An adaptive full-angle protection device and method for a measurement sensor

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of self-adaptive full-angle protective devices and methods for measuring sensor, to overcome the deficiency that the existing protective devices cannot maintain the protective posture on the installation base that is dynamically inclined or rotated, resulting in the decline of sensor measurement accuracy. By fixing the leveling connector with the bottom layer of the second protective structure, and configuring the overall center of gravity below the rotation center of the leveling connector. When the installation base slowly inclines with the external structure, the gravity restoring moment generated by the center of gravity configuration drives the leveling connector to rotate relative to the installation base, so that the protective assembly automatically maintains vertical, ensuring that the measuring sensor is always in a good protective environment. The present application does not require external energy, and the structure is simple and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of precision measuring instrument technology, specifically to an adaptive all-angle protection device and method for measuring sensors. Background Technology

[0002] In precision measurement fields such as meteorology, environmental protection, industrial monitoring, and scientific research, various sensors (such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, and wind speed sensors) often need to operate outdoors for extended periods. Their measurement accuracy is easily affected by environmental factors such as direct solar radiation, sky diffuse radiation, ground reflected radiation, and rain and snow. To reduce such errors, traditional solutions mainly employ Stevenson screens or naturally ventilated radiation shields. These devices, through physical shielding and highly reflective surface coatings, can provide a certain degree of protection for the sensors on a horizontal, stationary mounting base.

[0003] However, with the expansion of monitoring needs, sensors increasingly need to be mounted on platforms where their attitude will tilt or rotate, such as radio telescope antennas that rotate slowly to track celestial objects, and photovoltaic tracking brackets that adjust their angle daily to track the sun. Traditional fixed protective devices tilt along with the platform, and the internal structure of the protective device can no longer maintain a constant shading and airflow angle for the sensor, resulting in a serious decrease in protective effectiveness or even failure. The sensor may be directly exposed to radiation, and the measurement accuracy will deteriorate significantly.

[0004] To address the protection challenges of platforms that undergo slow attitude changes, existing technologies employ motorized pan-tilt units for active leveling or fans within the protective housing for forced ventilation. However, the former is structurally complex, costly, relies on continuous power supply, and may introduce vibration interference, while the latter requires an additional power source and may generate electromagnetic interference, making it unsuitable for passive environments in the field or for electromagnetically sensitive equipment, such as those surrounding radio telescopes. Therefore, there is an urgent need in the field for a device capable of automatically maintaining an effective protective attitude on platforms that tilt or rotate slowly. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an adaptive all-angle protection device and method for measuring sensors, so as to overcome the shortcomings of existing protection devices that cannot maintain a protective posture on dynamically tilted or rotating mounting bases, resulting in a decrease in sensor measurement accuracy.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] This invention provides an adaptive all-angle protection device for a measurement sensor, comprising:

[0008] The protective component includes a first protective structure and a second protective structure spaced apart in the vertical direction. Both the first protective structure and the second protective structure include a multi-layer flow-guiding protective structure. A measurement space for accommodating a measurement sensor is formed between the first protective structure and the second protective structure.

[0009] The support assembly includes a mounting base and a leveling connector rotatably connected to the mounting base; the leveling connector is fixedly connected to the bottom layer of the second protective structure; the overall center of gravity of the protective device is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting base is a ball-and-socket structure, and the leveling connector is a ball-head structure.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a locking member is further included, which is disposed on the mounting base for selectively restricting the rotational position of the mounting base.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first protective structure includes, from top to bottom, an upper protective shell, a first flow-guiding protective structure, and a second flow-guiding protective structure; the second protective structure includes, from top to bottom, a third flow-guiding protective structure, a fourth flow-guiding protective structure, a fifth flow-guiding protective structure, and a lower protective shell.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper protective shell, the first flow guiding protective structure, the second flow guiding protective structure, the third flow guiding protective structure, the fourth flow guiding protective structure and the fifth flow guiding protective structure are all curved surface structures with the convex surface facing upward, the lower protective shell is a curved surface structure with the convex surface facing downward, and the fifth flow guiding protective structure is in contact with the cut surface of the lower protective shell;

[0014] The radii of curvature of the upper protective shell, the first flow-guiding protective structure, and the second flow-guiding protective structure increase sequentially from top to bottom; the radii of curvature of the third flow-guiding protective structure, the fourth flow-guiding protective structure, and the fifth flow-guiding protective structure increase sequentially from top to bottom.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the radius of curvature of the third flow-guiding protection structure is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second flow-guiding protection structure.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper protective shell has the same geometric parameters as the third flow-guiding protective structure; the first flow-guiding protective structure has the same geometric parameters as the fourth flow-guiding protective structure; and the second flow-guiding protective structure, the fifth flow-guiding protective structure, and the lower protective shell have the same geometric parameters.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an annular light-shielding area is provided on the upper surface of the third flow-guiding and protective structure.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the density of the constituent materials of the first protective structure, the third flow guiding protective structure, and the fourth flow guiding protective structure is less than the density of the constituent materials of the fifth flow guiding protective structure, the lower protective shell, and the leveling connector.

