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Title: Fluid meter and adapter units therefor
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A fluid meter for measuring the amount of fluid flowing through a conduit, comprising: fluid chamber means for receiving incoming fluid from the conduit, said fluid chamber means having an outlet for outgoing fluid, said fluid chamber means being formed between a lower body member and an upper body member, said upper body member having a counterbore formed therein adjacent said fluid chamber means; rotatable means rotating about an axis transverse to flow of fluid in said fluid chamber means for sensing the flow of the fluid; drive means responsive to said rotatable means, said drive means having a single driving gear mounted therewith; magnetic means responsive to said rotatable means for propelling said drive means, said magnetic means comprising: a driving magnet moving in response to rotation of said rotatable means; a driven magnet moving in response to said driving magnet; a fluid-tight capsule for enclosing said driven magnet and said driving magnet, said capsule comprising: an enclosure member having an upwardly opening cup formed in an upper portion thereof for receiving said driven magnet therein; a sleeve member formed at a lower portion of said enclosure member and defining, in conjunction with said cup, a chamber for said driving magnet; said cup further being of a magnetically permeable material and serving as a guide for said driving magnet during movement thereof; a closure plate mounted at a lower end of said sleeve member for closing said chamber for said driving magnet; means for forming a seal between said closure plate and said sleeve member; a mounting sleeve extending upwardly for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper body member; means for sealing between said mounting sleeve and said upper body member; and means for engaging said mounting sleeve for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper body member; and register means responsive to said drive means for indicating the amount of flow of the fluid, said register means having a single external gear engaging said single driving gear of said drive means, wherein the complexity and size of the fluid meter is reduced. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotatable means has an opening formed therein along its axis of rotation and further including support means for supporting said rotatable means, said support means comprising: a lower support shaft extending upwardly into said opening in said rotatable means; and spherical support means mounted with an upper end of said lower support shaft, said spherical support means providing stable support for said rotatable means during movement thereof. 3. A fluid meter for measuring the amount of fluid flowing through a conduit, comprising: fluid chamber means for receiving the incoming fluid conduit, said fluid chamber means having an outlet for the outgoing fluid, said fluid chamber means being formed between a lower body member and an upper body member, said upper body member having a counterbore formed therein adjacent said fluid chamber means; nutating disk means for sensing the flow of the fluid; drive means responsive to said nutating disk means, said drive means having a single driving gear mounted therewith; and magnetic means responsive to said nutating disk means for propelling said drive means, said magnetic means comprising: a driving magnet moving in response to movement of said nutating disk means; a driven magnet moving in response to said driving magnet; a fluid-tight capsule for enclosing said driven magnet and said driving magnet, said capsule comprising: an enclosure member having an upwardly opening cup formed in an upper portion thereof for receiving said driven magnet therein; a sleeve member formed at a lower portion of said enclosure member and defining, in conjunction with said cup, a chamber for said driving magnet; said cup further being of a magnetically permeable material and serving as a guide for said driving magnet during movement thereof; a closure plate mounted at a lower end of said sleeve member for closing said chamber for said driving magnet; means for forming a seal between said closure plate and said sleeve member; a mounting sleeve extending upwardly for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper body member; means for sealing between said mounting sleeve and said upper body member; and means for engaging said mounting sleeve for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper body member; and register means responsive to said drive means for indicating the amount of flow of the fluid, said register means having a single external gear engaging said single driving gear of said drive means, wherein the complexity and size of the fluid meter is reduced. 4. A fluid meter for measuring the amount of fluid flowing through a conduit, comprising: a fluid chamber receiving incoming fluid, said fluid chamber having an outlet for outgoing fluid, said fluid chamber being formed between a lower casing member and an upper casing member, said upper casing member having a counterbore formed therein; a nutating disk chamber mounted in the fluid chamber and receiving the incoming fluid; a nutating disk in said nutating disk chamber nutating in response to the flow of fluid therethrough; a stem mounted with said nutating disk and moving in a circular path in response to nutating movement of said nutating disk; a shaft rotating in response to movement of the stem in the circular path; a cup member mounted with said shaft; an annular driving magnet mounted with said cup member with said shaft and moving therewith; a driven magnet magnetically coupled with said annular driving magnet and moving in response to movement of said driving magnet; a register responding to movement of the driven magnet to indicate the amount of fluid measured; a register support mounted with said upper casing member for supporting the register; and a capsule containing said cup member, said driven magnet and said driving magnet therein, said capsule comprising: an enclosure member having an upwardly opening cup formed in an upper portion thereof for receiving said driven magnet therein; a sleeve member formed at a lower portion of said enclosure member and defining, in conjunction with said cup, a chamber for said driving magnet; said cup further being of a magnetically permeable material and serving as a guide for said driving magnet during movement thereof; a closure plate mounted at a lower end of said sleeve member for closing said chamber for said driving magnet; means for forming a seal between said closure plate and said sleeve member; a mounting sleeve extending upwardly for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper body member; means for sealing between said mounting sleeve and said upper body member; and means for engaging said mounting sleeve for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper casing member to permit magnetic coupling between said driving magnet and said driven magnet while protecting said driving magnet and said driven magnet from corrosive action of the fluid being measured. 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said nutating disk chamber has inlet and outlet ports formed therein for inlet and outlet, respectively, of fluid from said inlet and said outlet of said fluid chamber, and further including: a divider plate mounted in said nutating disk chamber in a groove formed in said nutating disk, said divider plate separating said inlet and outlet ports in said disk chamber, said divider plate having an enlarged cross-section at an outer end thereof adjacnet said inlet and outlet ports in said disk chamber for increased strength against fluid pressure. 6. The structure of claim 4, wherein said nutating disk chamber has an outlet port formed therein adjacent said fluid chamber outlet, and wherein: said outlet port includes a lower outlet formed substantially level with a lower inner surface of the nutating disk chamber to prevent accumulation of particulate matter in the disk chamber at said outlet port. 7. An adapter unit for replacing mechanical gears in a fluid meter counterbore which interconnect a flow sensor and a flow indicating register, comprising: a driving magnet moving in response to rotation of the flow sensor in the fluid meter; a driven magnet moving in response to said driving magnet and driving the flow indicating register; a capsule for enclosing said driving magnet and said driven magnet said capsule comprising: an enclosure member having an upwardly opening cup formed in an upper portion thereof for receiving said driven magnet therein; a sleeve member formed at a lower portion of said enclosure member and defining, in conjunction with said cup, a chamber for said driving magnet; said cup further being of a magnetically permeable material and serving as a guide for said driving magnet during movement thereof; a closure plate mounted at a lower end of said sleeve member for closing said chamber for said driving magnet; means for forming a seal between said closure plate and said sleeve member; a mounting sleeve extending upwardly for mounting said capsule in said counterbore in said upper body member; means for sealing between said mounting sleeve and said upper body member; and means for engaging said mounting sleeve for mounting said capsule in the fluid meter counterbore. 8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the adapter unit replaces mechanical gears in a nutating disk fluid meter, and further including: a nutating disk replacement chamber, said chamber being adapted to replace a worn nutating disk chamber in the meter flow housing and having ribs formed on the external surface thereof to insure proper positioning of said chambers against worn inner surfaces in the meter flow housing. Other info: Inventors: Blancett, Joe H. (Wichita Falls, TX, US) Application Number: 505839 Filing Date: 1974-09-13 Publication_date: 1976-04-13 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 73/861.87 73/258 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Goldstein, Herbert Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Pravel & Wilson |
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