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US 5,747,700 AGranted
Portable electronic flow meter
OwnerRobert Woodinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow meter for use in scuba diving is disclosed. The device has a coil or, alternatively, two coils separated by a predetermined distance and sensors for measuring induced electromotive force. The device is provided with a switch to enable it to be activated. The switch also acts to disable the device and allow compass operation. An embodiment of the device including a compass and a processor allows for navigation functions to be performed.
Claims19
A portable device for measuring fluid flow of a conductive fluid and for assisting navigation of a diver comprising:
- a) a waterproof housing;
- b) a DC power supply for providing power to the device disposed within the housing;
- c) a coil disposed within the housing to allow the conductive fluid outside the housing to flow proximate the coil on at least a side thereof for generating a measurable field;
- d) a switch for providing DC power from the power supply to the coil in a first mode of operation and for preventing DC power from being supplied to the coil in a second mode of operation;
- e) a first conducting sensor and a second conducting sensor disposed outside the housing for sensing the measurable field and for providing a first signal and a second signal, respectively, corresponding to the sensed measurable field;
- f) measuring means coupled to receive the first signal and the second signal and for determining a measurement of fluid flow rate in dependence upon at least an aspect of the first signal and the second signal and for providing a third signal in dependence upon the measurement;
- and
- g) display means for displaying information indicative of fluid flow rate in dependence upon the third signal.
5 more elements
A portable device for measuring fluid flow and for assisting navigation of a diver comprising:
- a) a substantially waterproof housing having a handle portion and a tube portion having an aft end and a fore end in fluid communications, the tube portion for accepting conductive fluid at the fore end thereof and for allowing the fluid to pass through the tube portion and exit at an aft end thereof;
- b) a DC power supply disposed within the housing and for providing power to the device;
- c) a pair of coils disposed on different sides of the tube portion of the housing between the aft end and the fore end thereof for allowing fluid outside the housing to pass therebetween, said coil and said fluid for generating a measurable field;
- d) a switch for providing power from the power supply to the pair of coils in a first mode of operation and for preventing power from being supplied to the pair of coils in a second mode of operation;
- e) a first conducting sensor and a second conducting sensor disposed outside the housing for sensing the measurable field within fluid passing outside the housing proximate the coils and for providing a first signal and a second signal, respectively, corresponding to the sensed measurable field;
- f) measuring means coupled to receive the first signal and the second signal and for determining a measurement of fluid flow rate in dependence upon at least an aspect of the first and second signals and for providing a third signal in dependence upon the measurement;
- and
- g) display means for displaying information indicative of fluid flow rate in dependence upon the third signal.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.