FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a flow meter for measuring the rate or quantity of flow of water, air or the like as a fluid flowing through the meter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional flow meter normally having a housing which is provided with inlet and outlet ports and a measuring chamber. A fluid introduced into the measuring chamber through the inlet port activates a measuring mechanism disposed over the measuring chamber. Then, an indicator section visually indicates the measured quantity of flow. A shaft assembly is provided in the flow meter for translating rotation motion of gear train or rotor in the measuring chamber.

Prior art meters have been developed which include an arrangement of the shaft. For example, prior art US 3748903 A discloses a flow meter has vertically disposed rotor shaft which rotate integrally with rotors responsive to the flow quantity of a fluid. The shaft are supported, on one hand, by thrust bearings with pivotally receive vertical shaft loads due to the weights of the rotors and shafts and supported, on the other hand, by radial bearings which receive transverse shaft loads due to the rotation of the rotors and the shafts caused by the differential pressure of the fluid. The manner of the shaft, however, have certain limitations and disadvantages. The shaft included thrust surface on both its ends that rub together, producing friction and wear.

Moreover, the flow meter may inconvenient to read because the meter is generally located in the basement of a home or other building.

Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide a flow meter having a support member which can reduce resistance of rotation to improve performance of the flow meter. Another object of this invention is to provide a flow meter having a pulse generator assembly for permitting a readout located remotely from the meter such as an automatic meter reading (AMR).

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a flow meter with a body having a housing comprising a display portion, a plurality of support members mounted on a first portion of the housing and a gear train including a plurality of gears carried on the support members and rotating responsive to a fluid flows through the body, characterized in that at least one of the gears has an end surface attached close to a projection extending from a second portion of the housing such that the gears rotate in contact with the support member and hold in position by the projection. The display portion further comprises a metallic member which is able to cooperate with a sensor for non-contact sensing of the rotation of the gear train to provide a remote readout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flow meter with a body having a housing comprising a display portion, a plurality of support members mounted on a first portion of the housing and a gear train including a plurality of gears carried on the support members and rotating responsive to a fluid flows through the body, characterized in that at least one of the gears has an end surface attached close to a projection extending from a second portion of the housing such that the gears rotate in contact with the support member and hold in position by the projection.

Preferably, the first portion is a base of the housing. The second portion is a top portion of the housing where the display portion is located. Moreover, the display portion can further comprise a metallic member which is able to cooperate with a sensor for non-contact sensing of the rotation of the gear train to provide a remote readout. The metallic member may in half-disc shape. The metallic member can be positioned above the display portion and operatively connected to the gear train.

Preferably, the sensor can be an inductive sensor. The housing can be made of polymer or copper.

The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by references to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a flow meter of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section view of a part of the flow meter taken along line I-I of Figure l ;

Figure 3 is a cross-section view of a part of the flow meter taken along line Π-Π of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-section view of a gear of a gear train located within a support member with an end surface extending to a top plate of the flow meter; and

Figure 5 is a cross-section view of another of the gear train located within another support member with an end surface extending close to a projection from the top plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention discloses a flow meter for measuring a fluid such as gas, air, water, oil or the like through the meter.

A part of a body of the flow meter or more particular an upper portion of the body of the meter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and generally designate (1). A display portion of the flow meter generally comprises at least one pointer (3) and/or counter (2) as shown in Figure 1 that is visually indicated measurement of the flow meter. Specifically, value displayed by the counter (2) and/or value pointed (3) by the pointer are recognized to obtain reading of the meter. The display portion is mechanically connected to a gear train responsive to a fluid flow.

Referring to Figure 2 and 3, the upper portion (1) further comprising a housing which is a cup-shaped member formed by a generally base plate (7), a side wall (6) and a top plate (5). Inside housing extending outward from the base plate (7) are at least one of support member (9), upon which the gear train are mounted. The housing is preferably made up of polymer or other suitable material. Although the housing made of polymer with the design shown in the figures has been described, it is possible to employ the flow meter with copper housing or other suitable housing.

Now referring to Figure 4, the support members having a tip (9a) and a shaft section comprising a first shaft section (9b) extending from the tip having a first outer diameter, a second shaft section (9c) having a second outer diameter gradually expand from the first shaft section, and a third shaft section (9d) extending vertically from the second shaft section. However, the construction of the support member is not restricted to only this case. It is possible to employ various construction of support member other than the construction as described to support rotation of the gear train comprising a plurality of gears (8). The gears (8) having a receiving portion to accommodate the support members (9) based its shape. The main support member is mounted in a well or recess formed in the base plate (7). Main gear (10) is secured on the main support for rotation therewith. The main gear (10) can be driven by rotation by a vane wheel (not shown) due to a fluid is led into the body of the flow meter. For example, a support shaft of the vane wheel is fitted with a driving- side magnet. Another driven-side magnet coupling (11) is connected to the main gear (10) so as to correspond to the mentioned magnetic coupling. Thus, the rotation of the vane wheel is transmitted to the upper portion (1) of the meter through the magnet coupling, and the upper portion (1) can be isolated from the vane wheel through the base plate (7).Therefore, the fluid flows into the body of the flow meter will never penetrate the space around the upper portion (1).

The other gears (8) are rotatably mounted on the corresponding support member (9) and in driven engagement with the main gear (10). Arrangement of the gears is selected so that the gear train makes exactly one revolution is response to a defined volume or rate of flow through meter.

The top plate (5) including at least one of projections (13) extending towards one end surface of corresponding gears (8) as shown in Figure 5. The projections (13) aid to limit the gear (8) from displacing to a position out of the supporting member (9) when the gear (8) is rotating. The projections (13) has minimal or no contact with the gear (8) during rotation to reduce rotational resistance of the gears (8).

The display portion is located above top plate and comprises a metallic member (4). At least one of the gears (8) extends through an aperture in the display portion and connected to the metallic member (4). The gear train rotates the metallic member (4) to indicate a readout responsive to the volume of flow through the meter. The metallic member (4) is preferably in half disc shape. The metallic member (4) can be made of copper, stainless steel or other suitable material.

The metallic member (4) can be provided the readout located remotely from the meter which can be achieved by a device for non-contacting sensing of rotational state of the metallic member. For example, the device comprises three or other number of inductive type sensors apphed adjacent to each other and the sensors directed towards the rotation path of the metallic member (4). Further, each sensors are electrically connected to a circuit which is to be connected to a pulse member for transmitting a signal to an analysis device for evaluating the signal in rotational state of the metallic member (4).

Overall, the present invention advances the art of flow meter having a support member (9) for replacing shaft assembly to reduce rotation resistance of the gear. The support member (9) is universal to fit variety of flow meter and provides minimal to no interference with normal operation of the flow meter. Further, the flow meter having a pulse generator assembly for permitting a readout located remotely from the meter.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.