Ultrasonic gas meter flow trigger device and ultrasonic gas meter

Abstract

The application is suitable for the technical field of gas meter, and provides an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device, which comprises a Hall element, a magnet and a mechanical transmission part, the mechanical transmission part comprises a rotating plate, further comprises a stabilizing assembly, the stabilizing assembly comprises an arc-shaped rod, an arc-shaped tube, a horizontal tube, a channel, a ball and a sealing strip, and the application further discloses an ultrasonic gas meter, which comprises the above-mentioned ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device and further comprises a shell, a gas flow channel, an air inlet and an air outlet, an ultrasonic probe, an intelligent controller and a battery. The Hall element, the magnet and the mechanical transmission part are arranged, the gas flow speed in the pipeline is sensed in a mechanical mode, when there is no gas flowing in the pipeline, the gas meter controller is in a low-power sleep mode; when there is natural gas flowing in the pipeline, a triggering signal is generated, an ultrasonic pulse is sent, the gas flow speed is measured, the consumption speed of the battery of the gas meter is greatly reduced, and great maintenance cost saving is brought.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of gas meter technology, and particularly relates to an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device and an ultrasonic gas meter. Background Technology

[0002] An ultrasonic gas meter is a measuring device that uses the principle that ultrasound can propagate through air to measure the flow rate and volume of gas. It is installed in users who need to measure natural gas.

[0003] Current ultrasonic gas meters send a set of ultrasonic pulses at regular intervals, measuring the gas flow velocity in the pipeline based on the contrast between the positive and negative ultrasonic waves. For accurate measurement, ultrasonic pulses are sent very frequently, even when there is no gas flow. Gas meters require battery power, and the frequent sending of ultrasonic pulses puts a significant strain on battery power. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device and an ultrasonic gas meter, aiming to solve the problem that ultrasonic pulses must be sent even when there is no gas flow, and the frequent sending of ultrasonic pulses puts a huge strain on the battery power of the gas meter.

[0005] This invention is implemented as follows: an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device, which is installed on the gas flow channel of the gas meter, includes:

[0006] The Hall element is installed on the outer wall of the gas flow channel and is electrically connected to the smart controller of the gas meter.

[0007] A magnet is placed inside the gas flow channel to cooperate with the magnetic induction of the Hall element;

[0008] A mechanical transmission component installed in the gas flow channel drives a connected magnet.

[0009] When airflow passes by, the airflow drives the magnet to move through the mechanical transmission components. The distance between the magnet and the Hall element increases, and the output level of the Hall element changes, thereby sending a trigger signal to the smart controller of the gas meter.

[0010] Preferably, the Hall element is fixedly mounted on and electrically connected to the PCB, and the PCB is electrically connected to the smart controller of the gas meter via signal leads.

[0011] Preferably, the PCB is fixedly mounted on a fixed support, and the fixed support is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the gas flow channel.

[0012] Preferably, the mechanical transmission component includes a rotating plate, which is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the gas flow channel near the Hall element. The rotating plate includes a push-receiving part and a mounting part. The mounting part is near the Hall element and is used to fix and install a magnet. When the push-receiving part is pushed by the airflow, it can make the rotating plate rotate. The center of gravity of the rotating plate is close to the push-receiving part.

[0013] Preferably, the mechanical transmission component includes a rotating plate, a connecting rod, a sliding rod, and a sliding sleeve. The magnet is fixedly installed on the top of the sliding sleeve. The sliding rod is movably inserted through the sliding sleeve along its length. The sliding rod is fixed to the inner wall of the gas flow channel away from the Hall element. The rotating plate is located on the right side of the sliding sleeve. The top of the rotating plate is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the gas flow channel near the Hall element. A connecting rod connects the rotating plate and the sliding sleeve. The two ends of the connecting rod are respectively hinged to the rotating plate and the sliding sleeve.

[0014] Preferably, it further includes a stabilizing component, the stabilizing component comprising:

[0015] An arc-shaped rod fixed to the rotating plate;

[0016] An arc-shaped tube is fitted onto an arc-shaped rod, with the outer wall of the arc-shaped rod movably fitting against the inner wall of the arc-shaped tube;

[0017] A horizontal pipe is fixedly connected to the end of the arc-shaped pipe away from the arc-shaped rod. The horizontal pipe is fixed to the inner wall of the gas flow channel and is connected to the arc-shaped pipe.

