An ultrasonic flow metering device

Abstract

The application discloses an ultrasonic flow metering device and belongs to the technical field of natural gas flow metering. The device comprises a protective cylinder, protective covers are threadedly connected to two ends of the protective cylinder, heat insulation cotton is wrapped around the connection of the pipeline and the flow pipeline, a rubber air bag is arranged on the outer surface of the heat insulation cotton, an adjusting mechanism is arranged in the protective cylinder, a driving mechanism is further arranged in the protective cylinder, and an inflating mechanism is arranged on the outer circular surface of the rubber air bag. When the device is used for gas flow metering in winter, the heat insulation cotton is used to wrap the connection between the two pipelines, so that the influence of the external temperature is preliminarily reduced, the driving mechanism is utilized to make the threaded sleeve slide forward, the movement of the threaded sleeve triggers the inflating mechanism, gas is injected into the rubber air bag, the rubber air bag is expanded and tightly extruded against the heat insulation cotton, a more effective heat insulation layer is formed, the heat insulation effect is improved, the influence of the external temperature fluctuation on the temperature of the natural gas in the pipeline is reduced, and more accurate measurement data of the ultrasonic flow meter is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of natural gas flow metering technology, and more specifically, to an ultrasonic flow metering device. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing global demand for clean energy, natural gas, as an efficient and environmentally friendly energy source, is gradually taking up a larger proportion of the energy mix. While traditional orifice plate flow meters are widely used in natural gas metering, they suffer from drawbacks such as high installation requirements, frequent maintenance, and limited measurement accuracy, especially under low flow conditions. In recent years, ultrasonic flow meters have been developing, determining flow velocity by measuring the time difference between the propagation of ultrasonic signals in the fluid's upstream and downstream directions, and then calculating the flow rate. These flow meters offer advantages such as no moving parts, no pressure loss, strong adaptability, strong anti-interference capabilities, and intelligent diagnostic functions, leading to their increasing application in natural gas flow metering due to their unique advantages.

[0003] However, in practical applications, temperature variations, especially extreme temperature differences, pose significant technical challenges to ultrasonic flow meters. Taking oilfield gathering and transportation stations in cold northern regions as an example, the diurnal temperature range can reach tens of degrees Celsius. Such extreme temperature fluctuations severely test the performance of ultrasonic flow meters. Without sufficient insulation or electric heat tracing systems, the natural gas inside the pipeline may condense into a liquid or even freeze, hindering normal flow. Although electric heat tracing tape can be used to insulate pipelines and reduce temperature differences, its connection points may age over time, leading to issues such as insulation damage and wire breakage. If the seal is inadequate or subjected to mechanical damage, this could cause electrical leakage or other safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic flow metering device, which aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0006] An ultrasonic flow metering device includes a pipe, an ultrasonic flow meter disposed at the middle of the outer circumference of the pipe, and flow pipes connected to both ends of the pipe; a protective cylinder is disposed at the connection between the pipe and the flow pipe, and a protective cover is threaded to both ends of the protective cylinder; the connection between the pipe and the flow pipe is wrapped with heat insulation cotton, and a rubber air bladder is disposed on the outer surface of the heat insulation cotton; an adjustment mechanism is disposed inside the protective cylinder, and a drive mechanism for driving the adjustment mechanism is also disposed inside the protective cylinder; an inflation mechanism arranged in a circle is disposed on the outer circumference of the rubber air bladder.

[0007] The driving mechanism includes servo motors fixedly connected to both sides of the outer circular surface of the pipe. A drive rod is fixedly connected to the output end of the servo motor. A main gear is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the drive rod. A gear ring is meshed with the outer surface of the main gear. A limit rod is fixedly connected around the outer circular surface of the gear ring. A ball is fixedly connected to the top of the limit rod. Limit plates are provided on both sides of the outer circular surface of the ball and fixedly connected to the inner wall of the protective cylinder. The two limit plates together form a limit groove to facilitate the movement of the ball.

[0008] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the adjusting mechanism includes threaded rods arranged in a circular pattern on the outer surface of the pipe, both ends of the threaded rods are provided with support seats that are fixedly connected to the pipe, and the threaded rods are rotatably connected to the support seats. One end of the threaded rods is fixedly connected with a driven gear, and the driven gear is meshed with a gear ring. The driven gear and the gear ring work together to drive the threaded rods to rotate.

