Patent · US Expired

Flow meter with piezo-ceramic resistance element

US4100798A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 1977
Grant dateJul 18, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 28, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F1/363
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A flow meter particularly for receiving respiratory flows for pulmonary function diagnoses has a perforated piezo-ceramic flow resistance element and transducer in a flow tube for providing a highly-sensitive flow measurement with little resistance to the flow. Electric contact plates abut opposite planar faces of the piezo-ceramic material plate and are spaced apart at the periphery of the piezo-ceramic plate by an insulating disk. Frame members carry the piezo-ceramic plate and electric contact plates and are spaced and protected within a housing of the flow meter by soft, floating seal members. Contact lugs connected to the electric contact plates conduct signals from the meter which are a function of the bending of the piezo-ceramic material plate under the differential flow pressures on an upstream and a downstream side of the piezo-ceramic plate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.