United States Patent [191 [11] 4,155,253

Kato et al. [45] May 22, 1979

[54] TURBINE FLOWMETER
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
[75] Inventors: Maliiko Kato, Tokyo; Shigeo 190444 9/1966 Japan ................................... .. 73/231 R
Sugiyama, Fujisawa; Hiroyuki 1174400 12/1969 United Kingdom ................ .. 73/231 R
Amemori, Kawasaki; Kazuhiko
Nakayama; Kensuke Aizawa, both of Primary Examiner&James J. Gill
~ Yokohama, all of Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Haseltine, Lake & Waters
[57] = ABSTRACT
[73] Assignee: 'Tokico Ltd., Kawasaki, Japan
A turbine ?owmeter comprises a rotor comprising a
[21] Appl. No.: 843,169 hub rotatably supported on a shaft at an axial position of
a ?owmeter housing and a plurality of blades embed
[22] Filed: Oct. 17, 1977 dedly ?xed to the outer peripheral surface of said hub,
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data means for detecting the rotation of said rotor, and a
couple of cone members disposed respectively on the
Oct. 20, 1976 [JP] Japan .............. .., ............. .. 51-125730 up-stream side and the down-stream side in the ?ow
Jan. 10, 1917 [JP] Japan .................................... .. 52-747 ' direction of a ?uid being measured to confront at least
one surface of the hub of said rotor in coaxial alignment
[51] Int. 01.2 .............................................. .. G01F l/12 with said rotor. The diameter of at least one cone mem
[52] U.S. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 73/231 R; 415/104
ber of the couple of cone members, at the side to con
[58] Field of Search ............ .. 73/230, 231 R; 415/ 104 front said rotor, is larger than outer diameter of the hub
[56] References Cited of said rotor, whereby a stagnant ?uid region is formed
between the enlarged diameter part of said cone member
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS and the outer peripheral surface of said hub for holding
3,238,776 3/1966 Potter .............................. .. 73/231 R in stagnant state a part of said ?uid being measured.
3,559,483 2/1971 Freund ..... .. 73/231 R
3,756,079 ' 9/1973 November ....................... .. 73/231 R 3 Clainis, 17 Drawing Figures

21.v 11
US. Patent May 22, 1979 SheetloflO 4,155,253

FIG.1

\\\

12_ ~~13
15 U
@J
-23
~19

\\\\ \\\\\\\ \i'i

E
FIG. 2

mO m
FLOW RATE
U.S. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 2 of 10 4,155,253

12/

21
31
~17

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U.S. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 3 of 10 4,155,253

FIG.4
' (

~~13

. \17 u

\\\T\\\\\\\\\\ \\
g 1-0 k
I
A(O.2,0.85)
' .
94,0565)
.

.55 .9
L5
c(o.ss , 0.565)
0.5 -

FIG. 5 B
(02,035)

0 0'5 1.0
U.S. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 4 of 10 4,155,253

FIG. 6
11
\\\\\\\\\
l

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US. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 6 0f 10 4,155,253

PRESU
POSITIN IN
FLOW DIRECTION
US. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 7 of 10 4,155,253

FIG.12
U.S. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 8 of 10 4,155,253

LU
g
U)
FIG. 14
U)
LlJ
O:
0.

PD \ /|

PE E. 6 POSITION IN
FLOW DIRECTION
U.S. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 9 of 10 4,155,253

FIG.15

FIG.16

mPnmR.g
ME0

BME D POSITION 1N
FLOW DIRECTION
U.S. Patent May 22, 1979 Sheet 10 of 10 4,155,253

F1617
 4,155,253
1 2
turbine ?owmeter, there occurs little change in the
TURBINE FIDWMETER instrumental error because the low-viscosity ?uid as
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION sumes turbulence ?ow from a relatively low ?ow rate
region in the ?ow rate measuring range. In contrast, in
The present invention relates generally to a turbine the case of measuring a high-viscosity ?uid, there arises
?owmeter, and more particularly to a turbine ?owme: a difficulty in that the instrumental error changes
ter having a structure for developing viscous resistance greatly as the flow rate varies because the high-vis
and being capable of measuring not only low-viscous cosity ?uid ?ows in laminar ?ow state up to a relatively
?uids but also high-viscous ?uids having high viscosi high flow rate region, and the turbulence ?ow region
ties, in particular, with excellent instrumental error within the ?ow rate measuring range is thereby small.
characteristic.
A conventional turbine ?owmeter is not accompa Moreover, the ?ow velocity distribution is different
nied by any problems in the case of measuring the ?ow in laminar ?ow, transition ?ow, and turbulence ?ow.
quantity of a low-viscosity ?uid such as water or gaso Accordingly, the point of application of rotational
line but, in the case of measuring the ?ow quantity of a torque acting on the blades changes according to the
high-viscosity ?uid such as heavy oil, is accompanied ?owing state, which results in changes of the above
by difficulties such as large instrumental error and a mentioned average radius r, whereby the instrumental
narrow rangeability resulting therefrom, as will be de error is not constant. As a consequence, the known
scribed hereina?er. turbine ?owmeter exhibits a large change in instrumen
In general, between the ?ow rate Q and the rotational tal error in particular with respect to a high-viscosity
angular velocity 0 there is the followin relationship, ?uid which ?ows in the state of laminar ?ow up to a
(w/Q)=(w1 a/rA)(Tf/rzPQz)(Tm/rzp ) (l) relatively high ?ow rate region, whereby accurate ?ow
rate measuring with wide range-ability cannot be car
where a is the angle of the turbine blades with respect ried out.
to the pipe axis, r is the average radius of the blades, A 25 Furthermore, even in the case where the rotor is
is the area of the annulus de?ned by the inner and outer normally supported rotatably at opposite ends thereof
circumferences of the blades, Tf is the rotational resis in the known turbine ?owmeter, the ?uid impinging on
tance torque of the vane wheel or rotor caused by the the blades exerts a thrust on the blade wheel in the ?ow
?uid viscosity, Tm is the rotational resistance torque of direction, and a part such as a bushing of the rotor
the rotor caused by mechanical resistance, and p is the makes contact with a bearing of the blade wheel and
?uid density. thereby imparts a complicated rotational resistance to
Here, since rotational resistance torque Tm caused by the blade wheel thereby to cause the bearing to develop
mechanical resistance is negligibly small in comparison
with the rotational resistance torque Tf caused by the a large rotational resistance. As a result, the term of the
?uid viscosity, the above described relationship may be mechanical resistance torque Tm in the Equation (1) is
considered to be as follows. no longer negligible, which thereby generates a large
measuring error in all ?ow rate regions. Another possi
ble adverse result is uneven contact of the rotor shaft in
In the case where viscosity factor of the ?uid is desig a bearing, whereby the bearing wears rapidly until it
nated by p, the rotational resistance torque Tf is re becomes useless in a short time.
presentend, depending on the ?ow conditions, as fol
lows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present
PI/ZpI/ZQW (in the case of laminar ?ow) (2) invention to provide a novel and useful turbine ?owme
T) c: pQ2 kpQ (in the case of transition ?ow between (3) ter in which the above described difficulties have been
Q2 laminar ?ow and turbulent ?ow)
p (in the case of turbulent ?ow) (4) overcome.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
Accordingly, ?ow rate to rotational angular velocity ' a turbine ?owmeter having a blade rotor in which a
ratio m/Q is represented as follows, viscous resistance developing part is formed and/or a
cone provided in connection with the rotor. According
(5) to the turbine ?owmeter of the present invention, high
tan a E .
- K1 (in the case of viscosity ?uids as well as low-viscosity ?uids can be
"1 PQ laminar ?ow)
measured with an excellent instrumental error charac
_w_ _ my: K2 + K3 Q (in the case of transition (6) teristic from a low ?ow rate region up to a high ?ow
Q _ r p ?ow between laminar ?ow
and turbulent ?ow) 55 rate region.
ma K2 (in the case of (7)
Still another object of the present invention isto
"A turbulent ?ow) provide a turbine ?owmeter having a viscous resistance
developing structure which is formed by making the
where K1, K2, and K3 are constants, respectively, and diameter of at least one cone, of a couple of cones,
tan a/rA is a speci?c value determined by design. disposed at the front and rear of the blade rotor, large in
As will be observed from the Equations (5), (6), and comparison with that of the hub of the blade rotor.
(7), that w/Q is constant irrespective of the ?ow rate Q, A further object of the present invention is to provide
in the case of turbulent ?ow, whereby no instrumental a turbine ?owmeter further having resistance force
error occures. In the case of the laminar ?ow and transi developing sections formed in the blade rotor and a
tion ?ow, however, w/Q is a function of the flow rate 65 cone.
Q, whereby the instrumental error is caused to vary A still further object of the present invention is to
depending on the ?ow rate. Accordingly, in the case of provide a turbine ?owmeter further having a back pres
measuring a low-viscosity ?uid by means of a known sure receiving section formed on the blade rotor.
 4,155,253
3 4
Other objects and further features of the invention into and ?xed to a central hole of the hub 16 is rotatably
will be apparent from the following detailed description engaged with ajournal 21 of the shaft 15.
when read in conjunction with the accompanying A cone member 18 on the up-stream side is of conical
drawings. shape and is coaxially ?xed to the shaft 15 between the
clip 12 and the rotor 14. Another cone member 19 on
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
the down-stream side is coaxially fixed to the shaft 15
In the drawings: between the rotor 14 and the clip 13. Thrust bearings 22
FIG. 1 is a side view, in longitudinal section, showing and 23 are respectively ?xed to the end faces, confront
a ?rst embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter according ing each other, of the up-stream and down-stream side
to the present invention; 10 cones 18 and 19 and are adapted to receive any axial
FIG. 2 is a graph showing instrumental error charac force of the rotor 14. A pickup coil 24 is ?xed _to the
teristics; outer wall of the housing 11 to confront the blades 17 of
FIG. 3 is a side view, in longitudinal section, showing the rotor 14 and is adapted to electrically detect rota
a second embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter of the tion of the rotor 14.
present invention; 15 A high-viscosity liquid introduced into the housing
FIG. 4 is a side view, in longitudinal section, showing 11 from the up-stream side of the turbine ?owmeter 10
a third embodiment of a turbine ?owmeter of the pres passes through the clip 12 and is guided by the up
ent invention; stream side cone member 18 toward the blades 17,
FIG. 5 is a graphical diagram or chart for selecting thereby ?owing against the blades 17 of the rotor 14 to
appropriate values of sizes and shapes of the constitut 20 rotate it. Thereafter, the ?uid ?ows out to the down
ing parts of a turbine ?owmeter according to the pres stream side.
ent invention; In the ?rst embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter, the
FIG. 6 is a side view, in longitudinal section, showing up-stream side cone member 18 is so adapted that its
a fourth embodiment of the present invention; radius rcp is approximately the same as the radius rg of
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, showing a 25 the hub 16 of the rotor 14, that is, rcF= rH. On the one
blade rotor and a resistance developing structure of the hand, the down-stream side cone member 19 is so
turbine ?owmeter illustrated in FIG. 6; adapted that its radius rcR is greater than the radius r11
FIG. 8 is a partial side view, in longitudinal section, of the hub 16, that is, rcR>rH. The resulting annular
showing an essential part of a ?fth embodiment of the part of the cone member 19 projecting or extending in
turbine ?owmeter according to the present invention; the radial direction beyond the periphery of the hub 16
FIG. 9 is a side view, in longitudinal section, showing constitutes a viscous resistance developing section 25.
a sixth embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter according . Accordingly, the ?uid passing by near the proximal
to the present invention; ends of the blades 17 of the rotor 14 impinges against the
FIG. 10 is a front elevation, showing the blade rotor viscous resistance developing section 25. As a result, the
and blades of the turbine ?owmeter shown in FIG. 9; 35 ?uid to be measured is caused to be stagnant within a
FIG. 11 is a graph showing the distribution of pres space de?ned by the outer peripheral surface of the hub
sure, in the ?uid ?owing direction, on the pipe wall of 16 and the viscous resistance developing section 25.
the turbine ?owmeter shown in FIG. 9; The ?uid to be measured, being stagnant within the
FIG. 12 is a side view, in longitudinal section, show above described space, assumes a state wherein the
ing a seventh embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter 40 velocity component thereof in the axial direction is
