Monitoring unpressurised fluid flow in unfilled return tube - using container with inner overflow tube and level indicator

摘要

A device monitoring the fluid mass flow in a tube enables economical but reliable monitoring of fluid flow in nonfilled tubes not under pressure, eg. in cooling or lubricating oil return flow pipes, esp. of generator bearings. Accurate return flow measurement enables oil system fault detection. A container (1) in the return tube has upper feed (2, 12) and lower outlet (14) openings. The outlet opening has a smaller cross-section than the inlet. The container has an overflow tube (13) allowing fuel out when a certain level is exceeded. The container also has inside it a level monitoring device (8) with a float (5) whose switching point lies in the upper third of the normal level. The response time of the device is shorter than the bearing dry running danger time.