Vortex flowmeter assembly tool, installation method and vortex flowmeter

Abstract

This application provides an assembly fixture, installation method, and vortex flowmeter. The assembly fixture is used to assemble the generator into the housing of the vortex flowmeter. The assembly fixture includes: a mounting base having a first end and a second end opposite each other along a first direction; a portion of the end face of the first end is recessed to form a mounting groove; and a second positioning hole extending along a second direction is provided on the outer wall of the mounting base; a fixing component disposed at the first end, the generator being adapted to be installed in the mounting groove through the fixing component, and both ends of the generator extending through the mounting groove along the second direction; and a positioning member configured such that when the mounting base passes through the mounting hole of the heated housing, and the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole are aligned, the positioning member passes through the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole in sequence. This assembly fixture helps to improve the assembly accuracy between the generator and the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of testing equipment technology, and in particular to a vortex flow meter assembly fixture, installation method, and vortex flow meter. Background Technology

[0002] Vortex flow meters are widely used in industrial fields for measuring fluid flow, especially in pipeline fluid monitoring in industries such as petroleum, chemical, power, and metallurgy. Their core principle is to calculate the fluid velocity and flow rate by detecting the vortex frequency generated when fluid flows through a vortex generator. The vortex generator is a key component of the flow meter, and its installation accuracy directly affects the accuracy and stability of the measurement.

[0003] In actual assembly, the vortex generator usually needs to be embedded inside the housing and form a tight fit with it. Some vortex flow meters use welding to fix the vortex generator to the housing; however, the high temperature during welding can easily cause deformation of the vortex generator, affecting the performance of the vortex flow meter. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an assembly fixture, installation method, and vortex flow meter, which helps to improve the assembly accuracy between the generator and the housing.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an assembly fixture for assembling a generator into the housing of a vortex flowmeter. The housing has a mounting hole extending along a first direction, and the outer wall of the housing has a first positioning hole extending along a second direction, the first positioning hole communicating with the mounting hole. The assembly fixture includes: a mounting base having a first end and a second end opposite to each other along the first direction, a mounting groove formed by a recess on a portion of the end face of the first end, and a second positioning hole extending along the second direction on the outer wall of the mounting base; a fixing component disposed at the first end, the generator being adapted to be mounted in the mounting groove by the fixing component, and both ends of the generator extending through the mounting groove along the second direction; and a positioning member configured such that when the mounting base passes through the mounting hole of the heated housing, and the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole are aligned, the positioning member sequentially passes through the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole.

[0006] The assembly fixture of the present invention first heats the shell, causing the mounting hole to expand. At this time, the diameter of the mounting hole is larger than the length of the generator. The mounting seat containing the generator is inserted into the mounting hole. The operator adjusts the axial and circumferential positions of the mounting seat so that the first positioning hole is aligned with the second positioning hole. The positioning element is then inserted to precisely position and lock the mounting seat and the shell. After the shell cools down, the assembly fixture is removed. The generator and the inner wall of the mounting hole form an interference fit, achieving a weld-free, high-precision fastening connection.

[0007] By replacing welding with a heat-fitting method, the deformation of the generator body caused by high-temperature welding is eliminated, ensuring the structural stability of the generator body and improving the measurement accuracy and long-term stability of the vortex flowmeter. During assembly, operators only need to use tooling to complete positioning and insertion, avoiding direct contact with the high-temperature housing, which improves safety during assembly, shortens assembly time, and increases production efficiency.

[0008] The assembly fixture consists only of a mounting base, a fixing component, and a positioning component. It has a simple structure, few parts, and low manufacturing cost.

[0009] In some embodiments, at a first temperature, the length D1 of the generator along the second direction and the inner diameter D2 of the mounting hole after heating satisfy the following: D2 > D1; and / or, at a first temperature, the length D1 of the generator along the second direction and the inner diameter D20 of the mounting hole at the first temperature satisfy the following: 0.04 mm ≤ D1 - D20 ≤ 0.05 mm.

[0010] In some embodiments, at a first temperature, the outer diameter D3 of the mounting base and the inner diameter D20 of the mounting hole at the first temperature satisfy: 1mm ≤ D20 - D3 ≤ 3mm.

[0011] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the generator gradually decreases along the direction from the first end to the second end, and the mounting groove includes a mounting section and a limiting section that gradually move away from the first end along the first direction. The width of the mounting section exceeds the width of the generator. The width of the limiting section gradually decreases along the direction from the first end to the second end, and the width of the limiting section away from the first end is less than the width of the generator. The generator is detachably disposed on the limiting section.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mounting groove further includes a receiving section, one end of which, along the first direction, is opposite to the first end and communicates with the second positioning hole.

