Flow sensor with pressure output signal
First Claim
1. A flow sensor assembly for measuring the flow rate of a fluid over a defined range of flow rates, comprising:
- a housing that defines a flow path that includes an inlet flow port, an outlet flow port, and a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port;
a flow sensor in communication with the flow path, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the flow path over at least the predefined range of flow rates;
a filter situated in the flow path, the filter having a predetermined acoustic impedance; and
a processing element in communication with the flow sensor, wherein the processing element is configured to output a measure related to the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow path sensed by the flow sensor, and a measure related to a differential pressure produced by the fluid flowing through the flow path, the measure related to the differential pressure is based, at least in part, on the sensed flow rate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure relates generally to flow sensors, and more particularly, to flow sensors that include a pressure related output signal. In one example, a flow sensor assembly may include a housing with an inlet flow port, an outlet flow port and a fluid channel extending therebetween, with a flow sensing element positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel. A filter insert may be situated in the fluid channel, sometimes upstream of the flow sensor. When so configured, the flow sensor assembly may output a pressure or differential pressure based, at least in part, on a value of the flow rate through the fluid channel as sensed by the flow sensor.
337 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flow sensor assembly for measuring the flow rate of a fluid over a defined range of flow rates, comprising:
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a housing that defines a flow path that includes an inlet flow port, an outlet flow port, and a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port; a flow sensor in communication with the flow path, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the flow path over at least the predefined range of flow rates; a filter situated in the flow path, the filter having a predetermined acoustic impedance; and a processing element in communication with the flow sensor, wherein the processing element is configured to output a measure related to the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow path sensed by the flow sensor, and a measure related to a differential pressure produced by the fluid flowing through the flow path, the measure related to the differential pressure is based, at least in part, on the sensed flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A flow sensor assembly for measuring the flow rate of a fluid over a defined range of flow rates, comprising:
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a housing that defines a flow path that includes an inlet flow port, an outlet flow port, and a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port; a flow sensor in communication with the flow path, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the flow path over at least the defined range of flow rates; a filter situated in the flow path; and a processing element in communication with the flow sensor, wherein the processing element is configured to produce a measure related to the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow path sensed by the flow sensor, and to output a measure related to a differential pressure produced by the fluid flowing through the flow path, the measure related to the differential pressure is based, at least in part, on the sensed flow rate; and wherein the filter has a fluid flow characteristic such that the measure related to the flow rate and the measure related to the differential pressure are substantially linearly related over the defined range of flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing a differential pressure and a mass flow rate from a flow sensor assembly having a housing that defines a flow path that includes a first flow port, a second flow port and a fluid channel extending between the first flow port and the second flow port, the flow sensor assembly having a flow sensor positioned in the fluid channel for sensing a flow rate of a flow passing through the fluid channel, the method comprising:
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inserting a filter in the flow path defined by the first flow port, the fluid channel, and the second flow port of the flow sensor assembly; calibrating the flow sensor for a range of flow rates; and configuring a processing element that is in communication with the flow sensor to output a measure related to a differential pressure produced by the flow passing through the flow path of the housing including the filter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification