Field portable accumulated snow parameter testing device and testing method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a field portable accumulated snow parameter testing device and a testing method thereof, belongs to the technical field of accumulated snow parameter monitoring, and solves the problem that an existing accumulated snow parameter testing device is inconvenient to sample. The snow taking device comprises a snow taking pipe and an electronic scale. The snow taking pipe is of a transparent cylindrical structure with the hollow interior and two open ends, and length scales used for measuring the thickness of a snow sample and the equivalent depth of snow water and volume scales used for measuring the volume of the snow sample are arranged on the wall face of the snow taking pipe. An electric heating groove used for melting a snow sample in the snow taking pipe is formed in a shell of the electronic scale. Compared with a rain gauge with a snow melting function and an accumulated snow radar, the rain gauge has the advantages of being compact in structure and high in portability, and field flexible point selection sampling is supported. The snow taking pipe is combined with the electronic scale to weigh in real time and quickly calculate the density, and traditional snow sample transfer errors are eliminated; the electronic scale is integrated with the electric heating groove to achieve integration of snow melting and snow water equivalent measurement, switching of multiple devices is avoided, and the device is particularly suitable for rapid operation in complex terrains.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of snow parameter monitoring, and in particular to a field portable snow parameter testing device and a testing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Driven by global climate change, the spatiotemporal distribution of winter snow cover is showing significant evolution. Accurately measuring key parameters such as snow thickness, snow density, and snow water equivalent (SWE) is crucial for analyzing snow hydrological processes and assessing regional water resources.

[0003] Existing commonly used devices include rain gauges with snow melting functions, such as the new tipping bucket weighing rain and snow measurement method and device disclosed in patent announcement number CN108562954A, which can complete the monitoring of rainfall, mixed precipitation, snowfall and natural snowmelt processes. However, the structure is complex, the cost is high, and the installation position is fixed, which is inconvenient to carry and is therefore not suitable for field conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a field portable snow parameter testing device and a testing method thereof, which solves the problem of inconvenient sampling in the existing snow parameter testing device.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] On the one hand, a portable outdoor snow parameter testing device is provided, including: a snow collecting tube, which is a transparent cylindrical structure with a hollow interior and openings at both ends, and a length scale for measuring the thickness of the snow sample and the snow water equivalent depth and a volume scale for measuring the volume of the snow sample are provided on the wall of the snow collecting tube; an electronic scale, and an electric heating tank for melting the snow sample inside the snow collecting tube is provided on the shell of the electronic scale.

[0007] In this solution, a portable snow collection tube allows users to select sampling sites based on actual conditions in the field, expanding the sampling range. The tube can be manually inserted into the snow at the sampling site to extract snow samples. Length and volume scales directly measure snow thickness and sample volume. Combined with electronic scale weighing data, density can be quickly calculated, avoiding the errors caused by multiple snow sample transfers in traditional methods. The electric heating tank is directly integrated into the electronic scale, allowing both snowmelt and snow water equivalent measurements to be performed within the same device, reducing operational steps and improving field efficiency.

[0008] Furthermore, the snow collecting tube includes multiple sections of threaded tubes connected end to end in sequence. The inner wall of each section of the threaded tube is provided with threads, and the bottom opening of the threaded tube at the bottom is detachably connected to the sealing cover. The split threaded tube design facilitates disassembly and storage, avoiding the inconvenience of carrying traditional snow collecting tubes due to their fixed length. At the same time, the threads on the inner wall of each section of the threaded tube can not only serve as connecting threads, but also can be inserted into the snow by rotating the snow collecting tube. The grooves of the threads can increase the friction between the inner wall of the snow collecting tube and the snow, making it easier for the snow sample to overcome the vertical tension of the snow, avoiding cracks in the snow sample due to excessive tension, which would destroy the integrity of the snow sample and thus hinder the accurate detection of snow density and snow water equivalent.