[0013] In some embodiments, the fixing component includes a fixing plate and an abutment. The fixing plate is disposed at the first end and has a fixing hole extending through the first direction. The abutment passes through the fixing hole and is threadedly connected to the fixing hole. One end of the abutment facing the second end is used to abut against the generator.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the fixing plate is provided with an assembly hole extending through the first direction, and a mating hole corresponding to the assembly hole is provided on the end face of the first end. Fasteners pass through the assembly hole and the mating hole in sequence, so that the fixing plate and the mounting base are detachably connected.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the axis of the mounting base is located in the central axial plane of the mounting groove, the axis of the abutment is collinear with the axis of the mounting base, and a plurality of fasteners are provided, the plurality of fasteners being arranged at equal intervals around the abutment.

[0016] In some embodiments, one of the assembly fixture and the mounting hole is provided with a guide structure, and the other is provided with a mating structure. The guide structure and the mating structure are guided and mated so that when the mounting seat is disposed in the mounting hole, the axis of the second positioning hole extends along the second direction.

[0017] In some embodiments, a handle is fixedly mounted on the second end, and when the mounting base is located inside the mounting hole, the handle is at least partially located outside the mounting hole.

[0018] Secondly, this application provides a vortex flow meter, comprising: a housing defining a mounting hole extending through a first direction; and a generator adapted to be installed in the mounting hole after the housing is heated, and to be interference-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting hole after the housing is cooled.

[0019] Thirdly, this application provides an installation method applied to the assembly fixture described above, the method comprising:

[0020] Heat the casing to the preset temperature;

[0021] The assembly tool pre-installed with the generator is inserted into the housing through the mounting hole, and the positioning component is inserted after the first positioning hole is aligned with the second positioning hole.

[0022] Cool the casing;

[0023] Disassemble the assembly fixtures.

[0024] The installation method of this invention uses a heat-fitting method instead of welding, eliminating the deformation of the generator body caused by high-temperature welding, ensuring the structural stability of the generator body, and improving the measurement accuracy and long-term stability of the vortex flowmeter. During assembly, the operator only needs to operate the tooling to complete the positioning and insertion, avoiding direct contact with the high-temperature housing, which improves the safety of the assembly process, shortens the assembly time, and increases production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly tooling installed inside the housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the generator being mounted on an assembly fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting base according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a step diagram of the installation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] 100. Assembly tooling;

[0032] 110, Mounting base; 110a, First end; 110b, Second end; 111, Mounting groove; 1111, Mounting section; 1112, Limiting section; 1113, Receiving section; 112, Second positioning hole;

[0033] 120. Fixing component; 121. Fixing plate; 122. Abutment part; 123. Fastener;

[0034] 130. Positioning components;

[0035] 140. Handle;

[0036] 200. Shell;

[0037] 210. Mounting holes;

[0038] 220. First positioning hole;

[0039] 230. Originator.

[0040] The accompanying drawings have illustrated specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application.

[0042] Vortex flow meters are widely used in industrial fields for measuring fluid flow, especially in pipeline fluid monitoring in industries such as petroleum, chemical, power, and metallurgy. Their core principle is to calculate the fluid velocity and flow rate by detecting the vortex frequency generated when fluid flows through a vortex generator. The vortex generator is a key component of the flow meter, and its installation accuracy directly affects the accuracy and stability of the measurement.

[0043] In actual assembly, the vortex generator usually needs to be embedded inside the housing and form a tight fit with it. Some vortex flow meters use welding to fix the vortex generator to the housing; however, the high temperature during welding can easily cause deformation of the vortex generator, affecting the performance of the vortex flow meter.

[0044] In view of this, the embodiments of this application provide a vortex flow meter assembly fixture, installation method and vortex flow meter, which is beneficial to improving the assembly accuracy between the generator and the housing.

[0045] For ease of description and understanding, the first direction can be the direction of gas flow (the length direction of the casing) when the vortex flowmeter is measuring, such as... Figure 1 The X direction shown can be the second direction, which can be the height direction of the shell, such as... Figure 1 Y direction shown.

[0046] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] refer to Figures 1 to 3 In one aspect, embodiments of this application provide a vortex flowmeter assembly fixture 100, which is used to assemble the generator 230 into the housing 200 of the vortex flowmeter.

[0048] The housing 200 has a mounting hole 210 that extends through in a first direction. During the assembly stage, the mounting hole 210 provides a mounting channel for the assembly tooling 100. During inspection, the mounting hole 210 constitutes a fluid flow channel.

[0049] The outer wall of the housing 200 is provided with a first positioning hole 220 extending in the second direction. The first positioning hole 220 communicates with the mounting hole 210. That is, by inserting a positioning component (such as the positioning element 130 mentioned later) into the first positioning hole 220, the assembly tool 100 inserted into the mounting hole 210 can be accurately positioned, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the generator 230.

[0050] The assembly fixture 100 includes a mounting base 110, a fixing component 120, and a positioning component 130.

[0051] Mounting base 110 has a first end 110a and a second end 110b opposite to each other along a first direction. A portion of the end face of the first end 110a is recessed to form a mounting groove 111. Mounting base 110 is used to support and position vortex generator 230. The size of the mounting groove 111 can match the shape of the generator 230 to ensure that the generator 230 maintains a predetermined posture during assembly, avoiding skewness or wobbling, and providing a basis for subsequent precise alignment.

[0052] The outer wall of the mounting base 110 is provided with a second positioning hole 112 extending along a second direction. The second positioning hole 112 cooperates with the first positioning hole 220 on the housing 200, serving as a key reference for calibrating the relative position of the housing 200 and the mounting base 110 during assembly. The second positioning hole 112 is set along the second direction (usually perpendicular to the fluid flow direction, i.e., the first direction) to ensure the lateral positioning accuracy of the generator 230 within the housing 200.

[0053] The fixing component 120 is provided at the first end 110a. The generator 230 is adapted to be installed in the mounting groove 111 by means of the fixing component 120. For example, the fixing component 120 can clamp and fix the generator 230 by providing an elastic clamping structure, or a part of the structure of the fixing component 120 can abut against the generator 230, so that the generator 230 is fixed in the mounting groove 111.

[0054] The generator 230 extends through both ends of the mounting groove 111 along the second direction. In other words, in the reference plane perpendicular to the second direction, the two ends of the projection of the generator 230 extend through the projection outline of the mounting base 110. This exposes both ends of the generator 230, making it easy to insert into the mounting hole 210 of the housing 200 during the hot fitting process. After cooling, it forms a uniform and tight fit with the inner wall of the housing 200, which is beneficial to both fixing reliability and assembly passability.

[0055] The positioning element 130 is configured such that when the mounting base 110 passes through the mounting hole 210 of the heated housing 200, and the first positioning hole 220 is aligned with the second positioning hole 112, the positioning element 130 passes through the first positioning hole 220 and the second positioning hole 112 in sequence. Thus, after the first positioning hole 220 and the second positioning hole 112 are aligned, the positioning element 130 is inserted, providing a mechanical locking effect and forcing the housing 200 and the mounting base 110 to maintain precise alignment in the second direction. This structure helps prevent rotation or displacement caused by manual operation, ensuring that the mounting angle and position height of the generator 230 within the housing 200 are consistent.

[0056] For the assembly tooling 100 of the present invention, first heat the housing 200, the mounting holes 210 expand, and at this time, the inner diameter of the mounting holes 210 is larger than the length of the generating body 230. The mounting seat 110 equipped with the generating body 230 is inserted into the mounting holes 210. The operator adjusts the axial and circumferential positions of the mounting seat 110 to align the first positioning hole 220 with the second positioning hole 112, insert the positioning member 130, and after precise positioning between the mounting seat 110 and the housing 200, lock it. After the housing 200 cools down, remove the assembly tooling 100. An interference fit is formed between the generating body 230 and the inner wall of the mounting hole 210, achieving a non-welded and high-precision fastening connection.

[0057] Adopting the hot-fitting method to replace welding eliminates the deformation of the generating body 230 caused by high-temperature welding, ensures the structural shape stability of the generating body 230, and is beneficial to improving the measurement accuracy and long-term stability of the vortex flowmeter. During the assembly process, the operator only needs to operate the tooling to complete positioning and insertion, avoiding direct contact with the high-temperature housing 200, which is beneficial to improving the safety during the assembly process, shortening the assembly time, and improving production efficiency.

[0058] The assembly tooling 100 is only composed of the mounting seat 110, the fixing component 120, and the positioning member 130, with a simple structure, few components, and low manufacturing cost.

[0059] In some embodiments, the length D1 of the generating body 230 in the second direction at the first temperature and the inner diameter D2 of the mounting hole 210 after heating satisfy: D2 > D1, where the first temperature can be room temperature or the temperature in the unheated state before assembly.

[0060] The inner diameter D2 of the mounting hole 210 after heating can be:

[0061] 。

[0062] Among them, D20 is the inner diameter of the mounting hole 210 at the first temperature. After the housing 200 is heated, the expansion amount ΔD of the mounting hole 210 can be calculated by the following formula:

[0063] 。

[0064] In the formula, α is the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the material of the housing 200, and ΔT is the temperature change amount.