[0018] A channel located inside a horizontal pipe, the two ends of which are funnel-shaped;

[0019] A sphere is provided inside the horizontal pipe on the side of the channel away from the arc-shaped pipe. The sphere is connected to the inner wall of the top of the gas flow channel by a pull line. Multiple arc-shaped sealing strips are installed circumferentially on the inner wall of the channel near the sphere, with a gap between adjacent sealing strips.

[0020] An ultrasonic gas meter, including the aforementioned ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device, further includes:

[0021] case;

[0022] Gas flow channels located within the casing;

[0023] An air inlet and an air outlet are located at the top of the casing, and the air inlet and the air outlet are respectively connected to both ends of the gas flow channel;

[0024] Two ultrasonic probes, installed on the gas flow channel and spaced apart along the gas flow direction, are used to send ultrasonic pulses.

[0025] The intelligent controller, installed inside the housing, is electrically connected to the two ultrasonic probes respectively.

[0026] The battery, installed inside the casing, is electrically connected to the smart controller.

[0027] Preferably, it also includes a display screen for displaying the flow rate and velocity of the gas, which is electrically connected to the smart controller.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of this application have the following main advantages:

[0029] The ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device provided by this invention uses a Hall element, a magnet, and a mechanical transmission component. When airflow passes through, the airflow drives the magnet to move via the mechanical transmission component, increasing the distance between the magnet and the Hall element. This causes a change in the output level of the Hall element, which in turn sends a trigger signal to the intelligent controller of the gas meter. It mechanically senses the gas flow rate in the pipeline. When there is no gas flow in the pipeline, the gas meter controller is in a low-power sleep mode. When natural gas flows in the pipeline, a trigger signal is generated, sending ultrasonic pulses to measure the gas flow rate. This significantly reduces the battery consumption rate of the gas meter, resulting in substantial savings in maintenance costs.

[0030] A stabilizing component is provided, which includes an arc-shaped rod, an arc-shaped tube, a horizontal tube, a channel, a sphere, and a sealing strip. When the airflow suddenly decreases, the movement of the rotating plate is delayed, thus stabilizing the working state. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment 1 of an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment 2 of an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device provided by the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the image;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of the sealing strip in Embodiment 2 of an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 3 of an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device provided by the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an ultrasonic gas meter provided by the present invention.

[0037] Figure label annotations: 1. Hall element; 2. Magnet; 3. PCB; 4. Fixed support; 5. Rotating plate; 6. Signal lead; 7. Flow trigger device; 8. Ultrasonic probe; 9. Battery; 10. Intelligent controller; 11. Display screen; 12. Air outlet; 13. Air inlet; 14. Arc rod; 15. Arc tube; 16. Horizontal tube; 17. Sphere; 18. Sealing strip; 19. Channel; 20. Sliding sleeve; 21. Sliding rod; 22. Connecting rod. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs; the terminology used herein in the specification of the application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or foregoing drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a particular order.

[0039] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] This invention provides an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it is installed on the gas flow channel of the gas meter and includes:

[0042] Hall element 1 is installed on the outer wall of the gas flow channel. Hall element 1 is electrically connected to the intelligent controller 10 of the gas meter. The intelligent controller 10 can be the ZQ-1 type intelligent controller 10 of the gas meter in the prior art.

[0043] The magnet 2, located within the gas flow channel, is used to magnetically cooperate with the Hall element 1. The Hall element 1 is a magnetic sensor based on the Hall effect, which can detect magnetic fields and their changes. It can be used in various magnetic field-related applications. The Hall effect refers to the physical phenomenon that a transverse potential difference is generated when a magnetic field acts on charge carriers in a current-carrying metal conductor or semiconductor. Specifically, in this application, when the magnet 2 approaches, the Hall element 1 outputs a high level, and when the magnet 2 moves away, the Hall element 1 outputs a low level and sends a trigger signal to remind the intelligent controller 10 of the gas meter to start collecting gas flow rate.

[0044] A mechanical transmission component installed in the gas flow channel drives the connected magnet 2.

[0045] When airflow passes by, the airflow drives the magnet 2 to move through the mechanical transmission component. The distance between the magnet 2 and the Hall element 1 increases, and the output level of the Hall element 1 changes, thereby sending a trigger signal to the intelligent controller 10 of the gas meter. After the airflow stops, the mechanical transmission component drives the magnet 2 to approach the Hall element 1. The Hall element 1 outputs a high level and sends a signal to the intelligent controller 10. The intelligent controller 10 controls the cessation of gas flow rate collection.

[0046] The Hall element 1 is fixedly mounted on the PCB3 and electrically connected to it. It can be fixed by screws. The PCB3 is electrically connected to the smart controller 10 of the gas meter through the signal lead 6.

[0047] Furthermore, the PCB3 is fixedly installed on the fixed support 4, which can be fixed by screws. The fixed support 4 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the gas flow channel, which can be fixed by welding.

[0048] In this embodiment, the mechanical transmission component includes a rotating plate 5, which is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the gas flow channel near the Hall element 1. The rotating plate 5 includes a push-receiving part and a mounting part. The mounting part is close to the Hall element 1 and is used to fix and install the magnet 2. The magnet 2 can be embedded. When the push-receiving part is pushed by the airflow, it can make the rotating plate 5 rotate. The center of gravity of the rotating plate 5 is close to the push-receiving part. That is, when there is no airflow, the push-receiving part of the rotating plate 5 is heavier, and the magnet 2 remains close to the Hall element 1.

[0049] Example 2

[0050] This embodiment is based on embodiment 1, such as... Figures 2-4 As shown, it also includes a stabilization component, which includes:

[0051] The arc-shaped rod 14 fixed on the rotating plate 5 can be fixed with screws;

[0052] The arc-shaped tube 15 is sleeved on the arc-shaped rod 14. The outer wall of the arc-shaped rod 14 and the inner wall of the arc-shaped tube 15 are in movable contact. It should be explained that the center of the arc-shaped rod 14 and the arc-shaped tube 15 coincides with the rotation center of the rotating plate 5.

[0053] A horizontal pipe 16 is fixedly connected to the end of the arc-shaped pipe 15 away from the arc-shaped rod 14. The horizontal pipe 16 and the arc-shaped pipe 15 can be integrally formed. The horizontal pipe 16 is fixed to the inner wall of the gas flow channel and can be fixed by welding. The horizontal pipe 16 is connected to the arc-shaped pipe 15.

[0054] The channel 19 is located inside the horizontal tube 16. The two ends of the channel 19 are flared, or dumbbell-shaped, or diabolo-shaped, meaning that the two ends are larger than the middle.

[0055] Inside the horizontal pipe 16, on the side of the channel 19 away from the arc-shaped pipe 15, there is a ball 17. The ball 17 is tied to the inner wall of the top of the gas flow channel by a pull line. The ball 17 can be a hollow plastic ball. Multiple arc-shaped sealing strips 18 are circumferentially installed on the inner wall of the channel 19 near the ball 17. There is a gap between adjacent sealing strips 18. The sealing strips 18 can cooperate with the ball 17.

[0056] During operation, the rotating plate 5 is pushed by the airflow, causing it to rotate and thus move the magnet 2 away from the Hall element 1. Simultaneously, the rotating plate 5 drives the arc-shaped rod 14 into the arc-shaped tube 15, similar to a piston pushing air, pushing the gas within the arc-shaped tube 15. The gas then enters the horizontal tube 16, flows through the channel 19 towards the sphere 17, and exits. The sphere 17 deflects away from the channel 19, preventing blockage. When the airflow in the gas flow channel is unstable, especially when the airflow suddenly decreases, the rotating plate 5 loses its airflow thrust and rotates in the opposite direction under gravity, causing the magnet 2 to approach the Hall element 1. This may cause the Hall element 1 to emit a signal, stopping the ultrasonic probe 8 from collecting gas flow rate and affecting accuracy. In this embodiment, by setting the sphere 17, when the rotating plate 5 has a tendency to rotate in the opposite direction, the arc-shaped rod 14 moves towards the sphere 15, thus preventing the ultrasonic probe 8 from collecting gas flow rate and affecting accuracy. The rod 14 relative to the arc-shaped tube 15 forms a piston-like suction motion. Gas enters the horizontal tube 16 and pushes the ball 17 to deflect towards the channel 19. The ball 17 contacts the sealing strip 18, sealing most of the channel 19. Only a small amount of gas enters the arc-shaped tube 15 through the gap between adjacent sealing strips 18. This makes the air pressure change inside the arc-shaped tube 15 slower and less than the external air pressure. The movement speed of the arc rod 14 is slower, and the reverse rotation speed of the rotating plate 5 is also slower. Compared with the change in airflow, the movement of the rotating plate 5 has a certain delay, which improves the stability during operation. This prevents the magnet 2 from immediately moving too close to the Hall element 1, which could cause the Hall element 1 to issue a stop-collection signal. Of course, when the airflow increases, the rotation of the rotating plate 5 is unrestricted, still keeping the magnet 2 away from the Hall element 1 without affecting the signal of the Hall element 1.

