Inline Flow Meter Assembly With Interchangeable Orifice Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid regulators require time-consuming and costly replacements of flow control members to adjust fluid flow rates, leading to potential damage and errors during installation, as well as the need for different valve body sizes to accommodate varying flow rates.
Innovation Solution
An inline flow meter assembly with interchangeable elongated flow members and plates with differently sized orifices, allowing for quick adjustment of flow rates without replacing the entire assembly, utilizing a piston and plate mechanism to control fluid flow axially and display the flow rate through a rotational movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flow control members are replaced to change orifice size for adjusting fluid flow rate, then desired flow rate adjustment is achieved, but installation time increases and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control member is divided into a body portion and a separate plate with orifice, allowing the plate to be quickly exchanged without replacing the entire flow control member or valve assembly
Solution Approach 2:
A single valve body can accommodate multiple plates with different orifice sizes, making the valve assembly universal for different flow rate requirements without needing different valve bodies
2Adaptability or versatility
If flow control members are replaced to change orifice size for adjusting fluid flow rate, then desired flow rate adjustment is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Separating the orifice plate from the flow control member body allows independent manufacturing and inventory management of cheaper plate components versus the expensive valve body
Solution Approach 2:
One valve body serves multiple flow rate applications through interchangeable plates, reducing the need to manufacture and stock multiple complete valve assemblies
3Adaptability or versatility
If different valve body sizes are used to accommodate varying flow rates, then flow rate capacity is adjusted, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single valve body design with standardized mounting features can handle multiple flow rate capacities by simply changing the orifice plate, eliminating the need for multiple valve body sizes
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to a flow meter assembly. The inline flow meter assembly includes a housing, an elongated flow member, and a piston. The housing includes a fluid passage. The elongated flow member has a shaft portion and an opposite fluid flow portion. The fluid flow portion has an outer peripheral surface. The shaft portion is coupled to the housing. The piston has a plate. The plate has a plate orifice. The piston and the plate move axially between a no flow position where the outer peripheral surface of the fluid flow portion is engaged with the plate orifice to prevent a fluid flow and a full flow position where the outer peripheral surface of the fluid flow portion is disengaged with the plate orifice such that the fluid flow enters the plate orifice and passes through the fluid passage in the axial direction of movement of the piston.