[0065] That is to say, due to the expansion of the housing 200 after heating, the inner diameter of the mounting hole 210 increases to D2 > D20, making D1 < D2, thus allowing the generating body 230 to be inserted smoothly.

[0066] At the first temperature, the length D1 of the generator 230 along the second direction and the inner diameter D20 of the mounting hole 210 at the first temperature satisfy: 0.04mm≤D1-D20≤0.05mm.

[0067] When the housing 200 cools back to the first temperature, the mounting hole 210 shrinks to D20. At this time, D1>D20, forming an interference of 0.04mm–0.05mm, generating sufficient contact pressure to ensure a firm and tight fit between the generator 230 and the housing 200.

[0068] For example, D1-D20 can be 0.04mm, 0.045mm or 0.05mm. Of course, D1-D20 can also be other values, and this application does not limit them.

[0069] On the one hand, this avoids an excessively small interference fit between the generator 230 and the mounting hole 210 after cooling, which would affect the installation stability of the generator 230 and lead to a decrease in the accuracy of the vortex flowmeter after a period of use. On the other hand, it avoids an excessively large interference fit between the generator 230 and the mounting hole 210 after cooling, which would cause excessive pressure on the generator 230 from the inner wall of the mounting hole 210 after the housing 200 cools down, resulting in deformation of the generator 230 and affecting the accuracy of the vortex flowmeter.

[0070] In some embodiments, at the first temperature, the outer diameter D3 of the mounting base 110 and the inner diameter D20 of the mounting hole 210 at the first temperature satisfy: 1mm≤D20-D3≤3mm. For example, D20-D3 can be 1mm, 2mm or 3mm. Of course, D20-D3 can also be other sizes, which are not limited in this application.

[0071] In this embodiment, after the housing 200 is heated, the inner diameter of the mounting hole 210 expands from D20 to D2 (D2>D20). At this time, the actual gap between D2 and D3 further increases, ensuring that the mounting base 110 carrying the generator 230 can pass through the first direction without resistance, avoiding scratching or jamming.

[0072] By limiting the values ​​of D20-D3 between the mounting hole 210 and the mounting base 110 at the first temperature, on the one hand, it avoids an excessively large gap between the mounting hole 210 and the mounting base 110 after the mounting hole 210 expands due to heating, which would allow the mounting base 110 to move relative to the mounting hole 210 during the installation of the generator 230, affecting the installation consistency of the generator 230. On the other hand, it avoids an excessively small gap between the mounting hole 210 and the mounting base 110 after the housing 200 cools down, which would make it difficult to remove the mounting base 110 after the generator 230 is assembled, affecting production efficiency.

[0073] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the generator 230 gradually decreases along the direction from the first end 110a to the second end 110b. That is, the generator 230 forms a conical structure or a stepped contraction structure in the first direction, so that the inner wall of the housing 200 forms a more uniform contact pressure distribution with the generator 230 after cooling, reducing stress concentration and extending the service life of the vortex flowmeter.

[0074] The mounting groove 111 includes a mounting section 1111 and a limiting section 1112 that gradually move away from the first end 110a along a first direction. The width of the mounting section 1111 exceeds the width of the generator 230.

[0075] Along the direction from the first end 110a to the second end 110b, the width of the limiting segment 1112 gradually decreases, with the width of the limiting segment 1112 furthest from the first end being smaller than the width of the generator 230. Thus, the inner contour of the limiting segment 1112 matches the outer shape of the generator 230, exhibiting a synchronous contraction trend. This precisely constrains the radial and circumferential degrees of freedom of the generator 230, preventing it from deflecting, wobbling, or misaligning during handling, insertion, or pressing. The smaller width of the limiting segment 1112 furthest from the first end 110a compared to the width of the generator 230 ensures that the generator 230 is fixed by the limiting segment 1112, preventing it from falling off and improving the installation accuracy of the generator 230.

[0076] The generator 230 is detachably disposed in the limiting section 1112. Through the aforementioned fixing component 120, the generator 230 can be detachably disposed in the limiting section 1112, which not only ensures the positioning stability of the generator 230 during installation to the mounting base 110, but also allows the assembly fixture 100 to be easily removed after heat installation, thus realizing the reuse of the assembly fixture 100.

[0077] Understandably, the taper formed by the two side walls of the limiting segment 1112 can be slightly larger than the taper of the generator 230. For example, the taper of the limiting segment 1112 can exceed the taper of the generator 230 by 0.5°-1°. On the one hand, this facilitates the limiting segment 1112 to constrict and limit the generator 230. On the other hand, it also avoids relative wobbling after the generator 230 is assembled onto the mounting base 110, which helps to improve the installation accuracy of the generator 230.