[0019] The present invention also provides an adaptive all-angle protection method for measurement sensors, implemented using the aforementioned adaptive all-angle protection device for measurement sensors, comprising:

[0020] The protective device is mounted on the external structure via the mounting base;

[0021] When the orientation of the external structure changes, the protective component adaptively maintains its vertical position under the influence of gravity.

[0022] Measurements are taken using the measuring sensor while the protective assembly remains vertical.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0024] The adaptive omnidirectional protective device for measuring sensors provided by this invention fixes a leveling connector to the bottom layer of a second protective structure, and positions the overall center of gravity of the protective device below the rotation center of the leveling connector. When the mounting base undergoes a slow attitude change with the platform, this center of gravity configuration subjects the protective component to a gravitational restoring torque with a constant direction pointing vertically. This drives the leveling connector to rotate relative to the mounting base, thereby causing the entire protective component to move and maintain a vertical attitude. This process is driven spontaneously by gravity, requiring no external energy input or active control. Therefore, the measuring sensor housed within the measurement space is always in a protective environment with a constant orientation, ensuring that the sunshade, radiation protection, and airflow guidance effects of the protective component for the measuring sensor do not change with the attitude change of the mounting base. This solves the problem of protection failure caused by the tilting of traditional fixed protective devices on slowly tilted or rotated platforms, providing a stable physical basis for the measurement accuracy of the measuring sensor.

[0025] The protective device provided by this invention adopts a purely passive mechanical structure to achieve adaptive leveling. It eliminates the need for complex control systems and continuous power supplies required by active leveling devices such as electric pan-tilt units, as well as power-consuming equipment like forced ventilation fans. Its simple and reliable structure generates no electromagnetic interference, making it particularly suitable for use around electromagnetically sensitive equipment such as radio telescopes, and for long-term unattended observation scenarios in remote areas without power supply. The spacing between the first and second protective structures in the protective assembly, along with the multi-layered airflow guiding protective structures they contain, creates a ventilated and protective environment around the measurement sensor. While effectively blocking environmental factors such as solar radiation, rain, and snow, it provides a channel for airflow through the measurement sensor, avoiding the localized heat accumulation and airflow stagnation problems caused by obstruction in traditional protective structures, further optimizing the working environment of the measurement sensor.

[0026] This invention also provides an adaptive omnidirectional protection method for measurement sensors, implemented using the aforementioned protective device. This method involves mounting the protective device on a platform and utilizing the device's own center of gravity to maintain the adaptive vertical attitude of the protective component as the platform's attitude slowly changes. Measurements are then performed by the measurement sensor while the protective component remains vertical. This method is simple, reliable, and, in conjunction with the protective device, provides an effective and feasible technical path for long-term, unattended measurement of sensors on slowly tilted or rotated platforms. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an adaptive all-angle protection device for a measurement sensor in an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, (a) is a front view and (b) is a top view.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the attitude of an adaptive all-angle protection device for a measurement sensor under different angles in an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, (a) shows the attitude of the protection device when the external structure is tilted to the left, and (b) shows the attitude of the protection device when the external structure is tilted to the right.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the surface solar reflection of an adaptive all-angle protection device for measuring sensors in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of an adaptive all-angle protection method for a measurement sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In the diagram, 1. Upper protective shell; 2. First flow guiding and protective structure; 3. Second flow guiding and protective structure; 4. Third flow guiding and protective structure; 41. Light-shielding area; 5. Fourth flow guiding and protective structure; 6. Fifth flow guiding and protective structure; 7. Lower protective shell; 8. Measuring sensor; 9. Support rod; 10. Ball joint structure; 101. Leveling connector; 102. Mounting base; 103. Locking component; 11. Support shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0032] In outdoor precision measurements, sensors are susceptible to solar radiation and interference from rain and snow. With expanding monitoring needs, sensors increasingly require mounting on slowly rotating or chronically tilted platforms. When the base of such platforms tilts or rotates slowly, traditional fixed protective devices will tilt accordingly, causing their sunshade and airflow guidance functions to fail, resulting in a significant deterioration in measurement accuracy. While existing active leveling or forced ventilation solutions can address some of these issues, they suffer from drawbacks such as complex structures, reliance on continuous power supply, electromagnetic interference, or the need for regular maintenance, making them unsuitable for long-term, unattended monitoring in remote environments.

[0033] To address this issue, the present invention provides an adaptive omnidirectional protection device and method for measuring sensors. By fixing the leveling connector 101 to the second protective structure and positioning the overall center of gravity below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101, the resulting gravitational restoring torque allows the protective component to automatically rotate and remain vertical when the platform is slowly tilted. This method requires no external energy input or active control. Through installation, adaptive leveling, and measurement, the sensor maintains a constant directional protective environment on a slowly rotating platform, fundamentally overcoming the shortcomings of traditional solutions that fail on tilted bases. It is particularly suitable for monitoring scenarios requiring long-term, unattended operation.

[0034] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "sleeved / connected," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0037] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a number" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] Reference Figure 1 The image shows a specific embodiment of the adaptive all-angle protection device for measurement sensors provided by the present invention. Figure 1 (a) in the figure is a front view of the device. Figure 1 (b) is a top view of the device. In this specific embodiment, the device includes:

[0040] The protective assembly includes a first protective structure and a second protective structure spaced apart in the vertical direction. Both the first protective structure and the second protective structure include a multi-layer flow-guiding protective structure. A measurement space for accommodating the measurement sensor 8 is formed between the first protective structure and the second protective structure.

[0041] The support assembly includes a mounting base 102 and a leveling connector 101 rotatably connected to the mounting base 102. The mounting base 102 is used to connect the external structure to be measured by the measuring sensor. The leveling connector 101 is fixedly connected to the bottom layer of the second protective structure. The overall center of gravity of the protective device is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101.

[0042] In this specific embodiment, the protective component, through the vertically spaced arrangement of the first and second protective structures, jointly defines a measurement space dedicated to housing the measuring sensor 8. The multi-layered flow-guiding protective structures included in the first and second protective structures collaboratively constitute a protective interface surrounding the measuring sensor 8. The support component provides the protective component with a mounting base and degrees of freedom of movement. The mounting base 102 is used to achieve a fixed connection between the device and the external structure, while the leveling connector 101 forms a rotatable connection with the mounting base 102, allowing the protective component to rotate relative to the mounting base 102. The fixed connection between the leveling connector 101 and the bottom layer of the second protective structure ensures the directness and rigidity of attitude transmission between the support component and the protective component. In this embodiment, the external structure refers to a platform or device that supports the protective device and may undergo attitude changes. The measuring sensor 8 is indirectly connected to the external structure under test through the protective device and is used to measure parameters related to the environment in which the external structure is located.

[0043] The core mechanism of this implementation method for achieving adaptive all-angle protection lies in the design of the overall center of gravity of the protective device. Through structural design and component configuration, the overall center of gravity of the protective device is stably located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101. This center of gravity position makes the entire protective assembly a stable and balanced system in the gravitational field. When the mounting base 102 tilts with the external structure, the gravitational restoring torque generated because the overall center of gravity is lower than the rotation center of the leveling connector 101 drives the leveling connector 101 to rotate relative to the mounting base 102, thereby causing the entire protective assembly to move around the rotation center until the restoring torque decreases to zero. At this time, the protective assembly returns to a balanced state, i.e., a vertical posture. This process is spontaneously driven by gravity and requires no external energy input.

[0044] Therefore, when the mounting base 102 slowly tilts or rotates with the external structure, the protective component can adaptively adjust and remain vertical, thereby ensuring that the measurement space formed by the first and second protective structures and the measurement sensor 8 housed within it are always in a protective environment with a constant orientation. This fundamentally solves the problem of protection failure caused by the tilting of traditional fixed protective devices on slowly tilted or rotated platforms. The enveloping protection of the measurement sensor 8 by the protective component, together with the adaptive vertical holding capability provided by the support component, constitutes the technical basis for achieving effective protection at all angles.

[0045] Example 2

[0046] Based on the device structure provided in Embodiment 1, this embodiment further defines the supporting components.

[0047] In this embodiment, the mounting base 102 is a ball-and-socket structure, and the leveling connector 101 is a ball-head structure that mates with the ball-and-socket structure. The ball-and-socket structure and the ball-head structure together constitute a rotating connection structure, which is located on the lower side of the protective device. This mating of the ball-and-socket structure and the ball-head structure allows the leveling connector 101 to rotate freely in multiple directions within the mounting base 102, providing sufficient degrees of freedom for the adaptive leveling of the protective assembly and ensuring that the protective assembly can adapt to tilt changes from different directions. (Refer to...) Figure 2 The diagram shown illustrates the posture of the protective device at different angles. Figure 2 (a) shows the posture of the protective device when the external structure tilts to the left. Figure 2 (b) shows the posture of the protective device when the external structure tilts to the right. The figure clearly shows the adaptive leveling effect of the protective component in maintaining verticality when the external structure is tilted.

[0048] The support assembly further includes a support shaft 11, which is a rigid shaft connecting the leveling connector 101 and the bottom layer of the second protective structure. The axis of the support shaft 11 coincides with the central axis of the protective assembly, and the axis of the support shaft 11 passes through the rotation center of the leveling connector 101. This coaxial design ensures that the rotational movement of the leveling connector 101 can be transmitted to the entire protective assembly without eccentricity or deflection, guaranteeing the stability of the leveling process of the protective assembly and avoiding swaying or instability caused by eccentric movement. The lower end of the support shaft 11 is fixedly connected to the leveling connector 101, and the upper end of the support shaft 11 is fixedly connected to the bottom layer of the second protective structure, realizing a rigid connection between the support assembly and the protective assembly and ensuring the accuracy of attitude transmission.

