Method and device for artificially simulating rainfall

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and device for artificially simulating rainfall, and the device comprises a water tank, a mounting plate, an air pump, a stepping motor, a sliding table, a plurality of groups of double-shaft air cylinders, a plurality of groups of three-way pipes arranged on the double-shaft air cylinders, a water storage barrel and a needle head which are arranged below the double-shaft air cylinders, and a plurality of groups of electromagnetic valves connected with the air pump, the other two ends of the three-way valve are communicated with the water tank and the water storage barrel through one one-way valves respectively, a needle tube is arranged at an outlet of the water storage barrel, when the piston in the double-shaft air cylinder is pulled out, the cavity stores water from the water tank through the one-way valves, and when the piston in the double-shaft air cylinder is pushed in, the cavity drains water from the needle tube through the one-way valves; the plurality of groups of needle heads are distributed according to the required rainfall intensity, the diameters of the needle heads in the plurality of groups of needle heads can be equal or unequal, and different needle heads correspond to raindrops with different sizes, so that the needle heads under the combination of different diameters can realize the accurate control of rainfall simulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of simulated rainfall devices, and particularly to a method and apparatus for artificially simulating rainfall. Background Technology

[0002] Most existing artificial rainmaking devices employ either gravity-fed water discharge from elevated water tanks or nozzle-based spraying methods, adjusting water pressure or changing nozzles to alter rainfall intensity and distribution characteristics. While these devices are relatively simple in structure, they suffer from several shortcomings. For instance, nozzle-based devices, limited by nozzle diameter and pressure control, struggle to achieve single-drop precision in raindrop control, failing to effectively simulate the diversity of natural raindrop size and spacing. Gravity-fed methods, on the other hand, often suffer from uneven droplet volume, slow response speed, and difficulty in synchronous control, making it challenging to meet the demands of precise multi-point synchronous control.

[0003] Furthermore, in scientific experiments with strict requirements regarding the timing, frequency, location, and droplet size of rainfall, traditional rainfall simulation systems lack flexible control strategies. This prevents precise control of individual water outlet units and limits the repeatability of simulated rainfall. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of artificial rainfall simulation device with a more rational structure, more precise control, and simulation effects that more closely resemble natural rainfall processes, to meet the high-precision requirements of modern scientific research and engineering experiments for rainfall simulation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a method and apparatus for artificially simulating rainfall, which solves the technical problems of existing rainfall simulation technologies, such as the limited variety of methods, difficulty in accurately controlling rainfall intensity and frequency, and poor drip uniformity, thus failing to meet the requirements for high-precision simulation. The relevant technical solution is as follows: On one hand, the present invention discloses an artificial rainfall simulation device including a dual-axis cylinder. The cylinder barrels at both ends of the dual-axis cylinder are respectively connected to the branch end of a three-way pipe. One end of the main pipe of the three-way pipe is connected in series with a water tank through a water inlet pipe equipped with a one-way pressure valve. The other end of the main pipe of the three-way pipe is connected in series with the water inlet of a coaxial double-hole needle through a water outlet pipe equipped with a one-way valve. One-way pressure valve allows fluid to flow from the water tank to the three-way pipe, and one-way valve allows fluid to flow from the three-way pipe to the water inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle. The air inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle is connected to an air source tank through an air pumping pipe equipped with a solenoid valve.

[0005] Furthermore, the coaxial dual-hole needle is installed at the lower end of the dual-axis cylinder, which is mounted on a slide. An anti-rotation limiting structure is provided between the slide and the lead screw slide. The limiting structure is slidably mounted on the lead screw slide. A lead screw is provided on the side of the lead screw slide facing the dual-axis cylinder. The lead screw slide has a lead screw transmission structure, which includes a motor base fixed to the upper side of the lead screw slide. A stepper motor is mounted on the motor base. The output shaft of the stepper motor is coaxially connected to the upper end of the lead screw. The lead screw is rotatably connected to the slide by a thread. The dual-axis cylinder adopts a single-rod piston structure. The end of the piston rod of the dual-axis cylinder away from the dual-axis cylinder is connected to the bottom of the motor base. The controller is electrically connected to the stepper motor.

[0006] Furthermore, multiple dual-axis cylinders are installed below the motor base of the lead screw slide. Each dual-axis cylinder has a coaxial double-hole needle installed at its lower end, and a needle tube is installed at the outlet of each coaxial double-hole needle. The air source tank is connected to the air inlet of each coaxial double-hole needle through multiple branches of the air pumping pipe. The water tank also includes multiple water distributors. The outlet of one water distributor is connected to a water inlet pipe, and the inlet of the water distributor is connected to the water tank.

[0007] Furthermore, the solenoid valve is signal-connected to the controller.

[0008] Furthermore, the needles at the outlets of the multiple sets of coaxial dual-hole needles are configured with different diameters according to the required rainfall intensity.

[0009] Furthermore, a T-shaped mounting plate is installed at the bottom of the motor base, and multiple alignment holes are arranged on the T-shaped mounting plate for connecting to the end of the piston rod of multiple dual-axis cylinders away from the dual-axis cylinders; At least one of the dual-axis cylinders is mounted on a slide table, and the cylinder barrels of all the dual-axis cylinders are fixed together on a mounting plate, neither of which is in contact with the lead screw.

[0010] Furthermore, multiple air source tanks are connected to the air inlet of each coaxial double-hole needle through multiple air pumping pipes.

[0011] Furthermore, the coaxial dual-hole needle includes: The water spray pipe has an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom, used to fill the cylinder with liquid and output it out. The jet pipe is fitted over the water spray pipe, and the water spray pipe passes through the jet pipe. The water spray pipe and the jet pipe are coaxial. The upper end of the jet pipe is an air inlet, which is used to input gas from the gas source tank and output it during the process of outputting liquid at the outlet of the water spray pipe, so as to break the liquid into droplets.

[0012] The device for simulating artificial rainfall uses a method to simulate artificial rainfall. The controller of the stepper motor adjusts the speed and step angle of the stepper motor, and controls the piston rods of multiple dual-axis cylinders to move synchronously relative to the cylinder barrels, so as to achieve a change in the volume of rainfall. When multiple sets of twin-cylinder pistons move, the cylinders at both ends alternately pump water and drain water. Water is continuously drawn from the water tank via a one-way valve; And continuously drain water through a one-way valve and a two-way coaxial double-hole needle; The discharged liquid is divided into droplets of different sizes with adjustable diameters by varying the switching frequency of multiple sets of solenoid valves.

[0013] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: By using a stepper motor to drive a lead screw and slide structure, synchronous linear motion of the cylinder piston is achieved, enabling precise control of the output rainfall volume. The variable pressure system, composed of an air source tank and a solenoid valve, controls the desired raindrop diameter by adjusting the switching frequency of the solenoid valve. This device effectively simulates the size, rhythm, and spatial distribution characteristics of raindrops in natural rainfall. The device supports the coordinated use of multiple sets of equipment to achieve varying rainfall areas in different situations. Furthermore, it supports simultaneous operation of multiple channels, with each channel allowing independent parameter adjustment, meeting the diverse rainfall simulation needs of multiple regions and conditions, thus enhancing the device's flexibility and practicality.

[0014] Meanwhile, the device employs a constant-pressure liquid supply system consisting of a first one-way valve, a second one-way valve, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe, along with an auxiliary air pressure backflow structure. This ensures a continuous and stable liquid supply process and uniform dripping, effectively avoiding common problems in traditional devices such as uneven dripping, interrupted dripping, and air resistance, thus improving the reliability and repeatability of experimental results. The control system allows for programming settings of rainfall frequency, dripping time interval, and duration, providing sensitive and efficient control and facilitating refined experimental design.

[0015] Furthermore, this invention features a compact structure and high modularity. The sliding table linkage mechanism simplifies the complexity of traditional multi-cylinder control systems, facilitating assembly, maintenance, and expansion. It is suitable for experimental platforms or simulation environments of various sizes, exhibiting good portability and promising prospects for widespread application. In summary, the artificial rainfall simulation device provided by this invention possesses advantages such as reasonable structure, precise control, stable operation, and ease of use. It overcomes several technical bottlenecks in the field of simulated rainfall in existing technologies, demonstrating significant practical value and technological advancement. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a simulated rainfall device according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the needle provided in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the main view of the rainfall core control device in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the left side view of the rainfall core control device in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional perspective view of the mounting plate in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional perspective view of the limiting structure of the slide table in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the slide table in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Terminology Explanation A dual-axis cylinder (also known as a two-way cylinder) differs from a single-axis cylinder in that it has two pistons and two cylinder barrels. The two pistons can reciprocate simultaneously under air pressure, thus providing bidirectional thrust.

[0020] Figure 1The diagram shows a schematic of an artificial rainfall simulation device. The rainfall device includes: a dual-axis cylinder 5, with the cylinder barrels at both ends of the dual-axis cylinder 5 respectively connected to the branch end of a three-way pipe. One end of the main pipe of the three-way pipe is connected in series with a water tank 9 via an inlet pipe equipped with a one-way pressure valve 11. The other end of the main pipe of the three-way pipe is connected in series with the inlet of a coaxial double-hole needle 15 via an outlet pipe equipped with a one-way valve 12. A needle tube is installed at the outlet of the coaxial double-hole needle 15. The one-way pressure valve 11 only allows fluid to flow from the water tank 9 to the three-way pipe, and the one-way valve 12 only allows fluid to flow from the three-way pipe to the inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle 15. The air inlet 16 of the coaxial double-hole needle 15 is also connected to an air source tank 18 via an air pumping pipe equipped with a solenoid valve 17.

[0021] Optionally, the coaxial dual-hole needle 15 is mounted at the lower end of the dual-axis cylinder 5.

[0022] Preferably, the dual-axis cylinder 5 is mounted on the slide table 4, and an anti-rotation limiting structure is provided between the slide table 4 and the lead screw slide table 2. The limiting structure is slidably mounted on the lead screw slide table 2. A lead screw is provided on the side of the lead screw slide table 2 facing the dual-axis cylinder 5. The lead screw slide table 2 has a lead screw transmission structure, which includes a motor base fixed to one side of the upper end of the lead screw slide table 2. A stepper motor 1 is mounted on the motor base. The output shaft of the stepper motor 1 is coaxially connected to the upper end of the lead screw. The lead screw is rotatably connected to the slide table 4 by a thread. The dual-axis cylinder 5 adopts a single-rod piston structure. The end of the piston rod 7 of the dual-axis cylinder 5 away from the dual-axis cylinder 5 is connected to the bottom of the motor base.

[0023] Preferably, a T-shaped mounting plate 6 is installed at the bottom of the motor mount for connecting to the piston rod 7.

[0024] Let's combine the following... Figure 1 Here is a brief introduction to the working principle of the simulated rainfall device provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0025] The working process of the rainfall device is as follows: The output shaft of the stepper motor 1 is connected to the lead screw 3, which is arranged vertically and threadedly connected to the slide 4 located in the middle of the slide device 2. When the stepper motor 1 rotates, the lead screw 3 rotates, thereby driving the slide 4 to slide precisely in the vertical direction on the guide rail.

[0026] During the lifting and lowering motion of the slide 4, the cylinder fixed on it moves up and down synchronously.

[0027] The entire water intake process is as follows: 1. When the cylinder is stationary, because the opening pressure of the one-way valve 2 12 connecting the two ends of the dual-shaft cylinder 5 is relatively large, under the action of gravity, the water in the water tank 9 cannot open the one-way valve 2 12, and the water cannot enter the water inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle 15. 2. When the cylinder moves upward, the piston inside the cylinder moves downward relative to the cylinder, and a vacuum is formed in the upper chamber of the cylinder. Under the action of atmospheric pressure, water enters the upper chamber of the cylinder from the water tank 9 through a one-way valve 11; the piston pushes out the water inside the lower chamber of the cylinder. The water pressure is relatively large, so another one-way valve 11 is closed in one direction. The pushed water opens the one-way valve 12 and enters the water inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle 15 through the water pipe. 3. When the cylinder moves downward, the piston inside the cylinder moves upward relative to the cylinder, and a vacuum is formed in the lower chamber of the cylinder. Under the action of atmospheric pressure, water enters the lower chamber of the cylinder from the water tank 9 through another one-way valve 11; the piston pushes out the water inside the upper chamber of the cylinder. The water pressure is relatively large, so the first one-way valve 11 closes in one direction, and the pushed water opens the second one-way valve 12 and enters the water inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle 15 through the water pipe. As the 5th cylinder of the dual-axis cylinder reciprocates, a stable and controllable liquid flow rate is formed.

[0028] By controlling the speed, direction and step distance of the stepper motor 1 through the controller 19, the stroke and rhythm of the cylinder and piston can be precisely adjusted, thereby controlling the volume of liquid discharged with each compression (that is, controlling the required rainfall intensity mm / h).

[0029] During the process of the liquid turning into "raindrops" through the double-hole needle 15, the gas in the gas source tank 18 is regulated by the pressure reducing valve, and then the frequency of the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 17 is controlled by the controller 19 to uniformly compress the gas and input it into the air inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle 15, so as to achieve the liquid subdivision into droplets of different sizes with adjustable diameter (i.e., forming raindrops of the required diameter).

