초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a magnetic flow controller which transforms a slow reduction in pressure of fluid flow over time to a measurable fluid flow. Once a threshold pressure differential is reached, a flow passage through the flow controller opens rapidly to a relatively large opening, the

The present invention relates to a magnetic flow controller which transforms a slow reduction in pressure of fluid flow over time to a measurable fluid flow. Once a threshold pressure differential is reached, a flow passage through the flow controller opens rapidly to a relatively large opening, thereby generating a volume of fluid at high flux flowing through the passage, particularly to permit the measurement of the volume of fluid in a conventional flow meter. The device of the present invention integrates this low flux and transforms it to a measurable fluid flux, so that the fluid can be measured by the fluid meter within its optimum error range. This is accomplished while maintaining a pressure drop in the flow meter which is within the permitted standards. Thus, the invention provides relatively sharp shifts between substantially high flux flow and no flow, in a pulse-like manner.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A magnetic flow controller comprising: a body defining a fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;a stop member mounted across said inlet; anda displaceable member disposed in said body adjacent said stop member;wherein at least one of said stop member and said displaceable member include

1. A magnetic flow controller comprising: a body defining a fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;a stop member mounted across said inlet; anda displaceable member disposed in said body adjacent said stop member;wherein at least one of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a magnet, and the other of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a ferromagnetic portion, so as to create a magnetic force, acting on said displaceable member, sufficient to cause the displaceable member to engage said stop member so as to close and seal the flow passage;said body also including walls defining a first, elongate portion of substantially constant diameter for sealingly engaging said displaceable member and a second portion, having a diameter larger than said constant diameter, said body having a plurality of guide members extending radially from the walls of the second portion, wherein said displaceable member, when in said second portion, non-sealingly engages said guide members and is disengaged from said walls of said body;said first, elongate portion being of sufficient length to permit said displaceable member to generate a measurable volume of fluid before said displaceable member disengages from said walls to unseal said flow passage, thereby generating measurable volume flowing through the passage when said displaceable member disengages from said walls;further comprising a return element adapted and configured to urge the displaceable member to return towards said stop member;wherein said return element includes a magnet. 2. A magnetic flow controller comprising: a body having a single wall defining a fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;a stop member mounted across said inlet; anda displaceable member disposed in said body adjacent said stop member;wherein at least one of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a magnet, and the other of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a ferromagnetic portion, so as to create a magnetic force, acting on said displaceable member, sufficient to cause the displaceable member to engage said stop member so as to close and seal the flow passage;said single wall of said body defining an engaging portion of substantially constant diameter configured for sealingly engaging said displaceable member and a wider portion, having a diameter larger than said constant diameter configured for disengaging from said displacement member, said body having a plurality of guide members extending radially from the wall of the wider portion, wherein said displaceable member, when in said wider portion, engages said guide members without sealing the flow passage and is disengaged from said wall of said body;said engaging portion being of sufficient length to permit said displaceable member to generate a measurable volume of fluid before said displaceable member disengages from said wall to unseal said flow passage, thereby generating a pulse of fluid of measurable volume flowing through the passage when said displaceable member disengages from said wall. 3. The flow controller according to claim 2, wherein the flow passage includes a seal member adapted and configured to sealingly engage said displaceable member, and wherein said engaging portion is defined in said seal member. 4. The flow controller according to claim 2, wherein the displaceable member has a hydrodynamic shape. 5. The flow controller according to claim 2, wherein said stop member further comprises an adjusting screw coupled to said magnet and displaceably disposed in a housing for determining a point of engagement of said displaceable member and said stop member. 6. The flow controller according to claim 5, wherein said housing comprises top and bottom open ends, sidewalls, a cap for sealing off said top open end of said housing, and wherein said adjusting screw comprises annular screw threads for being displaced along a vertical axis in both directions within said housing by means of complementary annular screw threads in said sidewalls. 7. The flow controller according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting screw is formed of non-corrosive ferromagnetic material and wherein said housing is formed of non-corrosive material and is substantially sealed. 8. The flow controller according to claim 2, further comprising a return element adapted and configured to urge the displaceable member to return towards said stop member. 9. The flow controller according to claim 2, wherein movement of said displaceable member in the flow controller under leakage conditions is hysteresis motion. 10. The flow controller according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor arranged to sense movement of said displaceable member and provide an output corresponding to said sensed movement. 11. A method for controlling fluid flow for measuring a small flow of fluid, the method comprising: a stop member mounted across an inlet closing and sealing an inlet of a body having a single wall defining a flow passage by a displaceable member disposed in said body;building up differential pressure around said displaceable member until a threshold is overcome;after said threshold is overcome, moving said displaceable member under magnetic force through an engaging portion of said body of substantially constant diameter and of pre-selected length in sealing engagement with the wall of said body under force of increasing pressure of wider fluid to build up sufficient speed to continue its motion when it enters a portion of said body, said wider portion having a diameter larger than said first diameter, where said displaceable member disengages from said wall of the body and engages a plurality of guide members extending radially from the wall of the wider portion without sealing the flow passage, where said displaceable member, when in said wider portion, opens said flow passage when a measurable volume of fluid has been generated and reduces said differential pressure and generates a pulse of fluid to flowing to said outlet; andmoving the displaceable member under force back towards the fluid inlet to close and seal said inlet. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: providing a return element near said outlet for urging said displaceable member towards said inlet. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of providing a return element includes providing a magnet near said outlet for urging said displaceable member towards said inlet. 14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: providing an adjustable screw coupled to said magnet in said stop member for determining a point of engagement of said displaceable member and said stop member. 15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: mounting said adjustable screw and said magnet in a housing in said stop member. 16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: sensing movement of said displaceable member; andproviding an output signal corresponding to said sensed movement.