrical rod having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, each rod end providing a separate one of the north and south poles, the rod being generally centered on the axis such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends are located generally equidistant from the axis. 
     
     
         6 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the flow detector is at least partially disposed within a section of the flow passage and includes at least one generally cylindrical body having a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis, each cavity being at least partially fillable with a portion of the fluid such that the detector transports the fluid portions through the flow passage section during rotation about the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one a pair of generally cylindrical bodies spaced axially apart 
     
     
         7 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the detector cylindrical body is formed as a gear wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the cylindrical body substantially obstructs the flow passage such that substantially all of the fluid is transported through the passage section by the detector. 
     
     
         9 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 1  wherein:
 the housing includes a block having first and second openings and a through-hole extending generally between the openings and generally transverse to the flow passage; 
 the shaft has first and second ends spaced apart along the central axis; and 
 the flow measuring device further comprises first and second plug members, the first plug member rotatably supporting the shaft first end and being removably disposed within the block first opening, the second plug member rotatably supporting the shaft second end and being removably disposed within the block second opening. 
 
     
     
         10 . A device for measuring flow of a fluid, the flow measuring device comprising:
 a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet;   a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis;   a flow detector mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the passage such that fluid flow through the passage rotates the detector about the central axis;   a magnetic rod mounted on the shaft, spaced axially from the detector, and having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, one rod end providing a north pole and the other rod end providing a south pole, the rod being generally centered on the axis such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends displace generally along a circular path about the central axis; and   a switch disposed within the housing and configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches a position on the circular path most proximal to the switch and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approach a separate one of two positions on the circular path located generally equidistant from the switch, one of the first and second configurations being a closed state and the other one of the first and second configurations being an open state.   
     
     
         11 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 10  wherein the switch is a reed switch. 
     
     
         12 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 10  further comprising a processor electrically coupled with the sensor and configured to detect at least one of when the switch adjusts to the open state and when the switch adjusts to the closed state and to determine at least one of the angular displacement of the detector about the axis and the angular velocity of the detector about the axis. 
     
     
         13 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 10  wherein the flow detector is at least partially disposed within a section of the flow passage and includes a cylindrical body having a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis, each cavity being at least partially fillable with a portion of the fluid such that the detector transports the fluid portions through the flow passage section during rotation about the central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 13  wherein the detector cylindrical body is formed as a gear wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 14  wherein:
 the housing includes a pair of facing surfaces spaced apart by a distance and partially defining the section of the flow passage; and 
 the detector cylindrical body has an axial width of about the spacing distance, a portion of the detector cylindrical body being disposed between the facing surfaces so as to substantially obstruct the flow passage section. 
 
     
     
         16 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 10  wherein:
 the housing includes a block having first and second openings and a through-hole extending generally between the openings and generally transverse to the flow passage; 
 the shaft has first and second ends spaced apart along the central axis; and 
 the flow measuring device further comprises first and second plug members, the first plug member rotatably supporting the shaft first end and being removably disposed within the block first opening, the second plug member rotatably supporting the shaft second end and being removably disposed within the block second opening. 
 
     
     
         17 . A device for measuring flow of a highly viscous fluid, the flow measuring device comprising:
 a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet;   a shaft disposed within the housing and rotatable about a central axis, the axis extending generally perpendicular to at least one section of the passage;   a generally cylindrical flow detector disk mounted on the shaft, having a plurality of cavities spaced circumferentially about the central axis and being disposed at least partially within the passage so as to substantially obstruct the section of the passage such that the fluid flowing through the passage contacts the disk, at least partially fills at least one of the cavities and rotates the disk about the central axis while the disk transports the fluid through the flow passage section;   a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to sense rotation of the shaft about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the detector disk; and   a processor electrically coupled with the sensor and configured to determine at least one of a flow rate of the fluid through the passage and a total volume of flow of the fluid through the passage.   
     
     
         18 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 17  wherein further comprising a magnet mounted on the shaft and spaced axially from the detector disk, the sensor being configured to sense rotation of the magnet as the shaft angularly displaces about the central axis so as to detect angular displacement of the flow detector disk. 
     
     
         19 . The flow measuring device of  claim 18  wherein:
 the magnet has north and south poles and is arranged such that each of the north and south poles angularly displaces through first, second, third and fourth angular positions spaced circumferentially apart about the axis by about ninety degrees, the first angular position being generally proximal to the sensor; and 
 the sensor includes a reed switch configured to adjust from a first configuration to a second configuration when either one of the north and south poles approaches the first angular position and to adjust from the second configuration to the first configuration when each of the north and south poles approaches a separate one of the second and fourth angular positions, the first configuration being one of an open state and a closed state and the second configuration being the other one of an open state and a closed state such that the switch opens and closes twice for each revolution of the flow detector. 
 
     
     
         20 . The flow measuring device as recited in  claim 19  wherein the magnet includes a generally cylindrical rod having two opposing ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, each rod end providing a separate one of the north and south poles, the rod being generally centered on the axis such that the centerline extends generally perpendicular to the central axis and the two rod ends are located generally equidistant from the axis.