Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for measuring a fluid

US6125695A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
19References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1997
Grant dateOct 3, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F1/6847
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A flow sensor including a symmetrical sensor tube for carrying the fluid, first and second heaters symmetrically disposed at the sensor tube, and a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with the fluid. A flow meter including a flow sensor having a sensor tube, a first heater disposed at the sensor tube, a second heater disposed at the sensor tube, and a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with the fluid. The meter also includes a circuit for selectively applying power to the first and second heaters to maintain a temperature difference between a temperature of the first and second heaters and the temperature of the fluid, and for determining a difference in power supplied to the first and second heaters. A method including providing first and second heaters at a temperature a fixed amount above a temperature of the fluid; determining a difference in power supplied to the first and second heaters; and determining a measurement of the fluid from the difference in power supplied to the first and second heaters.

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