Fluid flow meter
AssigneeMeasurement Technology International
InventorDov Ingman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The fluid flow meter includes a flexible membrane formed of a flexible material and containing an apparatus for providing the membrane with resilience for undulation. The membrane is mounted in the fluid flow path such that the pair of faces simultaneously define with the housing fluid impermeable seals at least two different locations along the flow path. The membrane flexes so as to permit passage of discrete quanta of fluid, each having a known volume. The flow meter generates electrical signals corresponding to flexure of the membrane, and the electrical signals are monitored for determining a fluid flow rate.
Claims32
A fluid flow meter, comprising:
- a housing having a pair of fluid ports and defining a fluid flow path therebetween;
- a flexible membrane extending lengthwise in the direction of fluid flow and mounted for flexure at opposing longitudinal ends of the membrane within the housing, said membrane having a pair of opposing faces and two opposite side edges extending generally in the direction of fluid flow mounted in the fluid flow path such that the side edges form seals with said housing, and the pair of faces simultaneously define with the housing fluid impermeable seals at least two different locations along the flow path operative to flex so as to permit passage of discrete quanta of fluid, each quantum of fluid having a known volume varying as a function of flow rate;
- at least one elongated resilient member disposed within said membrane forming a plurality of lines of resilience extending between said longitudinal ends of said membrane in the direction of said fluid flow path for providing the membrane with resilience for undulation of flexing;
- means for generating electrical signals corresponding to flexure of said membrane;
- and
- monitoring means for receiving the electrical signals from said means for generating electrical signals over a period of time determining the rate of said electric signals, determining the volume of said quanta based upon said electrical signal rate, and thereby determining a fluid flow rate along said flow path.
A fluid flow meter, comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet fluid port defining a fluid flow path therebetween;
- a flexible membrane mounted at first and second longitudinal ends within the housing, said membrane having a pair of opposite side edges extending in the direction of the fluid flow path to form seals with the housing;
- resilient guide means mounted adjacent said first longitudinal end for facilitating change of position of the membrane;
- and
- means responsive to membrane flexure for determining a fluid flow rate along said flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.