Density analysis for flow sensor-based fluid control system
First Claim
1. A method for determining a density of a fluid relative to a density of a flow object in a flow control system of a type having a flow rate sensor including the flow object movably received in an axially extending flow passageway, the flow object being axially movable within the flow passageway in response to a first force exerted on the flow object by the fluid as it passes through the flow passageway and a second force exerted on the flow object in a direction opposite the first force by a spring member received within the flow passageway, the flow object reaching an equilibrium position within the flow passageway when the first and second forces are equal, the equilibrium position corresponding to an axial position within the flow passageway which varies with varying flow rate, said method comprising:
- sensing an acceleration of the flow rate sensor with an accelerometer;
monitoring a change in position of the flow object responsive to the acceleration;
determining a direction of movement of the flow object; and
determining the relative density of the fluid relative to the flow object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for using an acceleration of a flow control system to determine the density of a fluid relative to the density of an in-line flow object.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for determining a density of a fluid relative to a density of a flow object in a flow control system of a type having a flow rate sensor including the flow object movably received in an axially extending flow passageway, the flow object being axially movable within the flow passageway in response to a first force exerted on the flow object by the fluid as it passes through the flow passageway and a second force exerted on the flow object in a direction opposite the first force by a spring member received within the flow passageway, the flow object reaching an equilibrium position within the flow passageway when the first and second forces are equal, the equilibrium position corresponding to an axial position within the flow passageway which varies with varying flow rate, said method comprising:
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sensing an acceleration of the flow rate sensor with an accelerometer; monitoring a change in position of the flow object responsive to the acceleration; determining a direction of movement of the flow object; and determining the relative density of the fluid relative to the flow object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for determining a density of a fluid relative to a density of a flow object in a flow control system, said apparatus comprising:
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a flow sensor for fluidic coupling between a source of the fluid and a target object for receiving the fluid, said flow sensor including the flow object movably received within an axially extending flow passageway and an optical sensor for monitoring an axial position of the flow object within the axially extending flow passageway and for generating a signal representative of the axial position of the flow object in the flow passageway; an accelerometer coupled to the flow control system for generating a signal representative of an acceleration of the flow sensor; and a processor operably coupled to the accelerometer and the optical sensor for receiving the signal from the optical sensor representative of the axial position of the flow object in the flow passageway and the signal from the accelerometer representative of the acceleration of the flow sensor and determining the density of the fluid relative to the density of the flow object. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for inferring density of a fluid in a flow control system, the flow control system controlling a flow of the fluid, the flow control system having a flow passageway, a flow object movably positioned in the flow passageway and a sensor for sensing a position of the flow object in the flow passageway, wherein a position of the flow object in the flow passageway is responsive to a flow rate of the fluid in the flow passageway, further wherein the flow rate is responsive to a fluid driving pressure and a systematic flow resistance in the flow control system, said method comprising:
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causing movement of the flow control system to impart an acceleration to the flow control system; measuring an acceleration experienced by the flow object with an accelerometer attached to the flow control system; monitoring the position of the flow object in the flow passageway and calculating any one or both of;
(a) a direction of movement of the flow object in the flow passageway responsive to the acceleration; and
(b) a direction and distance of movement of the flow object in the flow passageway responsive to the acceleration; andinferring a density of the fluid relative to a known density of the flow object.
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Specification