according to the present invention; substantially lost. For this reason, a laminar ?ow vis
FIG. 13 is a side views in longitudinal section, show cous resistance against the blades 17 is developed at the
ing an eighth embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter of proximal part thereof, whereby a rotational resistance
the present invention; torque kuQ is added to the rotation of the rotor 14.
FIG. 14 is a pressure distribution diagram of the tur 45 Accordingly, the rotational resistance torque T'f of
bine ?owmeter shown in FIG. 13; the turbine ?owmeter 10 may be represented as follows.
FIG. 15 is a side view, in longitudinal section, show
ing a ninth embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter of the
present invention; ' p2 it: Q + kpQ (in laminar ?ow) (2a)
FIG. 16 is a pressure distribution diagram of the tur 50 Tf P92 (in transition ?ow) (3a)
bine ?owmeter illustrated in FIG. 15; and pQ2 + kuQ (in turbulent ?ow) (4a)
FIG. 17 is a side view, in longitudinal section, show
ing a tenth embodiment of the turbine ?owmeter of the In accompaniment with this, the ratio w/Q of rotational
present invention. angular velocity to ?ow rate is expressed as follows.
55
DETAILED DESCRIPTION (5)
tan a
Referring to FIG. 1, a ?rst embodiment of the ?ow _ KAI Ji- - K3L (in lam
"4 PQ pQ inar ?ow)
meter according to the present invention will now be
described. a _ 25L __ K2 (in transition ?ow) (68)
Q _
A couple of clips 12 and 13 are disposed, in mutually 60
spaced apart relation, within a cylindrical housing 11 of 824a - K2 - K3 PP'Q (in turbulent ?ow) (78)
a turbine ?owmeter 10. Between the clips 12 and 13, a
shaft 15 of a rotor 14 serving as a blade wheel is sup As will be observed from the Equations (5a), (6a),
ported at opposite ends thereof by the clips 12 and 13. and (7a), a term -K3(lL/PQ) is added to the ratio w/Q
The rotor 14 comprises a hub 16 of a radius rH and a of angular velocity to ?ow rate in the turbulent ?ow
plurality of vanes or blades 17 embeddedly ?xed to the region. This term, however, becomes a negligible value
hub 16 with mutually equally spaced relationship and in the turbulent region of high ?ow rate. Accordingly,
with an inclination of an angle a. A bush 20 inserted no change in the instrumental error characteristics oc
 5
4,155,253
6
cures in the turbulent ?ow region. Regarding the transi same as corresponding parts in FIGS. 1 and 3 are desig
tion ?ow between the laminar ?ow and theturbulent nated by like reference numerals. Detailed description
?ow, the ratio m/Q of rotational angular velocity to of such parts will not be repeated.
flow rate is constant irrespective of thevalue of the In a turbine ?owmeter 35 of this third embodiment,
?ow rate Q, whereby the instrumental error character the cone member 180 on the up-stream side and the
istics become ?at down to a relatively low ?ow rate cone member 19 on the downstream side have diame
region. ters larger than the diameter of the hub 16. Accord
Referring to FIG. 2, curves of full line I and one-dot ingly, an effective stagnant flow part is formed in a
chain line II respectively show the instrumental errors pocket part defined between the viscous resistance de
in the cases of measuring the flow rates of a low-vis veloping part 31 of the cone 18a and the viscous resis
cosity liquid (for instance, gasoline) and a high-viscosity tance developing part 25 of the cone 19, which parts 31,
liquid (for instance, heavy oil) through the use of the '25 project outward from the outer peripheral surface of
turbine ?owmeter 10 of the present invention. The the hub 16, whereby the rotational resistance torque of
other curves oilbroken line III and two-dot chain line the rotor 14 is increased very effectively. Thus, by the
IV respectively show the instrumental errors in the construction of this embodiment of the invention, also,
cases of measuring the ?ow rates of a low-viscosity improvement in the instrumental error characteristic
liquid and a high-viscosity liquid through the use of a can be attained by increasing the rotational resistive
turbine ?owmeter known heretofore. torque in the low-velocity region, similarly as in each of
Since the turbine ?owmeter 10 is provided with the the preceding embodiments of the invention.
viscous resistance developing section 25, it does not 20 Furthermore, an arrangement wherein the maximum
entail any phenomenonin which the instrumental error radius rcpof the cone member 18a is slightly larger than
differs largely depending on the viscosity of the ?uid to the maximum radius mg of the cone member 19 causes
be measured, as in the case of the known turbine ?ow the ?uid ?ow to assume turbulent ?ow from a relatively
meter, and has instrumental error characteristics which low flow rate region, whereby the instrumental error
are ?at over a large range from a low ?ow rate region 25 change becomes small, similarly as in the preceding
to a high rate region, as will be apparent from FIG. 2. second embodiment of the invention.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention Appropriate dimensions to be selected for the radii of
will be described in conjunction with FIG. 3, in which the up-stream cone members 18, 180, the down-stream
those parts which are the same as equivalent parts in cone members 19, 19a, and the hub 16 have been deter
FIG. 1 are, designated by like reference numerals, and 30 mined through experiments. In the case where rH/ro is
detailed description of such parts will not be repeated. taken as the abscissa and rcF+rcR-r11)/ro as the ordi
In the turbine ?owmeter 30 of this embodiment, a nate, as illustrated in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the
down-stream side cone member 19a has a radius ap dimension of RCF+ mg is inside of the quadrangle
proximately equal to that of the hub 16 of the rotor 14 m (the part indicated by cross-hatching) de?ned
(that is, rCR=rH), and an up-stream side cone member 35 by four corner points A(0.2, 0.85), B(0.2, 0.35), C(O.55,
18a has a radius greater than that of the hub 16 (that is 0.565), and D(0.85, 0.865).
rcp> m). This arrangement causes the flow of the ?uid A fourth embodiment of the present invention will
passed through the clip 12 to be constricted between the now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In
conical wall of the up-stream cone member 18a and the FIG. 6, those parts which are the same as equivalent
inner wall surface of the housing 11 as the ?uid is 40 parts in FIGS. 1 and 3 are designated by like reference
guided along the conical wall of the cone member 18a. numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omit
The ?uid ?ows up to the outer edge part of maximum ted.
diameter of the cone member 184, forming a boundary In a turbine ?owmeter 40, there is provided a hub 41
layer with respect to the conical wall. The boundary ' formed, at opposite surfaces thereof, with annular reces
layer, however, separates from the conical wall at the ses 42a and 42b to serve as stagnant parts. Resistance
outer edge part of the cone member 18a, and the ?uid rings 43a and 43b to serve as resistance force developing
?ow thereby becomes a turbulent flow on the down structures are disposed within these annular recesses
stream side with respect to the outer edge part. 42a and 42b and are ?xed to the inner wall thereof. The
As a result, the ?ow velocity distribution of the ?uid resistance ring 43a has a structure, as indicated in FIG.
being measured becomes uniform, and the change in the 7, in which a plurality of blades 45 are embeddedly ?xed
average radius r of the blades 17 for the ?uid to be to the outer peripheral surface of a hollow cylindrical
measured becomes small. Further, the ?uid ?ow be main body 44. In this embodiment of the invention, the
comes a turbulent ?ow over the whole range from a blades 45 are positioned that respective blade surfaces in
low ?ow rate region to a high ?ow rate region. Accord planes including the axial centerline.
ingly, the instrumental error of the turbine ?owmeter 30 The other resistance ring 43b has a structure similar
becomes constant over a wide range of the ?ow rate. to that of the resistance ring 43a. '
Furthermore, the resulting annular part of the cone As the rotor 14 rotates, the resistance rings 43a and
member 180 projecting radially beyond the periphery of 43b rotate unitarily therewith, while pushing aside static
the hub 16 constitutes a viscous resistance developing ' ?uid lying stagnant between the up-stream side cone
part 31, and, the ?uid being measured is caused to be 60 member 18a and the hub 41, and between the down
stagnant within a space de?ned by the viscous resis stream side cone member 18b and the hub 41 by means
tance developing part 31 and the outer peripheral sur of the blades 45. Accordingly, the ?uid being pushed
face of the hub 16. As a result, in a state of transition aside by the blades 45 of the resistance rings 43a, 43b
?ow between laminar ?ow and turbulent ?ow, the vari exerts a rotational resistance torque due to the viscous
ation of the instrumental error can be limited to a very 65 resistance of the ?uid to the rotor 14.
small value. As a result, the instrumental error characteristic of
A third embodiment of the present invention is the turbine ?owmeter 40 becomes even more ?at, in
shown in FIG. 4, in which those parts which are the conjunction with the effect attained by making the cone
 4,155,253
7 8
diameter greater than the hub diameter, which effect receiving plate 61 in the direction opposite to the ?ow
has been described in the preceding embodiments of the direction. The rotor 14 therefore rotates smoothly in a
invention. state where the bush 20 is ?oating between the thrust
While, in this embodiment of the invention, a couple bearings 22 and 23 (i.e., in a ?oating state). The arrange
of resistance rings 43a, 43b are used as resistance force ment of this embodiment in which the pressure receiv
developing structures, a structure wherein the resis ing plate 61 is disposed within the stagnant part, that is,
tance ring 43a or 43b is ?xed to one side surface of the the radius rp of the pressure receiving plate 61 is equal to
hub 41 may be employed. or smaller than the radius rcp of the cone member 18a,
An essential part of a ?fth embodiment of the present causes the pressure receiving plate 61 preferably to
invention is shown in FIG. 8. 10 receive less pressure due to the ?uid ?ow and therefore
In a turbine ?owmeter 50 of this embodiment, a plu to apply only the back pressure to the rotor 14.
rality of blades 51 to serve as the resistance force devel Since the rotor 14 undergoes ?oating rotation be
oping structure are embeddedly ?xed to the right end tween the thrust bearings 22 and 23, as described above,
face (as viewed in FIG. 8) of the hub 16 of the rotor 14 the problem of the bush 20 rotating while rubbing
in annular formation. These blades 51 are engaged with against the end surface of the thrust bearing 23 on the
or inserted into an annular recess 53 which is formed as down-stream side and thus while overcoming a large
a stagnant ?uid part on the left end surface of the down mechanical friction does not arise. Accordingly, the
stream side cone member 52. As the rotor 14 rotates, the turbine ?owmeter 60 of the above described construc
blades 51 rotate inside of the annular recess 53. As a tion is free from the difficulties of great deterioration of
result of this rotation, the viscous resistance of the ?uid 20 accuracy of measurement due to the mechanical friction
?lling the annular recess 53 imparts rotational resistance at the bearing section and of extreme shortening of the
torque to the rotor 14. life of the bearing and journal.
In the case of this embodiment, the turbine ?owmeter Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention
has a simple organization and requires only a simple will be described in conjunction with FIG. 12, in which
assembling operation, whereby it can be produced at 25 those parts which are the same as equivalent parts in
lower cost than the above described fourth embodiment FIG. 1 are designated by like reference numerals, and
of the invention. description thereof is omitted.
Embodiments of the invention in which a back pres In a turbine ?owmeter 70 of this embodiment, an
sure receiving plate is ?xed to the rotor will now be annular back pressure receiving plate 71 is ?xed to the
described. Back pressure acting on the back pressure 30 rotor 14 in a position to confront a viscous resistance
receiving plate substantially nulli?es a thrust force de developing part 25 of larger diameter of the down
veloped in the ?ow direction in connection with the _ stream side cone member 19b. In this ?owmeter 70, the
rotation of the rotor, whereby the rotor operates in pressure receiving plate 71 is so constructed that its
?oating rotation, and unnecessary mechanical friction outer radius r}, is smaller than the radius rcR of the
between the rotor and the bearing in the thrust bearing 35 down-stream side cone member 19b, and that its inner
section is prevented. radius r; is also smaller than the radius rH of the hub 16.
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is illus A space gap 72 of relatively large width is formed
trated in FIG. 9, in which those parts which are the between the cone member 19b and the pressure receiv
same as equivalent parts in FIGS. 1 and 3 are designated ing plate 71 of the rotor 14. The ?uid at the outer pe
by like reference numerals, and detailed description 40 ripheral part of the stagnant part ?ows against the outer
thereof will be omitted. peripheral end surface of the cone member 19b and then
In a turbine ?owmeter 60 of this embodiment, a back ?ows into the space gap 72. The pressure receiving
pressure receiving plate 61 is ?xed to the rotor 14 in a plate 71 is subjected to a back pressure due to the flow
position to confront a viscous resistance developing of the above ?uid into the space gap 72.
part 31 of larger diameter of the up-stream cone mem 45 Here, since the area of the down-stream surface of the
ber 180, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The pressure receiving hub 16 of the rotor 14 is enlarged by the provision of the
plate 61 is an annular plate of an inner radius r1 and pressure receiving plate 71, the pressure receiving area
outer radius rp. In this embodiment of the invention, the of the rotor 14 to which the above mentioned back
pressure receiving plate 61 is so constructed that the pressure is applied is large, whereby a greater thrust
outer radius rp is approximately equal to the radius rcp 50 force is applied oppositely to the ?ow direction.
of the up-stream cone member 180, and that the inner Accordingly, in the same manner as in the preceding
radius r1 is less than the radius r11 of the hub 16. embodiment of the invention, the thrust force in the
Accordingly, the ?uid which passes over the viscous ?ow direction exerted on the rotor 14 by way of the
resistance developing part 31 of the cone member 180 blades 17 is balanced by the thrust force in the direction
and is dragged into the stagnant part located at the rear 55 opposite to the ?ow direction caused by the back pres
of the part 31 pushes the pressure receiving plate 61 sure of the ?uid ?owing into the space gap 72, whereby
from the rear side thereof in the direction opposite to the rotor 14 rotates smoothly in a ?oating condition.
the ?ow direction. The back pressure applied to the Moreover, since the pressure receiving plate 71 is dis
pressure receiving plate 61 becomes a pressure posed within the stagnant part, the plate 71 is not sub
(PMPB), as indicated in FIG. 11, which pressure is 60 jected to a pressure in the ?uid ?ow direction.
obtained by subtracting the static pressure PB at the An eighth embodiment of the present invention will
up-stream side face (at point B in FIG. 11) of the rotor now be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. In
14 from the static pressure PM at an intermediate part (at FIG. 13, those parts corresponding to equivalent parts
point M in FIG. 11) in the axial direction of the rotor 14. in FIGS. 1 and 12 are designated by like reference nu
Accordingly, the thrust force in the ?owing direction 65 merals, and description thereof will be omitted.
applied to the rotor 14 by way of the blade 17 is can In a turbine ?owmeter 80 of this embodiment, the
celled or nulli?ed by the axial force due to the differen pressure receiving plate 71 is ?xed to the rotor 14, simi
tial pressure (PM PB) which is applied to the pressure larly as in the preceding embodiment of the invention.
 4,155,253
A plurality of through, holes 81 are formed in a down
stream side cone member 19c in directions parallel to
the shaft 15. Between the pressure receiving plate 71
and the cone member 19c. the wide space gap formed in
the preceding embodiment of the invention is not
formed. ' .
The ?uid passing past the outer peripheral part of the
down-stream side cone member 19c is introduced
through the through holes 81 into the space between the
left surface of the cone member 19c and the right sur
face of the rotor 14.
Accordingly, the pressure receiving plate 71 and the
hub 16 are subjected to the back pressure due to the
?uid of high pressure introduced or supplied from the
downstream side. The magnitude of this back pressure
becomes a value (Pp-PE), as indicated in FIG. 14,
which is obtained by subtracting the static pressure PE
at the down-stream part (at point B in FIG. 14) of the
rotor 14 from the static pressure Ppin the vicinity of the This embodiment is a combination of the fourth em
down-stream part (at point D in FIG. 14) of the down 20 bodiment and the ninth embodiment of the invention. In
stream side cone member 19c. Since the static pressure
along the outer peripheral surface of the cone member
19c is progressively restored in the ?ow direction, the
magnitude of the back pressure (Pp-PE) is large. Fur
ther, since the pressure receiving area of the hub 16 is
wide, the thrust force in the ?ow direction exerted on
the rotor 14 by way of the blades 17 is cancelled by the
thrust force which is developed by the back pressure
(PD-PE) in the direction opposite to the ?ow direction,
whereby smooth rotation of the rotor 14 in a ?oating
state can be achieved.
A ninth embodiment of the present invention will
now be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.
This embodiment is a combination of the vabove de
scribed sixth embodiment and eighth embodiment of the 35
invention. In FIG. 15, those parts corresponding to
equivalent parts in FIGS. 1, 9, and 13 are designated by
like reference numerals, and description thereof will not
be repeated.
In a turbine ?owmeter 90 of this embodiment, a stag
nant ?uid part is formed effectively in a pocket part
de?ned by the up-stream side cone member 18a and the
down-stream side cone member 19c. This stagnant ?uid _
part thus formed allows the rotational resistance torque
of the rotor 14 to increase very effectively.
The back pressure receiving plates 61 and 71 are ?xed
to the rotor 14, and the through holes 81 are formed in
the cone member 19c. Accordingly, to the up-stream
side pressure receiving plate 61, the back pressure
(PBPM) is applied oppositely to the ?ow direction.
The back pressure is obtained by subtracting the static
pressure PM at the intermediate part (at point M in FIG.
16) in the axial direction of the rotor 14 from the static
pressure PB at the up-stream side face (at point B in
FIG. 16) of the rotor 14. Simultaneously, to the down
stream side pressure receiving plate 71, the back pres
sure (PD-PE) is applied oppositely to the ?ow direc
tion, which back pressure is obtained by subtracting the
static pressure PE at the down-stream side (at point E in
FIG. 16) of the rotor 14 from the static pressure PD
introduced through the through holes 81 from near the
down-stream end (at point D in FIG. 16) of the cone
member 190. Accordingly, this embodiment of the in
vention also affords smooth rotation of the rotor 14, in
a ?oating state, similarly as in the preceding embodi 65 at a surface to confront said cone member and a plural
ments of the invention.
Furthermore, since the back pressure exerted on the
rotor 14 is obtained at two places, i.e., at the up-stream thereby subjected to resistance force due to a part of the
10
and down-stream side pressure receiving plates 61 and
71, a large total back pressure can be obtained. Further
more, the back pressure obtained can be adjusted appro
priately at the above two points, whereby a turbine
?owmeter in which the design thereof can be modi?ed
with ease can be provided. '
Moreover, the arrangement wherein the radius rcp of
the up-stream side cone member 18a is slightly larger
than the radius rcR of the down-stream side cone mem
ber 19c generates a turbulent state from a relatively low
?ow rate region, thereby resulting in a small change in
instrumental error.
In this ?owmeter, the down-stream side cone mem
ber 19b of the seventh embodiment of the invention
illustrated in FIG. 12 may be alternatively used instead
of the down-stream side cone member 19c.
Further, a turbine ?owmeter 100 of a tenth embodi
ment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 17.
FIG. 17, those parts which are the same as equivalent
parts in FIGS. 6 and 15 are designated by like reference
numerals, and detailed description of this embodiment
will be omitted because the operation and effectiveness
25
of the turbine ?owmeter 100 can be readily understood
from the foregoing description of the preceding em
bodiments of the invention.
Further, this invention is not limited to these embodi
ments but various variations and modi?cations may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
What is claimed is:
1. A turbine ?owmeter comprising:
a rotor comprising a hub rotatably supported on a
shaft at an axial position of a ?owmeter housing
and a plurality of blades embeddedly?xed to the
outer peripheral surface of said hub;
means for detecting- the rotation of said rotor; a con
ple of cone members disposed respectively on the
up-stream side and the down-stream side in the
?ow direction of a ?uid being measured to con
front at least one surface of the hub of said rotor in
coaxial alignment with said rotor; and
45 a couple of back pressure receiving plates ?xed to the
end face of the hub of said rotor respectively to
confront said up-stream side and down-stream side
cone members, said downstream side cone member
having therethrough back pressure introducing
holes extending from the down-stream surface to
the surface confronting said rotor in parallel to the
axial direction thereof,
said back pressure receiving plates respectively ex
tending beyond periphery of the hub of the rotor,
the diameter of at least one cone member of said
couple of cone members, at the side to confront
said rotor, being larger than outer diameter of the
hub of said rotor, whereby a stagnant ?uid region is
formed between the enlarged diameter part of said
cone member and the outer peripheral surface of
said hub for holding in stagnant state a part of said
?uid being measured.
2. A turbine ?owmeter as claimed in claim 1 which
further comprises an annular recess formed in said hub
ity of blades disposed within said annular recess so as to
rotate unitarily with said hub, whereby said blades are
 4,155,253
11
?uid being measured stagnating within said recess as
said blades rotate unitarily with said hub.
3. A turbine ?owmeter comprising: a rotor compris
ing a hub rotatably supported on a shaft at an axial
position of a ?owmeter housing and a plurality of blades
embeddedly ?xed to the outer perpheral surface of said
hub; means for detecting the rotation-of said rotor; and
a couple of cone members disposed respectively on the
up-stream and the down-stream side in the ?ow direc
tion of a ?uid being measured to confront at least one
surface of the hub of said rotor in coaxial alignment
with said rotor, the diameter of at least one cone mem
ber of said couple of cone members, at the side to con
front said rotor, being larger than outer diameter of the
hub of said rotor, whereby a stagnant ?uid region is 15 of the rotor to confront said up-stream side cone mem
formed between the enlarged diameter part of said cone ber.
member and the outer peripheral surface of said hub for
12
holding in stagnant state a part of said ?uid being mea
sured; said up-stream side cone member, at the side
confronting said rotor being larger than the diameter of
the hub of said rotor, and the diameter of the down
stream side cone member, at the side confronting said
rotor, is substantially the same as the diameter of said
rotor, the ?uid being measured which has ?owed past
said up-stream side cone member ?owing thereafter in
turbulent ?ow, a part of said ?uid being measured stag
nanting between the enlarged diameter part of said
up-stream side cone member and the outer peripheral
surface of said hub; and a back pressure receiving plate
?xed to said rotor and extending beyond the periphery
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