Flow determination

Abstract

An apparatus for making a flow determination with respect to a flow through a fluid conduit such as a domestic water pipe, the fluid conduit comprising a wall having an inner surface surrounding a flow space through which the fluid flows and an outer surface, the apparatus comprising: a first temperature sensor arranged to be mounted on the outer surface of the fluid conduit and arranged to generate a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature being the temperature of the outer surface; a second temperature sensor arranged to be positioned spaced apart from the first temperature sensor and to generate a second temperature signal indicative of a second temperature being the ambient temperature outside of the fluid conduit; and a processor having inputs for the first and second temperature signals; in which the processor has an output for the flow determination and is arranged to make the flow determination by determining a measure of the convergence of the first and second temperatures over time.

1 .- 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A sensing apparatus, comprising:
 a first temperature sensor;   a sensor head for housing the first temperature sensor, the sensor head being arranged so as to hold the first temperature sensor against a fluid conduit, with the first temperature sensor being arranged so as to produce in use a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature being that of the fluid conduit;   a housing;   a second temperature sensor arranged in the housing or at the sensor head, arranged to produce in use a second temperature signal indicative of a second temperature being the ambient temperature;   in which the housing and the sensor head are joined by a flexible cable, the apparatus being arranged such that in use the flexible cable transmits at least one of the first and second temperature signals.   
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , in which the second temperature sensor is in the sensor head with the first temperature sensor, but spaced therefrom. 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , in which the sensor head comprises a clamping mechanism arranged to clamp onto the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         58 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 57 , in which the clamping mechanism comprises at least one jaw arranged to engage the fluid conduit and a biasing member arranged to bias each jaw into contact with the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         59 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 58 , in which each jaw comprises a profiled section, which, when biased by the biasing member tends to drive a contact portion of the sensor head into contact with the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         60 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 59 , in which the profiled section comprises a surface (typically planar) slanted relative to a biasing direction in which the biasing member applies a biasing force to the jaw, the surface facing the contact portion. 
     
     
         61 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 60 , in which each jaw comprises a further profiled section, which is also slanted relative to the biasing direction, but in an opposing direction, so that application of the biasing force tends to drive the contact portion away from the fluid conduit, the further profiled section being typically spaced further from the contact portion than the profiled section. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , in which the first temperature sensor is provided with a sensor biasing member, which tends to bias the first temperature sensor into contact with the fluid conduit in use. 
     
     
         64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A kit of parts, comprising:
 a first temperature sensor;   a plurality of sensor heads arranged to house the first temperature sensor, each sensor head being arranged so as to hold the first temperature sensor against a fluid conduit, with the first temperature sensor being arranged so as to produce in use a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature being that of the fluid conduit;   a housing;   a second temperature sensor, arranged to produce in use a second temperature signal indicative of a second temperature being the ambient temperature;   in which the housing and the first temperature sensor are joined by a flexible cable, the apparatus being arranged such that in use the flexible cable transmits at least one of the first and second temperature signals and that the sensor heads can interchangeably engage the first temperature sensor.   
     
     
         66 . A kit of parts as set out in  claim 65 , wherein the plurality of sensor heads are arranged for use with different pipes and/or have different sizes. 
     
     
         67 . A kit of parts as set out in  claim 65 , arranged to be installable such that, when a sensor head is attached to the fluid conduit, the housing is suspended from the fluid conduit on the flexible cable. 
     
     
         68 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the housing is separate and/or distant from the sensor head and/or wherein the housing is movable relative to the sensor head by way of the flexible cable. 
     
     
         69 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , arranged to be installable such that, when the sensor head is attached to the fluid conduit, the housing is suspended from the fluid conduit on the flexible cable. 
     
     
         70 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 58 , in which the biasing member comprises a tension spring. 
     
     
         71 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein each jaw comprises a groove into which a tool can be inserted to force the jaws apart. 
     
     
         72 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the sensor head comprises an arcuate surface for attaching the sensor head to the pipe. 
     
     
         73 . The sensing apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one of:
 a processor, optionally housed within the housing,   a battery, optionally housed within the housing, and   a transmitter in the housing for the first and/or second temperature signals.   
     
     
         74 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein, in use, the flexible cable transmits the first temperature signal to the processor in the housing. 
     
     
         75 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the sensor head comprises a through bore into which the first temperature sensor can be inserted and wherein the first temperature sensor is arranged, when installed, to protrude from the bore so as to define a contact face for the sensor head and wherein the first temperature sensor is provided with a biasing member for biasing the first temperature sensor out of the bore. 
     
     
         76 . The sensing apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the first temperature sensor is arranged to be locked into the sensor head.