A flow rate sensor system for an agricultural sprayer includes a drum housing and a central passage housing defining a flow path, a Hall-effect sensor, a Hall-effect sensor window in a display housing, a magnetic carrier within the drum housing, and a magnet positioned in the magnetic carrier. The flow path has a first portion generally parallel to an axis, and a second vortex portion around the axis. The Hall-effect sensor faces the axis. The Hall-effect sensor window is between the Hall-effect sensor and the axis. The magnetic carrier is configured to rotate about the axis. Related methods are also disclosed.

A cartridge-style flow sensor for sensing fluid flow. The includes an exterior, interior, head, base, a circuit board, and first and second ports. The first and second ports permit fluid to flow into and out of the interior. A Hall Effect Sensor in the interior detects the number of revolutions of an impeller. An electric coupler interfaces with the sensor and a transmitter for communication of the revolutions of the impeller to a controller. The controller determines the rate of fluid flow in a conduit. The controller automatically issues a command signal to a component of a hydraulic system to alter the rate of fluid flow in the conduit. The cartridge hydraulic flow sensor is easily and releasably engaged to a cavity of a hydraulic circuit manifold.

An example valve includes: a plurality of ports comprising: a first port, a second port, and a third port; a spool configured to block fluid flow from the first port to the third port while allowing fluid flow from the third port to the second port when the valve is in an unactuated state; a spring applying a biasing force on the spool in a proximal direction, wherein when the valve is actuated, the spool moves in a distal direction against the spring, thereby allowing fluid flow from the first port to the third port while blocking fluid flow from the third port to the second port; and a turbine configured to rotate as fluid flows from the first port to the third port when the valve is in an actuated state.

A cartridge-style flow sensor for sensing fluid flow. The flow sensor includes an exterior, interior, head, base, a circuit board, and first and second ports. The first and second ports permit fluid to flow into and out of the interior. A Hall Effect Sensor in the interior detects the number of revolutions of an impeller. An electric coupler interfaces with the sensor and a transmitter for communication of the revolutions of the impeller to a controller. The controller determines the rate of fluid flow in a conduit. The controller automatically issues a command signal to a component of a hydraulic system to alter the rate of fluid flow in the conduit. The cartridge-style hydraulic flow sensor is releasably engaged to a cavity of a hydraulic circuit manifold eliminating the need to cut and re-plumb a fluid conduit.

An example valve includes: a pressure compensation spool configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at a first port acting in a proximal direction; a pressure compensation spring disposed in a pressure compensation chamber and applying a biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in a distal direction; a turbine configured to rotate as fluid flows through the valve; and a flow area configured to throttle fluid flow from the first port to the pressure compensation chamber, wherein fluid in the pressure compensation chamber applies a second fluid force on the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction, such that the pressure compensation spool moves to a particular axial position based on force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, and the biasing force to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to a second port.

A flow meter includes a rotating structure, a sensing element and a processing circuit. The rotating structure has a shaft, a rotating element, and a magnetic element. The rotating element can be driven by a fluid in a pipeline to rotate around the shaft. The magnetic element is arranged on the rotating element with two magnetic poles parallel to a tangent line of rotating circle of the rotating element. The sensing element is separated from the rotating structure by a distance, and includes a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit, respectively sensing a magnetic field of the magnetic element in different directions to generate a first component signal and a second magnetic field component signal. The processing circuit is connected to the sensing element, and generates an angle of the rotating structure according to the first magnetic field component signal and the second magnetic field component signal.

A system and method for detecting and analyzing fluid flow. The system includes a turbine that rotates in response to a fluid flow; a sensor that senses positional information of the turbine; a flow detector coupled to the sensor that: periodically captures and stores a value indicative of a position of the turbine; compares the value with a previously collected value; and detects flow if the value and previously collected value differ; and a flow analysis system coupled to the sensor that activates in response to a detected flow, wherein the flow analysis system collects and analyzes sensor data from the sensor.

An example valve includes: a seat member; a spool configured to be seated on the seat member to block fluid flow from a first port to a second port when the valve is in a closed state, wherein fluid at the first port applies a fluid force on the spool; a spring applying a biasing force on the spool toward the seat member, wherein as the fluid force overcomes the biasing force, the spool moves in the proximal direction off the seat member, thereby allowing fluid flow from the first port to the second port through a flow area formed between the spool and the seat member; a turbine configured to rotate as fluid flowing through the flow area flows downstream across the turbine; and an electric generator coupled to the turbine, such that rotation of the turbine causes the electric generator to generate electric power.

An example valve includes: a pressure compensation spool configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at a first port acting in a proximal direction; a pressure compensation spring disposed in a pressure compensation chamber and applying a biasing force on the pressure compensation spool in a distal direction; a turbine configured to rotate as fluid flows through the valve; and a flow area configured to throttle fluid flow from the first port to the pressure compensation chamber, wherein fluid in the pressure compensation chamber applies a second fluid force on the pressure compensation spool in the distal direction, such that the pressure compensation spool moves to a particular axial position based on force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, and the biasing force to throttle fluid flow from the pressure compensation chamber to a second port.

A sensor unit that is configured to improve the non-contact, magnetic interface on a gas meter. The configurations may include a pair of magnets that co-rotate in response to a magnet internal to the gas meter. At least one of the magnets may also move longitudinally in proximity to the internal magnet. This feature aligns the magnets with one another to ensure proper magnetic coupling with the internal magnet.