Patent ID: 7322231

Claim:
A flowmeter for regulating and monitoring the flow of sealing fluid to be conducted to a seal of a rotating shaft, the meter comprising a body, a sealing fluid metering channel arranged in the body, a sealing fluid inlet on a first end side of the metering channel and a sealing fluid connection towards the seal on a second end side of the metering channel, a control valve for regulating the flow of sealing fluid, a non-return valve for preventing the sealing fluid from flowing back to the flowmeter, a regulating and monitoring mechanism comprising a metering cone placed in the metering channel and metering the flow of the sealing fluid, the cross section of the cone tapering in the flow direction, a float movably arranged in the metering channel about the metering cone, the float having an opening for the metering cone, and a spring placed in the metering channel and acting against the flow direction on the float, the sealing fluid flowing through the opening between the float and the metering cone, and a cleaning means which is placed in the metering channel between the float and the metering channel inlet side end to extend to the inner surface of the metering channel and which is movable in the metering channel by means of actuators extending outside the metering channel, wherein the non-return valve is arranged as an extension to the metering channel at the meter end on the side of the connection to the seal, co-axially with the metering channel, and that the metering cone is in mechanical contact with the non-return valve.