Flow sensing device and associated method

1 . A flow sensing device comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) at least partially disposed within the housing, the PCBA having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, and the PCBA defining at least a first PCBA through-hole and a second PCBA through-hole;

a sensing element disposed on the first major surface of and in electronic communication with the PCBA; and

a flow tube at least partially disposed within the housing and at least partially defining a flow path configured to convey a flowing media through the flow sensing device, the flow tube comprising (i) an elongated main body disposed proximate the first major surface of the PCBA, (ii) a fluid inlet tube in fluid communication with the main body and defining an opening for the flowing media to enter the flow tube, and (iii) a fluid outlet tube in fluid communication with the main body and defining an opening for the flowing media to exit the flow tube;

wherein the flow path is disposed proximate the sensing element such that at least a portion of the flowing media makes direct contact with the sensing element; and

wherein the flow tube is disposed such that (i) the elongated main body is proximate the first major surface of the PCBA, (ii) the fluid inlet tube protrudes through the first PCBA through-hole to position the opening of the fluid inlet tube proximate the second major surface of the PCBA, and (iii) the fluid outlet tube protrudes through the second PCBA through-hole to position the opening of the fluid outlet tube proximate the second major surface of the PCBA.

2 . The flow sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines at least a first housing through-hole and a second housing through-hole; and

wherein the flow tube is disposed such that (i) the fluid inlet tube protrudes through the first housing through-hole to position the opening of the fluid inlet tube outside of the housing and (ii) the fluid outlet tube protrudes through the second housing through-hole to position the opening of the fluid outlet tube outside of the housing.

3 . The flow sensing device of claim 2 , wherein the first housing through-hole is aligned with the first PCBA through-hole; and

wherein the second housing through-hole is aligned with the second PCBA through-hole.

4 . The flow sensing device of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion.

5 . The flow sensing device of claim 4 , wherein the first housing through-hole and the second housing through-hole are defined in the upper housing portion.

6 . The flow sensing device of claim 4 , wherein the lower housing portion at least partially defines the flow path.

7 . The flow sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet tube is substantially perpendicular to the main body; and

wherein the fluid outlet tube is substantially perpendicular to the main body.

8 . The flow sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more circuit elements in electronic communication with the sensing element to measure a flow signal from the sensing element and convert the flow signal from the sensing element into flow data to be output from the flow sensing device.

9 . A method of assembling a flow sensing device, the method comprising

providing a housing;

providing a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the PCBA defining at least a first PCBA through-hole and a second PCBA through-hole, the PCBA comprising a sensing element on the first major surface of and in electronic communication with the PCBA;

providing a flow tube at least partially defining a flow path configured to convey a flowing media through the flow sensing device, the flow tube comprising (i) an elongated main body, (ii) a fluid inlet tube in fluid communication with the main body and defining an opening for the flowing media to enter the flow tube, and (iii) a fluid outlet tube in fluid communication with the main body and defining an opening for the flowing media to exit the flow tube;

at least partially disposing the PCBA within the housing; and

at least partially disposing the flow tube within the housing, such that (i) the elongated main body is disposed proximate the first major surface of the PCBA, (ii) the flow path is disposed proximate the sensing element such that at least a portion of the flowing media makes direct contact with the sensing element; (iii) the fluid inlet tube protrudes through the first PCBA through-hole to position the opening of the fluid inlet tube proximate the second major surface of the PCBA, and (iv) the fluid outlet tube protrudes through the second PCBA through-hole to position the opening of the fluid outlet tube proximate the second major surface of the PCBA.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the housing defines at least a first housing through-hole and a second housing through-hole; and

wherein the flow tube is disposed such that (i) the fluid inlet tube protrudes through the first housing through-hole to position the opening of the fluid inlet tube outside of the housing and (ii) the fluid outlet tube protrudes through the second housing through-hole to position the opening of the fluid outlet tube outside of the housing.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first housing through-hole is aligned with the first PCBA through-hole; and

wherein the second housing through-hole is aligned with the second PCBA through-hole.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first housing through-hole and the second housing through-hole are defined in the upper housing portion.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the lower housing portion at least partially defines the flow path.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fluid inlet tube is substantially perpendicular to the main body; and

wherein the fluid outlet tube is substantially perpendicular to the main body.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

measuring a flow signal from the sensing element; and

converting the flow signal from the sensing element into flow data to be output from the flow sensing device.