Fluid flowmeter

Abstract

A flowmeter in which a laminar flow conduit is connected in parallel to a flow restrictor comprising at least one disk having an opening through opposite surfaces and at least one conduit from the opening to the perimeter of the disk, each conduit having an effective length to diameter ratio sufficient to assure laminar fluid flow.

I claim: 
     
       1. A flowmeter comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defining a first fluid path therebetween .Iadd.and aligned along a first direction.Iaddend.;   a flow restrictor in said first fluid path comprising at least one disk having a front surface and a rear surface connected by a perimeter surface, an opening through said front and rear surfaces and at least one conduit through said perimeter surface to said opening, said conduit being of a length to diameter ratio to provide laminar flow;   means for supporting said restrictor in said first fluid path whereby the flow therethrough is directed radially in either direction.Iadd., normal to said first direction, .Iaddend.between the perimeter and the opening of said at least one disk;   an elongate conduit defining a laminar flow second fluid path;   means for measuring the rate of flow of fluid through said elongate conduit; and   means for connecting said second fluid path in parallel with said first fluid path on opposite flow sides of said flow element.Iadd.; said housing being constructed to as to redirect said radially directed flow to flow parallel to said first direction.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The flowmeter of claim 1 in which said conduit is defined as a channel through the front surface of said disk. 
     
     
       3. The flowmeter of claim 1 in which said conduit comprises an elongate passageway having an effective length substantially larger than the effective hydraulic radius thereof. 
     
     
       4. The flowmeter of claim 1 in which the ratio of the length of said passageway to the effective hydraulic radius thereof is at least 1.5:1. 
     
     
       5. The flowmeter of claim 1 in which said opening is centrally formed through said disk and said conduit radiates linearly therefrom to said perimeter surface. 
     
     
       6. The flowmeter of claim 1 in which said disk is formed flat with substantially even front and rear surfaces exclusive of said conduit. 
     
     
       7. The flowmeter of claim 1 in which said flow element comprises a plurality of juxtaposed disks, including said one disk, each disk having a front surface and a rear surface connected by a perimeter surface, each disk having an opening through said front and rear surfaces and at least one conduit through said perimeter surface to said opening, the opening of said plurality of disks being aligned. 
     
     
       8. .[.The flowmeter of claim 7 in which .]. .Iadd.A flow meter comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defining a first fluid path therebetween;   a flow restrictor in said first fluid path comprising a plurality of juxtaposed disks, including said one disk, each disk having a front surface and a rear surface connected by a perimeter surface, each disk having an opening through said front and rear surfaces and at least one conduit through said perimeter surface to said opening, said conduit being of a length to diameter ratio to provide laminar flow, .Iaddend.the number of conduits carried by one of said plurality of disks .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.different from the number of conduits carried by another of said plurality of disks.Iadd., the opening of said plurality of disks being aligned;   means for supporting said retrictor in said first fluid path whereby the flow therethrough is directed radially in either direction between the perimeter and the opening of said at least one disk;   an elongate conduit defining a laminar flow second fluid path;   means for measuring the rate of fluid through said elongate conduit; and   means for connecting said second fluid path and parallel with said first fluid path on opposite flow sides of said flow element. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       9. A flowmeter comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defining a first fluid path therebetween;   a flow restrictor in said first fluid path comprising at least one disk having a front surface and a rear surface connected by a perimeter surface, an opening through said front and rear surfaces and at least one conduit through said perimeter surface to said opening, said conduit being of a length to diameter ratio to provide laminar flow;   an elongate conduit defining a laminar flow second fluid path;   means for measuring the rate of flow of fluid through said elongate conduit; and   means for connecting said second fluid path in parallel with said first fluid path on opposite flow sides of said flow element;   said housing comprising a wall defining said fluid inlet, said wall being threaded, and including a retaining member in said inlet for securing said flow restrictor in said first fluid path, said retaining member being hollow and externally threaded to mate with said housing wall thread, said retaining member being open at one end and closed at its opposite end, said opposite end of said retaining member abutting said flow restrictor at one of said front and rear surfaces thereof, and means in said housing for retaining the opposite surface of said flow restrictor against movement, said retaining member being formed with at least one lateral opening therethrough, the effective outer diameter of said flow restrictor being smaller than the effective inner diameter of said inlet whereby fluid introduced into said retaining member flows through said lateral opening, through said conduit, into said disk opening and out thereof to define said .[.second.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.fluid path.   
     
     
       10. The flowmeter of claim 7 in which each said disk is formed with a plurality of said conduits.