Fluid sensor with mechanical positional feedback

• US 7,921,726 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precision Pumping Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Precision Pumping Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Ellegood, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US11/759,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20070295104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 7386171-86175, 737/20, 737/26, 250573-576
• US Class Current: 73/740
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/28 by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/38 the pressure or differential pressure being measured by means of a movable element, e.g. diaphragm, piston, Bourdon tube or flexible capsule
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/383 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/68 using electrically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/04 using deflection of baffle-plates

Abstract

A fluid detection device is herein disclosed as including a sensor mount, a flexible deflection sensor rigidly connected to the sensor mount and a stiffener. The stiffener is arranged together with the flexible deflection sensor such that the flexible deflection sensor is preconfigured to deform in a predetermined manner when the fluid detection device is exposed to a fluid. An amount of the deformation of the flexible deflection sensor determines a property of the fluid.

A pressure sensing apparatus is herein disclosed as including a rigid perimeter, a flexible membrane forming a surface area bounded by the perimeter, and a sensing means in communication with the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is configured to elastically deform when a pressure force is exerted on the surface area, and the sensing means is configured to measure an amount of deformation of the flexible membrane.

Claims

1. A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

a rigid perimeter;

a flexible membrane forming a surface area bounded by the perimeter; and

a sensing means in communication with the flexible membrane, where the flexible membrane is configured to elastically deform when a pressure force is exerted on the surface area and the sensing means is configured to measure an amount of deformation of the flexible membrane, where the sensing means includes a flexible sensor that is configured to deform in unison with the flexible membrane, where the flexible sensor overlays on the flexible membrane to form a circuit for carrying an electrical signal.

2. The pressure sensing apparatus according to claim 1 where the deformation of the flexible membrane causes a characteristic of the electrical signal to vary according to the amount of deformation, and where the characteristic of the electric signal correlates to a magnitude of the pressure force.

3. A fluid sensing system comprising:

a sensor port;

a sensor including a first end mounted to the sensor port and a second end configured to deflect in a predetermined arc when exposed to a fluid force; and

a stiffening agent located adjacent to the second end of the sensor, the stiffening agent including a counterweight that has a flow-through hole to reduce an amount of fluid turbulence, in which the stiffening agent provides a preconfigured resistance to a deflection of the second end of the sensor, in which an amount of the deflection of the second end of the sensor is measurable to infer a property of the fluid force.

4. The fluid sensing system of claim 3, in which the counterweight is configured to urge the sensor to a vertical orientation in reduced fluid force conditions.

5. A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

a rigid perimeter;

a flexible membrane forming a surface area bounded by the perimeter, in which the flexible membrane is configured to elastically deform when a pressure force is exerted on the surface area; and

a sensing means in communication with the flexible membrane, the sensing means including a flexible sensor that overlays on the flexible membrane to form a circuit for carrying an electrical signal, in which the sensing means is configured to measure an amount of deformation of the flexible membrane, and in which the flexible sensor is configured to deform in unison with the flexible membrane.

6. A fluid sensing system comprising:

a sensor port;

a sensor including a first end mounted to the sensor port and a second end configured to deflect in a predetermined arc when exposed to a fluid force, in which the sensor is configured to distinguish a fluid flow in a first direction from a fluid flow in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, in which the sensor is further configured to measure a flow rate in both the first and second directions; and

a stiffening agent located adjacent the sensor which provides a preconfigured resistance to a deflection of the second end of the sensor, in which an amount of the deflection of the second end of the sensor is measurable to infer a property of the fluid force, in which the deformation of the flexible membrane causes a characteristic of the electrical signal to vary according to the amount of deformation, and in which the characteristic of the electric signal correlates to a magnitude of the pressure force.

7. A fluid detection device comprising:

a sensor mount;

a flexible deflection sensor configured to deform in a predetermined manner when the fluid detection device is exposed to a fluid, where an amount of the deformation of the flexible deflection sensor determines a property of the fluid, a first end of the flexible deflection sensor connected to the sensor mount, a second end of the flexible deflection sensor configured to move in a predetermined arc when the fluid detection device is exposed to the fluid, the second end of the flexible deflection sensor further configured to direct a flow of the fluid to decrease vortex shedding, in which the second end of the flexible deflection sensor further is further configured to provide an additional positive lifting force when exposed to the flow of the fluid.

8. A fluid detection device comprising:

a sensor mount;

a flexible deflection sensor configured to deform in a predetermined manner when the fluid detection device is exposed to a fluid, where an amount of the deformation of the flexible deflection sensor determines a property of the fluid, a first end of the flexible deflection sensor connected to the sensor mount, a second end of the flexible deflection sensor configured to move in a predetermined arc when the fluid detection device is exposed to the fluid, the second end of the flexible deflection sensor further configured to direct a flow of the fluid to decrease vortex shedding, in which the second end of the flexible detection sensor is further configured to provide in-flight stability when exposed to the flow of the fluid.

9. A fluid sensing system comprising:

a sensor port;

a sensor including a first end mounted to the sensor port and a second end configured to deflect in a predetermined arc when exposed to a fluid force, where an electric signal is propagated through the sensor during operation of the fluid sensing system; and

a stiffening agent located adjacent the sensor which provides a preconfigured resistance to a deflection of the second end of the sensor, where a characteristic of the electrical signal that varies with an amount of deflection of the sensor is measured to infer a property of the fluid force the sensor comprising;

a plurality of sensor strips, the sensor strips substantially flattened and disposed on a surface of the stiffening agent, the sensor strips configured to deform or deflect in unison with the stiffening agent;

at least two contacts disposed at one end of the stiffening agent, each of the at least two contacts electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor strips; and

a connecting circuit, the connecting circuit and plurality of sensor strips disposed to form a continuous electrical connection between one of the at least two contacts and another one of the at least two contacts.

10. A fluid sensing system comprising:

a sensor port;

a sensor including a first end mounted to the sensor port and a second end configured to deflect in a predetermined arc when exposed to a fluid force, where an electric signal is propagated through the sensor during operation of the fluid sensing system; and

a stiffening agent located adjacent the sensor which provides a preconfigured resistance to a deflection of the second end of the sensor, where a characteristic of the electrical signal that varies with an amount of deflection of the sensor is measured to infer a property of the fluid force, including a sail pivotably connected to the sensor port, where the sensor deflects as a result of the fluid force acting on the sail and causing it to pivot in a direction of a fluid flow, an end of the sail configured to reduce vortex shedding, to provide an additional positive lifting force, and to provide in-flight stability.