[0009] Furthermore, multiple sections of threaded pipe are housed in a storage box, which has a cavity with multiple openings that snap into place with the pipes. This specialized storage box prevents the pipes from being worn or lost during transport, and the snap-fit design ensures a secure assembly, enhancing reliability for field use.

[0010] Furthermore, the electric heating tank includes a tank body, and an opening for accommodating the tank body is provided in the side of the housing. The opening is fixedly connected to the tank body via an elastic member. The elastic member can be a spring, elastic band, elastic cord, etc., which allows the tank body to automatically retract into the housing when not in use, reducing the size of the device and meeting the requirements of outdoor portability.

[0011] Furthermore, a first iris aperture structure and a second iris aperture structure are respectively provided in the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow-collecting tube; the first iris aperture structure includes a plurality of inclined grooves penetrating the wall of the snow-collecting tube, the plurality of inclined grooves are circumferentially distributed and a hinge shaft is slidably provided in each inclined groove, and a first aperture blade is provided on each hinge shaft; the second iris aperture structure includes a circular ring plate provided on the top opening end of the snow-collecting tube, the circular ring plate is provided with a plurality of circumferentially distributed straight grooves, one end of the plurality of hinge shafts are respectively slidably provided in the plurality of straight grooves and are respectively fixedly connected to the plurality of second aperture blades; wherein, the circular ring plate drives the plurality of first aperture blades and the plurality of second aperture blades through the plurality of hinge shafts in a rotating state to respectively seal the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow-collecting tube. The first iris aperture structure and the second iris aperture structure can respectively seal the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow collecting tube when sampling. The first iris aperture structure not only plays a sealing role to prevent the snow sample from falling, but also the multiple first aperture blades of the first iris aperture structure can horizontally cut off the snow during the closing process, thereby avoiding the problem of the integrity of the snow sample being destroyed due to the vertical tension of the snow during the upward extraction process of the snow collecting tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the heated bottom surface of the electric heating trough is in contact with a plurality of first aperture blades and a plurality of hinge shafts. The hinge shafts, which extend through the wall of the snow collection tube, not only serve as drivers for the first and second aperture blades but also act as heat conductors, transferring heat from the electric heating trough to the wall of the snow collection tube. This ensures a more uniform heating surface for the accumulated snow within the snow collection tube, improving snow melting efficiency and preventing uneven melting of the snow sample due to localized heating at the bottom, which could affect snow water equivalent measurements.

[0013] Furthermore, two semicircular telescopic parts are symmetrically arranged on the wall of the snow collecting tube near the bottom opening, and multiple elastic ropes are fixed between the two semicircular telescopic parts. A slider that slides in the circumferential direction is provided on the top opening of the snow collecting tube. The two sliders are fixedly connected to the telescopic ends of the two semicircular telescopic parts via connecting rods that pass through the wall of the snow collecting tube. The two sliders are used to drive the two semicircular telescopic parts to expand into a circular structure via the connecting rod. The two sliders on the snow collecting tube drive the two semicircular telescopic parts to expand into a circular structure, causing the multiple elastic ropes to partially extend while moving laterally. Therefore, the elastic ropes not only cut off the vertical tension generated by the accumulated snow during the upward extraction process of the snow collecting tube, but also support the snow sample to prevent it from falling.

[0014] Furthermore, both semicircular telescopic members comprise multiple slidably connected curved plates, with an elastic cord secured between the bottoms of the two opposing curved plates. The low thickness of the curved plates facilitates installation within thin-walled snow removal tubes. The elastic cord, positioned at the bottom of the curved plates, facilitates cutting snow through the bottom opening of the snow removal tube.

[0015] Furthermore, each elastic rope is made of thermally conductive silicone. The thermally conductive silicone is not only stretchable but also heat-conducting, making it easy for the snow retrieval tube to be directly inserted into the electric heating tank for heating.

[0016] On the other hand, a method for testing a portable field snow parameter testing device is also provided, comprising the steps of:

[0017] S1. Place the snow collecting tube on an electronic scale for weighing and taring;

[0018] S2. Insert the snow collecting tube vertically into the bottom of the snow to extract the snow sample;

[0019] S3. Read the snow sample depth and volume using the length scale and volume scale on the snow sampling tube, respectively, and use an electronic scale to obtain the weight of the snow sample and calculate the density of the snow sample;

[0020] S4. Place the bottom of the snow collecting pipe into an electric heating tank to heat and melt snow. After the snow melts, the snow water equivalent is obtained by the length scale on the snow collecting pipe.

[0021] The present invention discloses a portable field snow parameter testing device and a testing method thereof, which have the following beneficial effects:

[0022] Compared to existing rain gauges with snowmelt functions and snow accumulation measurement radars, this invention has a simpler structure, is compact and lightweight, and can select sampling sites based on actual conditions in the field, expanding the sampling range. The snow sampling tube is equipped with dual scale marks for length and volume. When manually inserted into the snow for sampling, the snow layer thickness and snow sample volume can be directly read. The density can be quickly calculated using real-time weighing data from an electronic scale, eliminating measurement deviations introduced by multiple snow sample transfers in traditional methods. Furthermore, the electronic scale has a built-in electric heating tank that integrates snowmelt and snow water equivalent measurement functions, eliminating the need for multiple device switching operations. The dual goals of density calculation and snow water equivalent determination can be achieved in a single sampling process, significantly simplifying the operational process and improving data acquisition efficiency. This makes it particularly suitable for rapid field detection scenarios in complex terrain. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a portable field snow parameter testing device;

[0024] Figure 2 This is the exploded view of the threaded pipe;

[0025] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the installation of the first iris aperture structure, the second iris aperture structure and the snow collecting pipe;

[0026] Figure 4 A bottom view of the first iris aperture structure;

[0027] Figure 5 is a top view of the second iris aperture structure;

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the partial closure of the second aperture blade;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a semicircular telescopic member;

[0030] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the expansion of two semicircular telescopic parts;

[0031] Figure 9 It is a partial expansion diagram of two semicircular telescopic parts;

[0032] Among them: 1. Snow collecting tube; 11. First iris aperture structure; 111. First aperture blade; 112. Inclined groove; 12. Second iris aperture structure; 121. Circular plate; 122. Second aperture blade; 123. Straight groove; 13. Articulated shaft; 14. Slider; 15. Semicircular telescopic part; 151. Connecting rod; 16. Elastic rope; 2. Electronic scale; 21. Elastic telescopic part; 3. Electric heating tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described below to facilitate understanding of the present invention by those skilled in the art. However, it should be clear that the present invention is not limited to the scope of the specific embodiments. For those skilled in the art, as long as various changes are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined and determined by the appended claims, these changes are obvious, and all inventions and creations utilizing the concepts of the present invention are protected.

[0034] To measure snow thickness, snow density, and snow water equivalent parameters, currently commonly used devices, such as rain gauges with snowmelt functions and snow thickness radars, are costly, complex to operate, and have fixed locations, making field testing inconvenient. To address these issues and facilitate field sampling, this application provides a portable field snow parameter testing device and testing method, which are described in detail below.

[0035] Example 1

[0036] refer to Figure 1 A portable field snow parameter testing device includes a snow collecting tube 1 and an electronic scale 2.

[0037] The snow collecting tube 1 is a transparent cylindrical structure with a hollow interior and openings at both ends. The wall of the snow collecting tube 1 is provided with a length scale for measuring the thickness of the snow sample and the equivalent depth of snow water, and a volume scale for measuring the volume of the snow sample. The shell of the electronic scale 2 is provided with an electric heating tank 3 for melting the snow sample inside the snow collecting tube 1. The electric heating tank 3 includes a tank body, and an open cavity for accommodating the tank body is provided in the side of the shell. The open cavity is fixedly connected to the tank body by an elastic telescopic member 21. The elastic telescopic member 21 can be a spring, an elastic band, an elastic rope, etc., so that the tank body can automatically retract into the shell when not in use, reducing the size of the equipment and meeting the portability requirements in the field.

[0038] In this embodiment, the portable snow collection tube 1 allows for field sampling based on actual conditions, expanding the sampling range. The tube 1 can be manually inserted into the snow at the sampling site to extract snow samples. The length and volume scales directly measure snow thickness and sample volume. Combined with the weighing data from the electronic scale 2, density can be quickly calculated, avoiding the errors caused by multiple snow sample transfers in traditional methods. The electric heating tank 3 is directly integrated into the electronic scale 2, enabling both snowmelt and snow water equivalent measurements to be performed within the same device, reducing operational steps and improving field efficiency.

[0039] Specifically, refer to Figure 2The snow pipe 1 of this embodiment comprises multiple sections of threaded pipe connected end-to-end. Each section is housed in a storage box, which has a cavity with multiple slots that snap into place with the threaded pipes. This specialized storage box prevents the pipes from wearing out or getting lost during transport, and the snap-fit design ensures a secure assembly, enhancing reliability for field use.

[0040] Considering that the existing snow collecting tube 1 has a thin-walled structure, the friction between the inner wall and the snow sample is used to remove the snow sample during the on-site snow sampling process. However, since the compacted snow layer has tensile strength, the lower snow layer exerts a pulling force on the snow sample during the upward lifting process. If the pulling force is too large, cracks will appear in the snow sample in the snow collecting tube 1, destroying the integrity of the snow sample, which is not conducive to the accurate detection of snow density and snow water equivalent. In order to solve the above problems, threads are provided on the inner wall of each section of the threaded tube, and the bottom opening of the threaded tube at the bottom is detachably connected to the sealing cover. The split threaded tube design is easy to disassemble and store, avoiding the inconvenience of carrying caused by the fixed length of the traditional snow collecting tube 1. The threads on the inner wall of each section of the threaded pipe not only serve as connecting threads, but also allow the snow collecting pipe 1 to be rotated and inserted into the snow. The grooves of the threads can increase the friction between the inner wall of the snow collecting pipe 1 and the snow, making it easier for the snow sample to overcome the vertical tension of the snow. This prevents the snow sample from cracking due to excessive tension, which would damage the integrity of the snow sample and hinder the accurate detection of snow density and snow water equivalent. The sealing cap can be snap-connected or threaded to the threaded pipe, conveniently sealing the bottom of the snow collecting pipe 1 after collecting snow.

[0041] This embodiment also provides a method for testing a field portable snow parameter testing device, comprising the following steps:

[0042] S1, placing the snow collecting tube 1 on the electronic scale 2 for weighing and taring;

[0043] S2, inserting the snow collecting tube 1 vertically into the bottom of the snow to extract the snow sample;

[0044] S3, reading the snow sample depth and snow sample volume using the length scale and volume scale on the snow sampling tube 1, and using the electronic scale 2 to obtain the weight of the snow sample and calculate the snow sample density;

[0045] S4. Place the bottom of the snow collecting pipe 1 into the electric heating tank 3 to heat and melt snow. After the snow melts, the snow water equivalent is obtained by the length scale on the snow collecting pipe 1.

[0046] Example 2

[0047] This embodiment is further limited on the basis of the embodiment 1. The specific improvement lies in providing another structure of the snow collecting pipe 1. For other parts not mentioned, refer to the embodiment 1 or the prior art.

[0048] In this embodiment, reference Figure 3In order to solve the problem that the integrity of the snow sample is destroyed due to the vertical tension of the accumulated snow during the upward extraction process of the snow collecting tube 1, a first iris aperture structure 11 and a second iris aperture structure 12 are respectively provided in the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow collecting tube 1.

[0049] refer to Figure 4 The first iris aperture structure 11 includes a plurality of inclined grooves 112 penetrating the wall of the snow collecting tube 1. The plurality of inclined grooves 112 are circumferentially distributed and a hinge shaft 13 is slidably arranged in each inclined groove 112. A first aperture blade 111 is arranged on each hinge shaft 13.

[0050] refer to Figure 5 The second iris aperture structure 12 includes a circular plate 121 arranged on the top open end of the snow collecting tube 1. A plurality of circumferentially distributed straight grooves 123 are opened through the circular plate 121. One end of a plurality of hinge shafts 13 is respectively slidably set in the plurality of straight grooves 123 and is respectively fixedly connected to a plurality of second aperture blades 122.

[0051] Among them, reference Figure 6 The annular plate 121 drives the plurality of first aperture blades 111 and the plurality of second aperture blades 122 through the plurality of hinge shafts 13 in a rotating state to seal the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow collecting tube 1 respectively.

[0052] In this embodiment, the first iris aperture structure 11 and the second iris aperture structure 12 can respectively seal the bottom opening and top opening of the snow collecting tube 1 during sampling. The first iris aperture structure 11 not only seals the snow sample, preventing it from falling, but also allows the multiple first aperture blades 111 of the first iris aperture structure 11 to horizontally cut through the accumulated snow during closing. Furthermore, the heated bottom surface within the electric heating tank 3 contacts the multiple first aperture blades 111 and the multiple hinge shafts 13. Thus, the hinge shafts 13, which penetrate the wall of the snow collecting tube 1, not only serve as drivers for the first and second aperture blades 111, 122, but also act as heat conductors, transferring heat from the electric heating tank 3 to the wall of the snow collecting tube 1. This makes the heated surface of the snow within the snow collecting tube 1 more uniform, improves snow melting efficiency, and avoids uneven melting of the snow sample due to localized heating at the bottom, which could affect the measurement of snow water equivalent.

[0053] Example 3

[0054] This embodiment is further limited on the basis of the embodiment 1. The specific improvement lies in providing another structure of the snow collecting pipe 1. For other parts not mentioned, refer to the embodiment 1 or the prior art.

[0055] In order to solve the problem that the integrity of the snow sample is destroyed due to the vertical tension of the snow in the process of upward extraction of the snow pipe 1, reference is made to Figure 7 Two semicircular telescopic members 15 are symmetrically provided on the wall of the snow taking pipe 1 near the bottom opening.

[0056] refer to Figure 8 A plurality of elastic ropes 16 are fixed between the two semicircular telescopic members 15; a slider 14 is provided on the top opening of the snow collecting tube 1, which slides in the circumferential direction. The two sliders 14 are fixedly connected to the telescopic ends of the two semicircular telescopic members 15 through connecting rods 151 passing through the wall of the snow collecting tube 1. Figure 8 and Figure 9 The two sliders 14 are used to drive the two semicircular telescopic members 15 to expand into a circular ring structure via the connecting rod 151. The two sliders 14 on the snow ploughing tube 1 drive the two semicircular telescopic members 15 to expand into a circular ring structure, causing the multiple elastic cords 16 to partially extend while moving laterally. This not only cuts off the vertical tension generated by the accumulated snow during the upward extraction process of the snow ploughing tube 1, but also, due to the small diameter of the snow ploughing tube 1, the multiple elastic cords 16 can also utilize the interaction between the snow samples to support the snow samples and prevent them from falling.

[0057] Specifically, the two semicircular telescopic members 15 each comprise a plurality of slidably connected curved plates. An elastic cord 16 is secured between the bottoms of the two opposing curved plates. The relatively low thickness of the curved plates facilitates thinning the wall thickness of the snow collecting tube 1, making it easier to carry and sample. The elastic cord 16 is positioned at the bottom of the curved plates, facilitating its use in shearing off accumulated snow from the bottom opening of the snow collecting tube 1.

[0058] In this embodiment, each elastic cord 16 is made of thermally conductive silicone. The thermally conductive silicone is not only elastic but also heat-conducting, making it convenient for the snow collecting pipe 1 to be directly inserted into the electric heating tank 3 for heating.

[0059] Although the specific embodiments of the invention are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this patent. Within the scope described by the claims, various modifications and variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative work still fall within the scope of protection of this patent.

Claims

1. A portable field snow parameter testing device, characterized in that: include: A snow collecting tube (1) is a transparent cylindrical structure with a hollow interior and openings at both ends. A length scale for measuring snow sample thickness and snow water equivalent depth and a volume scale for measuring snow sample volume are provided on the wall surface of the snow collecting tube (1); An electronic scale (2) is provided on a housing of the electronic scale (2) with an electric heating tank (3) for melting snow samples inside a snow collecting pipe (1).

2. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The snow collecting pipe (1) comprises a plurality of sections of threaded pipes connected end to end in sequence, the inner wall of each section of the threaded pipe is provided with threads, and the bottom opening of the threaded pipe at the bottom is detachably connected to a sealing cover.

3. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The multiple sections of threaded pipes are all accommodated in a storage box, and a plurality of opening slots respectively snap-fitted with the threaded pipes are provided in a receiving cavity in the storage box.

4. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The electric heating tank (3) comprises a tank body, and an open cavity for accommodating the tank body is provided in the side of the shell, and the open cavity is fixedly connected to the tank body via an elastic telescopic member (21).

5. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first iris aperture structure (11) and a second iris aperture structure (12) are respectively provided in the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow collecting tube (1); The first iris aperture structure (11) comprises a plurality of inclined grooves (112) penetrating the wall of the snow collecting tube (1), the plurality of inclined grooves (112) being circumferentially distributed, a hinge shaft (13) being slidably arranged in each inclined groove (112), and a first aperture blade (111) being arranged on each hinge shaft (13); The second iris aperture structure (12) comprises a circular plate (121) arranged on the top open end of the snow collecting tube (1), a plurality of straight grooves (123) distributed in a circumferential direction are formed through the circular plate (121), and one end of a plurality of hinge shafts (13) are respectively slidably arranged in the plurality of straight grooves (123) and are respectively fixedly connected to a plurality of second aperture blades (122); The annular plate (121) drives the plurality of first aperture blades (111) and the plurality of second aperture blades (122) through the plurality of hinge shafts (13) in a rotating state to respectively seal the bottom opening and the top opening of the snow collecting pipe (1).

6. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The heating bottom surface in the electric heating tank (3) is in contact with a plurality of first aperture blades (111) and a plurality of hinge shafts (13) respectively.

7. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two semicircular telescopic parts (15) are symmetrically arranged on the wall of the snow collecting pipe (1) near the bottom opening, and a plurality of elastic ropes (16) are fixed between the two semicircular telescopic parts (15); A slider (14) that slides in a circumferential direction is provided on the top opening of the snow collecting tube (1), and the two sliders (14) are fixedly connected to the telescopic ends of the two semicircular telescopic parts (15) through a connecting rod (151) that passes through the wall of the snow collecting tube (1), and the two sliders (14) are used to drive the two semicircular telescopic parts (15) to expand into a circular ring structure through the connecting rod (151).

8. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The two semicircular telescopic members (15) each comprise a plurality of arc-shaped plates connected in sliding relation, and the elastic rope (16) is fixed between the bottoms of the two oppositely arranged arc-shaped plates.

9. The portable field snow parameter testing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The material of each elastic rope (16) is thermally conductive silica gel.

10. The testing method of the field portable snow parameter testing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: Including steps: S1, placing the snow collecting tube (1) on the electronic scale (2) for weighing and taring; S2, inserting the snow collecting tube (1) vertically into the bottom of the snow to extract the snow sample; S3, reading the snow sample depth and snow sample volume respectively using the length scale and volume scale on the snow sampling tube (1), and using the electronic scale (2) to obtain the weight of the snow sample and calculate the density of the snow sample; S4. The bottom of the snow collecting pipe (1) is placed in the electric heating tank (3) to heat and melt snow. After the snow melts, the snow water equivalent is obtained by the length scale on the snow collecting pipe (1).

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