The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 27, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2002
Shinya Furuki, Ageo, JP;
Kiyoshi Yamagishi, Ageo, JP;
Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A thermal flowmeter is provided with a flow rate detecting unit ( ) containing a heating element, a flow rate detecting temperature sensing element and a flow rate detecting electroconductive fin plate ( ) extending into a fluid flow passage ( ), which are disposed so as to enable heat transfer therebetween, the flow rate detecting temperature sensing element varying in electrical characteristic value in accordance with the flow of the fluid in the fluid flow passage ( ); and, a fluid temperature detecting unit ( ) containing a fluid temperature detecting temperature sensing element and a fluid temperature detecting electroconductive fin plate ( ′) extending into the fluid flow passage ( ), which are disposed so as to enable heat transfer therebetween, the fluid temperature detecting temperature sensing element varying in electrical characteristic value in accordance with the temperature of the fluid. The flow rate of the fluid is detected on the basis of the electrical characteristic values of the flow rate detecting and fluid temperature detecting temperature sensing elements, and a fluid discrimination is effected by determining a conductivity between the flow rate detecting and fluid temperature detecting fin plates ( ′). According to this thermal flowmeter, with simple constitution, discrimination of whether the fluid is the required one or not is effected so that passage of erroneous fluid can be avoided.