Jerry Lee Olson

US Patent:

42325498, Nov 11, 1980

Filed:

Dec 6, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/966844

Inventors:

Robert S. Migrin - Dearborn MI
Jerry A. Olson - Dearborn MI

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G01F 500

US Classification:

73202

Abstract:

A low pressure drop air flowmeter for an automobile engine is disclosed. The meter contains a main air flow passage, a relatively small venturi to receive a portion of the air flow, pressure ports for sensing stagnation and static pressure and a set of swirl vanes disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to impart a swirl to the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressure without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. A tertiary passage provides a path of fluid communication between points upstream and downstream of the swirl vanes. This passage can be selectively opened or restricted by a valve which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, opens the tertiary passage with increasing overall flow rate. This arrangement results in a fluid flowmeter having a characteristic pressure drop which is less than that of a conventional device, particularly at high flow rates.

US Patent:

42827515, Aug 11, 1981

Filed:

Aug 29, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/070593

Inventors:

James M. Brown - Allen Park MI
Hermann Kaiser - Utica MI
Jerry A. Olson - Dearborn MI

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G01F 500

US Classification:

73202

Abstract:

A low pressure drop air flowmeter (10) for an automobile engine is disclosed. The meter contains a main air flow passage (24), a relatively small venturi (20) to receive a portion of the air flow, pressure ports (98a and 120) for sensing stagnation and static pressure and a set of swirl vanes (22) disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to impart a swirl to the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressure without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. A tertiary passage (28) provides a path of fluid communication between points upstream and downstream of the swirl vanes. This passage includes a flow restricting throat (29) which is manually calibrated during or after assembly. Air exiting the tertiary passage impinges upon the swirl to modulate the vortex velocities.

US Patent:

41365658, Jan 30, 1979

Filed:

Apr 20, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/898267

Inventors:

Robert S. Migrin - Dearborn MI
Jerry A. Olson - Dearborn MI

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G01F 144
G01F 146

US Classification:

73212

Abstract:

A low pressure drop air flowmeter for an automotive engine is disclosed. The meter includes a main air flow passage, a relatively small venturi to receive a portion of the air flow, a pressure port for sensing stagnation pressure in the main passage, a pressure port for sensing static pressure in the throat of the venturi, and a set of swirl vanes disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to impart a swirl to the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressure without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. A geometrically reconfigurable element is included in the main passage resulting in a swirl rate which increases with increasing air flow but at a decreasing rate. This characteristic results in an output pressure differential signal which varies substantially linearly with flow rate over a relatively large range of operation. The reconfigurable element can be of the iris type which varies the effective tip radius of the swirl vanes, or alternatively, can comprise flexible swirl vanes which present a variable pitch to the remainder of the air flowing in the main passage.

US Patent:

43241433, Apr 13, 1982

Filed:

Sep 15, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/187294

Inventors:

Jerry A. Olson - Dearborn MI

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G01F 150
G01F 132

US Classification:

7386162

Abstract:

A low pressure drop air flowmeter (10) for an automotive engine is disclosed. The meter includes a main air flow passage (26), a relatively small venturi tube (28) receiving a portion of the air flow, a pressure port (74) for sensing stagnation pressure in the main passage, a pressure port (70) for sensing static pressure in the throat of the venturi, and a complimentary pair of sets of stationary swirl vanes (30 & 32) disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to jointly impart a swirl through the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressures without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. The sets of swirl vanes are rotationally displaceable with respect to one another, allowing some of the air to bypass the effect of the swirl vanes without being diverted to a separate passageway. This arrangement results in a fluid flowmeter having a characteristic pressure drop which is less than that for a conventional device, particularly at high flow rates, and which can be easily reconfigured to suit a specific application.