Method and apparatus for measuring flow rate and controlling delivered volume of fluid through a valve aperture

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring flow rate and controlling delivered volume of fluid flow in a fluid conduit is disclosed including a valve having a fixed aperture disposed in the fluid conduit for selectively opening and closing the aperture between an open position and a closed position. The valve is selectively closed when a predetermined volume has passed through the valve. Differential pressure is measured across the valve and the differential pressure is accumulated with respect to time to provide a value corresponding to volume of fluid flow passing through the valve when in the open position. A method for measuring flow rate and controlling delivered volume of fluid flow through a fluid conduit includes the steps of selectively opening and closing a valve having a fixed aperture disposed in the fluid conduit between an open position and a closed position, measuring a differential pressure between a first pressure on an upstream side of the valve and a second pressure on a downstream side of the valve, and when the valve is in the open position, accumulating the differential pressure with respect to time to obtain a value corresponding to volume of fluid flow passing through the valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.