Programmable cartridge style hydraulic flow sensor
OwnerDale G. Dietelinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cartridge-style flow sensor for sensing fluid flow within a manifold. The sensor includes an exterior, interior, a circuit board, and first and second ports. The first and second ports permit fluid to flow into and out of the interior. A encoder/sensor in the interior detects the number of revolutions of an impeller. An electric coupler interfaces with the sensor and a transmitter for communication of the revolutions of the impeller to a controller. The controller determines the rate of fluid flow in a conduit. The controller automatically issues a command signal to a component of a hydraulic system to alter the rate of fluid flow in the conduit. The cartridge hydraulic flow sensor is easily and releasably engaged to a cavity of a hydraulic circuit manifold.
Claims17
A cartridge hydraulic flow sensor comprising:
- a cylindrical casing comprising an exterior, an interior, and a base, said casing having a first port and a second port through said casing, said first port and said second port permitting a fluid to flow into said interior and out of said interior, said first port being proximate to said base;
- a sensor housing disposed in said interior, said sensor housing being proximate to said second port, said sensor housing having a housing bore;
- an elongate encoder/sensor having a lower cap and a sensor interior, said lower cap being disposed in said housing bore, said encoder/sensor detecting a number of revolutions of a rotatable impeller rotating about a shaft during a period of time;
- said encoder/sensor having an upper support plate and a wire harness through said upper support plate, said wire harness being engaged to and in communication with a circuit board, said circuit board being in said sensor interior, said wire harness having a communication connector exterior of said upper support plate;
- said rotatable impeller being engaged to a shaft support having said shaft, said rotatable impeller revolving about said shaft following contact with said flow of said fluid;
- and
- wherein said encoder/sensor communicates to said circuit board said detected number of revolutions of said impeller about said shaft during said period of time, said circuit board being constructed and arranged to compare said detected number of revolutions of said impeller about said shaft during said period of time to data stored on said circuit board, said circuit board communicating to said communication connector at least one of said detected number of revolutions of said impeller about said shaft during said period of time, said detected number of revolutions of said impeller about said shaft during said period of time exceeding said data, and said detected number of revolutions of said impeller about said shaft during said period of time being less than said data,
- and further wherein said cylindrical casing is constructed and arranged for insertion into a cavity of a manifold, said cavity being in fluid flow communication with a manifold conduit, said base being disposed in a manifold interior, said first port and said second port being in fluid flow communication with said manifold conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.