Patent ID: 7127953

Claim:
A flow meter for use within a fluid chamber for measuring fluid flow in a flow path, the flow meter comprising: a) an elongate rigid stalk having a long axis, a first end, and a second end; b) a target member attached to the first end of the stalk, and arranged to be positioned in the path of the fluid flow to be measured with a broad face of the target member transverse to the flow; c) a support element, having a particular thickness, connected at a junction to the second end of the stalk for holding the target member in position; d) recesses in the support element adjacent the junction to provide reduced thickness areas of the support element to thereby concentrate bending of the support element in response to fluid forces on the target; e) sealing means for sealing the support element to the fluid chamber; f) a pair of strain gauges affixed to the support element outside the fluid chamber at the reduced thickness areas, one upstream of the stalk, and one downstream of the stalk; and g) a plurality of wires connected at one end to the strain gauges and adapted for connection to measuring apparatus at the other end.