METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE DIRECTION AND RATE OF A ROTATING ELEMENT

摘要

The present invention provides a device (20) for measuring both the magnitude of rotation of a rotating magnetic field (32) as well as the direction of rotation of a rotating magnetic field (32). The present invention may be used to measure the magnitude and direction of fluid flow by converting the kinetic energy of a moving fluid into a rotating magnetic field. At least two stationary sensors (60, 61) are placed in the magnetic field to detect the resulting changes in magnetic flux polarity occurring and provide therefrom a determination of the magnitude and direction of fluid flow.