Patent ID: 7647844
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
1. A flow rate/liquid type detecting apparatus for detecting at least one among the flow rate of a fluid, the type of the fluid, and the concentration of the fluid, comprising: a main passage through which a fluid to be detected flows; an auxiliary passage branched from said main passage; a flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor device provided in said auxiliary passage; an auxiliary passage control mechanism provided in said auxiliary passage, for controlling the flow of the fluid to be detected into said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor device; and a control unit for controlling said flow rate/liquid detecting sensor device and said auxiliary passage control mechanism, said control unit being constructed so as to conduct control in such a manner that: in conducting any one of or both the detection of the type of said fluid to be detected and the detection of the concentration of said fluid to be detected, said auxiliary passage control mechanism is closed, and said fluid to be detected is allowed to temporarily stay within said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor device to conduct any one of or both the detection of the liquid type and the detection of the concentration, and in detecting the flow rate of the fluid to be detected, said auxiliary passage control mechanism is opened to allow the fluid to be detected to flow into said flow rate/liquid detecting sensor device to detect the flow rate, and said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor device comprises: a flow rate/liquid type detecting chamber for allowing the fluid to be detected which has been introduced into a flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor device body to temporarily stay therein, a flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor heater provided within said flow rate/liquid type detecting chamber, and said flow rate/liquid type detecting apparatus is constructed so that: in conducting any one of or both the detection of the type of said fluid to be detected and the detection of the concentration of said fluid to be detected, a pulse voltage is applied to said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor heater for a predetermined period of time, the fluid to be detected which temporarily stays within said flow rate/liquid type detecting chamber is heated with said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor heater, and any one of or both the liquid type of the fluid and the concentration of the fluid are detected, by a voltage output difference V in detecting the flow rate of said fluid to be detected, a pulse voltage is applied to said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor heater for a predetermined period of time, the fluid to be detected which flows through said flow rate/liquid type detecting chamber is heated with said flow rate/liquid type detecting sensor heater, and the flow rate is detected, by a voltage output difference V