A device (1) for determining the mass flow rate of milk turbulently flowing with air in a pipe (2) in pulsed milk slugs comprises sampling a signal from a microphone (8) of the device (1) indicative of sonic signals produced by the milk flow. The sampled signals are read by a microprocessor (15) which applies a Fast Fourier Transform to the sampled signal to produce the frequency domain of the sampled signal. The microprocessor (15) is configured to compute the average energy value of the sampled signal in the frequency bandwidth of 6 kHz to 15 kHz during consecutive monitoring periods. The average energy values are inserted into a calibration equation, which may be a power law equation, a polynomial equation, a logarithmic equation or any other such suitable equation in order to convert the average energy value to a mass flow rate of the milk flowing through the pipe 2 during that predefined monitoring period. The total mass flow of milk flowing through the pipeline (2) during a period from T.sub.1 to T.sub.2 is determined by integrating the determined mass flow rate of the milk from the time T.sub.1 to the time T.sub.2. Disengagement of a milking cluster from the teats of an animal as a result of kick-off during milking is also determined when the monitored signal from the microphone (8) transitions from the signal indicative of milk flowing in pulsed slugs to a continuous relatively high energy noise signal indicative of air being continuously drawn through the pipeline.

A device (1) for determining the mass flow rate of milk turbulently flowing with air in a pipe (2) in pulsed milk slugs comprises sampling a signal from a microphone (8) of the device (1) indicative of sonic signals produced by the milk flow. The sampled signals are read by a microprocessor (15) which applies a Fast Fourier Transform to the sampled signal to produce the frequency domain of the sampled signal. The microprocessor (15) is configured to compute the average energy value of the sampled signal in the frequency bandwidth of 6 kHz to 15 kHz during consecutive monitoring periods. The average energy values are inserted into a calibration equation, which may be a power law equation, a polynomial equation, a logarithmic equation or any other such suitable equation in order to convert the average energy value to a mass flow rate of the milk flowing through the pipe 2 during that predefined monitoring period. The total mass flow of milk flowing through the pipeline (2) during a period from T.sub.1 to T.sub.2 is determined by integrating the determined mass flow rate of the milk from the time T.sub.1 to the time T.sub.2. Disengagement of a milking cluster from the teats of an animal as a result of kick-off during milking is also determined when the monitored signal from the microphone (8) transitions from the signal indicative of milk flowing in pulsed slugs to a continuous relatively high energy noise signal indicative of air being continuously drawn through the pipeline.

A carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator with a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet. A backflow preventer module is fluidically coupled to the water inlet and comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter. The thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a heater to a temperature sensor by a flow of a fluid through the backflow preventer module. A shut-off valve is fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and a nozzle. The shut-off valve is configured to allow or prevent fluid flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle base on a control signal. A controller is configured to detect a backflow condition based on the first signal and generate the control signal to configure the shut-off valve to prevent dispensing carbonated water upon detection of the backflow condition.

An infusion apparatus includes a housing and a chamber configured to be connected to the housing. The apparatus further includes a weight sensor coupled to a load connector connected to the housing and an optical sensor disposed in the housing. The weight sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on a measured weight of the fluid container attached to the housing in a weight-bearing configuration. The optical sensor is configured to generate a second signal based on detecting drops of the fluid traversing the chamber. The apparatus also includes a flow control mechanism to control a flow rate of the fluid into an outlet channel. The apparatus includes one or more processing devices configured to perform operations including transmitting a control signal to the flow control mechanism to adjust the flow rate.

An infusion apparatus includes a housing and a chamber configured to be connected to the housing. The apparatus further includes a weight sensor coupled to a load connector connected to the housing and an optical sensor disposed in the housing. The weight sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on a measured weight of the fluid container attached to the housing in a weight-bearing configuration. The optical sensor is configured to generate a second signal based on detecting drops of the fluid traversing the chamber. The apparatus also includes a flow control mechanism to control a flow rate of the fluid into an outlet channel. The apparatus includes one or more processing devices configured to perform operations including transmitting a control signal to the flow control mechanism to adjust the flow rate.

A measurement control device includes a sensing unit and a low-pass filter unit. The sensing unit outputs an air flow rate value corresponding to an air flow rate flowing through a flow path. The low-pass filter unit removes high-frequency components included in the air flow rate value input from the sensing unit. The measurement control device calculates a pulsation state that is a state of a pulsation occurring in the air flow rate based on the air flow rate value that has passed through the low-pass filter unit. The measurement control device corrects the air flow rate value using the pulsation state.

Monitors for evaluating airway procedures, particularly in a pre-hospital environment, are described herein. In an example method, an airway parameter of an individual receiving assisted ventilation is detected by an airway sensor. A monitor determines a metric based on the airway sensor. Further, the monitor performs an action based on the metric.

A direction selective unidirectional clutch assembly for a fluid meter counter module assembly is characterized by a drive selector mechanism to couple a direction selection drive shaft to a unidirectional clutch to select one of a first flow direction and a second flow direction of flow of the fluid to drive a counter module. The direction selection draft is coupled to a rotating member (e.g. impeller) driven by flow of the fluid and rotates in a direction that is responsive to the direction of rotation of the rotating member. A pair of gears are mounted to slide along the direction selection draft between a first position and a second position. A direction changing gear is mounted at the second position. Further provided is a flow meter with a direction selective unidirectional clutch assembly.

A carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator with a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet. A backflow preventer module is fluidically coupled to the water inlet and comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter. The thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a heater to a temperature sensor by a flow of a fluid through the backflow preventer module. A shut-off valve is fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and a nozzle. The shut-off valve is configured to allow or prevent fluid flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle base on a control signal. A controller is configured to detect a backflow condition based on the first signal and generate the control signal to configure the shut-off valve to prevent dispensing carbonated water upon detection of the backflow condition.

This fluid measuring device is provided with: an irradiation unit that irradiates a fluid with light; a light receiving unit that receives light scattered by the fluid; a detecting unit that detects a backflow of the fluid on the basis of a light reception signal from the light receiving unit; and a calculating unit that calculates, on the basis of the detection result by the detection unit and the light reception signal from the light receiving unit, estimated fluid information indicating the flow rate or flow speed of the fluid. Accordingly, even when a backflow of the fluid temporarily occurs, the flow speed of the fluid can be precisely measured.