Patent ID: 8397586

Claim:
A flow sensor assembly, comprising: a housing including an inlet flow port and an outlet flow port, the housing defining a fluid channel extending between the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port; a flow sensor positioned in the housing and exposed to the fluid channel, the flow sensor configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid channel; and an upstream porous foam insert situated in the fluid channel of the housing upstream of the flow sensor, wherein the upstream porous foam insert includes a polymer material having pores distributed therein to form a plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous foam insert, wherein during operation of the flow sensor assembly, a fluid passes through the inlet flow port, through the upstream porous foam insert, across the flow sensor, and through the outlet flow port, wherein the plurality of circuitous paths through the upstream porous foam insert are configured to enhance a laminar flow profile of the fluid across the flow sensor.