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US 6,612,188 B2Granted
Self-powered fluid meter
AssigneeNeptune Technology Group Inc.
InventorDavid Hamilton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides for a self-powered fluid meter that uses the kinetic energy of a fluid being measured to provide power for circuitry that may perform functions related to the fluid measurement. An element is placed within a rotating magnetic field created from the kinetic energy of a fluid. This element creates an electrical pulse to power the circuitry.
Claims10
A batteryless fluid meter comprising
- a housing of predetermined volume through which a fluid flows;
- a magnet having at least two poles, said magnet rotating in a predetermined relationship with said fluid flow, thereby creating a rotating magnetic field;
- a weigand sensor positioned within said magnetic field, said weigand sensor outputting an electrical pulse with each change in polarity of said magnetic field;
- a conditioning circuit for receiving each said electrical pulse and using the energy from said pulses to power a circuit;
- a totalizer circuit powered solely by the energy from said pulses operative to count said pulses and store said pulse count;
- whereby said pulse count is representative of the volume of fluid flow through said housing.
3 more elements
A method of metering a fluid without utilizing a battery, said method comprising:
- directing a flow of fluid through a housing of predetermined volume;
- creating a magnetic field rotating in a predetermined relationship with said fluid flow;
- positioning a weigand sensor within said rotating magnetic field, whereby said weigand sensor outputs an electrical pulse each time said field changes polarity;
- receiving said pulses in a conditioning circuit and conditioning the energy from said pulses to be used as a power supply;
- and
- counting said pulses using a totalizer circuit powered solely from the energy of said pulses;
- whereby said pulse count is representative of the volume of fluid flow through said housing.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.