Flow meter and installation system with a flow meter

Abstract

The invention relates to a flow meter, in particular formed for the water pipe of an installation system, comprising an insert for a pipe. The insert comprises a bearing for an impeller. The impeller comprises a ferromagnetic sensor, in particular a permanent magnet. The flow through the impeller is axial.

Description

[0001] Flow meter and installation system with a flow meter

[0002] Description

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a flow meter. In particular, the invention relates to a flow meter for a water pipe. The invention further relates to an installation system comprising a flow meter.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Flow meters for domestic and industrial water installation systems are often referred to as water meters. A water meter installation system typically includes an installation panel into which the water meter is installed.

[0007] The water meters commonly used in practice have a larger diameter than the water pipe to which they are connected. This is due, among other things, to their rather complex design. To keep flow losses in the water meter as low as possible, only a portion of the water flow is usually directed over an impeller, which is usually subjected to radial flow.

[0008] Object of the invention

[0009] The invention is based on the object of providing a flowmeter, in particular designed as a water meter, which can be installed particularly easily and conveniently. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a water meter that can be installed in an existing pipeline. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the invention is already achieved by a flow meter, by an impeller for a flow meter according to one of the independent claims and by a fluid line provided with the flow meter.

[0011] Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0012] The invention relates to a flow meter. The flow meter is designed in particular for the water pipe of an installation system. The flow meter measures a volume flow, in particular by converting it into a measurement signal.

[0013] In addition to water, the flowmeter according to the invention can also be used for other fluids, both liquids and gases. The flowmeter comprises an insert for a pipe. The insert is designed in such a way that it can be used in a commercially available water pipe, especially a plastic pipe. However, the flowmeter can also be used with most plastic / metal composite pipes.

[0014] The pipe can be designed in any way; in particular, the flow meter can be located in a pipe section that is part of a connection head for a filter cartridge. The insert includes a bearing for an impeller. The impeller, in turn, includes a ferromagnetic sensor. The ferromagnetic sensor can, in particular, be designed as a permanent magnet. The ferromagnetic sensor can be used to measure the impeller's speed without contact on the outer wall of the pipe.

[0015] Furthermore, the impeller has axial flow.

[0016] It has been shown that a compact design can be achieved by inserting an axial-flow impeller into the flow. In particular, the insert, together with the impeller, can be installed in an existing water pipe.

[0017] The impeller preferably has a diameter that approximately corresponds to the inner diameter of the pipe, i.e. it is only separated from the inner wall of the pipe by a gap.

[0018] In this way, a flow meter, in particular a water meter, can be provided which causes only low flow losses.

[0019] The insert may be jammed in the pipe in particular.

[0020] A separate connection bracket is therefore not required. The insert preferably comprises a single bearing on which the impeller is mounted.

[0021] In particular, it is provided that the insert, through which the fluid can flow axially, comprises a central axis extending axially in the direction of the impeller. According to one embodiment, the impeller, in turn, comprises a bearing bush and is preferably mounted on the axis of the insert.

[0022] This allows for a particularly simple design. At the same time, friction losses are minimal, as the impeller only touches the insert at a single point, namely the axle. The bearing bush can contain an insert made of a sliding material and / or a hard material. For example, a sapphire plate can be inserted into the end of the bearing bush.

[0023] This ensures a particularly durable and low-friction design. In a further development of the invention, the ferromagnetic sensor is designed as a magnet, in particular as a ring magnet.

[0024] For example, it is provided that the impeller comprises a ring magnet, with the interior of the ring magnet being flowed through. The ring magnet is preferably arranged in front of the impeller's blades, relative to the flow direction.

[0025] Furthermore, the impeller can also comprise a single or two opposing ferromagnetic sensors. The ferromagnetic sensor can, in particular, be designed as a ring segment. This allows it to be particularly easily positioned on the inner wall of the impeller. Preferably, the ferromagnetic sensor is inserted into a sleeve of the impeller, in particular into the base of a sleeve with a central fluid passage.

[0026] For example, a measuring coil can be attached to the outer wall of the pipe. This transmits the induced pulsating signal, caused by the rotating ring magnet, to a display device. The frequency of the pulsating signal is approximately proportional to the speed of the impeller. The speed, in turn, is approximately proportional to the flow rate. According to one embodiment, the measuring signal can be transmitted wirelessly to an external unit, such as a mobile device.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the impeller comprises blades having an inflow surface. The inflow surface is inclined relative to the center axis of the impeller.

[0028] The ratio of the length of the inflow area to the diameter of the impeller can be between 1 / 3 and 3 / 1, preferably 1 / 1.5 and 1.5 / 1.

[0029] The impeller therefore has comparatively elongated blades.

[0030] However, the wings are preferably relatively slightly inclined.

[0031] In particular, the blades of the impeller extend in an axial plan view over less than 60% of the cross-sectional area, in particular 10 to 50% of the cross-sectional area, preferably 30 to 50% of the cross-sectional area.

[0032] Furthermore, a single blade of the impeller preferably extends over less than 90°, preferably less than 50°, in particular over 10 to 50°, preferably over 30 to 40° of the circumference.

[0033] The impeller may comprise several blades, in particular 3 to 6 blades, preferably 4 blades.

[0034] In one embodiment, the blades of the impeller are inclined by 5 to 30°, preferably 10 to 20°, to the central axis. The inclination of the blades is therefore relatively small, and the blades occupy only a portion of the cross-sectional area in an axial plan view.

[0035] This makes it possible to provide an impeller which, on the one hand, has low flow resistance, but, on the other hand, starts up quite quickly due to the relatively long and therefore large blades.

[0036] In particular, a flow meter can be provided which has a start-up limit of less than 50 l / h, in particular of 10 to 50 l / h.

[0037] The insert can have an outer diameter between 5 and 50 mm, in particular between 10 and 25 mm.

[0038] The flow meter according to the invention is therefore suitable for installation in existing pipes of an installation system.

[0039] The impeller may comprise a base, which is formed, at least in part, as a ring with a central fluid passage. The impeller's blades follow the fluid passage.

[0040] In a further development of the invention, the impeller comprises an impeller arranged in a sleeve. The impeller encompasses the blades and is inserted into a sleeve. In particular, the impeller can be clamped and / or locked into a sleeve. The fluid flows through the sleeve with the impeller and rotates with it. The sleeve is therefore part of the impeller.

[0041] The impeller can be arranged partly in the rotating sleeve and partly in the insert. In one embodiment of the invention, the impeller is inserted into a sleeve together with the ring magnet.

[0042] The sleeve can comprise a central fluid passage. In particular, the fluid passage can be conical, at least in sections. In particular, it can be a fluid passage behind which, relative to the flow direction, the ring magnet and then a base are located, which is part of an impeller that comprises the vanes.

[0043] In particular, it is provided that the impeller comprises an impeller, a ring magnet and a sleeve.

[0044] The sleeve may be substantially cup-shaped to accommodate the impeller, but may include a central fluid passage.

[0045] Next, in terms of flow direction, is the fluid passage of the ring magnet, followed by a fluid passage of the impeller, from which the vanes extend axially toward the insert. The vanes of the impeller can each be connected to the base of the impeller via a base piece, with a free passage between the base pieces. This further reduces flow resistance.

[0046] In the area of ​​the bearing bush of the impeller, however, the blades can be connected to each other via the bearing bush.

[0047] In one embodiment of the invention, the bearing bush extends through both the impeller and the sleeve.

[0048] For this purpose, the impeller can have a through hole and the sleeve can have a blind hole.

[0049] The invention further relates to an impeller designed for the flowmeter described above. The impeller can therefore, in particular, have all the features previously described in connection with the impeller.

[0050] The impeller can in particular comprise an impeller, a ring magnet and a sleeve, wherein the ring magnet and impeller are arranged one behind the other in the sleeve.

[0051] The invention further relates to a fluid line, in particular a water line of an installation system, which comprises the flow meter described above.

