Abstract:
A flange adapter for interfacing two different diameters of piping is provided. This flange adapter allows for the integration of a component, such as a magmeter, having a narrower diameter into a system. Such a flange adapter allows for a simple seamless weld that provides relatively smooth interior walls within the system so as to maintain the integrity of the chemical or biochemical processes taking place within the system.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/683,125, entitled “MAGMETER FLANGE ADAPTER,” filed on May 20, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to measuring flow rate within a pipe and, more particularly, to pipe couplings to magnetic-inductive flowmeters (magmeters) used for measuring flow rate in various pipes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Magmeters are used to measure volumetric flow of liquid through pipe. Proper installation requires that the inside diameter (ID) of the pipe match the ID of the magmeter. Accuracy suffers if the IDs do not match. Historically, the market for magmeters has been in the petrochemical industry, which uses piping of schedule 40 thickness. Thus, common magmeters have been designed with a schedule 40 ID. 
     Specifically, different chemical or biochemical reactions or processes have different pipe diameters, where pressure, flow rate, and other such variables can be both measured and regulated. For example, a brewing operation is a biochemical process that is very closely controlled for both sanitary and quality control reasons. Specifically, the regulation of flow rates is an important component to producing a quality product. 
     Accordingly, various industries, including the brewing industry, have lower line pressures than the petrochemical industry and have thinner standardized pipes (such as schedule 5 pipe), have larger IDs. For example, a standard, nominal 6-inch schedule 5 pipe for brewing applications would have a larger ID than a nominal 6-inch schedule 40 pipe. Additionally, the brewing industry, specifically, has a requirement to use sanitary piping systems. Thus, using a standard magmeter (dimensioned for schedule 40 pipe) in a brewing piping system (using schedule 5 pipe) introduces a step change in pipe diameter at the junction, which degrades the accuracy and introduces small stagnation points and crevices at junctions, which are potential locations for sanitary problems. 
     In the past, various manufacturers, such as Anheuser-Busch®, have used adapter sections in the pipe to connect to magmeters. This approach has been shown to have deficiencies for accuracy and for sanitary requirements. Therefore, manufacturers have been developing new techniques to install magmeters. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a method and/or apparatus for capitalizing on the efficiency of magmeters and other such measurement or interfacing components in conjunction with maintaining the requirements for the specific chemical or biochemical processes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention, accordingly, provides a flange adapter having a tapered transition to fit schedule 40 standard piping at a first end, and to fit schedule 5 standard piping at a second end. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flange adapter is comprised of stainless steel having a sulfur content between 0.005% and 0.018%. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first end further comprises a bore contained therein. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bore is adapted to receive a magmeter. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a transition within the bore between the flange adapter and the magmeter is smooth and linear. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flange adapter contains specific dimensions to facilitate precise welding to pipe. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flange adapter is made thicker to provide required sturdiness and to allow a tapped hole to be used for a grounding screw. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a flow system is provided. A schedule 40 standard magmeter is employed, and a flange adapter is adapted to receive the magmeter at a first end and transition to a schedule 5 standard piping at a second end by a taper. Schedule 5 standard piping is then coupled to the second end of the flange adapter. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side cutaway view of a flowmeter system; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cutaway view of the flange adapter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2B  is a front view of the flange adapter shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a is a front view of the flange adapter, which includes a seat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. 
     Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are, for the sake of clarity, not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the reference numeral  100  generally designates a flow system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  comprises a magmeter  102 , flange adapters  104 , and piping  106 . 
     Typically, piping  106  is responsible for carrying fluid within the system  100 . For example, for a beer brewing system, piping  106  would be primarily responsible for carrying the brewing or brewed beer throughout the system  100 . Typically, this type of piping is what is known as schedule 5 piping. For these applications, nominal pipe sizes between ½ inch and 6 inches are usually employed. 
     Additionally, piping  106  has a diameter of d A  that remains constant throughout the system  100 . For example, with a nominal pipe diameter of 4 inches of American National Standards Institute/American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ANSI/ASME) 36.19M Stainless Steel Pipe, the diameter d A  is about 4.333 inches. The use of piping  106  of constant diameter d A  would, therefore, allow the system to provide the internal surfaces required for sanitary service. Schedule 5 pipe is used because stainless steel costs are relatively high, and it makes economic sense to save material cost and weight by installing the lightest weight pipe allowed for the service. 
     The magmeter  102 , however, is designed to operate at higher pressures and has a smaller diameter d B  than the piping  106 . The type of piping that is employed within the magmeter  102  is a standard diameter of piping so that the magmeter  102  can be employed in a wide variety of situations and applications. For example, for a 4-inch magmeter, the diameter d B  can be from about 3.8 inches to about 4.3 inches. 
     Therefore, to make the transitions back and forth between the differing diameters and schedules of piping, flange adapters  104  are utilized, which are secured into position by bolts  108 . Flange adapters  104  do not have a constant diameter; instead, a diameter d C  with a constant rate of change is employed. In other words, the interior walls of flange adapter  104  are tapered or conical. Additionally, in some cases, magmeters, such as magmeter  102 , can have diameters that are not constant, but instead are tapered or conical at the ends. Thus, under these circumstances, the diameter d C  of the flange adapter  104  can be adapted to match the ID at the ends of the magmeter. 
     It, however, is known to transition from different interior diameters or radii of piping. Flange adapters  104 , thus, have an important feature, where the specifics of its design and operation are an improvement over previous designs. Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  of the drawings, the reference numeral  104  generally designates a flange adapter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, flange adapter  104  comprises a centered duct  208 , which provides a fluid passage extending from front  202  to back  204 . 
     The centered duct  208 , however, is not simply a passage having a uniform diameter. Instead, the centered duct  208  comprises a tapered bore  210  and a straight bore  216 . At the front of the flange adapter  104 , the tapered bore  210  is narrowest with a first radius r 1 . The tapered bore  210 , then, extends toward the back, becoming increasingly broad until a maximum, second radius r 2  is reached. At the point where the taper reaches the second radius r 2 , the straight bore  216  extends seamlessly therefrom, retaining the second radius r 2 . 
     Having a complete duct  208  that is both tapered and straight provides a benefit to coupling different components together. Because flange adapter  104  is generally comprised of metal, such as stainless steel, flange adapter  104  can be welded to other piping or components. 
     Clearly, flange adapter  104  is able to be removably coupled to a component or pipe, such as magmeter  102 , at its narrowest point and can be welded to piping, such as piping  106 , at its widest point. However, welding at tapers or at points where the rate of change of the internal radii is not zero can be difficult. In specific applications, welds can be of particular concern, such as in a brewing application where crevices in the interior of the piping can allow for microbial colonies to form which lead to unsanitary conditions. Thus, the ability to weld two sections of piping together that are the same diameter or radius allows for welds of proper quality. The use of the straight bore  216  can therefore reduce improper welds to pipe sections while allowing a smooth transition from a narrow pipe section to a wider pipe section. 
     Additionally, it is not advantageous to perform welds at both junctures of flange adapter  104 . A component, such as magmeter  102 , should be periodically removed for servicing or replacement, and is typically not designed to be welded onto a pipe. Thus, at a radial distance r 3  from the center of the flange adapter  104 , a bolt circle  214  is formed on an enlarged-diameter flange. The centers of a plurality of bolt holes  212  are along this bolt circle  214 , and the holes are symmetrically arranged relative to the center of the bolt circle  214 . Each of the holes  212 , too, extend from the front side  202  to the back side  204  so that bolts  108  can secure the magmeter  102  into the flange adapter  104 . As an example, which is shown in  FIG. 2B , there are eight through holes  212  arranged in opposition to one another so that a retaining force can be evenly distributed across the entire flange adapter  104 . 
     A counter bore  206  is employed in conjunction with the bolt holes  212  and bolts  108  to retain a component or piping, such as magmeter  102 . The radius r 4  of the counter bore  206  is roughly equivalent to the outer radius of a component or piping, such as magmeter  102 , to which flange adapter  104  couples. This counter bore  206  operates as a seat for the component, allowing for both ease of alignment and the ability to provide a better seal between flange adapter  104  and a component, such as magmeter  102 . 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flange adapter  104  is comprised of metal, such as stainless steel, cast iron, copper, galvanized iron, and so forth. For brewing applications, in particular, stainless steel with a sulfur content between 0.005% and 0.018% is employed to ensure approved quality welds. 
     Additionally, in another preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , an additional seat  110  can be provided within the bore  206  that is adapted to receive a deformable seal (not shown). 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flange adapter  104  is made thicker to provide required sturdiness and to allow a tapped hole to be used for a grounding screw. 
     Thus, the flange adapter  104  allows for easy implementation with quality welds for junctures where there is an inner diameter change. Thus, magmeters and other such narrow inner diameter equipment can become more widely implemented throughout other industries that utilize different standards of piping, particularly in the brewing industry. 
     Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.