[0078] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mounting groove 111 further includes a receiving section 1113, one end of which, along a first direction, is opposite to the first end 110a and communicates with the second positioning hole 112. In other words, the second positioning hole 112 can form the end of the mounting groove 111 along the first direction toward the second end 110b. Thus, the second positioning hole 112 is formed in the mounting groove 111. When the second positioning hole 112 is aligned with the first positioning hole 220, and the mounting base 110 and the housing 200 are locked by the positioning member 130, the second positioning hole 112 has a larger matching area, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty of the positioning member 130. After the positioning member 130 is inserted, the mounting base 110 is moved so that the side wall of the positioning member 130 abuts against the second positioning hole 112, thereby achieving precise positioning of the generator 230.

[0079] Understandably, the main function of the second positioning hole 112 is to provide positioning between the mounting base 110 and the housing 200. Therefore, in other embodiments, the second positioning hole 112 may also be offset from the mounting groove 111.

[0080] In some embodiments, to improve the insertion accuracy between the positioning member 130 and the second positioning hole 112, an insertion portion may be provided at one end of the positioning member 130 facing the second positioning hole 112. The cross-sectional area of ​​the insertion portion gradually increases in the direction away from the second positioning hole 112 along the second direction. Alternatively, a guide portion may be provided at one end of the second positioning hole 112 facing the positioning member 130. The guide portion may have a trumpet-shaped structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom. Thus, when the positioning member 130 is inserted into the second positioning hole 112 from the first positioning hole 220, even if there is a certain offset between the positioning member 130 and the second positioning hole 112, during the insertion process, the positioning member 130 and the second positioning hole 112 are gradually aligned and installed under the guidance of the insertion portion or the guide portion. This helps to reduce assembly difficulty and improve production efficiency.

[0081] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the fixing assembly 120 includes a fixing plate 121 and an abutment member 122. The fixing plate 121 is located at the first end 110a and has a fixing hole extending through the first direction. The fixing plate 121 serves as the base of the fixing assembly 120 and is fixed to the end face of the first end 110a of the mounting base 110. The fixing hole on the fixing plate 121 extends through the first direction (i.e., the fluid flow direction / assembly insertion direction), providing an installation channel and guiding reference for the abutment member 122, ensuring that the abutment action is accurately applied axially.

[0082] The abutment 122 passes through the fixing hole and is threadedly connected to the fixing hole. The threaded connection structure allows the abutment 122 to move axially along the fixing hole and has a self-locking capability. In this embodiment, the extension length of the abutment 122 can be adjusted by rotation to press or release the generator 230, which is simple to operate and has reliable locking.

[0083] The end of the abutment 122 facing the second end 110b is used to abut against the generator 230. The abutment end acts directly on the end face of the generator 230, and the generator 230 is stably pressed against the mounting groove 111 by the axial thrust, which prevents the generator 230 from axially moving or falling off during handling, insertion or heat installation, and helps to improve the reliability of the assembly process.

[0084] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the fixing plate 121 is provided with a mounting hole that extends through a first direction. The mounting hole provides a through channel for the fastener 123. The axis of the mounting hole is set along the first direction to ensure that the fastening force is applied axially, avoid generating a deflection torque, and ensure the stability and flatness of the connection between the fixing plate 121 and the mounting base 110.

[0085] The end face of the first end 110a is provided with a mating hole corresponding to the assembly hole. The mating hole is used to receive the end of the fastener 123 and form a threaded pair or a limiting structure.

[0086] Fasteners 123 (such as screws or bolts) pass through the mounting holes and mating holes in sequence to make the fixing plate 121 detachably connected to the mounting base 110.

[0087] Thus, after a vortex flow meter is installed, the operator can remove the fixing plate 121 by removing the fastener 123, thereby unlocking the mounting base 110 from the generator 230, and thus unlocking the mounting base 110 from the housing 200. The operation is simple and helps to improve assembly efficiency.

[0088] In addition, the vortex generator 230 with different shapes or lengths can be adapted by disassembling the fixing plate 121, without the need for custom-made complete tooling 100, which helps to reduce the inventory costs of molds and fixtures for enterprises.

[0089] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the axis of the mounting base 110 is located in the central axial plane of the mounting groove 111, such that the mounting groove 111 is arranged inside the mounting base 110 along its geometric symmetry center, so that the central plane of the vortex generator 230 coincides with the axis of the mounting base 110 after it is installed, thereby maintaining the alignment of the fluid channel when the housing 200 is subsequently inserted, and avoiding asymmetric vortex shedding or flow field disturbance caused by eccentricity.

[0090] The axis of the abutment 122 is collinear with the axis of the mounting base 110. Thus, the abutment 122 applies a clamping force along the main axis of the mounting base 110, ensuring that the direction of the thrust acting on the end face of the generator 230 is completely consistent with the assembly direction (first direction), preventing the generation of bending moment or lateral component force, avoiding tilting, jamming or local stress concentration of the generator 230 in the mounting groove 111, and improving the assembly reliability of the generator 230.

[0091] Multiple fasteners 123 are provided, and the multiple fasteners 123 are arranged at equal intervals around the abutment 122. The multiple fasteners 123 are evenly distributed in a ring around the abutment 122 (such as dividing it into three or four equal parts), forming a symmetrical clamping force system, so that the fixing plate 121 is subjected to uniform force, avoiding warping or skewing caused by unilateral locking; it improves the stability of the force applied by the fixing plate 121 to the generator 230 through the abutment 122, thereby improving the assembly reliability of the generator 230.

[0092] In some embodiments, one of the assembly fixture 100 and the mounting hole 210 is provided with a guide structure, and the other is provided with a mating structure. The guide structure may be provided in the assembly fixture 100, and the mating structure may be provided in the mounting hole 210. Alternatively, the guide structure may also be provided in the mounting hole 210, and the mating structure may be provided on the assembly fixture 100.

[0093] For example, the guiding structure can be a guide block protruding from the outer wall of the mounting base 110, and the mating structure can be a guide groove extending along the first direction inside the mounting hole 210, with the guide block slidably disposed within the guide groove. In a specific embodiment, the portion of the generator 230 protruding from the mounting base 110 can constitute a guide block, which slides along the guide groove during installation, thereby improving the circumferential installation accuracy of the generator 230.

[0094] The guide structure and the mating structure are guided and fitted so that when the mounting base 110 is disposed in the mounting hole 210, the axis of the second positioning hole 112 extends along the second direction. That is, the guide structure and the mating structure make sliding or fitting contact when the mounting base 110 passes through the mounting hole 210 of the heated housing 200, forcing the mounting base 110 to enter in a predetermined orientation and preventing the mounting base 110 from rotating or shifting circumferentially within the hole.

[0095] At this time, after the mounting base 110 is fully inserted, the second positioning hole 112 on its outer wall is automatically positioned at a preset circumferential angle, so that the axis of the second positioning hole 112 extends precisely along the second direction (usually perpendicular to the fluid flow direction), thereby naturally aligning with the first positioning hole 220 on the housing 200, providing a geometric prerequisite for the subsequent insertion of the positioning member 130.

[0096] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, a handle 140 is fixedly installed on the second end 110b. For example, the handle 140 can be fixed to the second end 110b by welding, or the handle 140 can be connected to the second end 110b by thread. The handle 140 constitutes the human-machine interface or mechanical gripping interface of the assembly fixture 100, providing the operator with a force application point, which facilitates pushing, rotating, pulling and other operations on the entire assembly fixture 100.

[0097] When the mounting base 110 is located inside the mounting hole 210, the handle 140 is at least partially located outside the mounting hole 210. For example, when the mounting base 110 is located inside the mounting hole 210, the handle 140 may be partially located outside the mounting hole 210; alternatively, when the mounting base 110 is located inside the mounting hole 210, the handle 140 may be entirely located outside the mounting hole 210. This ensures that even after the mounting base 110 is fully inserted into the mounting hole 210 of the housing 200, the handle 140 remains partially exposed outside the housing 200, allowing the operator to always access and manipulate the handle 140. This prevents the assembly fixture 100 from being completely submerged in the high-temperature housing 200, making it impossible to remove or adjust, and improves the safety of assembly operations.

[0098] Secondly, this application provides a vortex flow meter, which includes a housing 200 and a generator 230. The housing 200 defines a mounting hole 210 extending through a first direction. The generator 230 is adapted to be installed in the mounting hole 210 after the housing 200 is heated, and to be interference-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting hole 210 after the housing 200 is cooled.

[0099] Specifically, the generator 230 can be heat-fitted into the housing 200 using the assembly fixture 100 described above and the following installation method.

[0100] The vortex flowmeter of the present invention uses a thermal mounting method to replace welding for fixing the generator 230, which eliminates the deformation of the generator 230 caused by high-temperature welding, ensures the structural shape stability of the generator 230, and helps to improve the measurement accuracy and long-term stability of the vortex flowmeter.

[0101] refer to Figure 4 Thirdly, this application provides an installation method, which includes:

[0102] S1: Heat the housing 200 to the preset temperature;

[0103] S2: The assembly fixture 100 with the generator 230 pre-installed is inserted into the housing 200 through the mounting hole 210. After the first positioning hole 220 is aligned with the second positioning hole 112, the positioning member 130 is inserted.

[0104] S3: Immerse the casing 200 in coolant to cool it;

[0105] S4: Remove assembly tooling 100.

[0106] Understandably, the generator 230 is first pre-installed into the assembly fixture 100: the generator 230 is placed into the mounting groove 111 of the first end 110a of the mounting base 110 along the first direction, so that both ends of it extend through the mounting groove 111 along the second direction; the generator 230 is axially pressed and fixed in the limiting section 1112 by the fixing components 120 (including fixing plate 121, abutment 122, etc.) to ensure that the generator 230 does not loosen, deflect or fall off during subsequent handling and insertion.

[0107] The generator 230 is accurately positioned and reliably clamped in the assembly fixture 100, providing a stable assembly reference for the generator 230. It provides an integrated, gripperable unit for subsequent hot-fitting processes, which helps improve operational efficiency.

[0108] In step S1, the shell 200 is uniformly heated to a preset temperature (e.g., 150℃–300℃, depending on the coefficient of thermal expansion of the shell 200 material) using methods such as electric heating, induction heating, or an oven. After heating, the mounting hole 210 on the shell 200 expands due to thermal expansion, increasing its inner diameter from D20 at room temperature to D2, temporarily enlarging the inner diameter of the mounting hole 210 and creating geometric conditions for the smooth insertion of the generator 230. This avoids the use of high-temperature permanent connection methods such as welding, which could cause deformation or material degradation of the generator 230 due to local overheating, and lays a thermodynamic foundation for subsequent cooling and contraction to form a controllable interference fit.

[0109] In step S2, the handle 140 of the assembly fixture 100 is held by hand or by a robotic arm, and the mounting base 110 is slowly inserted into the mounting hole 210 of the heated housing 200 along the first direction. During the insertion process, the circumferential angle is automatically constrained by the guide structure and the mating structure, so that the second positioning hole 112 on the outer wall of the mounting base 110 is naturally aligned with the first positioning hole 220 on the outer wall of the housing 200. After alignment, the positioning element 130 (such as a pin or bolt) is passed through the first positioning hole 220 and the second positioning hole 112 in sequence to achieve mechanical locking between the two in the second direction.

[0110] Ensure that the installation orientation of the generator 230 within the housing 200 is precise and consistent to avoid asymmetrical shedding of the vortex due to rotational deviation; the insertion of the positioning element 130 prevents the mounting base 110 from undergoing micro-displacement due to thermal stress or vibration during the cooling process, thus ensuring the final fitting accuracy.

[0111] In step S3, after the positioning member 130 is locked, the entire housing 200 (including the inserted assembly fixture 100) is immersed in a coolant (such as water, oil, or a forced air cooling system) to cool it rapidly and uniformly to the first temperature. During this process, the inner diameter of the mounting hole 210 of the housing 200 shrinks from D2 to D20, applying a uniform circumferential clamping force to the generator 230 to form an interference fit of 0.04mm–0.05mm.

[0112] In this way, by utilizing the principle of thermal expansion and contraction of the mounting hole 210, a firm and tight fit between the generator 230 and the housing 200 can be achieved without welding or threaded connection; rapid and uniform cooling of the housing 200 can reduce residual thermal stress and prevent deformation of the housing 200 or micro-cracks in the generator 230.

[0113] In step S4, after the housing 200 has completely cooled to the first temperature, first pull out the positioning member 130 to release the mechanical lock between the mounting base 110 and the housing 200. Unscrew the fastener 123 to disengage the fixing plate 121 from the mounting base 110, and remove the fixing plate 121.

[0114] The operator then holds the handle 140 and smoothly pulls the assembly fixture 100 out of the mounting hole 210 along the first direction. Since the generator 230 has formed an interference fit with the inner wall of the housing 200, it remains inside the housing 200, while the mounting base 110, fixing component 120 and other tooling parts are completely recycled and can be reused.

[0115] It achieves non-destructive separation between the assembly fixture 100 and the product, avoiding damage to the surface of the body 230 caused by forced disassembly; it also allows the assembly fixture 100 to be reused multiple times, which helps to reduce the assembly cost of a single vortex flow meter.

[0116] The installation method of this invention uses a heat-fitting method instead of welding, eliminating the deformation of the generator 230 caused by high-temperature welding, ensuring the structural stability of the generator 230, and improving the measurement accuracy and long-term stability of the vortex flowmeter. During assembly, the operator only needs to operate the tooling to complete the positioning and insertion, avoiding direct contact with the high-temperature housing 200, which improves the safety of the assembly process, shortens the assembly time, and increases production efficiency.

