Which oxygen flowmeter is NOT affected by gravity and can be used in any position when attached to an oxygen cylinder?

• A. Vertical-position flowmeter
• B. Bourdon-gauge flowmeter
• C. Pressure-compensated flowmeter
• D. Ball-and-float flowmeter

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the flowmeter’s reading is generated: some meters rely on a float that rises in a tapered tube, which uses gravity to determine the flow. When orientation changes, the float’s position—and thus the reading—changes. In contrast, a Bourdon-gauge flowmeter uses a fixed orifice and a pressure drop across it, with a Bourdon tube and gauge indicating flow. This setup doesn’t depend on a floating element or gravity to establish the flow, so tilting or placing the device in any position won’t alter the reading. That makes it suitable for use in any position when attached to an oxygen cylinder.

The other options describe meters that are inherently gravity-dependent or rely on a vertical arrangement to function, such as the float-based types, which do change with orientation. A pressure-compensated design aims to stabilize flow against upstream pressure changes, but it’s not about being gravity-independent in the same way as a Bourdon-gauge meter.