Milk production meter

Abstract

Fluid, such as milk, is conducted into the meter through an inlet passage and received in a fluid receptacle at least a portion of which is movable with at least a portion of the movement being in response to receipt of the fluid with the fluid then being expelled from the meter through a discharge passage. A sensor senses the movement of the movable portion caused by receipt of fluid in the fluid reservoir and, responsive thereto, provides an electrical signal indicative of the amount of fluid received, which electrical signal is coupled from the meter for utilization purposes. In one disclosed embodiment, a rotating wheel has fluid receptacles at the rim to receive the fluid conducted into the meter with the fluid being later (in the rotation of the wheel) dumped from the receptacle and expelled from the meter through the discharge passage. The wheel is rotatably driven through a collar and shaft having a torsion spring therebetween with the weight of the fluid acting on the torsion spring enabling the shaft to angularly lead the collar by an amount dependent upon the weight of the fluid in the receptacle. This angular lead is sensed and an electrical signal produced that is indicative of fluid flow and/or the weight per unit of time of fluid passing through the meter.