Flow Sensor Adaptor Axial Passages and Reservoirs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow sensors face issues with water droplets filling pressure detecting passages, leading to measurement errors and potential kinking of tubes, which complicates stable continuous respiratory flow detection.
Innovation Solution
The adapter for a flow sensor includes multiple pairs of pressure detecting passages and reservoirs on the tubular body to collect water droplets, preventing passage filling and using monolithic joint pipes to prevent tube kinking, ensuring symmetrical and stable measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single pair of pressure detecting passages is used, then the device structure is simple, but measurement reliability decreases when water drops fill the passages
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure detecting passages are divided into multiple pairs (first pair and second pair), allowing the system to segment the measurement function. When water drops fill one pair of passages, the other pair remains functional, ensuring continuous measurement capability and improving reliability without requiring a complete system redesign.
2Ease of operation
If tubes are connected to pressure detecting passages in radial direction, then connection is straightforward, but tubes may be kinked causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with asymmetric features including a flat surface and positioning protrusions that correspond to recesses in the tubular body. This asymmetric design provides unique positioning and orientation, preventing tube kinking while maintaining straightforward connection through the molded-integral structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fluid-resistant members are symmetrically located, then gas flow detection is balanced, but water vapor accumulation still occurs in pressure detecting passages
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure detecting passages are routed to extend in the axial direction of the tubular body rather than radially, changing the dimensional orientation of the passages. This axial extension allows passages to bypass water vapor accumulation zones while maintaining symmetrical gas flow detection capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for continuous and stable measurement by preventing water droplets from filling pressure detecting passages and maintaining tube integrity, ensuring accurate respiratory flow detection regardless of the gas flow direction.
Implementation Method 1
detect a respiratory flow based on a differential pressure generated between both ends of a fluid-resistant member
Implementation Method 2
reservoirs, each of which is provided on the outer wall of the tubular body, and adapted to collect water derived from vapors contained in the respiratory gas
Data Source
AI summary
In an adaptor for a flow sensor, a tubular body is adapted to allow respiratory gas to pass through. At least one fluid-resistant member is disposed in the tubular body. At least two pairs of first passages are formed in the fluid-resistant member and adapted to lead out pressures at two positions in the tubular body which are to be detected by the flow sensor.