Flow sensor assembly with porous insert
First Claim
1. A flow sensor assembly, comprising:
- a housing including an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port, the housing defining a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port;
a flow sensor positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel; and
an upstream porous foam insert situated in the fluid channel of the housing upstream of the flow sensor, wherein the upstream porous foam insert includes a polymer material having pores distributed therein to form a plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous foam insert, wherein during operation of the flow sensor assembly, a fluid passes through the inlet flow port, through the upstream porous foam insert, across the flow sensor, and through the outlet flow port, wherein the plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous foam insert are configured to enhance a laminar flow profile of the fluid across the flow sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to flow sensors, and more particularly, to methods and devices for reducing variations in fluid flow across the flow sensor for increased accuracy and/or reliability. In one illustrative embodiment, a flow sensor assembly includes a housing with an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port. The housing defines a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port, with a flow sensor positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel. The flow sensor is configured to sense a measure related to the flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel. A porous insert is situated in the fluid channel, sometimes upstream of the flow sensor. When so configured, and during operation of the flow sensor assembly, a fluid may pass through the inlet flow port, through the porous insert, across the flow sensor, and through the outlet flow port. The porous insert may include pores that are configured to reduce the turbulence in the fluid passing the flow sensor.
211 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A flow sensor assembly, comprising:
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a housing including an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port, the housing defining a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port; a flow sensor positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel; and an upstream porous foam insert situated in the fluid channel of the housing upstream of the flow sensor, wherein the upstream porous foam insert includes a polymer material having pores distributed therein to form a plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous foam insert, wherein during operation of the flow sensor assembly, a fluid passes through the inlet flow port, through the upstream porous foam insert, across the flow sensor, and through the outlet flow port, wherein the plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous foam insert are configured to enhance a laminar flow profile of the fluid across the flow sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A flow sensor assembly, comprising:
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a housing including an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port, the housing defining a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port; a flow sensor situated in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel; an upstream porous polymer foam insert situated in the fluid channel of the housing upstream of the flow sensor; a downstream porous polymer foam insert situated in the fluid channel of the housing downstream of the flow sensor; and wherein during operation of the flow sensor assembly, a fluid passes through the inlet flow port, through the upstream porous polymer foam insert, across the flow sensor, through the downstream porous polymer foam insert, and through the outlet flow port, the upstream porous polymer foam insert including a plurality of pores distributed to form a plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous polymer foam insert and are configured to enhance a laminar flow profile of the fluid across the flow sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of reducing variations in a fluid flow through a flow sensor, the method comprising:
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providing a flow sensor assembly, the flow sensor assembly including; a housing including a first flow port and a second flow port, the housing defining a fluid channel extending between the first flow port and the second flow port; a flow sensor exposed to the fluid channel, the flow sensor configured to detect a measure related a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel; inserting a first foam insert into the fluid channel upstream of the flow sensor, the first foam insert including a plurality of pores that are distributed to form a plurality of circuitous paths through the first insert and sized to reduce variations in a fluid flow profile across the flow sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification