Fluid flow measurement device
First Claim
1. A flow sensor device to obtain flow characteristics of a fluid flow system, the device comprising:
- a sensor assembly including;
a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a flow restricting element located along the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, an upstream fluid pressure sensor to sense an upstream fluid pressure at an upstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element, a downstream fluid pressure sensor to sense a downstream fluid pressure at a downstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet, an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor; and
a housing including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an upstream port in fluid communication with the inlet of the sensor assembly, the downstream portion defining a downstream port in fluid communication with the outlet of the sensor assembly, the housing further defining a probe access port configured to provide access of a probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a device for obtaining flow rate measurements including a sensor assembly and a housing. The sensor assembly includes a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet, an outlet, a flow restricting element in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, an upstream fluid pressure sensor, a downstream fluid pressure sensor, an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor. The housing has an upstream portion defining an upstream port, a downstream portion defining a downstream port, and a probe access port configured to provide access of a probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact. The housing can also define a second fluid flow passage in parallel with the first fluid flow passage. The device can be disposable.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A flow sensor device to obtain flow characteristics of a fluid flow system, the device comprising:
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a sensor assembly including;
a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a flow restricting element located along the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, an upstream fluid pressure sensor to sense an upstream fluid pressure at an upstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element, a downstream fluid pressure sensor to sense a downstream fluid pressure at a downstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet, an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor; and
a housing including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an upstream port in fluid communication with the inlet of the sensor assembly, the downstream portion defining a downstream port in fluid communication with the outlet of the sensor assembly, the housing further defining a probe access port configured to provide access of a probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fluid sensor system, comprising:
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a probe to receive signals representative of a fluid flow characteristic;
a processor to process signals from the probe into flow characteristic data; and
a device to obtain flow characteristic measurements of a fluid flow system, the device including;
a sensor assembly including;
a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a flow restricting element located along the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, an upstream fluid pressure sensor to sense an upstream fluid pressure at an upstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element, a downstream fluid pressure sensor to sense a downstream fluid pressure at a downstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet, an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor; and
a housing including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an upstream port in fluid communication with the inlet of the sensor assembly, the downstream portion defining a downstream port in fluid communication with the outlet of the sensor assembly, the housing further defining a probe access port configured to provide access of the probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact.
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18-28. -28. (canceled)
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29. A method of obtaining flow characteristics of a fluid flow system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a device to obtain flow rate measurements, the device comprising;
a sensor assembly including;
a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a flow restricting element located along the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, an upstream fluid pressure sensor to sense an upstream fluid pressure at an upstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element, a downstream fluid pressure sensor to sense a downstream fluid pressure at a downstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet, an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor, and a housing including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an upstream port in fluid communication with the inlet of the sensor assembly, the downstream portion defining a downstream port in fluid communication with the outlet of the sensor assembly, the housing further defining a probe access port configured to provide access of a probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact;
directing a fluid flow through the first fluid flow passage;
obtaining a signal corresponding to the fluid pressure in the first fluid flow passage at the locations of the upstream fluid pressure sensor and the downstream fluid pressure sensor; and
determining a flow characteristic based upon the signal.
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30-39. -39. (canceled)
Specification