[0117] Finally, it should be noted that other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein, and is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vortex flow meter assembly fixture (100), characterized in that, For assembling the generator (230) into the housing (200) of the vortex flowmeter, the housing (200) has a mounting hole (210) extending in a first direction, and the outer wall of the housing (200) is provided with a first positioning hole (220) extending in a second direction, the first positioning hole (220) communicating with the mounting hole (210), the assembly fixture (100) includes: Mounting base (110) has a first end (110a) and a second end (110b) opposite each other along the first direction. A portion of the end face of the first end (110a) is recessed to form a mounting groove (111). The outer wall of the mounting base (110) is provided with a second positioning hole (112) extending along the second direction. A fixing component (120) is provided at the first end (110a), the generator (230) is adapted to be installed in the mounting groove (111) by the fixing component (120), and the generator (230) extends through both ends of the mounting groove (111) in the second direction; Positioning element (130) is configured such that when the mounting base (110) passes through the mounting hole (210) of the heated housing (200) and the first positioning hole (220) is aligned with the second positioning hole (112), the positioning element (130) passes through the first positioning hole (220) and the second positioning hole (112) in sequence.

2. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, At the first temperature, the length D1 of the generator (230) along the second direction satisfies the following relationship with the inner diameter D2 of the mounting hole (210) after heating: D2 > D1; and / or, At the first temperature, the length D1 of the generator (230) along the second direction and the inner diameter D20 of the mounting hole (210) at the first temperature satisfy: 0.04mm≤D1-D20≤0.05mm.

3. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, At the first temperature, the outer diameter D3 of the mounting base (110) and the inner diameter D20 of the mounting hole (210) at the first temperature satisfy: 1mm≤D20-D3≤3mm.

4. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the direction from the first end (110a) toward the second end (110b), the cross-sectional area of ​​the generator (230) gradually decreases. The mounting groove (111) includes a mounting section (1111) and a limiting section (1112) that gradually move away from the first end (110a) along the first direction. The width of the mounting section (1111) exceeds the width of the generator (230). Along the direction from the first end (110a) toward the second end (110b), the width of the limiting section (1112) gradually decreases. The width of the limiting section (1112) away from the first end (110a) is smaller than the width of the generator (230). The generator (230) is detachably disposed on the limiting section (1112).

5. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mounting groove (111) further includes a receiving section (1113), the receiving section (1113) having one end opposite to the first end (110a) along the first direction connected to the second positioning hole (112).

6. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fixing component (120) includes a fixing plate (121) and an abutment (122). The fixing plate (121) is located at the first end (110a). The fixing plate (121) has a fixing hole that extends through the first direction. The abutment (122) passes through the fixing hole and is threadedly connected to the fixing hole. The end of the abutment (122) facing the second end (110b) is used to abut against the generator (230).

7. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The fixing plate (121) is provided with an assembly hole that extends through the first direction. The end face of the first end (110a) is provided with a mating hole corresponding to the assembly hole. The fastener (123) passes through the assembly hole and the mating hole in sequence so that the fixing plate (121) and the mounting base (110) can be detachably connected.

8. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The axis of the mounting base (110) is located in the central plane of the mounting groove (111), the axis of the abutment (122) is collinear with the axis of the mounting base (110), and multiple fasteners (123) are provided, with the multiple fasteners (123) arranged at equal intervals around the abutment (122).

9. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, One of the assembly fixture (100) and the mounting hole (210) is provided with a guide structure, and the other is provided with a mating structure. The guide structure and the mating structure are guided and mated so that when the mounting base (110) is located in the mounting hole (210), the axis of the second positioning hole (112) extends along the second direction.

10. The assembly fixture (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second end (110b) is fixedly mounted with a handle (140), and when the mounting base (110) is located inside the mounting hole (210), the handle (140) is at least partially located outside the mounting hole (210).

11. A vortex flow meter, characterized in that, include: The housing (200) defines a mounting hole (210) extending through a first direction. A generator (230) is installed in the housing (200) by means of an assembly tool (100) as described in any one of claims 1-10. The generator (230) is adapted to be installed in the mounting hole (210) after the housing (200) is heated, and to be interference-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting hole (210) after the housing (200) is cooled.

12. An installation method, applied to the assembly fixture (100) as described in any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The method includes: Heat the housing (200) to a preset temperature; The assembly fixture (100) with the generator (230) pre-installed is inserted into the housing (200) through the mounting hole (210), and the positioning member (130) is inserted after the first positioning hole (220) is aligned with the second positioning hole (112). Cool the housing (200); Remove assembly fixtures (100).

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