Fluid flow rate and direction measuring apparatus
First Claim
1. Fluid flow meter apparatus for measuring the flow rate and direction of fluids passing therethrough, comprising:
- (a) Fluid ionizing means having a first polarity when energized, in the path of fluid flow located on a first axis and including a substantially point source of ionizing potential;
(b) Ion collecting means having a second polarity, when energized, located in the path of fluid flow, radially displaced from said ionizing means, said ion collecting means including open structure conductive means having an axis parallel to said first axis to permit fluid to flow therethrough from any direction without essentially altering said fluid flow rate or direction, said ionizing means, when energized in the presence of a fluid, generating a plurality of ions from the fluid stream thereabout in a deflectable distribution, said plurality of ions migrating radially toward said ion collecting means and impinging thereon under a potential gradient created between said energizing ionizing means and said collecting means; and
(c) Means responsive to the impingement of ions on said ion collecting means, for measuring the displacement of the area of impingement of ions effected by fluid flow, whereby the magnitude and direction of the displacement of the areas of impingement of said migrating ions in the presence of a fluid flow, relative to the areas of impingement of said migrating ions in the presence of a reference flow, is representative of the direction and rate of fluid flow relative to said first axis and axes mutually orthogonal thereto.
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Abstract
A fluid flow measuring device which does not disturb the fluid flow, in one embodiment is responsive to flow in each of three orthogonal directions. A central electrode carrying ionizing needle electrodes is combined with a concentric and coaxial open ion collecting structure that establishes a voltage gradient to the central electrode. The preferred embodiment employs a plurality of rings supported by rods that are parallel to the central electrode. The rings are subdivided into quadrants by insulating segments. Displacement of the ion cloud, resulting from fluid motion, is directly related to fluid velocity and can be resolved into components in the desired directions. Alternative embodiments include cylindrical sensors that can be oriented in the fluid stream for non interference with the rate and direction of flow.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. Fluid flow meter apparatus for measuring the flow rate and direction of fluids passing therethrough, comprising:
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(a) Fluid ionizing means having a first polarity when energized, in the path of fluid flow located on a first axis and including a substantially point source of ionizing potential; (b) Ion collecting means having a second polarity, when energized, located in the path of fluid flow, radially displaced from said ionizing means, said ion collecting means including open structure conductive means having an axis parallel to said first axis to permit fluid to flow therethrough from any direction without essentially altering said fluid flow rate or direction, said ionizing means, when energized in the presence of a fluid, generating a plurality of ions from the fluid stream thereabout in a deflectable distribution, said plurality of ions migrating radially toward said ion collecting means and impinging thereon under a potential gradient created between said energizing ionizing means and said collecting means; and (c) Means responsive to the impingement of ions on said ion collecting means, for measuring the displacement of the area of impingement of ions effected by fluid flow, whereby the magnitude and direction of the displacement of the areas of impingement of said migrating ions in the presence of a fluid flow, relative to the areas of impingement of said migrating ions in the presence of a reference flow, is representative of the direction and rate of fluid flow relative to said first axis and axes mutually orthogonal thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for measuring the rate and direction of fluid flow substantially without disturbance comprising in combination:
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(a) fluid ionizing means, including a source of ionizing potential that is substantially a point source located on a first axis and in the path of fluid flow for creating a plurality of ions; (b) ion collecting means located in the path of fluid flow and spaced apart from said ionizing means, said ion collecting means being substantially transparent to fluid flow therethrough without disturbance to flow rate or direction, said plurality of ions normally migrating toward said ion collecting means when said ionizing means and collecting means are energized to opposite polarities, establishing a potential gradient therebetween; and (c) detecting means, responsive to impingement of ions on said ion collecting means for signalling the relative location of the area of ion impingement, whereby fluid flow tends to displace the area of ion impingement on said ion collecting means from a predetermined resting area, and the magnitude and direction of displacement is a measure of the direction and rate of fluid flow through the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of measuring the rate and direction of fluid flow, resolved along predetermined mutually orthogonal axes, comprising the steps of:
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(a) ionizing a fluid having a reference flow rate and direction relative to the predetermined axes; (b) creating a potential gradient field between a central source and a surrounding ion collecting structure that is essentially transparent to fluid flow and sufficient to produce ion migration rates substantially greater than anticipated fluid flow rate components in the directions of ion migration; (c) locating an area of ion impingement on said ion collecting structure resulting from a reference fluid flow rate and direction by measuring the ion currents generated thereby; (d) ionizing a fluid having an unknown flow rate and direction; (e) recreating the potential gradient field of step b; (f) locating an area of ion impingement for the fluid flow of unknown rate and direction by measuring the ion currents generated by such fluid flow; and (g) utilizing the displacement of the ion impingement area by processing the ion currents to create signals representative of the fluid flow rate along each of the predetermined axes. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification