Fluid flow measurement device

A fluid sensor system, comprising:

• a probe to receive signals representative of a fluid flow characteristic;
• a processor to process signals from the probe into flow characteristic data;
• and
• a device to obtain flow characteristic measurements of a fluid flow system, the device including:
• a sensor assembly including:
• a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet,
• a flow restricting element located along the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet,
• an upstream fluid pressure sensor to sense an upstream fluid pressure at an upstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element,
• a downstream fluid pressure sensor to sense a downstream fluid pressure at a downstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet,
• an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and
• a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor;
• and
• a housing including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an upstream port in fluid communication with the inlet of the sensor assembly, the downstream portion defining a downstream port in fluid communication with the outlet of the sensor assembly, the housing further defining a probe access port configured to provide access of the probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact.

A method of obtaining flow characteristics of a fluid flow system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device to obtain flow rate measurements, the device comprising:
• a sensor assembly including:
• a body defining a first fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet,
• a flow restricting element located along the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet,
• an upstream fluid pressure sensor to sense an upstream fluid pressure at an upstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element,
• a downstream fluid pressure sensor to sense a downstream fluid pressure at a downstream location in the first fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet,
• an upstream signal contact connected to the upstream fluid pressure sensor, and
• a downstream signal contact connected to the downstream fluid pressure sensor, and
• a housing including an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an upstream port in fluid communication with the inlet of the sensor assembly, the downstream portion defining a downstream port in fluid communication with the outlet of the sensor assembly, the housing further defining a probe access port configured to provide access of a probe to at least one of the upstream signal contact and downstream signal contact;
• directing a fluid flow through the first fluid flow passage;
• obtaining a signal corresponding to the fluid pressure in the first fluid flow passage at the locations of the upstream fluid pressure sensor and the downstream fluid pressure sensor;
• and
• determining a flow characteristic based upon the signal.