MODULAR FLOW SENSOR
First Claim
1. A modular flow sensor, comprising:
- a main sensor body including;
a main housing having a first end and a second end, where the main housing defines a flow channel from the first end to the second end;
a sensor configured to be received by the main housing for sensing fluid flowing through the flow channel of the main housing;
a first end adapter configured to engage and form a seal with the main housing, the first end adapter defining a first flow channel extension that extends the flow channel of the main housing to a first connection port of the modular flow sensor; and
a second end adapter configured to engage and form a seal with the main housing, the second end adapter defining a second flow channel extension that extends the flow channel of the main housing to a second connection port of the modular flow sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to modular flow sensor assemblies and methods. The modular flow sensor assembly may include a main sensor body, a first end adapter having a first connection port configuration, and a second end adapter having a second connection port configuration. The main sensor body may include a main housing and a sensor, where the first end adapter is configured to engage the main housing and the second end adapter is configured to engage the main housing. The first end adapter and the second end adapter may be selected from a group of end adapters, wherein at least two of the end adapters has a different connection port configuration. The selected first end adapter and the selected second end adapters may have the same or different connection port configurations. The first end adapter and the second end adapter are configured to be interchangeable end adapters.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular flow sensor, comprising:
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a main sensor body including; a main housing having a first end and a second end, where the main housing defines a flow channel from the first end to the second end; a sensor configured to be received by the main housing for sensing fluid flowing through the flow channel of the main housing; a first end adapter configured to engage and form a seal with the main housing, the first end adapter defining a first flow channel extension that extends the flow channel of the main housing to a first connection port of the modular flow sensor; and a second end adapter configured to engage and form a seal with the main housing, the second end adapter defining a second flow channel extension that extends the flow channel of the main housing to a second connection port of the modular flow sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A modular flow sensor assembly, comprising:
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a main sense element assembly defining a flow channel, with a sensor for sensing fluid flow through the flow channel, the main sense element assembly further configured to receive one or more interchangeable end adapters, wherein each end adapter extends the flow channel of the main sense element assembly and defines a particular connection port configuration; and one or more of the interchangeable end adapters secured to the main sense element assembly, the one or more interchangeable end adapters forming at least a portion of an outer housing of the modular flow sensor apparatus and covering at least part of the main sense element assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for assembling a flow sensor, comprising:
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obtaining a main sense element assembly that defines a flow channel from a first end to a second end of the main sense element assembly, the main sense element assembly also having a flow sensor for sensing fluid flow through the flow channel of the main sense element assembly; selecting a first end adapter from a plurality of different end adapters, wherein each of the plurality of different end adapters have a common main sense element assembly interface but a different connection port configuration, and wherein each of the plurality of different end adapters is configured to extend the flow channel of the main sense element assembly to a corresponding connection port; selecting a second end adapter from the plurality of different end adapters; engaging the common main sense element assembly interface of the first end adapter with the main sense element assembly to extend the flow channel of the main sense element assembly to the connection port of the first end adapter; and engaging the common main sense element assembly interface of the second end adapter with the main sense element assembly to extend the flow channel of the main sense element assembly to the connection port of the second end adapter. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification