Patent ID: 7748262

Claim:
A coolant flow measurement device comprising a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter wherein: the coolant flow circuit comprises a device outlet operable for attachment to an engine coolant flow inlet of a vehicle and a device inlet operable for attachment to a front heater core outlet of the vehicle such that coolant may be circulated from the coolant flow circuit into the engine coolant flow inlet, through an HVAC system of the vehicle and back into the coolant flow circuit; the cooling system is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit proximate the device inlet such that coolant flowing into the device inlet passes through the cooling system, wherein the cooling system is operable to regulate the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; the purge system is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit may be diverted into the purge system and back into the coolant flow circuit, wherein the purge system is operable to purge air from the coolant flow circuit; the variable speed fluid pump is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit passes through the variable speed fluid pump, wherein the variable speed fluid pump is operable to balance a pressure of the coolant between the device inlet and the device outlet; the primary flow meter is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit passes through the primary flow meter, wherein the primary flow meter is operable to measure a flow rate of coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; and the differential pressure gage is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit proximate the device inlet and the device outlet, wherein the differential pressure gage is operable to measure a pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet.