Thermal flowmeter
US6564629B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/6847
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for measuring the flow of a fluid located in a fluid channel heats the fluid channel without additional components. A metallic tube (2) with predetermined thermoelectric potential is provided as a fluid channel. An a.c. power source (7) is connected to a partial section (6) of the tube (2) in such a manner that the partial section (6) is heated as a resistor element to an increased working temperature compared with the temperature of the fluid. At least one thermocouple (12) is provided with junction points formed along the partial section (6) in such a manner that at least two wires (8, 9) with another thermoelectric potential are connected to the tube (2) in the area of the partial section (6). A measuring circuit (13, 14, 15) evaluates the thermocouple voltage of the thermocouple (12) and has a circuit (13) which eliminates the a.c. voltage component superimposed to the thermocouple voltage as a consequence of the a.c. heating. The thermocouple voltage yields the measured variable corresponding to the flow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.