[0049] The protective device further includes a locking member 103, which is disposed on the mounting base 102 and is used to selectively restrict the rotational position of the mounting base 102. The locking member 103 is a fixing screw that passes through the side wall of the mounting base 102 and contacts the leveling connector 101. By screwing in or out the fixing screw, the pressure of the end of the fixing screw on the surface of the leveling connector 101 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the friction between the leveling connector 101 and the mounting base 102: when the pressure of the fixing screw on the leveling connector 101 is large, the rotational friction of the leveling connector 101 increases, and the adaptive oscillation of the protective assembly slows down. This state can be used to filter external high-frequency small-amplitude wind vibrations and other interferences, allowing the protective assembly to remain stable under wind load conditions; when the pressure of the fixing screw on the leveling connector 101 is large, the rotational friction of the leveling connector 101 increases, and the adaptive oscillation of the protective assembly slows down. This state can be used to filter external high-frequency small-amplitude wind vibrations and other interferences, allowing the protective assembly to remain stable under wind load conditions; when the pressure of the fixing screw on the leveling connector is large, the rotational friction of the leveling connector 101 increases, and the adaptive oscillation of the protective assembly slows down. When the pressure of 101 is low, the rotational friction of the leveling connector 101 decreases, and the leveling response of the protective component accelerates, enabling it to quickly adapt to changes in the posture of the external structure. When the fixing screw is fully tightened, the end of the fixing screw presses against the leveling connector 101, preventing the leveling connector 101 from rotating within the mounting base 102. At this time, the protective device is fixed to the external base, and the protective device no longer has the ability to self-adapt to leveling. This locked state can be used for the handling, installation, and maintenance of the device to prevent the device from swinging arbitrarily and causing damage or inconvenience in operation.

[0050] The leveling connector 101 and the mounting base 102 are made of stainless steel. The use of stainless steel in these components significantly increases the overall weight of the support assembly, bringing the center of gravity of the protective device closer to the center of rotation of the leveling connector 101, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the protective assembly's self-leveling. Simultaneously, stainless steel possesses excellent strength and corrosion resistance, meeting the structural strength and environmental adaptability requirements of the support assembly for long-term outdoor use. The mounting base 102 can connect to external structures, allowing the protective device to be installed on external structures of different shapes, thus improving the device's versatility and applicability.

[0051] This embodiment, through specific limitations on the support component, enables it to not only provide a stable mounting base and sufficient degrees of freedom of movement for the protective component, but also, through the locking member 103, to adjust the leveling sensitivity of the protective component and lock its posture, thereby adapting to the needs of different usage scenarios. The leveling connector 101 and the mounting base 102 are made of stainless steel, further optimizing the center of gravity distribution of the protective device. The coaxial design of the support shaft 11 ensures the stability of the leveling process of the protective component. These structures work together to enhance the practicality and reliability of the support component, providing solid structural support for the adaptive leveling function described in Embodiment 1.

[0052] Example 3

[0053] Based on the device structure provided in Embodiment 1, this embodiment provides a detailed description of the specific construction of the protective component.

[0054] The protective assembly includes a first protective structure, a second protective structure, a lower protective shell 7, and several support rods 9. The first protective structure is positioned above the measuring sensor 8 to block direct solar radiation and scattered radiation from the sky. The second protective structure is positioned below the measuring sensor 8 to block reflected radiation from the ground and long-wave radiation. The lower protective shell 7 is located at the bottom of the second protective structure and is tightly fitted to it, forming the base of the device and enhancing the overall structural stability of the protective assembly. The support rods 9 support the first protective structure, the second protective structure, and the lower protective shell 7, making the protective assembly a stable overall structure.

[0055] The first protective structure, from top to bottom, includes an upper protective shell 1, a first flow-guiding protective structure 2, and a second flow-guiding protective structure 3. The second protective structure, from top to bottom, includes a third flow-guiding protective structure 4, a fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, a fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6, and a lower protective shell 7. The protective components, from top to bottom, are: upper protective shell 1, first flow-guiding protective structure 2, second flow-guiding protective structure 3, measuring sensor 8, third flow-guiding protective structure 4, fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6, and lower protective shell 7. In this embodiment, the protective components form a multi-layered nested structure, so that the measuring sensor 8 is surrounded and wrapped by multiple protective interfaces, which can effectively attenuate radiation interference from all directions.

[0056] The upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, the third flow-guiding protective structure 4, the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, and the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6 are all convex upward curved surface structures, while the lower protective shell 7 is a convex downward curved surface structure. The convex upward curved surface structure facilitates the sliding of solid interference objects such as rain and snow falling on the protective device along the curved surface, preventing accumulation on the surface of the protective device; the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6 fits snugly against the cross-section of the lower protective shell 7.

[0057] The radii of curvature of the upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, and the second flow-guiding protective structure 3 increase sequentially from top to bottom; the radii of curvature of the third flow-guiding protective structure 4, the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, and the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6 also increase sequentially from top to bottom. This gradient design of radii of curvature forms a thermodynamic buffer: the upper structure with a smaller radius of curvature has a relatively small surface area, enabling it to quickly absorb and dissipate heat, rapidly reaching thermal equilibrium and reducing downward heat transfer; the lower structure with a larger radius of curvature provides a wider radiation absorption surface area, further attenuating the thermal radiation that may reach the measuring sensor 8.

[0058] The radius of curvature of the third flow-guiding protective structure 4 is smaller than that of the second flow-guiding protective structure 3. This design gives the third flow-guiding protective structure 4 a steeper curved surface, which facilitates the rapid sliding off of solid interference objects such as rain and snow, preventing water or snow accumulation from affecting the protective effect.

[0059] The upper protective shell 1 has the same geometric parameters as the third flow-guiding protective structure 4; the first flow-guiding protective structure 2 has the same geometric parameters as the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5; the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6, and the lower protective shell 7 have the same geometric parameters. This symmetrical design has multiple technical advantages: First, identical geometric parameters mean identical heat capacity, heat exchange surface area, and thermal radiation characteristics, ensuring consistent thermal boundary conditions on both sides of the measuring sensor 8, thus balancing thermal shocks from both directions; second, identical geometric parameters mean that the curved surface shape and flow channel cross-sectional area change rate encountered by air flowing above and below the measuring sensor 8 are exactly the same, forming flow field impedance matching, ensuring that the acceleration and deceleration effects experienced by wind blowing from any horizontal direction when flowing through both sides of the measuring sensor 8 are symmetrical and predictable, avoiding local eddies caused by flow field asymmetry; in addition, the symmetrical design reduces the number of protective structures from 6 to 3, reducing mold costs, inventory management difficulty, and production complexity, while ensuring that the assembly processes of the upper and lower parts are completely consistent, reducing assembly errors and improving production efficiency and quality consistency.

[0060] The measuring sensor 8 is placed between the second flow-guiding and protective structure 3 and the third flow-guiding and protective structure 4, and is fixed in a position where there is no lateral obstruction. This unobstructed design allows airflow to pass smoothly through the measuring sensor 8, avoiding interference from obstructions, ensuring that the measuring sensor 8 can accurately capture the real changes in external environmental parameters, and at the same time avoiding local heat accumulation caused by airflow obstruction.

[0061] Reference Figure 3 As shown, an annular shading area 41 is provided on the upper surface of the third flow-guiding and protective structure 4. The location of the shading area 41 is determined through geometric optics analysis: there is an axial gap between the second flow-guiding and protective structure 3 and the third flow-guiding and protective structure 4 for installing the measuring sensor 8 and ensuring airflow. When the sun is at a low angle, sunlight may pass through this gap and enter an annular area on the upper surface of the third flow-guiding and protective structure 4, and then be reflected to the measuring sensor 8, forming secondary radiation interference. The shading area 41 is correspondingly located in this annular area, and the surface of the shading area 41 is treated with a high-absorption black coating. This design can directly absorb stray light incident on this area and convert it into heat energy, rather than reflecting it to the measuring sensor 8, thereby eliminating secondary radiation errors caused by structural installation gaps and further improving measurement accuracy.

[0062] There are three support rods 9, which are evenly distributed within the protective shell at the same angle and with the same radius. This even distribution ensures that the supporting force is evenly applied to all parts of the protective component, enhancing the overall structural stability. The upper ends of the support rods 9 are fixedly connected to the upper protective shell 1, and the lower ends are fixedly connected to the lower protective shell 7. The first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, the third flow-guiding protective structure 4, the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, and the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6 all pass through the support rods 9 and are fixed, ensuring the coaxiality and positional accuracy of each layer of flow-guiding protective structure. The dimensions of the support rods 9 meet the minimum dimensions required to support the entire protective device, minimizing their own heat capacity and thermal radiation while ensuring structural strength.

[0063] The upper surfaces of the upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, the third flow-guiding protective structure 4, and the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, as well as the lower surface of the lower protective shell 7, are coated with a high-reflectivity material film. This high-reflectivity film can reflect most of the solar radiation back into the external space, significantly reducing the radiant heat absorbed by the protective components and lowering the temperature rise of the protective components themselves. The lower surfaces of the upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, the third flow-guiding protective structure 4, and the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5 are blackened. This blackening treatment gives the lower surfaces a high absorption rate, which can effectively absorb the light radiation and reflection between the components, further reducing the interference of internal stray radiation on the measuring sensor 8. The inner surface of the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6 and the upper surface of the lower protective shell 7 are tightly fitted without additional material treatment to ensure the sealing and stability of their connection. The surfaces of the plurality of support rods 9 are blackened to prevent direct sunlight or reflection from reaching the measuring sensor 8, and to prevent the heat radiation and reflection generated by the support rods 9 from interfering with the measurement accuracy.

