Patent ID: 8104340

Claim:
A fluid flow sensing device for use in sensing a flow of a fluid through a main channel, the fluid flow sensing device comprising: a housing defining: an input port configured to be in fluid communication with the main channel; an outlet port configured to be in fluid communication with the main channel downstream of the input port; a flow channel extending between the input port and the output port, wherein the flow channel includes an upstream fluid flow channel connected to the input port, a downstream fluid flow channel connected to the outlet port, and an interconnecting fluid flow channel extending between the upstream fluid flow channel and the downstream fluid flow channel, wherein the interconnecting fluid flow channel includes a first tapered region and a second tapered region, wherein the first and second tapered regions are tapered from a larger inner dimension to a smaller inner dimension in a direction of fluid flow through the flow channel, wherein the first tapered region is tapered at a first taper rate and the second tapered region is tapered at a second taper rate, wherein the second taper rate is greater in magnitude than the first taper rate; and a fluid flow sensor positioned in the interconnecting fluid flow channel downstream of the first and second tapered regions and exposed to the flow channel of the housing for measuring the fluid flow through the flow channel of the housing.