[0057] Example 3

[0058] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 2 is that, as Figure 5 As shown, the mechanical transmission component includes a rotating plate 5, a connecting rod 22, a sliding rod 21, and a sliding sleeve 20. The magnet 2 is fixedly installed on the top of the sliding sleeve 20 and can be embedded for fixed installation. The sliding rod 21 is movably inserted through the sliding sleeve 20 along its length direction. The sliding rod 21 is fixed on the inner wall of the gas flow channel away from the Hall element 1 and can be welded for fixed installation. In this embodiment, the sliding rod 21 is vertically arranged. The rotating plate 5 is located on the right side of the sliding sleeve 20. The top of the rotating plate 5 is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the gas flow channel near the Hall element 1. A connecting rod 22 is connected between the rotating plate 5 and the sliding sleeve 20. The two ends of the connecting rod 22 are respectively hinged to the rotating plate 5 and the sliding sleeve 20.

[0059] When there is airflow, it pushes the rotating plate 5 to rotate. The rotating plate 5 drives the sliding sleeve 20 to move downward through the connecting rod 22. The sliding sleeve 20 drives the magnet 2 away from the Hall element 1. Of course, other mechanical transmission structures can also be used without too many restrictions.

[0060] Example 4

[0061] This embodiment provides an ultrasonic gas meter, such as Figure 6 As shown, the ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device 7, including Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2, or Embodiment 3, further includes:

[0062] case;

[0063] Gas flow channels located within the casing;

[0064] An air inlet 13 and an air outlet 12 are provided on the top of the housing. The air inlet 13 and the air outlet 12 are respectively connected to both ends of the gas flow channel. The air inlet 13 and the air outlet 12 are detachably connected to the gas pipeline.

[0065] Two ultrasonic probes 8, installed on the gas flow channel and spaced apart along the gas flow direction, are used to send ultrasonic pulses and can be installed with screws.

[0066] The intelligent controller 10 installed inside the housing is electrically connected to two ultrasonic probes 8 respectively. It can be understood that the intelligent controller 10 can control the two ultrasonic probes 8 to send ultrasonic pulses and measure the gas flow velocity in the pipeline based on the positive and negative contrast of ultrasonic waves.

[0067] The battery 9, installed inside the casing, can be installed in an electromagnetic compartment for easy replacement. It is electrically connected to the intelligent controller 10 and can supply power to various electrical devices.

[0068] Preferably, it also includes a display screen 11 for displaying the flow rate and velocity of the gas. It is electrically connected to the intelligent controller 10. The display screen 11 can be embedded and can also display data such as the total amount of gas.

[0069] In summary, the present invention provides an ultrasonic gas meter flow triggering device 7, the working principle of which is as follows:

[0070] When airflow passes by, the rotating plate 5 is driven to rotate by the airflow. The rotating plate 5 drives the magnet 2 to move, and the distance between the magnet 2 and the Hall element 1 increases. The output level of the Hall element 1 changes, thereby sending a trigger signal to the intelligent controller 10 of the gas meter. After the airflow stops, the mechanical transmission component drives the magnet 2 to approach the Hall element 1. The Hall element 1 outputs a high level and sends a signal to the intelligent controller 10. The intelligent controller 10 controls the cessation of gas flow rate collection. A stabilizing component is provided so that when the airflow suddenly decreases, the movement of the rotating plate 5 is delayed, thus achieving the effect of stabilizing the working state.

