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Capacitive sensor for a flow control valve

  • US 10,451,464 B1
  • Filed: 03/15/2019
  • Issued: 10/22/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2018
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An inline device for sensing particulate, said device comprising:

  • a tube having an inlet and an outlet;

    a funnel located within an inlet portion and fixed with respect to said tube adjacent said inlet, said funnel for receiving said particulate from said inlet and directing said particulate towards a central axis;

    a fixed flow director located within an outlet portion and fixed with respect to said tube, said fixed flow director centered about said central axis and having an outer diameter, said outer diameter of said fixed flow director being larger than an inside diameter of said funnel;

    a capacitive sensor located within said outlet portion and fixed with respect to said tube, said capacitive sensor having an inside diameter surrounding said fixed flow director, said capacitive sensor having a first sensor ring and a second sensor ring adjacent thereto, said first and second sensor rings for circumscribing said particulate flowing around said fixed flow director; and

    said fixed flow director directing said particulate away from said central axis and towards said inside diameter of said capacitive sensor, said funnel and said fixed flow director cooperating to form an uninterrupted indirect flow path through said device from said inlet to said outlet, said capacitive sensor surrounding said indirect flow path and said flow director directing said particulate in said indirect flow path toward said capacitive sensor.

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