Chemically inert flow meter within caustic fluids having non-contaminating body
First Claim
1. A chemically inert fluid flow meter adapted to be connected in-line with a fluid flow circuit, comprising:
- (a) a chemically inert housing having a longitudinal bore of a first predetermined cross-sectional area extending through said housing forming a fluid flow conduit, wherein an inlet end and an outlet end of the conduit are adapted for connection, in-line, to the fluid flow circuit, said housing further having first and second spaced apart cavities each extending transversely from an external surface of said housing into the longitudinal bore of said housing, the longitudinal bore having a constriction disposed between said first and second cavities, the constriction having a second bore being of a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first predetermined cross-sectional area;
(b) first means for sensing a first pressure within the flow circuit, said first means for sensing being contained within said first cavity;
(c) second means for sensing a second pressure within the flow circuit, said second means for sensing being contained within said second cavity;
(d) means for constraining the first and second means for sensing in a fixed position within the cavities of the housing; and
(e) an electronic circuit contained within the housing and coupled to the first and second means for sensing, whereby the electronic circuit receives signals proportional to the sensed first and second pressures within the bore.
1 Assignment
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A non-contaminating flow meter having an isolation member is disclosed. The flow meter includes two pressure sensor transducers, located on opposite sides of a restriction in a conduit. Each of pressure transducers is isolated by an isolation member from exposure to fluids flowing through the conduit. The flow meter may be positioned in-line within a fluid flow circuit carrying corrosive materials, wherein the square root of the difference in pressure between the two pressure sensors is calculated to thereby determine the rate of flow within the fluid flow conduit. The flow meter compensates for changes in temperature within the fluid flow circuit and further activates an alarm if the pressure or flow rate within the fluid flow conduit exceeds or falls below a threshold level. The flow meter of the present invention also avoids the introduction of particulate, unwanted ions, or vapors into the flow circuit.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A chemically inert fluid flow meter adapted to be connected in-line with a fluid flow circuit, comprising:
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(a) a chemically inert housing having a longitudinal bore of a first predetermined cross-sectional area extending through said housing forming a fluid flow conduit, wherein an inlet end and an outlet end of the conduit are adapted for connection, in-line, to the fluid flow circuit, said housing further having first and second spaced apart cavities each extending transversely from an external surface of said housing into the longitudinal bore of said housing, the longitudinal bore having a constriction disposed between said first and second cavities, the constriction having a second bore being of a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first predetermined cross-sectional area; (b) first means for sensing a first pressure within the flow circuit, said first means for sensing being contained within said first cavity; (c) second means for sensing a second pressure within the flow circuit, said second means for sensing being contained within said second cavity; (d) means for constraining the first and second means for sensing in a fixed position within the cavities of the housing; and (e) an electronic circuit contained within the housing and coupled to the first and second means for sensing, whereby the electronic circuit receives signals proportional to the sensed first and second pressures within the bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A chemically inert fluid flow meter adapted to be connected in-line with a fluid flow circuit, comprising:
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(a) a chemically inert housing having a longitudinal bore of a first predetermined cross-sectional area extending through said housing forming a fluid flow conduit, wherein an inlet end and an outlet end of the conduit are adapted for connection, in-line, to the fluid flow circuit, said housing further having first and second spaced apart cavities each extending transversely from an external surface of said housing into the longitudinal bore of said housing, the longitudinal bore having a constriction disposed between said first and second cavities, the constriction having a second bore being of a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first predetermined cross-sectional area; (b) first means for sensing a first pressure within the flow circuit, said first means for sensing being contained within said first cavity; (c) second means for sensing a second pressure within the flow circuit, said second means for sensing being contained within said second cavity; (d) means for constraining the first and second means for sensing in a fixed position within the cavities of the housing; and (e) an electronic circuit contained within the housing and coupled to the first and second means for sensing, whereby the electronic circuit receives signals proportional to the sensed first and second pressures within the bore and thereafter produces an electrical signal proportional to a rate of fluid flow within the bore determined from the sensed first and second pressures. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A chemically inert fluid flow meter adapted to be connected in-line with a fluid flow circuit, comprising:
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(a) a chemically inert housing having a longitudinal bore of a first predetermined cross-sectional area extending through said housing forming a fluid flow conduit, wherein an inlet end and an outlet end of the conduit are adapted for connection to the fluid flow circuit, said housing further having first and second spaced apart cavities each extending transversely from an external surface of said housing into the longitudinal bore of said housing, the longitudinal bore having a constriction disposed between said first and second cavities, the constriction having a second bore being of a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first predetermined cross-sectional area; (b) a chemically inert flexible membrane contained within each of said first and second cavities, proximate the longitudinal bore of said housing, thereby isolating an interior of said first and second cavities from fluid flowing in the fluid flow conduit, each membrane having first and second opposed major surfaces, said first major surface being exposed to fluid flowing in the fluid flow conduit; (c) first means for sensing a first pressure within the flow circuit, said first means for sensing being contained within said first cavity; (d) second means for sensing a second pressure within the flow circuit, said second means for sensing being contained within said second cavity; (e) means for constraining the first and second means for sensing in a fixed position within the cavities of the housing; and (f) an electronic circuit contained within the housing and coupled to the first and second means for sensing, whereby the electronic circuit receives signals proportional to the sensed first and second pressures within the bore and thereafter produces an electrical signal proportional to a rate of fluid flow within the bore determined from the sensed first and second pressures. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification