Fluid flow device
First Claim
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1. A fluid flow device, comprising:
- a drop chamber, having an interior, a fluid input, and a fluid output;
a drop detector coupled to the drop chamber and configured to detect a fluid drop at the fluid input and to count the number of detected fluid drops in a counting time window;
a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the interior of the drop chamber; and
a flow rate device configured to determine a fluid flow rate based on a number of fluid drops detected over a time period, and the pressure in the interior of the drop chamber, wherein the fluid flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements).
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Abstract
One example discloses a fluid flow device, including: a drop chamber, having an interior, a fluid input, and a fluid output; a drop detector coupled to the drop chamber and configured to detect a fluid drop at the fluid input; a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the interior of the drop chamber; and a flow rate device configured to determine a fluid flow rate based on a number of fluid drops detected over a time period, and the pressure in the interior of the drop chamber.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fluid flow device, comprising:
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a drop chamber, having an interior, a fluid input, and a fluid output; a drop detector coupled to the drop chamber and configured to detect a fluid drop at the fluid input and to count the number of detected fluid drops in a counting time window; a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the interior of the drop chamber; and a flow rate device configured to determine a fluid flow rate based on a number of fluid drops detected over a time period, and the pressure in the interior of the drop chamber, wherein the fluid flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An article of manufacture including at least one non-transitory, tangible machine readable storage medium containing executable machine instructions for fluid flow, comprising:
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a drop chamber, having an interior, a fluid input, and a fluid output; a drop detector coupled to the drop chamber and configured to detect a fluid drop at the fluid input and to count the number of detected fluid drops in a counting time window; a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the interior of the drop chamber; and a flow rate device configured to determine a fluid flow rate based on a number of fluid drops detected over a time period, and the pressure in the interior of the drop chamber, wherein the fluid flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements); and a flow control device coupled to the drop chamber and configured to increase or decrease the number of fluid drops detected over a time period in response to a signal from the flow rate device; and a fluid reservoir coupled and configured to supply a fluid to the fluid input of the drop chamber; and wherein the instructions include; calculate a fluid fill level of the fluid reservoir; set the flow control device to an initial opening state; count a current number of fluid drops entering the drop chamber using the drop detector; convert the current number of fluid drops into a current flow rate based on the pressure monitored by the pressure sensor, wherein the current flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements); if the current flow rate is different from a desired flow rate, then adjust the flow control device to a next opening state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification