Device and method for measuring the flow rate of a liquid
AssigneeUniversite Grenoble Alpes
InventorsCyril PICARD, Elisabeth CHARLAIX, Preeti SHARMA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
AssigneeUniversite Grenoble Alpes
InventorsCyril PICARD, Elisabeth CHARLAIX, Preeti SHARMA
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a device and method for measuring the flow rate of a liquid flowing in a flow duct, from upstream to downstream, in which: a shutter member (4) is able to close/open said flow duct (3), a deformable membrane (5) obstructs an opening (6) made through the wall of said flow duct and situated upstream of said shutter member, and an electronic device (100) comprises a detection means (101) that detects deformations of said deformable membrane (5) and is able to deliver deformation signals, a means (112) that controls said shutter member (4), a means (112) that takes readings of the values of at least two deformation signals that are separated by a predetermined time period, established when the solenoid valve (4) is closed, and a calculation means that calculates a liquid volume depending on the read deformation signals and in order to calculate a flow rate depending on said calculated volume and the predetermined time period.
A device for measuring the flow rate of a liquid circulating in a flow duct, from upstream to downstream, comprising:
The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said detection means (101) comprises a Wheatstone bridge (102), the four legs (103, 104, 105 and 106) of which include strain gauges (5a, 5b, 5c and 5d), the part of the deformable membrane (5) next to said opening (6) in said flow duct (3) being provided with these strain gauges.
The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow duct (3) comprises an upstream flow path (8), a downstream flow path (10) and an intermediate chamber (12) connecting said flow paths, said shutoff member (4) being able to close the downstream flow path (10) and the deformable membrane (5) closing off an opening (6) in the wall of the intermediate chamber (12).
The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second shutoff member that is able to close/open said flow duct (3), such that said deformable membrane (5) is situated between said shutoff member and this second shutoff member, and comprising a means for controlling this second shutoff member.
A system comprising a source (200) of a liquid and a member (201) for utilizing the liquid, and comprising a device for measuring the flow rate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flow duct (3) is connected to an outlet of the utilization member.
A method for measuring the flow rate of a liquid circulating in a flow duct (3), from upstream to downstream, provided with a shutoff member (4) and a deformable membrane (5) that closes off an opening (6) formed through the wall of the flow duct and situated upstream of said shutoff means, characterized in that it comprises the following steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.