[0009] As a further aspect of the present invention: both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded rod are provided with limiting frames that are fixedly connected to the pipe, the outer circular surface of the threaded rod is threadedly connected with a threaded sleeve, and both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded sleeve are fixedly connected with T-shaped sliders, and the T-shaped sliders are slidably connected to the limiting frames to realize the linear movement of the threaded sleeve.

[0010] As a further aspect of the present invention: the inflation mechanism includes a storage cylinder fixedly connected to the outer surface of the protective cylinder, one end of the storage cylinder is fixedly connected to a connecting pipe, a clamping plate is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the storage cylinder, a push plate is slidably connected inside the storage cylinder, a blocking block is slidably connected inside the connecting pipe, and a second spring coil is fixedly connected between the blocking block and the tail end of the connecting pipe, an inflation pipe is fixedly connected to the side of the connecting pipe near the storage cylinder, and one end of the inflation pipe passes through the protective cylinder and is fixedly connected to the rubber airbag.

[0011] As a further embodiment of the present invention: a support rod is fixedly connected between the push plate and the blocking block, and a second pull rope is fixedly connected to one side of the outer surface of the blocking block. The second pull rope passes through the connecting pipe and the protective cylinder and is fixedly connected to the threaded sleeve.

[0012] As a further aspect of the present invention: a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the second pull rope and the connecting pipe, and the rubber airbag is in the shape of a ring to wrap around the outer surface of the insulation cotton.

[0013] As a further embodiment of the present invention: both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded sleeve are fixedly connected with irregular plates, one end of the irregular plates is fixedly connected with a first extrusion plate for extruding the rubber airbag, and a second extrusion plate is provided on one side of the rubber airbag. A fixing block is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the second extrusion plate. The first extrusion plate and the second extrusion plate are used in conjunction to realize the deflation operation of the rubber airbag.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: a ventilation mechanism is provided on the outer circular surface of the protective cover, the ventilation mechanism includes an air collecting duct that is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the protective cover, an air inlet hopper is fixedly connected to the top of the air collecting duct, a baffle plate is provided inside the air inlet hopper, a fixing plate is fixedly connected to the upper inner end of the air collecting duct, a first spring coil is fixedly connected between the baffle plate and the fixing plate, and the length of the baffle plate is less than the inner diameter of the air collecting duct.

[0015] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the ventilation mechanism further includes a fixed frame fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the pipe, an adjusting plate is hinged inside the fixed frame, the adjusting plate is provided with a support plate, a U-shaped frame is fixedly connected to the top of the threaded sleeve, one end of the support plate is hinged to the inside of the U-shaped frame, the other end of the support plate is hinged to the bottom of the adjusting plate, and a first pull rope is fixedly connected to the middle of the bottom of the blocking plate, the first pull rope passing through the fixed plate and fixedly connected to the adjusting plate.

[0016] As a further aspect of the present invention: the baffle plate is positioned at the corner of the air inlet hopper, and the corner of the air inlet hopper is arranged at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal plane of the baffle plate.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0018] This solution incorporates a protective cylinder, a drive mechanism, an adjustment mechanism, a rubber bladder, and an inflation mechanism. During winter, when measuring gas flow in pipelines, insulation cotton is used to wrap the connection between two pipelines, initially reducing the impact of external temperature. The protective cylinder and cover completely enclose the connection, creating a sealed space to protect internal components from external environmental influences. The drive mechanism rotates the threaded rod clockwise, causing the threaded sleeve to slide forward. This movement triggers the inflation mechanism, injecting gas into the rubber bladder, which expands and tightly compresses the insulation cotton, forming a more effective insulation layer. This improves insulation performance, reduces the impact of external temperature fluctuations on the natural gas temperature inside the pipeline, and ensures more accurate measurement data from the ultrasonic flow meter.

[0019] Equipped with an adjustment mechanism and an inflation mechanism, when the threaded sleeve moves forward under the action of the drive mechanism, the second pull rope pulls the blocking block to move, and the push plate moves synchronously through the support rod. Guided by the clamping plate, the push plate slides smoothly along the inner wall of the storage cylinder, gradually squeezing out the gas in the storage cylinder. The gas passes through the connecting pipe and the inflation pipe, finally entering the rubber air bladder, causing the rubber air bladder to gradually inflate to full, thus completing the tightening operation of the insulation cotton. During this process, the displacement of the threaded sleeve precisely controls the pulling distance of the second pull rope, thereby determining the movement range of the blocking block and the stroke of the push plate, achieving fine adjustment of the inflation volume of the rubber air bladder. At the same time, the closed channel formed by the storage cylinder, connecting pipe, and inflation pipe ensures that the gas can be quickly and without loss transferred to the rubber air bladder, improving inflation efficiency.

[0020] With a ventilation mechanism, when the threaded sleeve slides backward, the movement of the U-shaped frame is transmitted to the adjusting plate through the hinge point of the support plate, causing the adjusting plate to tighten inward. The movement of the adjusting plate pulls the blocking plate downward through the first pull rope, overcoming the elasticity of the first spring coil, causing the blocking plate to move downward into the air collecting duct, opening the air inlet of the air inlet hopper. After the air inlet of the air inlet hopper is opened, outside air is introduced into the protective cover through the air collecting duct. The surrounding fixed air collecting duct evenly distributes the cold air around the protective cover, helping to reduce the temperature inside the protective cover. In high-temperature environments in summer, timely introduction of cold air effectively reduces the temperature inside the protective cover, preventing overheating damage to the equipment and ensuring the normal operation of the ultrasonic flow meter. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the specification, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and enable those skilled in the art to practice and use the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is an internal cross-sectional view of the protective cylinder of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the adjusting mechanism and the inflation mechanism of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the adjustment mechanism of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the drive mechanism and adjustment mechanism of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the specific connection between the inflation mechanism and the rubber airbag of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the protective cover of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the ventilation mechanism of the present invention.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] 1. Pipeline; 2. Ultrasonic flow meter; 3. Protective sleeve; 4. Protective cover; 5. Flow pipe; 6. Thermal insulation cotton;

[0032] 7. Drive mechanism; 71. Servo motor; 72. Drive rod; 73. Main gear; 74. Gear ring; 75. Limit rod; 76. Ball bearing; 77. Limit plate;

[0033] 8. Adjusting mechanism; 81. Threaded rod; 82. Driven gear; 83. Limiting frame; 84. Threaded sleeve; 85. T-shaped slider;

[0034] 9. Ventilation mechanism; 91. Fixing frame; 92. Adjusting plate; 93. Support plate; 94. Air collection duct; 95. Air inlet hopper; 96. Fixing plate; 97. First spring coil; 98. Baffle plate; 99. First pull rope;

[0035] 10. Rubber airbag;

[0036] 11. Inflation mechanism; 111. Storage cylinder; 112. Connecting pipe; 113. Clamping plate; 114. Second spring coil; 115. Push plate; 116. Blocking block; 117. Second pull rope; 118. Inflation pipe; 119. Support rod;

[0037] 12. Irregularly shaped plate; 13. First extrusion plate; 14. Second extrusion plate.

[0038] As shown in the figure, specific structures and devices are marked in the figure to clearly illustrate the structure of the embodiments of the present invention. However, this is only for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the present invention to this specific structure, device and environment. Those skilled in the art can adjust or modify these devices and environments according to specific needs. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The ultrasonic flow metering device provided by the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, to make the embodiments more detailed, the following embodiments are the best and preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art can use other alternative methods to implement some known technologies; moreover, the accompanying drawings are only for more specific description of the embodiments and are not intended to specifically limit the present invention.

[0040] like Figures 1 to 8As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides an ultrasonic flow metering device, including a pipe 1, an ultrasonic flow meter 2 disposed at the middle of the outer circumference of the pipe 1, and flow pipes 5 connected to both ends of the pipe 1; a protective cylinder 3 is disposed at the connection between the pipe 1 and the flow pipe 5, a protective cover 4 is threadedly connected to both ends of the protective cylinder 3, the connection between the pipe 1 and the flow pipe 5 is wrapped with heat insulation cotton 6, and a rubber air bag 10 is disposed on the outer surface of the heat insulation cotton 6; an adjustment mechanism 8 is disposed inside the protective cylinder 3, and a drive mechanism 7 for driving the adjustment mechanism 8 to move is also disposed inside the protective cylinder 3; an inflation mechanism 11 arranged in a circle is disposed on the outer circumference of the rubber air bag 10.

[0041] The drive mechanism 7 includes a servo motor 71 fixedly connected to both sides of the outer circular surface of the pipe 1. The output end of the servo motor 71 is fixedly connected to a drive rod 72. The outer circular surface of the drive rod 72 is fixedly connected to a main gear 73. The outer surface of the main gear 73 is meshed with a gear ring 74. The outer circular surface of the gear ring 74 is fixedly connected to a limit rod 75. The top of the limit rod 75 is fixedly connected to a ball 76. Both sides of the outer circular surface of the ball 76 are provided with limit plates 77 fixedly connected to the inner wall of the protective cylinder 3. The two limit plates 77 together form a limit groove to facilitate the movement of the ball 76.

[0042] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the adjusting mechanism 8 includes threaded rods 81 arranged in a circular pattern on the outer surface of the pipe 1. Both ends of the threaded rods 81 are provided with support seats that are fixedly connected to the pipe 1, and the threaded rods 81 are rotatably connected to the support seats. One end of the threaded rods 81 is fixedly connected to a driven gear 82, and the driven gear 82 meshes with a gear ring 74. The driven gear 82 and the gear ring 74 work together to drive the threaded rods 81 to rotate.

[0043] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded rod 81 are provided with limiting frames 83 that are fixedly connected to the pipe 1. The outer circular surface of the threaded rod 81 is threadedly connected to a threaded sleeve 84. Both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded sleeve 84 are fixedly connected to T-shaped sliders 85, and the T-shaped sliders 85 are slidably connected to the limiting frames 83 to realize the linear movement of the threaded sleeve 84.

[0044] To address the issue of inaccurate measurement data in existing ultrasonic flow meters when measuring gas flow in pipelines due to large diurnal temperature variations, the above-mentioned technical solution is adopted. This solution mainly consists of a protective cylinder 3, a drive mechanism 7, an adjustment mechanism 8, a rubber air bladder 10, and an inflation mechanism 11, ensuring the stability and accuracy of the ultrasonic flow meter 2 under extreme temperature variations. In use, pipeline 1 is first connected to the external flow pipeline 5 to allow natural gas to flow normally. Insulation cotton 6 is used to wrap the connection between the two pipelines to initially reduce the influence of external temperature on the internal medium. The entire measuring device is then installed at the connection of pipeline 1, and the protective cylinder 3 and protective cover 4 completely enclose the connection area, forming a sealed space to further protect the internal components from external environmental influences. Then, by starting the servo motor 71, its output drive rod 72 rotates clockwise, driving the main gear 73 to rotate synchronously. Since the main gear 73 is meshed with the gear ring 74, the gear ring 74 also rotates when the main gear 73 rotates. During the rotation of the gear ring 74, the limiting rod 75 and the ball bearing 76 roll within the limiting groove formed by the two limiting plates 77, ensuring smooth movement of the gear ring 74. Simultaneously, since the gear ring 74 meshes with the driven gear 82, the driven gear 82 rotates clockwise in sync with the rotation of the gear ring 74. The rotation of the driven gear 82 drives the threaded rod 81 to rotate clockwise, causing the threaded sleeve 84 to slide forward along the threaded rod 81. The T-shaped sliders 85 fixedly connected to both sides of the threaded sleeve 84 slide within the limiting frame 83, ensuring that the threaded sleeve 84 moves in a straight line, thereby applying pressure to the rubber airbag 10. When the threaded sleeve 84 moves forward, it triggers the inflation mechanism 11 to start working, injecting an appropriate amount of gas into the rubber airbag 10, causing it to gradually inflate from a deflated state to a fully inflated state. After inflating, the rubber airbag 10 tightly compresses the insulation cotton 6, enhancing its density and forming a more effective insulation layer. This process not only improves the insulation effect but also effectively compensates for dimensional changes caused by temperature variations, maintaining the airtightness of the pipe 1 connection. During the above operations, by enhancing insulation performance, the impact of external temperature fluctuations on the natural gas temperature inside pipe 1 is reduced, ensuring that the ultrasonic flow meter 2 obtains more accurate measurement data, especially in environments with large diurnal temperature differences. Furthermore, the insulation measures, including the protective cylinder 3 and protective cover 4, prevent natural gas from condensing or freezing under low-temperature conditions, avoiding equipment damage caused by ice blockage, while also slowing down the aging of the electric heating tape and reducing maintenance costs. The design of the protective cylinder 3 and protective cover 4 facilitates disassembly, allowing for regular inspection and replacement of insulation materials or the electric heating system without affecting daily operation.

[0045] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 6As shown, the inflation mechanism 11 includes a storage cylinder 111 fixedly connected to the outer surface of the protective cylinder 3. One end of the storage cylinder 111 is fixedly connected to a connecting pipe 112. A retaining plate 113 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the storage cylinder 111. A push plate 115 is slidably connected inside the storage cylinder 111. A blocking block 116 is slidably connected inside the connecting pipe 112. A second spring coil 114 is fixedly connected between the blocking block 116 and the tail end of the connecting pipe 112. An inflation pipe 118 is fixedly connected to the side of the connecting pipe 112 near the storage cylinder 111. One end of the inflation pipe 118 passes through the protective cylinder 3 and is fixedly connected to the rubber airbag 10.

[0046] like Figure 3 , Figure 6 As shown, a support rod 119 is fixedly connected between the push plate 115 and the blocking round block 116. A second pull rope 117 is fixedly connected to one side of the outer surface of the blocking round block 116. The second pull rope 117 passes through the connecting pipe 112 and the protective cylinder 3 and is fixedly connected to the threaded sleeve 84.

[0047] like Figure 3 , Figure 6 As shown, a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the second pull rope 117 and the connecting pipe 112, and the rubber airbag 10 is in the shape of a ring to wrap around the outer surface of the insulation cotton 6.

[0048] When not activated, the push plate 115 is located at the front end of the storage cylinder 111, the blocking block 116 is located on the side of the connecting pipe 112 near the storage cylinder 111, and the second spring coil 114 is in a naturally extended state. The storage cylinder 111 is filled with compressed gas, but the gas cannot flow out because the blocking block 116 blocks the connecting pipe 112. When the threaded sleeve 84 moves forward under the action of the drive mechanism 7, the second pull rope 117 fixedly connected to the threaded sleeve 84 pulls the blocking block 116 closer to the tail end of the connecting pipe 112. As the blocking block 116 moves, it squeezes the second spring coil 114, and at the same time drives the push plate 115 to move synchronously through the support rod 119. Guided by the clamping plate 113, the push plate 115 slides smoothly along the inner wall of the storage cylinder 111, gradually squeezing out the gas in the storage cylinder 111. The gas passes through the connecting pipe 112 and finally enters the rubber air bag 10 through the inflation pipe 118, causing the rubber air bag 10 to gradually inflate to a full state. Furthermore, a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the second pull rope 117 and the connecting pipe 112 to ensure that no gas leakage occurs during the movement of the pull rope. The inflated rubber airbag 10 tightly wraps the outer surface of the insulation cotton 6 in a circular shape, which not only increases the thickness of the insulation layer but also reduces the airflow path, significantly improving the overall insulation performance. In the above operation, the pulling distance of the second pull rope 117 is precisely controlled by the displacement of the threaded sleeve 84, which in turn determines the movement range of the blocking block 116 and the stroke of the push plate 115, thus achieving fine adjustment of the inflation volume of the rubber airbag 10. Moreover, the closed channel formed by the storage cylinder 111, the connecting pipe 112, and the inflation pipe 118 ensures that the gas can be quickly and without loss transferred to the rubber airbag 10, improving the inflation efficiency. At the same time, the setting of the clamping plate 113 ensures the linear movement of the push plate 115 in the storage cylinder 111, avoiding skewness or jamming; while the second spring ring 114 provides the restoring force to ensure the reliability of the system when it returns to the initial state. The entire inflation process is automatically triggered by the movement of the threaded sleeve 84, requiring no manual intervention, which simplifies the operation process and reduces maintenance costs.

[0049] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded sleeve 84 are fixedly connected to a special-shaped plate 12. One end of the special-shaped plate 12 is fixedly connected to a first extrusion plate 13 for extruding the rubber airbag 10. A second extrusion plate 14 is provided on one side of the rubber airbag 10. A fixing block is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the second extrusion plate 14. The first extrusion plate 13 and the second extrusion plate 14 work together to realize the deflation operation of the rubber airbag 10.

[0050] Under normal operating conditions, the rubber airbag 10 is filled with gas, tightly wrapping the insulation cotton 6, providing good insulation. The first extrusion plate 13 and the second extrusion plate 14 are located on both sides of the rubber airbag 10, maintaining a certain distance and not applying pressure. When it is necessary to measure the flow rate of the gas in the pipeline 1, especially under high temperature conditions in summer, the servo motor 71 is activated to reverse its direction. The reverse rotation of the servo motor 71 causes the drive rod 72 to drive the main gear 73 to rotate counterclockwise, which in turn drives the gear ring 74 meshing with it to rotate counterclockwise as well. The counterclockwise rotation of the gear ring 74 drives the threaded rod 81 to rotate counterclockwise through the driven gear 82. The counterclockwise rotation of the threaded rod 81 causes the threaded sleeve 84 to slide backward along its axis. When the threaded sleeve 84 slides backward, it drives the irregularly shaped plates 12 fixed on both sides of its outer circular surface to move synchronously. The irregularly shaped plates 12 push the first extrusion plate 13 toward the inflated rubber airbag 10, gradually compressing the space of the rubber airbag 10. The first extrusion plate 13 and the second extrusion plate 14, pre-positioned on the other side of the rubber airbag 10, work together to form a closed extrusion space. Under the synergistic action of the two extrusion plates, the gas inside the rubber airbag 10 is gradually squeezed out and returns to the storage cylinder 111 through the inflation pipe 118 and the connecting pipe 112, completing the deflation process. Furthermore, the sealing ring at the connection between the inflation pipe 118 and the connecting pipe 112 ensures that the gas does not leak during transmission. After the rubber airbag 10 returns to its deflated state, the system can be readjusted to its initial position, ready for the next inflation operation. During the above operation, the effective deflation mechanism prevents the rubber airbag 10 from over-expanding due to overheating under high-temperature conditions in summer, ensuring the stability and safety of the system. It also avoids the rubber airbag 10 being under high pressure for extended periods, reducing the risk of material aging and damage, and extending its service life. Simultaneously, timely adjustment of the insulation layer pressure in high-temperature environments ensures that the ultrasonic flowmeter 2 obtains more accurate measurement data, especially in environments with large temperature fluctuations. The entire venting process is automatically triggered by the reverse rotation of the servo motor 71, requiring no manual intervention, which simplifies the operation process and reduces maintenance costs.

[0051] like Figure 1 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, a ventilation mechanism 9 is provided on the outer circular surface of the protective cover 4. The ventilation mechanism 9 includes an air collecting duct 94 that is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the protective cover 4. An air inlet hopper 95 is fixedly connected to the top of the air collecting duct 94. A baffle plate 98 is provided inside the air inlet hopper 95. A fixing plate 96 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the inside of the air collecting duct 94. A first spring coil 97 is fixedly connected between the baffle plate 98 and the fixing plate 96. The length of the baffle plate 98 is less than the inner diameter of the air collecting duct 94.

[0052] like Figure 1 , Figure 7 , Figure 8As shown, the ventilation mechanism 9 also includes a fixed frame 91 fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the pipe 1. An adjusting plate 92 is hinged inside the fixed frame 91. The adjusting plate 92 is provided with a support plate 93. A U-shaped frame is fixedly connected to the top of the threaded sleeve 84. One end of the support plate 93 is hinged to the inside of the U-shaped frame, and the other end of the support plate 93 is hinged to the bottom of the adjusting plate 92. A first pull rope 99 is fixedly connected to the middle of the bottom of the baffle plate 98. The first pull rope 99 passes through the fixed plate 96 and is fixedly connected to the adjusting plate 92.

[0053] like Figure 1 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the baffle plate 98 is positioned at the corner of the air inlet hopper 95, and the corner of the air inlet hopper 95 is arranged at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal plane of the baffle plate 98.

[0054] When the ventilation mechanism is not activated, the baffle plate 98 is located at the top corner of the air inlet duct 95, arranged at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal plane of the air inlet duct 95, blocking the air inlet. A first spring coil 97 maintains a certain elasticity between the baffle plate 98 and the fixed plate 96, keeping the baffle plate 98 in a closed position. When it is necessary to measure the flow rate of the gas in the pipeline, especially under high-temperature conditions in summer, the servo motor 71 is activated to reverse its direction. The reverse rotation of the servo motor 71 causes the drive rod 72 to drive the main gear 73 to rotate counterclockwise, which in turn drives the meshing gear ring 74 to rotate counterclockwise as well. The counterclockwise rotation of the gear ring 74 drives the threaded rod 81 to rotate counterclockwise through the driven gear 82, causing the threaded sleeve 84 to slide backward along its axis. As the threaded sleeve 84 slides backward, it drives the U-shaped frame fixed on its top to move synchronously. The movement of the U-shaped frame is transmitted to the adjusting plate 92 through the hinge point of the support plate 93, causing the adjusting plate 92 to tighten inward. The movement of the adjusting plate 92 pulls the blocking plate 98 downward via the first pull rope 99, overcoming the elasticity of the first spring coil 97, causing the blocking plate 98 to move downward into the air collecting duct 94, opening the air inlet of the air inlet hopper 95. After the air inlet of the air inlet hopper 95 opens, outside air is introduced into the protective cover 4 through the air collecting duct 94. The fixed air collecting duct 94 evenly distributes the cold air around the protective cover 4, helping to reduce the temperature inside the protective cylinder 3. After the cold air enters the protective cylinder 3, it carries away heat through natural convection or forced ventilation, achieving effective heat dissipation. After the heat dissipation operation is completed, the servo motor 71 is restarted to rotate forward, repeating the above process but in the opposite direction, causing the threaded sleeve 84 to slide forward. When the threaded sleeve 84 moves forward, the first pull rope 99 is released via the support plate 93, the first spring coil 97 resets, pushing the blocking plate 98 back to the top of the air inlet hopper 95, closing the air inlet, and restoring the initial sealing state. During the above operation, by setting up the ventilation mechanism 9, cold air is introduced in time in the high temperature environment of summer, which effectively reduces the temperature inside the protective cylinder 3, avoids equipment overheating damage caused by high temperature, and ensures the normal operation of the ultrasonic flow meter 2.

[0055] In use, this invention first connects pipe 1 to external flow pipe 5 to ensure normal natural gas flow. Insulation cotton 6 is used to wrap the connection between the two pipes, initially reducing the impact of external temperature on the internal medium. The entire measuring device is installed at the connection of pipe 1, and the connection is completely enclosed using a protective sleeve 3 and a protective cover 4, forming a closed space to further protect the internal components from external environmental influences. During gas flow measurement in winter, the servo motor 71 is started, causing its output drive rod 72 to rotate clockwise, driving the main gear 73 to rotate synchronously. The main gear 73 meshes with the gear ring 74, so when the main gear 73 rotates, the gear ring 74 also rotates, with the limit rod 75 and ball bearings 76 rolling in the limit groove, ensuring smooth movement of the gear ring 74. The rotation of the gear ring 74 drives the threaded rod 81 to rotate clockwise via the driven gear 82, causing the threaded sleeve 84 to slide forward along the threaded rod 81. The T-shaped sliders 85, fixedly connected to both sides of the threaded sleeve 84, slide within the limiting frame 83, ensuring that the threaded sleeve 84 moves in a straight line, thereby applying pressure to the rubber airbag 10. When the threaded sleeve 84 moves forward, it triggers the inflation mechanism 11 to start working, injecting an appropriate amount of gas into the rubber airbag 10, causing it to gradually expand from a deflated state to a full state. After the rubber airbag 10 expands, it tightly squeezes the insulation cotton 6, enhancing its tightness, forming a more effective heat insulation layer, improving the heat insulation effect, and maintaining the sealing of the pipe 1 connection. When measuring airflow in summer, the servo motor 71 is activated to reverse its direction. The reverse rotation of the servo motor 71 causes the drive rod 72 to drive the main gear 73 to rotate counterclockwise, which in turn drives the gear ring 74 to rotate counterclockwise as well. The counterclockwise rotation of the gear ring 74 drives the threaded rod 81 to rotate counterclockwise through the driven gear 82, causing the threaded sleeve 84 to slide backward along its axis. When the threaded sleeve 84 slides backward, it drives the irregular plates 12 fixed on both sides of its outer circular surface to move synchronously. The irregularly shaped plate 12 pushes the first extrusion plate 13 toward the inflated rubber airbag 10, gradually compressing the space of the rubber airbag 10. The first extrusion plate 13 and the second extrusion plate 14 work together to form a closed extrusion space, causing the gas in the rubber airbag 10 to be squeezed out and return to the storage cylinder 111 through the inflation pipe 118 and the connecting pipe 112, completing the degassing process. When cold air needs to be introduced, the servo motor 71 is started to reverse, driving the threaded sleeve 84 to slide backward. When the threaded sleeve 84 slides backward, the support plate 93 pulls the first pull rope 99, overcoming the elasticity of the first spring coil 97, causing the baffle plate 98 to move downward into the air collecting cylinder 94, opening the air inlet. Outside cold air is introduced into the protective cover 4 through the air collecting cylinder 94, helping to reduce the temperature inside the protective cylinder 3, achieving effective heat dissipation, and making the ultrasonic flow meter 2 more accurate during measurement.

[0056] This invention encompasses any substitutions, modifications, equivalent methods, and solutions made within the spirit and scope of this invention. To provide the public with a thorough understanding of this invention, specific details are described in detail in the following preferred embodiments; however, those skilled in the art will fully understand the invention even without these details. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding of the essence of this invention, well-known methods, processes, procedures, components, and circuits are not described in detail.

[0057] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic flow metering device, comprising a pipe, an ultrasonic flow meter disposed at the midpoint of the outer circumference of the pipe, and flow pipes connected to both ends of the pipe; characterized in that, Protective sleeves are installed at the connections between the pipes and the flow channels. Protective covers are threaded onto both ends of the protective sleeves. Insulation cotton is wrapped around the connections, and rubber air bladders are installed on the outer surface of the insulation cotton. An adjustment mechanism is installed inside the protective sleeve, along with a drive mechanism to operate the adjustment mechanism. The outer surface of the rubber air bladders has circumferentially arranged inflation mechanisms. The inflation mechanism includes a storage cylinder fixedly connected to the outer surface of the protective sleeve. A connecting pipe is fixedly connected to one end of the storage cylinder, and a retaining plate is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the storage cylinder. The storage cylinder slides internally. A push plate is connected, and a blocking round block is slidably connected inside the connecting tube. A second spring ring is fixedly connected between the blocking round block and the tail end of the connecting tube. An inflation tube is fixedly connected to the side of the connecting tube near the storage cylinder. One end of the inflation tube passes through the protective cylinder and is fixedly connected to the rubber airbag. A support rod is fixedly connected between the push plate and the blocking round block. A second pull rope is fixedly connected to one side of the outer surface of the blocking round block. The second pull rope passes through the connecting tube and the protective cylinder and is fixedly connected to the threaded sleeve. A sealing ring is provided at the connection between the second pull rope and the connecting tube, and the rubber airbag is in the shape of a ring to wrap around the outer surface of the insulation cotton. The drive mechanism includes servo motors fixedly connected to both sides of the outer circular surface of the pipe. A drive rod is fixedly connected to the output end of the servo motor. A main gear is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the drive rod. A gear ring is meshed with the outer surface of the main gear. A limit rod is fixedly connected around the outer circular surface of the gear ring. A ball is fixedly connected to the top of the limit rod. Limit plates are provided on both sides of the outer circular surface of the ball and fixedly connected to the inner wall of the protective cylinder. The two limit plates together form a limit groove to facilitate the movement of the ball.

2. The ultrasonic flow metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjusting mechanism includes threaded rods arranged in a circular pattern on the outer surface of the pipe. Both ends of the threaded rods are provided with support seats that are fixedly connected to the pipe, and the threaded rods are rotatably connected to the support seats. One end of the threaded rods is fixedly connected to a driven gear, and the driven gear meshes with a gear ring. The driven gear and the gear ring work together to drive the threaded rods to rotate.

3. The ultrasonic flow metering device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both sides of the outer circle of the threaded rod are provided with limiting frames that are fixedly connected to the pipeline. The outer circle of the threaded rod is threadedly connected with a threaded sleeve. Both sides of the outer circle of the threaded sleeve are fixedly connected with T-shaped sliders, and the T-shaped sliders are slidably connected to the limiting frames to realize the linear movement of the threaded sleeve.

4. The ultrasonic flow metering device according to claim 3, characterized in that, Both sides of the outer circular surface of the threaded sleeve are fixedly connected to a special-shaped plate. One end of the special-shaped plate is fixedly connected to a first extrusion plate for extruding the rubber airbag. A second extrusion plate is provided on one side of the rubber airbag. A fixing block is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the second extrusion plate. The first extrusion plate and the second extrusion plate work together to realize the deflation operation of the rubber airbag.

5. The ultrasonic flow metering device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer circular surface of the protective cover is provided with a ventilation mechanism, which includes an air collecting duct that is fixedly connected to the outer circular surface of the protective cover. An air inlet is fixedly connected to the top of the air collecting duct, and a baffle plate is provided inside the air inlet. A fixing plate is fixedly connected to the upper inside of the air collecting duct. A first spring coil is fixedly connected between the baffle plate and the fixing plate, and the length of the baffle plate is less than the inner diameter of the air collecting duct.

6. The ultrasonic flow metering device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ventilation mechanism also includes a fixed frame that is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the duct. An adjusting plate is hinged inside the fixed frame. The adjusting plate is equipped with a support plate. A U-shaped frame is fixedly connected to the top of the threaded sleeve. One end of the support plate is hinged to the inside of the U-shaped frame, and the other end of the support plate is hinged to the bottom of the adjusting plate. A first pull rope is fixedly connected to the middle of the bottom of the baffle plate. The first pull rope passes through the fixed plate and is fixedly connected to the adjusting plate.

7. An ultrasonic flow metering device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The baffle plate is positioned at the corner of the air inlet duct, and the corner of the air inlet duct is arranged at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal plane of the baffle plate.

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