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US 12,092,500 B2Granted
Fluid flow detection device
OwnerThomas P Driscollinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid flow sensing device having at least a stem and a paddle portion which is pivotally disposed with the stem, and a magnetic opener which biases the paddle away from the stem to into an “off” position. Upon sufficient pressure impending on the paddle by flowing fluid to overcome the force of the magnetic opener, the paddle pivots towards the stem to an “on” position, which is sensed by a device such as a Hall effect sensor, reed switch, or optical sensor.
Claims18
A fluid flow sensing device comprising:
- a stem portion;
- a paddle portion;
- a pivot disposed between the stem portion and the paddle portion;
- a magnetic opener configured to bias the paddle portion away from the stem portion into an “off” position thereby creating a cavitation space between the paddle portion and the stem portion;
- and
- a sensing device associated with the stem portion and the paddle portion which, upon a sufficient pressure impending on the paddle portion by a flowing fluid to overcome the magnetic opener causing the paddle portion to pivot to an “on” position towards the stem portion thereby reducing the cavitation space and forming a truncated streamlined body combining the paddle portion and the stem portion, creates an electronic signal indicating detection of fluid flow above a predetermined flow rate threshold of the flowing fluid;
- wherein a first fluid drag coefficient of the paddle portion and stem portion in the “off” position measured in a direction of fluid flow from the paddle portion moving towards the stem portion has a first value, and wherein a second fluid drag coefficient of the paddle portion and stem portion in the “on” position measured in the direction of fluid flow from the paddle portion moving towards the stem portion has a second value, wherein the second value is less than the first value, thereby offsetting a loss in force of the magnetic opener to return the paddle portion to the “off” from the “on” position when fluid flow rate transitions from above the predetermined flow rate threshold to below the predetermined threshold.
4 more elements
A fluid flow sensing device comprising:
- a stem portion;
- a paddle portion;
- a pivot disposed between the stem portion and the paddle portion;
- a magnetic opener configured to bias the paddle portion away from the stem portion into an “off” position;
- a sensing device associated with the stem portion and the paddle portion which, upon a sufficient pressure impending on the paddle portion by a flowing fluid to overcome the magnetic opener causing the paddle portion to pivot to an “on” position towards the stem portion, creates an electronic signal indicating detection of fluid flow above a predetermined flow rate threshold, and
- an adjustable portion to increase or decrease a biasing force of the magnetic opener, thereby allowing adjustment of the predetermined flow rate threshold.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.