Patent ID: 7219558

Claim:
An in stream flow meter system comprising: a) a flow element; said flow element having an aerodynamic frontal profile; said flow element frontal profile smoothly transitioning into three or more fins; said fins having an outer-most radiused surface that approximates the maximum diameter of said flow element frontal profile; wherein a necked-down region exists at the intersection of said substantially spherical frontal profile and said fins; said flow element having a P 1 static pressure tap concentrically situated at the front most portion of said frontal profile; said P 1 static pressure tap fluidly connecting via a P 1 duct to a P 1 static pressure pickup; said flow element having one or more P 2 pressure tap(s) situated within said necked-down region; said P 2 pressure tap(s) fluidly connecting via a P 2 duct to a P 2 pressure pickup; b) said in stream flow meter system additionally comprising: a generally conical shaped flow horn that converges in a flow transitional zone to a flow horn through-diameter that has a constant or substantially constant diameter; said flow element axially aligned with said flow horn central axis and said flow element capable of operably functioning when situated within said flow horn when said P 2 pressure tap(s) are located within said flow horn through-diameter or located about said flow transitional zone; the outer-most radiused surface on said fins preferably dimensionally approximating said flow horn through-diameter such that all fluid passing over said flow element will be directed between said fins; said P 1 static pressure pickup and P 2 pressure pickup fluidly joined to a differential pressure transducer; wherein pressure differentials can be associated with a fluid flow rate.