Patent ID: 7370675
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flow conditioner for a fluid transport pipe, the conditioner comprising a substantially tubular main body forming a support, at least one flow rectifier comprised of a perforated plate disposed inside the main body essentially perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis XX′, and a porous plate disposed inside the main body upstream from the flow rectifier arid parallel thereto, wherein the elements of the conditioner are disposed in such a manner that a substantial fraction of the fluid flow passes through the flow rectifier and the porous plate in the absence of the porous plate becoming clogged, wherein the conditioner further includes a bypass circuit for ensuring continuity of fluid flow in the event of said porous plate becoming clogged, further comprising a stationary element and a moving element disposed inside the main body, the moving element being in contact with the stationary element in the absence of the porous plate becoming clogged, and being suitable for being moved in axial translation in a downstream direction relative to the stationary element so as to enable a bypass passage for the fluid in the event of said porous plate becoming clogged, means for holding the moving element in contact with the stationary element in the absence of the porous plate becoming clogged, and means for allowing the moving element to move in translation relative to the stationary element in the event of said porous plate becoming clogged, wherein the moving element is a support ring for supporting the porous plate, having an outside diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the main body, and the stationary element is a ring disposed inside the main body upstream from the porous plate, parallel thereto, and having an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the moving ring.