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the needle provided in an embodiment of the present invention. See also: Figure 2 The coaxial dual-hole needle 15 includes: The water spray pipe has an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom, used to fill the cylinder with liquid and output it out. The jet pipe is sleeved outside the water spray pipe, and the water spray pipe passes through the jet pipe. The water spray pipe and the jet pipe are coaxial. The upper end of the jet pipe is an air inlet, which is used to input and output gas from the gas source tank 18 during the process of outputting liquid at the outlet of the water spray pipe, so as to subdivide the liquid into droplets.

[0031] The droplet diameter formed by the coaxial dual-hole needle 15 corresponds to the diameter of the droplets (i.e., raindrops) in the experimental raindrop spectrum. Specifically, different needles form droplet diameters of different sizes, and each needle can continuously form droplets of different sizes within a certain range.

[0032] For example, three sets of needles are installed on this rain-generating device. Needle 1 forms droplets with a diameter of 0.2-0.5 mm, needle 2 forms droplets with a diameter of 0.4-1.0 mm, and needle 3 forms droplets with a diameter of 0.8-1.5 mm. For each set of needles, the precise droplet diameter is obtained through flow control and compressed air pulse frequency. For example, needle 1 can form droplets of 0.2 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.35 mm by changing the flow rate and compressed air frequency. The specific grouping of multiple needle sets can be done according to the table below: Types of needles Needle inner diameter (mm) Minimum diameter of raindrop (mm) Maximum raindrop diameter (mm) 1 0.16 0.5 2.0 2 0.2 1.0 2.5 3 0.41 1.5 2.9 4 0.84 2.0 3.6 5 3.00 2.5 5.1 For example, in embodiments of the present invention, multiple sets of the stepper motor 1, lead screw slide 2, dual-axis cylinder 5, coaxial double-hole needle 15, solenoid valve 17, controller 19, etc. can be configured to meet different rainfall area requirements.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple dual-axis cylinders 7 as described above are installed below the motor base of the slide table 2. Each dual-axis cylinder 7 has a water storage tank 71 installed at its lower end, and a needle tube 11 is installed at the outlet of each water storage tank 71. The air pump 13 is connected to the inlet port 10 of each water tank 71 via multiple branches on the air pumping pipe 21. The upper ends of the main pipes of the multiple T-pipes 8 are connected to the water inlet pipe 19 via flexible hoses, and the lower ends of the main pipes of the multiple T-pipes 8 are connected to the water outlet pipe 20 via flexible hoses. Multiple sets of needles 11 are distributed according to the required rainfall intensity. The diameters of the multiple sets of needles 11 can be equal or unequal. Different needles 11 correspond to raindrops of different sizes. In this way, the needles 11 with different diameter combinations can achieve precise control of simulated rainfall.

[0034] Let's combine the following... Figure 3 Here is a brief introduction to the simulated rainfall device with multiple biaxial cylinders 5 provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0035] The T-shaped mounting plate 6 has multiple mounting holes that connect to the piston rods of multiple dual-axis cylinders 5. One dual-axis cylinder 5 is mounted on the slide table 4. The cylinder barrels of all dual-axis cylinders 5 are fixed together on a mounting plate. Neither the mounting plate nor the T-shaped mounting plate 6 contacts the lead screw. The mounting plate includes mounting plate one 51 and mounting plate two 61. Mounting plate one 51 and mounting plate two 61 also have multiple alignment holes for fixing the dual-axis cylinders 5. Mounting plate one 51 and mounting plate two 61 are used to fix the ten sets of dual-axis cylinders 5 in front of the lead screw slide table 2. Mounting plate one 51 and mounting plate two 61 are back-to-back and connected in a T-shape structure, respectively used to fix the ten sets of cylinder dual-axis 5 in front of the lead screw slide table 2. Mounting plate one 51 has 4 alignment holes corresponding to the cylinder body of the cylinder dual-axis 5, and mounting plate two 61 has 6 alignment holes corresponding to the cylinder body of the cylinder dual-axis 5.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the rainfall core control device in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the left side view of the rainfall core control device in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 and 6 This is a three-dimensional perspective view of the mounting plate 6 in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the limiting structure 41 of the slide 4 in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the slide table 4 in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The coaxial double-hole needle 15 is not only the water inlet of the lower channel of the three-way pipe for drainage, but also the air outlet of the air source tank 18. Preferably, as an improvement to the above solution, multiple air source tanks 18 are connected to the water inlet of each coaxial double-hole needle 15 through multiple air pumping pipes. The discharged liquid is subdivided into droplets of different sizes with adjustable diameter by changing the switching frequency of multiple sets of solenoid valves 17.

[0038] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for artificially simulating rainfall, characterized in that, Includes a dual-axis cylinder (5), the cylinder barrels at both ends of the dual-axis cylinder (5) are respectively connected to the branch end of a three-way pipe, one end of the main pipe of the three-way pipe is connected to the water tank (9) through a water inlet pipe with a one-way pressure valve (11) in sequence, and the other end of the main pipe of the three-way pipe is connected to the water inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle (15) through a water outlet pipe with a one-way valve (14). The one-way pressure valve (11) only allows fluid to flow from the water tank (9) to the three-way pipe, and the one-way valve (14) only allows fluid to flow from the three-way pipe to the water inlet of the coaxial double-hole needle (15). The air inlet (16) of the coaxial double-hole needle (15) is connected to the air source tank (18) through an air pumping pipe with a solenoid valve (17).

2. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coaxial double-hole needle (15) is installed at the lower end of the double-axis cylinder (5). The double-axis cylinder (5) is installed on the slide (4). An anti-rotation limiting structure is provided between the slide (4) and the lead screw slide (2). The limiting structure is slidably set on the lead screw slide (2). The lead screw slide (2) has a lead screw (3) on the side facing the double-axis cylinder (5). The lead screw slide (2) has a lead screw transmission structure. The lead screw transmission structure includes a motor base fixed to the upper side of the lead screw slide (2). A stepper motor (1) is installed on the motor base. The output shaft of the stepper motor (1) is coaxially connected to the upper end of the lead screw. The lead screw is rotatably connected to the slide (4) by a thread. The double-axis cylinder (5) adopts a single-rod piston structure. The piston rod (7) of the double-axis cylinder (5) is connected to the bottom of the motor base at the end away from the double-axis cylinder (5). The controller (19) is electrically connected to the stepper motor (1).

3. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple dual-axis cylinders (5) are installed below the motor base of the lead screw slide (2). Each dual-axis cylinder (5) has a coaxial double-hole needle (15) installed at its lower end. Each coaxial double-hole needle (15) has a needle tube installed at its outlet. The air source tank (18) is connected to the air inlet (16) of each coaxial double-hole needle (15) through multiple branches of the air pumping pipe. The water tank (9) also includes multiple water distributors. The outlet of one water distributor is connected to a water inlet pipe, and the inlet of the water distributor is connected to the water tank (9).

4. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, The solenoid valve (17) is signal-connected to the controller (19).

5. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, The needles at the outlets of the multiple sets of coaxial dual-hole needles (15) are configured with different diameters according to the required rainfall intensity distribution.

6. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the motor base is equipped with a T-shaped mounting plate (6), and the T-shaped mounting plate (6) is provided with multiple alignment holes for connecting to the end of the piston rod (7) of multiple dual-shaft cylinders (5) away from the dual-shaft cylinder (5); At least one of the dual-axis cylinders (5) is mounted on the slide (4), and the cylinder barrels of all the dual-axis cylinders (5) are fixed together on a mounting plate. Neither the mounting plate nor the T-shaped mounting plate (6) is in contact with the lead screw (3).

7. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple air source tanks (18) are connected to the air inlet (16) of each coaxial double-hole needle (15) through multiple air inlet pipes.

8. The device for artificially simulating rainfall according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coaxial dual-hole needle (15) includes: The water spray pipe has an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom, used to fill the cylinder with liquid and output it out. The jet pipe is sleeved outside the water spray pipe, and the water spray pipe passes through the jet pipe. The water spray pipe and the jet pipe are coaxial. The upper end of the jet pipe is an air inlet, which is used to input the gas in the gas source tank (18) and output it during the process of outputting liquid at the outlet of the water spray pipe, so as to subdivide the liquid into droplets.

9. The method for simulating artificial rainfall using the apparatus for artificial rainfall as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The controller (19) of the stepper motor (1) adjusts the speed and step angle of the stepper motor (1) and controls the piston rod (7) of multiple dual-axis cylinders (5) to move synchronously relative to the cylinder barrel, so as to realize the change of rainfall volume; When the pistons of multiple sets of dual-shaft cylinders (5) move, the cylinder barrels at both ends alternately pump water and drain water; Water is continuously drawn from the water tank through one-way valve (11); And continuously drain water through one-way valve two (12) to coaxial double-hole needle (15); The discharged liquid is subdivided into droplets of different sizes with adjustable diameter by changing the switching frequency of multiple sets of solenoid valves (17).

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