[0064] The symmetrical design also optimizes the overall mechanical performance of the structure. Identical geometric parameters mean that the mass distribution, stiffness distribution, and moment of inertia of the first and second protective structures are highly similar. When the protective device is adaptively leveled by the support components, this balanced mass distribution makes the recovery motion of the protective components smoother and less prone to torsional oscillations; when facing wind loads, the dynamic response of the structure is also more consistent, resulting in stronger overall stability. Simultaneously, the protective structures on the upper and lower sides of the measuring sensor 8 have the same heat capacity, heat exchange surface area, and thermal radiation characteristics, ensuring that the measuring sensor 8 is always located at the center of a "buffer cavity" constructed of materials with the same thermal properties. When the orientation of the protective device changes, the probability of non-uniform external thermal radiation received by the first and second protective structures on the upper and lower sides of the measuring sensor 8 is equal, offsetting unilateral thermal shock over time, resulting in a more stable and uniform overall thermal environment.

[0065] This embodiment, through a detailed description of the specific construction of the protective components, clarifies the structural parameters, connection relationships, and material treatments of the upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, the third flow-guiding protective structure 4, the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5, the fifth flow-guiding protective structure 6, the lower protective shell 7, the measuring sensor 8, the plurality of support rods 9, and the light-shielding area 41. In this embodiment, the symmetrical design of the protective components balances the thermal and flow fields; the curvature radius gradient forms a thermal buffer zone; the light-shielding area 41 eliminates secondary radiation; the unobstructed design ensures smooth airflow; surface treatment reduces radiation absorption; and the uniform distribution of the support rods 9 ensures structural stability. Together, these elements provide the measuring sensor 8 with an ideal measurement environment characterized by constant direction, stable thermal environment, smooth flow field, and no radiation interference, significantly improving the accuracy and long-term stability of the measurement data.

[0066] Example 4

[0067] In Embodiment 1, the overall center of gravity of the protective device is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101, thereby enabling the protective component to adaptively maintain a vertical posture under the action of gravity. This embodiment describes the specific structure of the support component in detail based on Embodiment 1.

[0068] In this embodiment, the mounting base 102 is specifically a ball-and-socket structure, and the leveling connector 101 is specifically a ball-head structure that mates with the ball-and-socket structure. The leveling connector 101 and the mounting base 102 cooperate to form a ball-and-socket hinge structure. The ball-head structure is housed within the ball-and-socket structure and can rotate with multiple degrees of freedom around its center relative to the ball-and-socket structure. The ball-head structure is fixedly connected to the lower protective shell 7 via a support shaft 11, the axis of which coincides with the central axis of the lower protective shell 7.

[0069] A locking member 103 is provided on the ball-and-socket structure. The locking member 103 radially passes through the sidewall of the ball-and-socket structure, and its end can abut against or release the ball-head structure. When the locking member 103 is in a relaxed state, the ball-head structure can rotate freely within the ball-and-socket structure, providing a degree of freedom of movement for the adaptive leveling of the protective component. When the locking member 103 is in a locked state, its end presses against the ball-head structure, restricting the rotation of the ball-head structure, so that the protective component and the mounting base 102 maintain a relatively fixed posture, which facilitates the transportation and installation of the device or the measurement of the fixed posture under specific working conditions.

[0070] Through the cooperation of the aforementioned ball-and-socket structure and ball-head structure, the support assembly provides the necessary multi-degree-of-freedom rotation capability for the protective assembly. Combined with the design described in Embodiment 1, where the overall center of gravity is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101, when the mounting base 102 tilts with the external structure, the ball-head structure can automatically rotate relative to the ball-and-socket structure under the drive of the gravity-restoring torque, thereby causing the entire protective assembly to restore and maintain a vertical posture, achieving an adaptive leveling function.

[0071] Example 5

[0072] Based on the ball joint structure support assembly provided in Example 4, this example further enhances the stability of adaptive leveling and simultaneously improves the overall performance of the protective device by configuring the materials of some structures in the protective device.

[0073] Specifically, in this embodiment, the leveling connector 101, the support shaft 11, the fifth flow guiding and protection structure 6, and the lower protective shell 7 are preferably made of high-density stainless steel.

[0074] The high density of stainless steel helps to concentrate the mass of the lower part of the device, making the overall center of gravity more stably located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101, thereby enhancing the gravity foundation of the adaptive leveling and enabling the protective components to recover their vertical posture more quickly and smoothly under external disturbances. Secondly, the high strength of stainless steel can meet the support requirements of the support components as the load-bearing base of the entire protective structure, ensuring the structural stability of the protective device under complex working conditions such as wind load and vibration. In addition, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel can improve the service life of the device in complex environments.

[0075] The upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, and the third flow-guiding protective structure 4 and the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5 constituting the upper part of the second protective structure are preferably made of alloy metal materials with low density and good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum alloy materials. Low-density alloy metal materials can reduce the weight of the upper part of the first and second protective structures, further ensuring the top-heavy center of gravity distribution of the device; good thermal conductivity allows the upper protective shell 1, the first flow-guiding protective structure 2, the second flow-guiding protective structure 3, and the third flow-guiding protective structure 4 and the fourth flow-guiding protective structure 5 constituting the upper part of the second protective structure to quickly reach their own thermal equilibrium, reducing the heat radiated outwards and conducted to the support rod 9, reducing interference with the thermal environment around the measuring sensor 8, and further improving measurement accuracy.

[0076] The support rods 9 are made of a plastic material with good thermal insulation properties. This material effectively blocks heat transfer between the upper protective shell 1, the various flow-guiding protective structures, and the lower protective shell 7. This prevents solar radiation heat absorbed by the upper structure from being transferred to the lower structure through the support rods 9, thus avoiding impact on the thermal environment around the measuring sensor 8. Simultaneously, it prevents heat transfer from the lower structure to the upper structure, ensuring that the measuring sensor 8 is always in a stable temperature measurement environment and reducing the impact of thermal interference on measurement accuracy. Furthermore, the lightweight nature of the plastic material prevents the support rods 9 from increasing the weight of the upper part of the protective device, maintaining the top-heavy center of gravity distribution design of the device. At the same time, the plastic material is easy to process, meeting the size and distribution requirements of the support rods 9 and ensuring their supporting stability.

[0077] Through the above material configuration, this embodiment further optimizes the mass distribution, thermal performance, and structural strength of the protective device based on the ball joint structure support assembly provided in Embodiment 4. Stainless steel ensures mass concentration and structural load-bearing capacity at the bottom, alloy material achieves lightweighting and rapid thermal equilibrium at the top, and plastic material blocks the heat conduction path. The synergistic properties of the different materials make the device's adaptive leveling function more stable and reliable, while significantly improving its resistance to thermal interference in the measurement environment and its long-term reliability, providing better assurance for the high-precision measurement of the measuring sensor 8 in complex working environments.

[0078] Example 6

[0079] Based on the adaptive omnidirectional protection device for measurement sensors provided in any of the foregoing embodiments, this embodiment provides a corresponding protection and measurement method, referring to... Figure 4 As shown, it includes:

[0080] The protective device is mounted on the external structure via the mounting base 102;

[0081] When the orientation of the external structure changes, the protective component adaptively maintains its vertical position under the influence of gravity.

[0082] Measurements are taken using the measuring sensor 8 while the protective assembly remains vertical.

[0083] In this specific embodiment, the protective device is first mounted on the external structure via the mounting base 102. This step establishes a fixed connection between the mounting base 102 and the external structure, thereby ensuring that subsequent attitude changes of the external structure can be transmitted to the protective device through the mounting base 102, establishing the foundation for the entire measurement process.

[0084] When the attitude of the external structure changes, the protective assembly connected to the mounting base 102, because its center of gravity is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101, will be subjected to a restoring torque in the gravitational field. This torque drives the leveling connector 101 to rotate relative to the mounting base 102, thereby causing the entire protective assembly to move around the rotation center of the leveling connector 101 until the protective assembly returns to a stable, vertical equilibrium attitude. This attitude adjustment process is entirely driven by gravity, requiring no external energy input or active control, demonstrating the passive nature and high reliability of the device. This leveling step can respond in real time to slow tilt changes of the external structure, ensuring that the protective assembly always dynamically remains vertical, providing a stable attitude reference for subsequent measurements.

[0085] With the protective assembly held vertically, measurements are taken using the measuring sensor 8. Since the protective assembly is vertical, the orientation of the measurement space within the protective device, which houses the measuring sensor 8, remains constant relative to the direction of gravity. This provides the measuring sensor 8 with a stable measurement environment unaffected by external structural tilting, allowing it to perform measurement tasks in this optimized environment and obtain more accurate and reliable measurement data. The mounting base 102 transmits external motion, and the leveling connector 101 and the protective assembly perform attitude self-correction under gravity, ultimately enabling the measuring sensor 8 to perform measurements in a stable micro-environment. Together, they achieve the goal of maintaining stable measurement conditions on a slowly tilting mounting base.

[0086] Example 7

[0087] To illustrate the application of the present invention, this embodiment takes the field of meteorological monitoring as an example to describe a typical usage scenario of the protective device.

[0088] In this application, the protective device is fixedly mounted on the backrest of a large weather radar antenna that requires rotational scanning, or on the turntable of a polar-orbiting weather satellite ground calibration platform, via a mounting base 102. The measuring sensor 8 is specifically a high-precision infrared radiometer or spectrometer sensitive to solar radiation. When the radar antenna rotates continuously to perform a scanning task, or when the calibration platform adjusts its attitude to track the sun's trajectory, the mounting base 102 undergoes a slow angular change.

