There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channeling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channeling system in parallel from the main flow channeling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channeling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channeling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channeling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device.

Systems and methods related to a flow meter and/or flow meter operation can include one or more sensors and be capable of detecting parameters of the fluid flowing the flowmeter. One or more sensors can include capacitive sensors having a plurality of electrodes and configured to detect capacitive properties of a fluid flowing through the flow meter. Detected changes in detected properties of the fluid can be evidence of important changes in the fluid, such as an out of product event or a contamination of the fluid.

A fluid flow meter is described, that includes intermeshing gears that rotate synchronously. The fluid flow meter has a nominal operating range between a maximum volumetric flow rate and a minimum volumetric flow rate. The flow meter has a flow sensor to produce a pulsed output and a controller operatively coupled to a data storage medium. The controller can receive detection signal from the flow sensor to generate input pulses and determine an input pulse frequency. The controller can determine whether the fluid flow meter is operating outside the nominal operating range and apply a correction function to input pulses to generate linearized output pulses. The controller may generate the correction function based on the input pulse frequency and a predetermined pulse frequency; or based on the time interval between input pulses and a predetermined interval between input pulses; or based on a generic calibration of the fluid flow meter.

A fluid flow meter is described, that includes intermeshing gears that rotate synchronously. The fluid flow meter has a nominal operating range between a maximum volumetric flow rate and a minimum volumetric flow rate. The flow meter has a flow sensor to produce a pulsed output and a controller operatively coupled to a data storage medium. The controller can receive detection signal from the flow sensor to generate input pulses and determine an input pulse frequency. The controller can determine whether the fluid flow meter is operating outside the nominal operating range and apply a correction function to input pulses to generate linearized output pulses. The controller may generate the correction function based on the input pulse frequency and a predetermined pulse frequency; or based on the time interval between input pulses and a predetermined interval between input pulses; or based on a generic calibration of the fluid flow meter.

A method of manufacturing a flow measuring device having a rotatable element includes patterning an adhesive layer disposed on a first surface of a first sheet of a flexible material to remove portions of the adhesive layer in an area to define a location for a rotatable element, patterning the first sheet to define the rotatable element in the first sheet, adhering a pair of membrane layers of a second flexible material, to opposing surfaces of the patterned first sheet, with each of the pair of membrane layers having an electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, patterning the electrically conductive layer to provide an electrode on each of the pair of membrane layers, and adhering a pair of sealing layers to surfaces of the pair of membrane layers.

A method of manufacturing a flow measuring device having a rotatable element includes patterning an adhesive layer disposed on a first surface of a first sheet of a flexible material to remove portions of the adhesive layer in an area to define a location for a rotatable element, patterning the first sheet to define the rotatable element in the first sheet, adhering a pair of membrane layers of a second flexible material, to opposing surfaces of the patterned first sheet, with each of the pair of membrane layers having an electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, patterning the electrically conductive layer to provide an electrode on each of the pair of membrane layers, and adhering a pair of sealing layers to surfaces of the pair of membrane layers.

Embodiments of systems and methods are provided to monitor operation of a compound water meter comprising a low flow meter and a high flow meter. In the disclosed embodiments, a first sensor package is coupled to the low flow meter to generate a first set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the low flow meter, and a second sensor package is coupled to the high flow meter to generate a second set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the high flow meter. The first and second sensor packages may each include, e.g., an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor and a vibration sensor. In the disclosed embodiments, the first and second sets of sensor data are analyzed to detect various potential problems within the compound water meter, such as a register failure, a crossover failure, a measurement failure, a bypass open condition and/or an incorrect flow meter size.

There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channelling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channelling system in parallel from the main flow channelling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channelling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channelling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channelling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device.

There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channelling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channelling system in parallel from the main flow channelling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channelling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channelling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channelling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device.

An apparatus for measuring the flow rate of urine, including an encasement, configured to encase components of the apparatus; a receptacle bowl attached to the encasement, configured to be placed over a toilet bowl or seat, and direct fluid through a single point of exit to a fluid flow guide; the fluid flow guide, configured to transfer fluid from the receptacle bowl to an impeller; the impeller, configured to rotate along a rotation axis, wherein the impeller includes a plurality of blades, configured to receive the urine from the flow guide, and thereby rotate the impeller at a speed correlating with the flow rate of the urine; and an angular velocity sensor, configured to produce electric signals that correlate with the angular velocity or angular position of the impeller.