Self-cleaning and self-lubricating fluid flowmeter

摘要

A self-cleaning and self-lubricating fluid flowmeter comprising a tubular body forming an internal flow passage with a bearing support hub immovably positioned therein and forming a bearing receptacle. A rotor shaft extends into the bearing receptacle and supports a turbine rotor, the rotor shaft being supported by bearings located within the bearing receptacle. An increased pressure region is defined between the upstream and downstream ends of the bearing support hub, a slightly decreased pressure region is developed within the flow passage immediately downstream of the bearing support hub and is communicated into a cleaning and lubricating flow path extending from the slightly decreased pressure region upstream through the bearings, reversing and extending downstream to its terminal position at a greatly decreased pressure region further downstream of the bearing support hub. Flow through the flowmeter is conditioned for optimum measurement by a flow conditioner plate defining circular spaced concentric ribs and radially oriented ribs developing a plurality of flow conditioning openings of wedge shaped configuration and overlapping relation.