Flow sensing meter

Inventors

FIEDOROWICZ, Richard

Assignees

OES MEDICAL Ltd

Abstract

A fluid flow sensor includes a hollow cylindrical casing containing a large number of solid spheres of identical diameter, packed tightly together. Fluid inflow and fluid outflow blocks are mounted to opposite ends of the casing, forming a fluid-tight seal. The fluid inflow and outflow blocks each enclose a generally conical fluid chamber tapering from where it meets an end of an interior of the casing to a respective inlet passage or outlet passage. Circular grilles divide the casing from each fluid chamber and retain the spheres in place. A pressure differential across the casing is measured via side passages extending laterally from each fluid chamber. For a given fluid, a given casing diameter and a given sphere diameter, this pressure differential can be converted to a fluid flow rate.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention provides a fluid flow sensing device comprising a chamber extending between a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end, with the second end remote from the first end. The chamber is filled with a plurality of substantially identical spherical bodies that define between them a plurality of indirect fluid passages extending between the first opening and the second opening. Fluid flow to be measured is directed through the chamber so that the flow follows the indirect passages created by the packed spheres.

A differential pressure across at least a full length of the chamber is determined from fluid adjacent the first end and fluid adjacent the second end. The differential pressure measurement is taken across the chamber along its full length rather than relying on a direct unobstructed straight passage between the openings. The packed spherical bodies and the indirect passages therefore contribute to a flow-path arrangement in which differential pressure is representative of the through-flow conditions.

For given casing and sphere geometry and fluid type, the differential pressure is convertible to fluid flow rate, enabling conversion from differential pressure to fluid flow rate. The disclosed device supports wide flow ranges due to laminar flow between balls. The device is described as being reconfigurable for different viscosities and flow ranges by swapping the sphere diameter and/or inlet and outlet blocks, while maintaining the indirect passage concept.

Claims Coverage

The document provides one independent claim. The independent claim covers an indirect-passaged chamber packed with substantially identical spherical bodies and determining a differential pressure across at least a full length of the chamber from fluid adjacent the first end and fluid adjacent the second end.

Overall, the claim coverage centers on creating indirect fluid passages by packing a chamber with substantially identical spherical bodies and determining differential pressure between fluid adjacent the first and second ends across at least the full length of the chamber.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications