Flow sensor with wide dynamic range
US6196070A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/28
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved fluid flow measuring device having more nearly linear response characteristics over a wide range of fluid flow rates measures the force exerted on a fluid flow sensing element (21, 37, 41, 47, 55, 61) located in the fluid flow. The effective area of the sensing element subjected to the fluid force decreases as the flow rate increases and increases as the flow rate decreases thereby compensating for the nonlinear relationship between fluid flow rate and the force exerted thereby. The sensing element may retract somewhat into a calm or minimal flow region (27, 35) in response to increased flow rate. The sensing element may include resilient vanes (45, 51, 52, 53, 57, 59) which bend thereby reducing their effective area in response to increased flow. The sensing element may include one or more flow passing apertures (43, 49) the size of which varies with flow rate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.