METHOD OF FLOW MEASUREMENT AND FLOW METER

Abstract: A method at urine flow measurement where liquid in the form of a free-fall jet (5) is collected in a collecting vessel (4) and the vertical force produced by the collecting vessel on a measuring device, for example a scales or the like, is sensed, and the change in time of said force is utilized for obtaining a measure of the flow corresponding to the jet (5). The method is especially characterized in that the effect of the impulse of the jet (5) on the sensed force is eliminated by deflecting the vertical flow constituted by the jet (5) to a substantially horizontal flow by rotating means (6) before the liquid is caused to contact the vessel (4). The invention also relates to a flow meter.

Description: Method of flow measurement and flow meter This " invention relates to a method at urine flow meas¬ urement where liquid in the form of a free-fall jet is collected in a collecting vessel,and the gravity of the vessel as a vertically acting force continuously is sensed and utilized for yielding a measure of the flow. The invention also relates to a flow meter for carrying out the method. At the examination of the function of the lower ureters of a human being, the measurement of the urine flow, as a function of the time, is the objective examination method where the potential possibilities of obtaining copious information are greatest. Proceeding from the urine flow and the hydrostatic pressure in the bladder of a person, the elastic properties of the urethra de¬ termining the urine flow can be obtained. It is a pre¬ requisite, hoxvever, that this flow and pressure can be measured accurately. Known urine flow meters, however, yield serious errors in measurement. At a usual method of flow measurement a scales with a collecting vessel is used. The force recorded by such a scales is produced by t F = m g + gpj Q dt + vQ o ^ J where m is the initial mass of the vessel, g is the acceleration of gravity, p is the density of the urine, t is the time, Q the volume flow for the urine, and v the corresponding flow rate. The integral term here corresponds to the volume. The last term in the ex-'.' pression is the reaction force due to the kinetic en- ergy of the urine jet. In order to receive an output signal corresponding to the f-low, the force signal is derived, whereby . | _ spQ + g Q + v (2) The first term of the derivative, thus, is proportion- al to the desired flow. The remaining two terms are false signals occurring at flow variations. The effect of these false terms can be illustrated by the record¬ ed flow at an imagined pulse shaped urine flow. When the flow starts and ceases, due to said reaction force in principle infinitely large derivators are obtained which yield great overshoots in the system. These can be filtered out, but the system then receives a very slow response. Some of the problems with the kinetic energy of the urine jet can be overcome by collecting the urine in a funnel intended to take up the reaction force. The funnel, however, adds a problem which possibly is still more serious, viz. a variable delay of the flow. This delay depends on ' where the urine jet meets the funnel. When a jet with constant flow is caused to oscillate over the funnel, this variable delay gives rise to a false variation in the flow be recorded by the equipment. In a known type of flow meter the flow is related to the effect which is required to accelerate the liquid to the circumferential speed of a rotating plate. The urine, however, here is collected by a funnel, and therefore the method and meter are afflicted with the errors in measurement involved therewith. When the urine jet is caused to directly meet the rotating plate, the reaction force of the jet affects the necessary effect for maintaining the rotation of the plate constant. The present invention relates to a flow meter substant¬ ially designed according to the aforesaid scales princ¬ iple-. At the flow meter according to the invention, the problems referred to above have been eliminated substantially entirely, so that the flow can be measur¬ ed with very high accuracy. The present invention, thus, relates to a method at urine flow measurement where liquid in the form of a free-fall jet is collected in a collecting vessel, and the vertical force produced by the collecting vessel on a measuring member, for example a scales or the like, is sensed,and the change in time of said force is utilized for receiving a measure of the flow corres¬ ponding to the jet. The method is especially characterized in that the influence of the impulse of the jet on the sensed force is eliminated by deflecting the vertical flow constituted by the jet to a substantially horizontal flow by means of rotating devices before the liquid is caused to contact the vessel. The invention also relates to a flow meter for urine flow measurement, where liquid in the form of a free- -fall jet is intended to continuously be collected in a collecting vessel, and where means, for example a scales or the like, are provided for sensing a vert¬ ical force produced by the vessel, and the change in time of said force is intended to be utilized for receiving a measure of the flow corresponding to the jet. The flow meter according to the invention is especially characterized in that it comprises rotary devices free from said vessel, by means of which devices the vertic¬ al flow constituted by the jet is intended to be de¬ flected to a substantially horizontal flow prior to the supply of the liquid to the vessel, so that the influence of the impulse of the jet on the sensed force is eliminated. ^ ' S.∑A ζ O PI The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to an embodiment and the acc¬ ompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a known arrangement for flow measurement comprising weighing, Figs. 2a-c schematically show by way of curves real flow, recorded volume and. respectively, recorded flow at a known flow meter substantially according to Fig. 1, Fig.5 -shows recorded flow as a function of the time, where the flow is maintained constant while the liquid jet is caused to oscillate over a collecting funnel comprised in the flow meter, Fig. 4 is a schemat¬ ic vertical section through a part of an arrangement according to the invention, by which part the impulse of the jet is intended to be taken up, Fig. 5 is a schematic vertical central section A-A according to Fig. 6 through an embodiment of an arrangement accord¬ ing to the invention, Fig. 6 is a section B-B according to Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows an electric output signal as a function of applied constant flow at a flow meter according to the invention, and Fig. 8 shows the res¬ ponse on an applied pulse shape flow at a flow meter accordin to the invention. In Fig. 1 the numeral 1 designates a collecting vessel, and 2 is a scales, on which the vessel 1 is placed. An arrangement of this known type involves errors in meas¬ urement as referred to above. In Fig. 2c overshoots 3" at a pulse shape flow 3, Fig. 2a, are shown as a result of the jet impulse. In Fig. 3 pulsations in the record¬ ed flow at the use of a funnel are shown, through which funnel the liquid is caused to pass prior to the arr¬ ival at the collecting vessel at a flow meter accord¬ ing to Fig. 1, which pulsations are obtained at a li¬ quid jet oscillating over the funnel. At the embodiment of an arrangement of the invention shown partially and schematically in Fig. 4 the numer- al 4 designates a collecting vessel, to which a liquid flow in the form of a jet 5 is intended to enter. 6 designates a rotary, substantially horizontal and pref¬ erably circular disc located in, but not in contact with the vessel 4 and preferably " 'substantially adjoin¬ ing the inner wall 7 of the vessel. The jet 5 is in¬ tended to incide to the disc 6, whereby the vertical flow constituted by the jet is intended to be deflected to a substantially horizontal flow prior to the supply of the liquid to the vessel 4 and, in applicable cases, to liquid 8 in the vessel. The disc 6 is capable to rotate with high speed, so that the flow rate of the liquid after the deflection of the flow is high. According to a preferred embodiment, the disc 6 has a hydrophobic coat so as to easily let go the liquid therefrom. According also to a preferred embodiment, the vessel 4 is substantially cylindric and designed so that its bottom 9 includes ' a central hole 10, from which a flange 11 projects upward to a height intended at measurement not to be exceeded by the liquid level in the vessel 4, through which hole 10 an axle 12 for driving the disc 6 is intended to run. At the embodiment of a flow meter according to the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the collecting part of the meter is designed substantially as in Fig. 4. The axle 12 is mounted in a pipe 13 by bearings 14 and extends to a motor 15 located beneath the vessel on a bottom plate lβ, which via a cellular rubber disc 17 is resiliently, elastically attached to the relative¬ ly heavy chassis 18 of the meter in order to minimize the transfer of vibrations from the motor 15 and rot¬ ating disc 6 to the chassis 18. At the embodiment shown, the chassis 18 comprises a circular bottom 19 and a wall arrangement 20 projecting in a cylindric configuration from the bottom 19. 21 designates a vertically movable thin metal plate, on which the vessel 4 is placed and via which the vert¬ ical " force from the vessel 4 is intended to be taken up. The plate 21 includes a central hole 22 for extending the pipe 13 and axle 12 therethrough. The plate 21 is resiliently supported via intermediate members in the form of metal blocks 23 on the chassis 18 by means of three upper soft spring steels 24, which extend radi¬ ally inward from the circumference 25 of the upper portion of the chassis, and by means of six rods 26 extending from the plate 21 vertically downward at a ring 27, which connects the rods 26 and is resili- ently attached also to the lower portion of the chassis by three soft spring steels 28. The plate 21 hereby is fixed horizontally. The said plate 21 comprises at its lower surface 29 a cam 30, on which the plate at the embodiment shown is intended to rest and thereby to affect a piezoelect¬ ric ceramic crystal 31. According to a preferred em- bodiment, the crystal has a length of 20 mm and is of the type marketed under the designation PXE 5, multi- morph, Philips. The crystal is longitudinally and symmetrically glued on the upper surface of a spring steel 32 which is 60 mm long, 10 mm wide and 1 mm thick. The spring steel is rigidly clamped at its both ends 33,34 to a beam 35 and, respectively, resting freely on an edge (not shown) . The said cam 30 extends diametr¬ ically in the chassis, and the beam 35 with the spring steel 32 and crystal 31 are arranged as a chord per- pendicular to the cam, as shown in Fig. 6. According to a preferred embodiment, beneath the disc 6 a disc 3 supported by the outer pipe 13 is provided with discs 37 intended to brake air movements induced by the rotation of said disc 6. According also to a preferred embodiment, discs or the like (not shown) are provided at the bottom of the vessel 4 for braking movements of the liquid collected in the vessel. The method and the way of operation of the arrangement according to the invention substantially should have become apparent from the aforesaid. The reaction force from the impulse of the jet 5 , thus, is taken up by the rapidly rotating disc 6 free from the vessel 4. The jet hereby is shattered to the disc, and the liquid flow is accelerated to the horizontal speed 1 , Fig. 4, at the circumference of the disc. When the liquid meets the wall of the collecting vess¬ el, a horizontal force is obtained which, however, is distributed uniformly over the inner surface of the vessel. By the design described for sensing the force, the force is sensed only in vertical direction. The flow meter, therefore, is not sensitive to the horiz¬ ontal force. After having met the inner surface 7 of the vessel, the liquid moves slowly with the speed downward along the vessel wall, and as πi p dV p /dt •- π g only a force contribution is recorded which corr¬ esponds to m 2 . The resulting force, therefore, with the designations according to Fig. 4 is is obtained. Under the above assumptions, thus, the derived signal is proportional to the volume flow Q and independent of the flow rate v and its derivative (see equation (2)). OMPΓ show a linear relation between applied flow and output signal. The response to applied pulse shape flow is rapid- and does not show overshoots. When the pulse shape flow is recorded with an electric time constant of 0,1 sec. a response time is obtained which from the start of the flow to its arrival at 63$ of the final value is about 0,2 sec. The invention has been described above with reference to substantially one embodiment. Several more embodim- ents and minor alterations, of course, can be imagined without therefore abandoning the invention idea. Other configurations of the rotating member 6 than the disc shape shown, for example, can be imagined. In Pig. 5 a certain cone-shape is shown. The rotating member, however, can be designed so that the cone shape entirely dominates. • ^JRE__ OMPI

Claims: Claims 1. _~A method at urine flow measurement where liquid in the form of a free-fall jet is collected in a collect¬ ing vessel, and the vertical force produced by the collecting vessel on a measuring device, for example a scales or the like, is sensed and the change in time of said force is utilized for receiving a measure of the flow corresponding to the jet, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n that the effect of the impulse of the jet (5) on the sensed force is eliminated by deflecting the vertical flow constituted by the jet (5) to a substantially horizontal flow by means of rotating devices (6) before the liquid is caused to contact the vessel (4) . 2. A method as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c te r¬ i z e d i n that the jet (5) is caused to meet a rotating and substantially horizontal disc (6) located in, but not connected to the vessel (4) and preferably substantially adjoining the inner wall (7) of the vess- el, whereby said impulse is taken up and the flow is deflected. 3. A method as defined in claim l or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that the liquid is caused to accelerate after said deflection. 4. A method as defined in claim 1,2 or 3, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that the vertical force from the collecting vessel is taken up via a vertic¬ ally movable disc (21), on which the vessel (4) is placed, and which affects means for obtaining inform- ation concerning said force. 5. A method as defined in claim 1,2,3 or 4, c h a r- a c t e r i z e d i n that the vertical force is caused to affect means (31) for emitting a signal volt- O age, which is directly proportional to the derivative of the force. 6. A method as defined in claim 5, c h a r a c t e - i z e d i n that said disc (21) via a cam (30) affects a piezoelectric crystal (31) * which is attached to a spring steel (32), which at its both ends (33,34) is clamped and, respectively, freely supported. 