| CPC G01F 1/584 (2013.01) [G01F 1/588 (2013.01); G01F 1/60 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
|
1. A detection device for a liquid-conducting appliance or system, the device comprising:
a hydraulic body defining a duct for a flow of a liquid, the duct having an inlet and an outlet, the hydraulic body being made of an electrically insulating material;
a flow sensor located at least in part on the hydraulic body, which comprises:
an electromagnetic arrangement, configured for generating an electromagnetic field through the duct, in a direction transverse to the flow of the liquid, the electromagnetic arrangement having a U-shaped configuration including two magnetic poles made of ferromagnetic material, which are generally parallel and symmetrical, and are connected together by means of a core, which is also made of ferromagnetic material, arranged on which is an electrical coil,
a detection arrangement, which comprises at least two electrode units for detecting a potential difference induced by the flow of the liquid through the electromagnetic field, the at least two electrode units being arranged to be in contact with the liquid in a respective working position, each electrode unit being in a single piece made of an electrically conductive material and defining a widened portion,
wherein the hydraulic body has at least two through openings at two opposite first sides of the duct, at least partially inserted in each of which is a corresponding electrode unit, in such a way that, in the respective working positions, the electrode units are substantially aligned or opposed to one another,
wherein the poles of the electromagnetic arrangement are located on the outside of the duct, at two second sides of the duct opposite to one another and orthogonal to the first sides,
the device further comprising sealing means at each through opening, configured for preventing leakage of the liquid from the duct through the corresponding through opening,
wherein each electrode unit is inserted into the respective through opening from outside the duct, such that the respective widened portion remain on the outside of the duct,
wherein the sealing means are associated to, or integrated in, a respective electrode unit in such a way that said sealing means of an electrode unit can be positioned with respect to one said through opening, outside the duct, by means of a movement in the same direction of insertion from outside the duct of the respective electrode unit into the corresponding through opening,
wherein the detection arrangement further comprises at least one blocking member, outside the duct and in contact with the sealing means which is associated to, or integrated in, the corresponding electrode unit, the at least one blocking member being made of electrically insulating material and configured for co-operating mechanically with the hydraulic body and with a respective electrode unit in order to prevent said respective electrode unit from slipping out of the corresponding through opening,
wherein the electrically insulating material of hydraulic body integrally defines, outside the duct and in a position corresponding to one said through opening, at least one engagement seat for the at least one blocking member,
wherein the hydraulic body moreover defines outside the duct, at each of the second sides, a mounting slit inside which part of a respective magnetic pole of the magnetic arrangement is inserted, and
wherein the at least one blocking member has at least one coupling portion configured for coupling in the at least one engagement seat via an angular movement of the at least one blocking member.
|