A flow gauge scale assembly includes a first scale and a second scale. The first scale is configured to be disposed in a first radial position on a generally cylindrical flow tube through which a ball can move to indicate a flow rate of a flow of gas. The second scale is configured to be disposed in a second radial position that will be at least partially optically misaligned from the first scale when the flow gauge scale assembly is installed in the generally cylindrical flow tube.

A flow meter includes two parts, a flow unit which can be fitted between fluid pipes and a detection unit snapped on the flow unit. The flow unit has a housing which accommodates a measuring chamber in which there is a rotating measuring ball. The detection unit is snapped on the measuring chamber and has a C-shaped housing part. Inside the housing part there is a printed circuit board which is also C-shaped and is present at a distance from the inner wall of the housing part. When the detection unit is snapped on the measuring chamber, the ends of the housing part will be bent outward. As a result of the clearance between the inner wall of the housing part and the printed circuit board and the fact that the housing part is slidable relative to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is not bent.

A continuously variable nozzle system includes a nozzle body (5) with an inlet and an outlet. A conduit is defined between the inlet and the outlet by a series connection of components which includes a flow meter (10). The flow meter (10) has a chamber (83) with internal helical splines (82) that are configured to interact with a spray liquid passing through the chamber (83) and create a cyclone-like effect. A sphere (52) is located inside the chamber (83) for free movement along a circular path (106). A sensor is located outside of the chamber (83) and configured to detect motion of the sphere (52) and generate an output (9) signal in response to detected motion.

A continuously variable nozzle system includes a nozzle body (5) with an inlet and an outlet. A conduit is defined between the inlet and the outlet by a series connection of components which includes a flow meter (10). The flow meter (10) has a chamber (83) with internal helical splines (82) that are configured to interact with a spray liquid passing through the chamber (83) and create a cyclone-like effect. A sphere (52) is located inside the chamber (83) for free movement along a circular path (106). A sensor is located outside of the chamber (83) and configured to detect motion of the sphere (52) and generate an output (9) signal in response to detected motion.

A flow meter includes two parts, a flow unit which can be fitted between fluid pipes and a detection unit snapped on the flow unit. The flow unit has a housing which accommodates a measuring chamber in which there is a rotating measuring ball. The detection unit is snapped on the measuring chamber and has a C-shaped housing part. Inside the housing part there is a printed circuit board which is also C-shaped and is present at a distance from the inner wall of the housing part. When the detection unit is snapped on the measuring chamber, the ends of the housing part will be bent outward. As a result of the clearance between the inner wall of the housing part and the printed circuit board and the fact that the housing part is slidable relative to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is not bent.

A flow amount measuring apparatus comprising: a rotating device, configured to rotate while material flows through the rotating device; a rotating bar, connected to the rotating device, configured to rotate corresponding to rotating of the rotating device; a feature acquiring device, configured to detect at least one feature of the rotating bar; and a computing unit, configured to compute a number for full rotations for the rotating bar based on the feature of the rotating bar, and configured to compute a flow amount for the material flows through the rotating device based on the number for full rotations.

A flow amount measuring apparatus comprising: a rotating device, configured to rotate while material flows through the rotating device; a rotating bar, connected to the rotating device, configured to rotate corresponding to rotating of the rotating device; a feature acquiring device, configured to detect at least one feature of the rotating bar; and a computing unit, configured to compute a number for full rotations for the rotating bar based on the feature of the rotating bar, and configured to compute a flow amount for the material flows through the rotating device based on the number for full rotations.

A flow meter includes a housing which accommodates helical guide blades and a core located within the guide blades, and a measuring chamber in which a measuring ball can rotate in a circle. Between the end of the core bounding on the measuring chamber and the end face of the outlet section oriented to the measuring chamber there are no wall portions present, and the distance between the outside edge of the core end bounding on the measuring chamber and the inside edge of outlet-section-end-face oriented to the measuring chamber is smaller than the diameter of the measuring ball. Consequently, the fluid may unimpedely flow out of the measuring chamber as a result of which there is low flow resistance of the flow meter. Moreover, this causes no obstacles to be present between two oppositely arranged spots on the housing that may disturb a light ray for the measurement.

A device for flow measurement, comprising a housing, a measuring section provided with a first window area and a second window area that allow a light beam to pass from outside of and through the first window area, into and across the interior of the housing, and then out through the second window area. The device comprises upstream central body portion and a downstream central body portion. The downstream central body portion causes the fluid to encircle the downstream central body portion as the fluid flows from the measuring section to the outlet. The two central body portions together define a path for guiding a circulating element. The circulating element will repeatedly and alternatingly pass by the first window area and the second window area to momentarily prevent at least a part of said light beam passing through the first window area from reaching the second window area.