7. A method as defined in claim 1,2,3,4,5 or β , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that movements of the liquid (8) collected in the collecting vessel are braked by discs or the like provided at the bottom (9) of the vessel (4) . 8. A method as defined in claim 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that air movements induced by rotation of said means ' (6) are braked by discs (37) provided below said means (6). 9. A flow meter for urine flow measurement where liquid in the form of a free-fall jet is intended to continuously be collected in a collecting vessel and means, for example a scales or the like, are provided for sensing a vertical force produced by the vessel, and the change in time of said force is intended to be utilized for receiving a measure of the flow corres¬ ponding to the jet, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises rotatable means (6) free from the vessel (4), by which means the vertical flow constit¬ uted by the jet (5) is intended to be deflected to a substantially horizontal flow prior to the supply of the liquid to the vessel (4), so that the effect of the impulse of the jet (5) on the sensed force is eliminated. 10. A flow meter as defined in claim 9, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises a rotary substantially horizontal and circular disc (6) in, but not in contact with the vessel (4) and preferably -fJREA " OMPI substantially adjoining the inner wall (7) of the vessel (4), against which disc the jet is intended to incide. 11. A flow meter as defined in claim 9 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said means (6) are capable to rotate with high speed, so that the liquid is accelerated in horizontal direction after the deflection of the flow. 12. A flow meter as defined in claim 9,10 or 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises a vertically movable plate (21) or the like, via which the vertical force from the collecting vessel (4) is intended to be taken up, and which is capable to affect means for obtaining information concerning said force. 13. A flow meter as defined in claim 9,10,11 or 12, c h- a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises means (3D to be affected by the vertical force for emitting a signal voltage, which is directly proport- ional to the derivative of the force. 14. A flow meter as defined in claim 13, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that said disc (21) via a cam (30) is capable to affect a piezoelectric crystal (31) attached to a spring steel (32), which at its both ends (33,34) is clamped and, respectively, freely supported. 15. A flow meter as defined in claim 9,10,11,12,13 or 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the bottom (9) of said vessel (4) includes a central hole (10), from which a flange (11) projects upward to a height intended at measurement not to be exceeded by the liquid level in the vessel (4), through which hole (10) an axle (12) or the like is intended to extend for driving said rotary means (6). 16. A flow meter as defined in claim 9,10,11,12,13, 14 or 45, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the driving is intended to be effected by a motor (15) located on a bottom plate (16), which via a cellular 5 rubber plate (17) is resiliently attached to the relat¬ ively heavy chassis (18) of the meter. 17. A flow meter as defined in claim 12,13, 14,15 or 16, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said plate (21) via intermediate members (23) is attached resili- 10 ently to the chassis (18) by means of upper spring steels (24) and by means of rods (26) extending vertic¬ ally downward from the plate (21) via a ring (27) conn¬ ecting the rods and attached to the chassis (18) also by lower spring steels (28). 15 18. A flow meter as defined in any one of the preced¬ ing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises free standing rigidly attached discs (37) or the like located below said rotary means (6) and intended to brake air movements induced by the rotation 20 of said means. 19. A flow meter as defined in any one of the preced. ing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that discs or the like are located at the bottom (9) of the coll¬ ecting vessel (4) for braking movements of the liquid 25 (8... collected in the vessel (4). 20. A flow meter as defined in claim 9,10,11,12,13, 14,15,16,17,18 or 19, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n said rotary means comprise a cone, against which the jet (5) is intended to incide. 30 21. A flow meter as defined in any one of the preced¬ ing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said rotary means (6) comprise a hydrophobic coat. OMPI

Inventors: ASK PER, ENGBERG ANDERS, OEBERG AOKE, SPAONGBERG ANDERS, ASK, PER, ENGBERG, ANDERS, OEBERG, AOKE, SPAONGBERG, ANDERS
Applicants: ASK PER, ENGBERG ANDERS, OEBERG AOKE, SPAONGBERG ANDERS, ASK, PER, ENGBERG, ANDERS, OEBERG, AOKE, SPAONGBERG, ANDERS
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A61B5
IPC codes: A61B5, G01F1