PADDLEWHEEL FLOW METER WITH IMPROVED SERVICABILITY AND IMPROVED RELIABILITY UNDER HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS

摘要

In a flow meter, a rotor support body carries a paddlewheel rotor in an operational position exposed to a through-flow bore of a flow meter housing. A sensor unit is operable to detect rotation of the rotor and provide output responsive to same for use by a monitoring system in determining a flow rate of fluid passing through the housing. The support body and the sensor unit are removable from the housing, for inspection, service, repair or replacement independently of the housing, with the sensor unit being removable independently of the support body for improved serviceability. The rotor is carried on a support shaft with a reduced diameter portion for contact-free rotation of the rotor around this reduced diameter portion, reducing an area of the shaft over which tight machining tolerances are required to prevent ingress of particulate matter that can lead to inaccurate flow measurements and increased wear rates.