US 11,703,362 B2
Overmolded paddlewheel for a flow meter
John T. Nguyen, Fountain Valley, CA (US); and Robert E. Gledhill, III, Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to Blue-White Industries, Ltd., Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Filed by Blue-White Industries, Ltd., Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/445,480.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/203,309, filed on Jul. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0015391 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. G01F 1/075 (2006.01); B29D 99/00 (2010.01)
CPC G01F 1/0755 (2013.01) [B29D 99/0025 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of fabricating a paddlewheel for a flow meter, the method comprising:
providing an inner part of the paddlewheel, wherein the inner part of the paddlewheel comprises a hub, a first partial blade and a second partial blade, the first partial blade comprising a first spoke extending from the hub and a first winged portion extending from the first spoke and the second partial blade comprising a second spoke extending from the hub and a second winged portion extending from the second spoke, the first partial blade defining a first cavity and the second partial blade defining a second cavity;
inserting a plurality of magnets in the inner part of the paddlewheel, by inserting a first magnet into the first cavity of the first partial blade and inserting a second magnet into the second cavity of the second partial blade; and
overmolding an outer part of the paddlewheel over the inner part of the paddlewheel by (1) forming a first outer blade portion extending from the first partial blade thereby closing the first cavity and (2) forming a second outer blade portion extending from the second partial blade, thereby closing the second cavity.