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US 4,594,890 AGranted
Fluid flow measuring device
OwnerHugh M. Baker, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a fluid meter incorporating a bi-stable resilient member positioned in a housing. Fluid flow into and out of the housing causes the bi-stable member to oscillate in a single oscillatory mode. Since each oscillation of the member is proportional to fluid flow into and out of the housing, a mechanism is provided to count the number of oscillations to provide an indication of fluid flow.
Claims14
A fluid meter comprising
- a housing having a cavity therein;
- a bi-stable resilient member housed within and dividing the cavity into first and second chambers and being mono-oscillatably movable between only a pair of stable positions in response to fluid flow into and out of the chambers, the resilient member having spring bias and being constrained for movement into one of only the pair of stable positions;
- means providing fluid communication into and out of the first and second chambers, the direction of fluid flow to and from the chambers being determined by the position of the bi-stable resilient member;
- and
- means for counting the oscillations of the member.
2 more elements
A fluid meter comprising
- a housing providing a cavity having first and second openings therein, the first opening comprising an inlet and the second opening comprising an outlet;
- a bi-stable resilient assembly including first and second sides and ends, dividing the cavity into first and second chambers communicating respectively with the first and second openings, being mono-oscillatably movable between only a pair of stable positions in response to fluid flow into and out of the chambers, the resilient assembly being spring biased and constrained for movement into one or only the pair of stable positions, the assembly being mounted for oscillatable movement is response to fluid flow through the housing between a first of the pair of stable positions wherein the inlet is on the first side and the outlet is on the second side and a second pair of stable positions wherein the inlet is on the second side and the outlet is on the first side, the assembly further comprising means for sealing between the housing and the ends;
- and
- means for counting the oscillations of the assembly.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.