Mass flowmeter with retarding disk integration

THE FIRST large-scale use of flowmeters based on the conservation of momentum principle was employed in the B-47 airplane to measure fuel flow rates to the jet engines. This paper describes a flowmeter for gases which, although operating on the same basic principle, uses a retarding disk and register to integrate the flow rate. This flowmeter will directly measure the mass, or standard cubic feet, of gas consumed. It is much smaller and lighter in weight than conventional meters used for this purpose and may prove to be a most important contribution to the gas measuring industry. The basic principles of gas measurement have remained unchanged since 1844. Progress in the art has been largely confined to improved materials. It is the purpose of this paper to report on the preliminary development of the flowmeter, to discuss principles of operation, and to review test results obtained on the experimental sample.