Apparatus for measuring volumetric or mass fluid flow

An apparatus for measuring volumetric flow of fluid comprising:

• a capsule having an upper opening and a bottom opening;
• a housing having an upper end and a bottom end wherein said capsule is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly within said housing;
• a magnetic means provided relatively close to said upper end, wherein said magnetic means is adapted to exert magnetic force on said capsule wherein said force is proportional to a position of said capsule within said housing and said force is in a minimal state when said capsule is adjacent to said magnetic means;
• a tube provided in said upper end of said housing wherein the fluid flows through said tube into said capsule;
• a measuring means adapted to measure said magnetic force;
• a controller adapted to control said magnetic means;
• a seal is provided in said bottom opening wherein said seal is adapted to fluidically block said bottom opening;
• a pin is provided in said bottom end of said housing wherein said pin is adapted to push aside said seal when said capsule is downwardly positioned;
• whereby the position of the capsule within said housing depends upon the mass of accumulated fluid in the capsule wherein as fluid is accumulated in said capsule, the capsule moves downwardly towards said bottom end where the fluid drains due to the seal that is pushed aside by said opening means and whereby the amount of fluid that passes through the apparatus as well as its rate is measured.

A method for measuring the volumetric flow of fluid comprising:

• providing a capsule having an upper opening and a bottom opening;
• providing a housing having an upper end and a bottom end wherein said capsule is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly within said housing;
• providing a magnetic means relatively close to said upper end, wherein said magnetic means is adapted to exert magnetic force on said capsule wherein said force is proportional to the position of said capsule within said housing and said force is in a minimal state when said capsule is adjacent to said magnetic means;
• providing a tube in said upper end of said housing;
• providing a measuring means adapted to measure said magnetic force;
• providing a controller adapted to control said magnetic means;
• providing a seal in said bottom opening wherein said seal is adapted to fluidically block said bottom opening;
• providing a pin in said bottom end of said housing wherein said pin is adapted to push aside said seal when said capsule is downwardly positioned;
• allowing the fluid to flow through said tube into said capsule;
• disconnecting said magnetic means when said measuring means measure a predetermined magnetic force exerted on said capsule so as to allow the capsule to be drained;
• connecting said magnetic means when said capsule is empty of fluid.
• Whereby the volumetric flow rate can be calculated from the number of times said capsule is drained in a predetermined time.