US 9,068,327 B2 · Flow meter for the measuring of fluid volumes originating from a faucet

Abstract

A low-cost fluid flow meter to conveniently measure the volume of a fluid, for example water, when expelled from a faucet includes a scale with markings for predetermined volumes of a fluid. A flow divider positioned in the main path of flow is used to redirect a small portion of the fluid flow into a separate measurement compartment. The fluid level is then registered optically as a representation of the accumulated fluid flow and presented through light-guiding optics to the user. The measurement compartment is automatically emptied through a pressure activated reset mechanism, so that when fluid flow is turned off the meter is nulled. The device is installed to the outlet of a faucet and operates as a substitute to many of the common measurement sets and containers used in a household for water dosage, as well as serves as an indicator of the water consumed each time the faucet is opened.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A volumetric fluid flow meter for measuring the accumulated flow, comprising:

a housing including a flow inlet port having a connector configured for fastening to a faucet outlet;
a flow divider through which the fluid originating from the faucet outlet flows, having a predetermined fraction of the fluid redirected into a measurement compartment that is substantially enclosed by said housing;
wherein said measurement compartment forming a container for fluid disposed therein and having a predetermined geometry, so as to provide a representation of the total volume V of fluid having flowed past said flow divider during a predetermined time interval through the relation V=f(s)*s+b, where s represents the fluid level of the fluid contained in said measurement compartment, b is a bias constant and f(s) comprises one of a simple proportionality constant and an arbitrary weighting function, derived from the geometry of said measurement compartment and said flow divider;
and
a flow outlet port configured to provide an outlet for fluids originating from the faucet.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flow meter for the measuring of fluid volumes originating from a faucet

Life of this patent

Flow meter for the measuring of fluid volumes originating from a faucet

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19