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IOM BiRotor 3” to 6” R03
11 Maintenance
WARNING
Extreme care must be exercised when the mea-
suring chamber is exposed and handled. Hands
must be kept clear of the timing gears, rotors and
measuring chamber or serious personal injury can
occur. Due to the precision balance of the rotors
and timing gears, they can be set in motion easily.
Keep hands clear of these parts at all times! At no
time should hands be used to brace these
11.1 General
The amount of maintenance necessary for effi cient
meter performance depends upon such factors as:
1. Continuity of Operation - A meter which operates
almost continuously, obviously will require more
attention than one on intermittent duty.
2. Rate of Flow - The practical life of any piece of
equipment is proportional to its speed of opera-
tion. A meter operating at, or close to, its maxi-
mum rating will naturally have a shorter life than
one operating at a reduced rate.
3. Lubricating Value of Product - Other factors being
equal, a meter handling a light lubricating oil will
have a longer life than one measuring a dry motor
fuel.
4. Cleanliness of Product - Abrasive solid matter
accelerates meter wear.
Meters that are given a little attention regularly will
deliver better performance and have a longer life
than those that are not given any attention until they
have failed. Frequently, a meter’s performance will
depend, to a considerable extent, upon the proper
functioning of the accessory equipment in the piping
system. Following are listed some of the conditions
and factors infl uencing meter performance:
1. A meter should be kept fi lled with the liquid it is
measuring. Draining results in the formation of
deposits and gums which increase the mechanical
friction. Any leaky shut-off valves or check valves
which would permit the meter to drain should be
repaired or replaced.
2. A petroleum meter should be kept free of water.
Usually, regular inspection and draining of storage
tanks are suffi cient protection.
3. Clean the strainer basket frequently.
4. Soft closing loading valves or shock chambers for
eliminating water hammer should be kept in good
working order.
5. The valves and operating mechanism of an air
eliminator should be given occasional inspection.
This is especially true where a critical air condi-
tion exists and for this reason, meter performance
is very dependent upon proper air elimination.
The valves and operating mechanism of an air
eliminator are subject to very diffi cult operating
conditions. With some products, alternate wetting
and drying results in gum formations. The vapors
of most petroleum products are more corrosive
than the liquids. In some installations, salt air is a
corrosive factor.
6. The counter of the meter should be given some
protection during extreme weather conditions.
7. A meter taken out of service for any length of
time should be fi lled with light lubricating oil.
8. Keep Brodie manuals available for reference.
11.2 General Meter Disassembly
CAUTION
Before performing any disassembly or reassembly
procedures, all fl ow to meter should be off. All elec-
trical connections to accessories should be discon-
nected. Service should be performed by trained and
qualifi ed personnel only.
Cleanliness is of prime importance when working on a
precision instrument. The work area should be clean
and the meter parts thoroughly washed. All gaskets
and O-ring should be removed and replaced. This
policy will assure maximum performance from your
Brodie BiRotor Meter at less expense and with greater
accuracy.
