Flow Channel Partition for Foreign Matter Redirection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional physical quantity measurement devices for fluids, such as air flow meters, face challenges in accurately measuring flow rates due to foreign matter entering the measurement flow channel, which can lead to reduced detection accuracy and inefficiencies in fluid measurement.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a passage flow channel with a branch flow channel and a flow channel partition that includes specific surface features, such as step surfaces and connection surfaces, to prevent large foreign matter from entering the measurement flow channel by redirecting it back to the inflow port, ensuring that only fluid enters the measurement flow channel for accurate detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the branch passage is curved to make one turn, then foreign matter with relatively large mass is discharged from the outflow port without entering the branch passage, but the detection accuracy of the flow rate detection unit is inhibited from being lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter dischargeVSAvoidflow rate detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flow channel is divided into a passage flow channel and a branch flow channel separated by a flow channel partition portion. This segmentation allows the main flow to continue while directing fluid (without foreign matter) into the branch channel for measurement, preventing foreign matter from entering the detection unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow channel partition portion acts as an intermediary structure that separates the passage flow channel from the branch flow channel. It includes a partition top portion not exposed through the inflow port, which serves as a barrier to prevent foreign matter from entering the branch channel while allowing fluid to pass through.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a flow channel partition is added to separate the passage flow channel and branch flow channel, then foreign matter is prevented from entering the measurement channel, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidflow channel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow channel partition portion is integrated into the housing structure, merging the separation function with the overall flow channel design. This reduces the need for additional separate components and minimizes device complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the partition top portion is not exposed through the inflow port, then large foreign matter is redirected back to the inflow port, but the flow channel design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign matter entry preventionVSAvoidpartition structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of extending the partition top portion to the inflow port to block foreign matter, the design inverts the approach by having the partition top portion remain below the inflow port level. This allows the partition's side surface and bottom surface to work together to redirect foreign matter back to the inflow port through geometric constraints rather than direct blocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11067421B2Physical quantity measurement device having a flow channel partition not directly exposed to the flow through the inflow port

Publication Date: 2021.07.20 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A physical quantity measurement device measures a physical quantity of a fluid. The device includes a passage flow channel, a branch flow channel, a flow channel partition portion that separates the passage flow channel and the branch flow channel to have the branch flow channel branch off from the passage flow channel, and a physical quantity detector. The flow channel partition portion has a partition top portion as an upstream-side end that is not exposed through the inflow port.