[0052] The flow meter can be located in the fluid line, in particular in a pipe, and a connection piece for the fluid line can be arranged in front of the flow meter, with respect to the flow direction.

[0053] The impeller may have an outer diameter which corresponds to at least 0.7 times, preferably at least 0.8 times, in particular 0.8 to 0.99 times the inner diameter of the pipe.

[0054] The impeller is preferably spaced from the inner wall of the tube only by a gap, in particular a gap of less than 1 mm.

[0055] Thus, almost the entire cross-sectional area of ​​the pipe is taken up by the impeller.

[0056] The impeller comprises a ring with a central fluid passage from which the impeller's blades branch off.

[0057] The ring can be formed in particular by the base and / or the sleeve.

[0058] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passage thus formed corresponds to at least 80%, in particular 80 to 120% of the inner cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting piece.

[0059] The impeller preferably does not reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the water pipe at any point relative to the connecting piece.

[0060] In installation systems, connectors, also known as fittings, are used to connect individual pipe sections. These fittings are typically connected to the pipeline by pressing.

[0061] There are various different systems for this.

[0062] In most systems, the connectors include a sleeve that is inserted into the end of the pipe. Therefore, the cross-section of the pipe is smallest in the area of ​​the connectors.

[0063] The water meter according to the invention can be installed in the pipe system in such a way that the cross-section is not further reduced compared to the connecting piece.

[0064] The invention further relates to a connection head for a filter candle, which comprises at least one flow meter as described above.

[0065] The connection head comprises a housing with one input and one output.

[0066] In particular, the connection head is designed to be installed inline into an existing water pipe. For this purpose, the connection head can, in particular, have a suspension for attachment to a mounting bracket.

[0067] The connection head includes a connection piece for a filter cartridge. The connection piece can be designed, in particular, as a thread into which the filter cartridge is screwed with a corresponding thread.

[0068] The invention particularly relates to a filter cartridge with an inlet and an outlet, which are designed as coaxially arranged channels. One channel can be arranged centrally. An annular channel extends around the centrally arranged channel.

[0069] These channels can serve as the inlet and outlet of the filter cartridge. The connection head has complementary channels for a sealed connection to the filter cartridge, including a central channel around which a coaxial annular channel extends.

[0070] Furthermore, a bypass can be arranged in the housing of the connection head, which can be opened and closed via an actuator.

[0071] A bypass, which completely bypasses the water past the filter candle, can therefore be integrated into the head of the filter candle.

[0072] A flow meter can be arranged in a bypass channel and in an inlet channel and / or outlet channel.

[0073] The ratio of the flow rates can be used to calculate the amount of water flowing through the filter cartridge. This is preferably used to calculate the service life of the filter cartridge.

[0074] The flowmeter is easier to install in a bypass channel than in a channel that leads from the filter cartridge to the filter cartridge. These channels are preferably designed as an annular channel. The bypass channel provides a sufficiently long pipe section for the flowmeter while maintaining a compact design.

[0075] Brief description of the drawings

[0076] The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings Fig. 1 to Fig. 17.

[0077] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a flow meter according to the invention.

[0078] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are perspective views of the impeller.

[0079] Fig. 4 shows the components of the impeller in a perspective view.

[0080] Fig. 5 is a side view of the impeller.

[0081] Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are perspective views of the impeller.

[0082] Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are perspective views of the impeller sleeve.

[0083] Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are perspective views of the insert and axis.

[0084] Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal section of the water meter.

[0085] Fig. 13 is a cross-section of the water meter in the area of ​​the wings.

[0086] Fig. 14 shows a pipe in a side view in which a flow meter according to the invention is installed.

[0087] Fig. 15 is a central longitudinal section of the flowmeter installed in the pipe.

[0088] Fig. 16 is a cross-section of a connection head equipped with two flow meters according to the invention.

[0089] Fig. 17 shows an alternative embodiment with magnet segments instead of a

[0090] Ring magnet.

[0091] Detailed description of the drawings

[0092] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a flow meter according to the invention, which is designed as a water meter 1.

[0093] The water meter comprises an insert 100, which can be inserted, in particular clamped, into a pipe provided by the customer.

[0094] An impeller 200 is rotatably mounted on the insert 100 and, in this embodiment, projects into the insert 100 with the vanes 231.

[0095] The impeller 200 is circularly cylindrical in sections and has a smaller diameter than the insert 100.

[0096] When inserted, the impeller 200 is spaced from the inner pipe wall by a gap. The impeller 200 includes a central passage 211 through which the water flows through the water meter 1, except for the residual amount of water that flows laterally through the gap.

[0097] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the impeller 200. The impeller 200 comprises a sleeve 210 into which an impeller 230 is placed, in particular clamped or locked.

[0098] The impeller 230 partially protrudes from the sleeve 210.

[0099] The blades 231 are inclined relative to the central axis of the impeller 230.

[0100] At the rear end, relative to the flow direction, the vanes 231 are connected to each other via the bearing bush 232.

[0101] In this embodiment, the bearing bush 232 comprises a through hole 234 which leads to the sleeve 210.

[0102] Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the impeller 200.

[0103] In this view, the central passage 211 of the sleeve 210, which is located at the front on the flow side, is clearly visible.

[0104] The passage 211 has a conical side wall 212. This improves the inflow of water and reduces the flow resistance.

[0105] Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of the components of the impeller 200.

[0106] The sleeve 210 is arranged at the front with respect to the flow direction.

[0107] First, a ring magnet 220 is inserted into the sleeve 210, which has a central passage 221.

[0108] The impeller 230 is arranged behind the ring magnet.

[0109] The water therefore first flows into the sleeve 210, passes through the passage 221 of the ring magnet 220 and then drives the impeller 230, so that the entire impeller 200, consisting of sleeve 210, impeller 230 and ring magnet 220, moves.

[0110] Fig. 5 is a side view of the impeller 230.

[0111] The impeller comprises a base 235, from which the blades 231 extend via a base piece 236.

[0112] The wings 231 are inclined at least in sections relative to the central axis a, a in this embodiment being between 10 and 20°.

[0113] The wings 231 including the base piece 236 have a length of 1.

[0114] The ratio of the length 1 to the diameter d of the impeller 230 is preferably between 1.5 / 1 and 1 / 1.5.

[0115] Due to the low inclination and at the same time relatively large length of the blades 231 in the axial direction, an impeller 230 and thus an impeller can be provided which has a very low flow resistance and at the same time already responds at low flow, i.e. starts to rotate.

[0116] Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are perspective views of the impeller 230.

[0117] The impeller 230 comprises an annular base 235, which can serve in particular for connection to the sleeve.

[0118] In terms of the flow direction behind the base, the wings 231 follow.

[0119] The base pieces 236 of the wings 231 do not extend radially to the axis.

[0120] Rather, there is space behind the passage 237 for the end of the bearing bush, which is part of the sleeve (see Fig. 8 and Fig. 9).

[0121] Behind it, the wings 231 are connected to each other via the bearing bush 232, which is circularly cylindrical.

[0122] Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are perspective views of the sleeve 210.

[0123] The bearing bush 213 is located at the rear in relation to the flow direction, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0124] The bearing bush 213 comprises a blind hole 214 in which the axis of the insert ends in the assembled state.

[0125] The bearing bush 213 is connected to the remaining sleeve 210, i.e. the outer part of the sleeve 210, via arms 215.

[0126] As shown in Fig. 9, radial webs 216 extend to the inner wall of the sleeve. The bearing bush 213 is conical at the front relative to the flow direction. This reduces flow resistance.

[0127] Fig. 10 shows the insert 100 including the axis 110.

[0128] The insert comprises a sleeve 101 which can be inserted into the pipe.

[0129] A central axle mount 102 is connected to the sleeve 101 via webs 103.

[0130] The water can flow between the webs 103.

[0131] The axle 110 can, for example, be formed integrally with the insert 100, for example as a plastic injection-molded part. Furthermore, the axle 110 can also be formed as an inserted, in particular injected, metal part.

[0132] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the downstream side of the insert 100. Here, spacers 104 are provided on the webs 103, which connect the bearing bush 102 to the rest of the sleeve.

[0133] Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal section of water meter 1. The flow direction is indicated by an arrow. It can be seen that first the ring magnet 220 and then the impeller 230 are inserted, in particular pressed, into the sleeve 210.

[0134] With respect to the flow direction, the sleeve 210 initially comprises a central passage through which the water then flows to the vanes 231 via the openings 217, which are present between the arms 215.

[0135] After passing the wings 231, the water leaves the water meter 1 via the insert 100.

[0136] The wheel 200 is pushed onto the axle 110.

[0137] The bearing bush is formed by the through hole 234 of the impeller 230 and the blind hole 214 of the sleeve 210.

[0138] At the end of the blind hole there is an insert 240. This can be designed as a sapphire plate, for example.

[0139] Fig. 13 is a cross-section of the water meter in the area of ​​the impeller.

[0140] The wings 231 already begin in the area of ​​the sleeve 210.

[0141] In this view it is clearly visible that the wings 231 take up less than half of the cross-sectional area.

[0142] Fig. 14 shows how the water meter according to the invention is now installed in a pipe 10. The pipe 10 can be a pipe of an installation system that is connected via a connector 20.

[0143] A measuring sensor 30 is attached to the outside of the pipe 10, which converts the signal induced by the magnet, in particular the ring magnet, into a signal representing the volume flow.

[0144] This signal can, for example, be transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device 40 and / or an evaluation device.

[0145] The water meter can be installed in both vertical and horizontal pipes.

[0146] Fig. 15 is a central longitudinal section of the water meter 1 installed in the pipe 10.

[0147] The connecting piece 20 is pushed into the pipe 10 and includes a seal 21.

[0148] The passage 211 of the water meter 1 is not smaller than the internal cross-section of the connecting piece 20 at any point of the water meter 1.

[0149] The water flows through the connector 20 into the pipe 10, passes the water meter 1 and leaves it via the insert 100.

[0150] In this embodiment, the pipe 10 is then connected to a further connecting piece 50. Fig. 16 is a cross-section of a connection head 60 for a filter candle, which comprises two of the above-described flow meters 1a, 1b for determining the amount of water flowing over the filter candle.

[0151] In the channel coming from the inlet 61 and in a bypass channel 63, a flow meter 1a, 1b is arranged.

[0152] The water flows from the inlet 61 to the outlet 62 of the connection head 1, with the water temporarily or partially being passed through the filter cartridge via channel 64. The water flowing through the filter cartridge flows to the outlet via the annular channel 65.

[0153] The ratio of the flow rates through the flow meters 1a, 1b can be used to calculate the amount of water flowing through the filter cartridge. This is preferably used to calculate the service life of the filter cartridge.

[0154] The flow meters 1a, 1b are each inserted into a piece of pipe.

[0155] The placement of the flow meter 1b in the bypass ensures a compact design of the connection head 60.

[0156] Fig. 17 shows the sleeve 210 of the impeller according to an alternative embodiment.

[0157] Instead of a ring magnet, two opposing magnet segments 222 are inserted into the bottom of the sleeve 210. The magnet segments 222 are thus arranged radially next to the fluid passage 211.

[0158] The magnet segments 222 can be designed as a ring segment whose curvature corresponds to the adjacent outer and / or inner wall of the sleeve 210.

[0159] Otherwise, the water meter can be designed according to the embodiment described above.

[0160] The invention made it possible to provide a compact water meter which can be installed in particular in an on-site water pipe.

