Flow rate detection for an aspirating smoke detection system
Inventors
Hughes, Aleksis Terence • De Looper, Michael Anthony • Chai, Elizabeth
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12747971-B2
Publication Date
2026-09-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems for flow rate detection for an aspirating smoke detection system are described herein. One device includes a flow rate sensor for an aspirating smoke detection system comprising a flow chamber to allow a gas to flow through the flow chamber and a receive coil located inside the flow chamber, where a processor is to execute instructions to receive a signal from the receive coil and determine a flow rate of gas through the flow chamber based on the signal.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a flow rate sensor for an aspirating smoke detection system. Gas flows through a flow chamber containing a bluff body and a receive coil on a printed circuit board. The gas flow physically oscillates the receive coil, which generates a signal; a processor determines the signal frequency and uses it to determine the gas flow rate.
An alternative embodiment uses a magnetically deflected flexible sensing coil and voltage or amplitude measurements to infer flow rate. The sensor is presented as easier and less costly to manufacture and install in new or existing systems. The problem being solved in the background section is not explicitly described in the provided patent content.
Claims Coverage
The provided relevant claims identify one independent claim, claim 1, covering four main inventive features of the flow rate sensor.
Flow chamber and bluff body
A flow chamber configured to allow a gas to flow through it, with a bluff body inside the chamber configured to disrupt the gas flow.
Oscillating receive coil
A receive coil located on a printed circuit board inside the flow chamber is configured to physically oscillate in response to gas flow and, in response to that oscillation, generate a signal.
Signal frequency determination
A processor executes instructions stored in memory to determine a frequency of the signal generated by the receive coil.
Flow rate determination
The processor determines a flow rate of the gas through the flow chamber based on the signal frequency.
Claim 1 covers the flow chamber and bluff body, the flow-responsive receive coil and signal, and the processor-based determination of signal frequency and gas flow rate.
Stated Advantages
The sensor is presented as easier and less costly to manufacture and install in new or existing systems.
Documented Applications
Flow-rate sensing in an aspirating smoke detection system, including a pipe sampling network.
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