30,000th Flow Meter Measures Tyre Spray

The 30,000th flow meter produced by specialist flow meter maker Litre Meter is being used by tyre manufacturer Michelin to measure water spray. The LMH Pelton wheel flow meter was shipped to Michelin for use in its rubber mixing operation in South Carolina. Rubber is mixed to the exact ratio required to make tyres for the automotive industry. The meter forms part of a spray system that is used to jet hot water onto the rubber mixture to maintain a constant temperature as it passes through the production line. It precisely measures the amount of water passing through the spray system in order to ensure consistency.

Fred Tienken, Mechanical Design Engineer at Michelin North America, said: “We use Litre Meter flow meters throughout the rubber mixing process. It is essential that the water flow rates in our spraying system are kept constant and the Pelton wheel flow meter enables us to achieve this.”

Litre Meter’s patented Pelton wheel design was chosen because it has a proven track record of reliability spanning more than 30 years. The meter can accurately measure low flows, which in Michelin’s case means a flow range of between 0.03 and 4.3 litres/minute. It is designed to operate at a pressure of 5 bar and temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius. The Litre Meter Pelton wheel flowmeter has a custom-built 316 stainless steel cover and is supplied with ferrules and connectors to enable the instrument to be connected to Michelin’s spraying system. To commemorate the 30,000th flow meter milestone Litre Meter presented Michelin North America with a plaque.