[0161] List of reference symbols

[0162] 1 water meter

[0163] 10 pipe

[0164] 20 connector

[0165] 21 Seal

[0166] 30 sensors

[0167] 40 mobile devices

[0168] 50 connector

[0169] 60 connection head

[0170] 61 Entrance

[0171] 62 Exit

[0172] 63 Bypass channel

[0173] 64 channel to the filter candle

[0174] 65 Ring Canal

[0175] 100 bets

[0176] 101 sleeve

[0177] 102 axle mount

[0178] 103 Bridge

[0179] 104 spacers

[0180] 110 Axis

[0181] 200 wheel

[0182] 210 sleeve

[0183] 211 Fluid passage

[0184] 212 pages

[0185] 213 bearing bush

[0186] 214 blind hole

[0187] 215 Arm

[0188] 216 jetty

[0189] 217 Opening

[0190] 220 ring magnet

[0191] 221 Passage

[0192] 222 Magnet segment

[0193] 230 impeller

[0194] 231 Wing 232 Bearing bush

[0195] 234 through hole

[0196] 235 bases

[0197] 236 Base piece 237 Passage

[0198] 240 deployment

Claims

Claims:

1. Flowmeter, especially designed for the water pipe of a Installation system comprising an insert for a pipe, wherein the insert comprises a bearing for an impeller, wherein the impeller comprises a ferromagnetic sensor, in particular a permanent magnet, and wherein the impeller is axially flowed through.

2. Flowmeter according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the Impeller is attached to an axle of the insert.

3. Flowmeter according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the Use is jammed in a pipe, especially in a pipe of the installation system.

4. Flowmeter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert comprises a single bearing on which only the impeller is mounted.

5. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ferromagnetic sensor is designed as a magnet, in particular as a ring magnet or ring segment.

6. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impeller comprises vanes which have an inflow surface, the ratio of the length of the inflow surface to the diameter of the impeller being between 1 / 3 and 3 / 1, preferably between 1 / 1.5 and 1.5 / 1.

7. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that vanes of the impeller in an axial plan view take up less than 60% of the cross-sectional area, in particular 10 to 50%, preferably 30 to 50% of the cross-sectional area and / or that a single vane of the impeller extends over less than 90°, preferably less than 50°, in particular over 10 to 50°, preferably over 30 to 40° of the circumference, and / or that the impeller comprises 3 to 6 vanes, preferably 4 vanes, and / or that vanes of the impeller are inclined by 5 to 30°, preferably 10 to 20° to the central axis, and / or that the impeller is mounted on a metal axle which is connected to the insert, and / or the flow meter has a starting limit of less than 50 l / h, in particular of 10 to 50 l / h, and / or that the insert has an outer diameter of between 5 and 50 mm, in particular between 10 and 25 mm, and / or that the insert comprises an axis extending axially in the direction of the impeller, in particular wherein a bearing bush of the impeller comprises an insert made of a hard and / or sliding material, in particular a sapphire insert, and / or that the vanes of an impeller are seated partly in a sleeve which is part of the impeller and partly in the insert, and / or that the flow meter can be used both in a vertical position and can also be operated in a horizontal position,and / or that the impeller comprises a base which is formed at least in sections as a ring with a central fluid passage., 8. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impeller is seated in a sleeve, in particular clamped and / or locked in the sleeve, in particular together with the magnet.

9. Flowmeter according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the Sleeve comprises a central fluid passage, in particular a fluid passage which is at least partially conical, in particular a fluid passage, after which the ring magnet and then the base are connected.

10. Connection head for a filter candle, comprising at least one, in particular two, flow meters according to one of the preceding claims. Impeller designed for a flow meter according to one of the preceding claims. Impeller according to the preceding claim, comprising an impeller and a ring magnet, wherein the ring magnet and impeller are arranged one behind the other in a sleeve. Fluid line, in particular a water line, comprising a flow meter according to one of the preceding claims. Fluid line according to the preceding claim, wherein the flow meter is seated in the fluid line and wherein, with respect to the flow direction, a connection piece for the fluid line is arranged upstream of the flow meter, wherein the impeller comprises a ring with a central fluid passage from which vanes of the impeller extend.Fluid line according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid passage corresponds to at least 80%, in particular 80 to 120%, of the inner cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting piece, and / or characterized in that a measuring sensor, in particular a measuring coil, is arranged on the outside of the fluid line.

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