Patent ID: 6019003
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A flow sensor turbine assembly, comprising:(a) a turbine shaft having first and second ends;(b) a tubular turbine shaft bearing having first and second ends of a tubular wall and rotatably mounted on the turbine shaft;(c) a turbine having at least one turbine blade mounted on the turbine shaft bearing;(d) first and second shaft support means for fixedly supporting the first and second ends of the turbine shaft;(e) a sidewall positioned between the first and second shaft support means and forming an enclosure for the turbine assembly;(f) apertures in the shaft support means for allowing a fluid flow through the turbine assembly;(g) a ball shaped thrust bearing mounted in the first shaft support means and positioned therein to bear against the first end of the tubular wall of the turbine shaft bearing such that a center of the ball shaped thrust bearing is aligned with a center of the first end of the tubular wall to form a single point of contact bearing; andwherein the turbine shaft has a clearance notch formed therein adjacent to the ball shaped thrust bearing and the ball shaped thrust bearing is spherical in shape and positioned adjacent to the clearance notch formed in the turbine shaft.