Patent ID: 6431011
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A flow sensor for measuring a flow rate component, along a selected direction, of a fluid flowing in a flow direction relative to a sensing head, the sensor comprising:at least one stationary magnet arranged to have its magnetic axis generally orthogonal to the flow direction and to the selected direction; at least one pair of electrodes wetted by the fluid when it is present, the electrodes of the at least one pair thereof spaced apart from one another along a line generally orthogonal to both the selected direction and to the magnetic axis; at least one switching device having at least two states, the switching device, when in the first state, directly electrically connecting each electrode to a respective reference voltage; the switching device, when in a second state, connecting a voltage measurement circuit between an electrode of the at least one pair thereof and that other electrode with which it is paired; wherein the voltage measurement circuit is adapted to measure a voltage between the electrodes of the at least one pair thereof and to provide therefrom an output representative of the flow rate component.