[0071] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to the present invention.

[0072] It should be understood that the disclosed apparatus can be implemented in other ways, given the several embodiments provided in this application. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; the division of units described above is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or communication connections shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connections between devices or units may be telecommunications or other forms.

[0073] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0074] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on these embodiments, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can still combine, add, delete, or otherwise adjust the features of the various embodiments of the present invention according to the circumstances without conflict or creative effort, thereby obtaining different technical solutions that do not fundamentally depart from the concept of the present invention. These technical solutions also fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic gas meter flow trigger device, which is installed on a gas flow passage of a gas meter, characterized in that, The application relates to a flow triggering device for an ultrasonic gas meter, which comprises the following parts: a Hall element installed on the outer wall of a gas flow channel, the Hall element being electrically connected with an intelligent controller of a gas meter; a magnet installed in the gas flow channel and used for magnetic induction cooperation with the Hall element; a mechanical transmission element installed in the gas flow channel and used for driving connection of the magnet; when gas flows through the mechanical transmission element, the gas drives the magnet to move, the distance between the magnet and the Hall element is increased, the output level of the Hall element is changed, and a trigger signal is sent to the intelligent controller of the gas meter; the mechanical transmission element comprises a rotating plate, the rotating plate is rotationally connected with the inner wall of the gas flow channel close to the Hall element, the rotating plate comprises a pushing part and a mounting part, the mounting part is close to the Hall element and is used for fixed mounting of the magnet, the pushing part can drive the rotating plate to rotate when the pushing part is pushed by the gas flow, and the gravity center of the rotating plate is close to the side of the pushing part; or the mechanical transmission element comprises a rotating plate, a connecting rod, a sliding rod and a sliding sleeve, the magnet is fixedly installed at the top end of the sliding sleeve, the sliding rod is movably arranged in the sliding sleeve along the length direction of the sliding sleeve, the sliding rod is fixed on the inner wall of the gas flow channel away from the Hall element, the rotating plate is arranged on the right side of the sliding sleeve, the top end of the rotating plate is rotationally connected with the inner wall of the gas flow channel close to the Hall element, and the connecting rod is connected between the rotating plate and the sliding sleeve and is hingedly connected with the rotating plate and the sliding sleeve respectively; the device further comprises a stabilizing assembly, which comprises the following parts: an arc-shaped rod fixed on the rotating plate; an arc-shaped tube sleeved on the arc-shaped rod, the outer wall of the arc-shaped rod is movably matched with the inner wall of the arc-shaped tube; a horizontal tube fixedly connected with the end of the arc-shaped tube away from the arc-shaped rod, the horizontal tube is fixed on the inner side wall of the gas flow channel, and the horizontal tube is communicated with the arc-shaped tube; a channel arranged in the horizontal tube, the two ends of the channel are in a trumpet shape; a ball arranged on the side of the horizontal tube away from the channel, the ball is connected with the inner side wall of the top of the gas flow channel through a pull wire, a plurality of arc-shaped sealing strips are annularly arranged on the inner side wall of the horizontal tube close to the ball, and a spacing is arranged between adjacent sealing strips; the Hall element is fixedly installed on a PCB and is electrically connected with the PCB, the PCB is electrically connected with the intelligent controller of the gas meter through a signal lead wire. The PCB is fixedly installed on a fixed support, and the fixed support is fixedly connected with the outer wall of the gas flow channel. The application further comprises the following parts: a shell; a gas flow channel arranged in the shell; an air inlet and an air outlet arranged on the top of the shell and communicated with the two ends of the gas flow channel respectively; two ultrasonic probes installed on the gas flow channel and spaced apart along the gas flow direction and used for sending ultrasonic pulses; an intelligent controller installed in the shell and electrically connected with the two ultrasonic probes respectively; a battery installed in the shell and electrically connected with the intelligent controller. The device further comprises a display screen used for displaying the flow and flow rate of the gas and electrically connected with the intelligent controller. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2. The ultrasonic gas meter flow trigger of claim 1, wherein, ​ 3. The ultrasonic gas meter flow trigger of claim 2, wherein, ​ 4. An ultrasonic gas meter, characterized in that ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 5. The ultrasonic gas meter of claim 4, wherein, ​

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