Flow sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow sensor comprising:
- a body;
a combined flow guide and particulate filter unit associated with the body and including at least a hollow frusto-conical portion;
a piston operating inside at least a portion of the hollow frusto-conical portion of the combined flow guide and filter unit based on an amount of fluid flowing through the flow sensor; and
a flow indicator assembly to indicate the flow through the flow sensor based on movement of the piston in the combined flow guide and filter unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Flow sensors are provided that can provide both leak detection and flow monitoring. The flow monitoring enables a determination whether there are blockages or leaks in a fluid system during normal operation of the system. The leak detection enables detection of leaks when the system is shut off. The flow sensors can use a frusto-conical flow guide to provide a more compact flow sensor. The flow sensor components can be designed to retrofit existing filter assemblies.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A flow sensor comprising:
-
a body; a combined flow guide and particulate filter unit associated with the body and including at least a hollow frusto-conical portion; a piston operating inside at least a portion of the hollow frusto-conical portion of the combined flow guide and filter unit based on an amount of fluid flowing through the flow sensor; and a flow indicator assembly to indicate the flow through the flow sensor based on movement of the piston in the combined flow guide and filter unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of converting a filter assembly to a flow sensor and filter assembly comprising the steps of:
-
removing a cover of a filter assembly; removing a filter basket from a body of the filter assembly; installing a combined flow guide and filter assembly in the body of the filter assembly, the combined flow guide and filter assembly having a hollow frusto-conical portion; and installing a cap assembly in place of the cover, the cap assembly including a plunger operating inside at least a portion of the hollow frusto-conical portion of the combined flow guide and filter assembly and a flow indicator assembly that converts linear movement of the plunger to a flow measurement. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A flow sensor comprising:
-
a body; a combined flow guide and particulate filter unit associated with the body and including a flow guide portion and a particulate filter portion, the flow guide portion including an annular wall portion spaced from the particulate filter portion and surrounded by the particulate filter portion, and the annular wall defines a passage for fluid to flow through; a piston moveable inside at least a portion of the tubular portion of the flow guide portion based on an amount of fluid flowing through the flow sensor; and a flow indicator assembly to indicate the flow through the flow sensor based on movement of the piston in the combined flow guide and filter unit.
-
Specification