Flow sensor
First Claim
1. A flow sensor assembly comprising:
- a housing defining;
an inlet port;
an outlet port;
a main channel having a main channel input and a main channel output;
a bypass channel having a bypass channel input and a bypass channel output;
an inlet flow channel fluidly connecting the inlet port of the flow sensor assembly to the main channel input;
an outlet flow channel fluidly connecting the main channel output to the outlet port of the flow sensor assembly;
a bypass feeder input channel fluidly connecting the main channel input to the bypass channel input;
a bypass feeder output channel fluidly connecting h bypass channel output to the main channel output;
wherein the inlet flow channel, the outlet flow channel, and the main channel are configured so that a combined pneumatic resistance of the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel is at least two times greater than a pneumatic resistance of the main channel;
a sensor exposed to a fluid in the bypass channel and configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the bypass channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow sensor assembly includes a housing that defines an inlet port, an outlet port, a main channel and a bypass channel. An inlet flow channel fluidly connects the inlet port of the flow sensor assembly to the main channel and an outlet flow channel fluidly connects the main channel to the outlet port. A bypass feeder input channel fluidly connects the main channel to the bypass channel and a bypass feeder output channel fluidly connect the bypass channel to the main channel. In some instances, at least 40 percent of an input pressure differential applied between the inlet port and the outlet port of the flow sensor assembly drops across the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel collectively. A sensor is exposed to a fluid in the bypass channel and senses a measure related to a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the bypass channel.
219 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flow sensor assembly comprising:
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a housing defining; an inlet port; an outlet port; a main channel having a main channel input and a main channel output; a bypass channel having a bypass channel input and a bypass channel output; an inlet flow channel fluidly connecting the inlet port of the flow sensor assembly to the main channel input; an outlet flow channel fluidly connecting the main channel output to the outlet port of the flow sensor assembly; a bypass feeder input channel fluidly connecting the main channel input to the bypass channel input; a bypass feeder output channel fluidly connecting h bypass channel output to the main channel output; wherein the inlet flow channel, the outlet flow channel, and the main channel are configured so that a combined pneumatic resistance of the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel is at least two times greater than a pneumatic resistance of the main channel; a sensor exposed to a fluid in the bypass channel and configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the bypass channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A flow sensor comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a sensing channel in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet port; the housing having a mounting footprint of less than 200 mm2; and the housing configured to accept an input differential pressure of 1000 Pa across the inlet port and the outlet port while providing a flow in the sensing channel of less than 200 Standard Cubic Centimeters per Minute (SCCM) and laminarized at a Reynolds number of less than 1.50. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A flow sensor comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port; the housing defining a flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, wherein the flow path comprises; an inlet flow channel extending between the inlet port and an upstream tap; an outlet flow channel extending between a downstream tap and the outlet port; a main channel extending between the upstream tap and the downstream tap; wherein the inlet flow channel has a minimum cross-sectional area that is within 30 percent of the minimum cross-sectional area of the main channel and the inlet flow channel has a length that is greater than the length of the main channel; the housing further defining a bypass channel situated in parallel with the main channel of the flow path and extending between the upstream tap and the downstream tap of the flow path, wherein the inlet flow channel, the outlet flow channel, and the main channel are configured so that a combined pneumatic resistance of the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel is at least two times greater than a pneumatic resistance of the main channel; and a sensor exposed to a fluid in the bypass channel and configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the bypass channel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification