Fluid conduit with embedded sensors
AssigneeCooper-Standard Automotive Inc.
InventorsBrian J. Cardwell, Christopher Edward Couch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid connector and method for measuring an operating parameter of a fluid conduit is disclosed. The fluid conduit includes a conduit wall enclosing a fluid channel wherein a fluid flows through the fluid channel from a first opening to a second opening. At least one sensor element is embedded within the conduit wall along the direction of the fluid channel between the first opening and the second opening that is used to measure the operating parameter.
Claims18
A fluid conduit having a fluid channel enclosed by a conduit wall between a first opening and a second opening;
- a fluid flowing through the fluid channel between the first and the second opening;
- and
- a sensor element comprised of at least one sensor wire embedded within the conduit wall and traversing through the conduit wall parallel to the fluid channel from the first opening to the second opening, the sensor wire arranged to sense an operating parameter of the fluid conduit including the temperature of the conduit wall as affected by the temperature of the fluid flowing in the fluid channel,
- wherein the at least one sensor wire extends from the conduit at the first opening and the second opening and a first fluid fitting is coupled to the first opening and to the fluid flowing in the fluid channel.
A method for sensing an operating parameter of a fluid conduit, the method comprising;
- providing a fluid conduit having a conduit wall enclosing a fluid channel;
- causing fluid to flow through the fluid channel from a first opening to a second opening;
- and
- providing a sensor element comprised of at least one sensor wire embedded within the conduit wall traversing through the conduit wall parallel to the fluid channel from the first opening to the second opening arranged to sense the operating parameter including the temperature of the conduit wall as affected by the temperature of the fluid flowing in the fluid channel,
- wherein the at least one sensor wire extends from the fluid conduit at the first opening and the second opening and a first fluid fitting is coupled to the first opening and to the fluid flowing in the fluid channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.