SPHERE LAUNCHER AND METHOD

摘要

1414108 Measuring fluid-flow M H GROVE and J M E GROVE [trading as M & J DEVELOPMENT CO] 29 Jan 1974 [9 Feb 1973] 03995/74 Heading G1R In a meter prover apparatus, a sphere 1 arriving at the outlet end 10b of a meter prover pipe 10 is prevented from entering an interchange 11 by a guard 51 when a plunger assembly 32 is in a sphere launching position, Fig.5, and when assembly 32 is in the sphere 1 receiving position, Fig.6, the sphere 1 falls by gravity into a sphere carrier 56 and thereafter the assembly 32 is returned by an operating means 41 to the sphere launching position, Fig.5, in which the sphere 1 falls by gravity into the inlet end 10a of the pipe 10. In the assembly 32, Fig.6, a circular member 59, provided with a resilient material rim 61, enters a sleeve 38 and prevents the liquid backflow. Sealing cups 44 on the assembly 32 engage the sleeve 38, when the assembly is in the sphere launching position, Fig.5, and prevent liquid passing from the inlet 10a to outlet 10b. The pressure in a space 76 between the cups 44 and sleeve 38 is measured by a tube 67 and the pressure in the Tee 27 is measured by a pipe 68 and the two pressures operate a differential pressure device 69 which switches on one or other of lamps 73,74 if there is a liquid leak past cups 44. The sphere 1, on passage through pipe 10, actuates detectors 17, 18 and thus the accuracy of a flow-meter 14 is checked. Adjustment means are provided for different sphere sizes in carrier 56, Figs. 9-10, (not shown).