[0089] In traditional solutions, the rigidly connected protective cover rotates and tilts along with the turntable, exposing the sensor to direct sunlight and introducing radiation errors into the measurement data. However, in this protective device, as the mounting base 102 rotates, the protective components, under the influence of gravity-restoring torque, adaptively rotate through the leveling connector 101 to counteract the tilt caused by the rotation of the mounting base 102 in real time. This ensures that the upper protective shell 1, each flow-guiding protective structure, and the measuring sensor 8 remain dynamically vertical, aligned with the plumb line. This adaptive leveling process occurs continuously and smoothly, requiring no external control or energy input.

[0090] Throughout the entire scanning or tracking process of the device, the measurement sensor 8 receives continuous, directional sunshade and radiation protection. Regardless of the antenna's orientation, the probe of the measurement sensor 8 remains optimally shielded by the multi-layered protective structure, enabling the acquisition of accurate radiation data unaffected by the device's motion. In hot, high-radiation summer weather, this feature effectively prevents direct sunlight from entering the sensor cavity due to support rotation; in winter, it prevents rain and snow from accumulating on critical surfaces due to structural tilt. This application fully demonstrates the invention's ability to achieve continuous and stable protection on a slowly rotating platform. This installation method requires no large-scale modification to the existing meteorological station structure or the provision of an additional power supply, significantly improving the reliability and long-term stability of the observation data.

[0091] This embodiment applies the protective device to the field of meteorological monitoring, giving full play to the advantages of the protective device such as adaptive leveling, all-angle protection, no additional energy consumption and strong versatility. It effectively solves the problems of large radiation error and low measurement accuracy caused by the slow tilting of the platform during long-term field observation of traditional fixed protective equipment, and provides an efficient and practical sensor protection and measurement solution for the field of meteorological monitoring.

[0092] Example 8

[0093] To further demonstrate the versatility of this invention across diverse platforms, this embodiment provides another application scenario: applying the protective device to environmental monitoring of solar photovoltaic or solar thermal tracking systems.

[0094] In this application, the protective device is fixedly mounted on the photovoltaic tracking bracket, the back frame structure of the trough-type solar thermal reflector, or the support frame of the heliostat via the mounting base 102. The measuring sensor 8 can be a direct radiation sensor, a diffuse radiation sensor, a total radiation sensor, or a photovoltaic backsheet temperature sensor or a collector tube surface temperature monitoring probe used to evaluate system efficiency.

[0095] To maximize the reception of solar radiation, solar tracking systems drive a support structure to rotate continuously and slowly from sunrise to sunset, ensuring that the photovoltaic modules or reflectors are always aligned with the sun. During this process, if the monitoring sensors mounted on the support use traditional fixed protective covers, they will tilt along with the support, resulting in the sensors being directly exposed to sunlight or subjected to non-uniform radiant heating. The consequences are: the radiation sensor's measurement data cannot accurately reflect the environmental radiation conditions, leading to deviations in the closed-loop control of the tracking strategy; the temperature sensor's measurement data is mixed with errors from non-uniform radiant heating, resulting in inaccurate system efficiency assessments; and the temperature monitoring data of the solar collector tubes is distorted, affecting the safe operation of the solar thermal system.

[0096] This protective device functions through its adaptive leveling mechanism. When the tracking bracket rotates slowly, although the mounting base 102 tilts with the bracket, the overall center of gravity of the protective device is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector 101, ensuring that the protective component remains vertical under gravity. This keeps the measuring sensor 8 within a protected space with a constant orientation, and the radiation shielding angle of the measuring sensor 8 does not change with the rotation of the bracket.

[0097] This protective device continuously and accurately collects dynamic changes in environmental radiation parameters for radiation sensors, providing accurate and reliable radiation data for the closed-loop control of the tracking system. For the backplane temperature sensor, the measured values ​​are no longer affected by non-uniform radiation heating errors caused by the sensor's tilt, accurately reflecting the operating temperature of the photovoltaic modules and supporting accurate assessment of power generation efficiency. For the collector tube temperature monitoring probe, it stably monitors the actual temperature changes of the collector tube, ensuring the safe operation of the solar thermal system. This application example demonstrates that this invention is also applicable to the need for precise protection of sensors on slowly rotating platforms in the field of solar energy utilization, further highlighting its practical value and wide applicability.

[0098] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An adaptive all-angle protection device for a measuring sensor, characterized in that, include: The protective assembly includes a first protective structure and a second protective structure spaced apart in the vertical direction. Both the first protective structure and the second protective structure include multi-layer flow-guiding protective structures. A measurement space for accommodating the measuring sensor (8) is formed between the first protective structure and the second protective structure. The first protective structure includes, from top to bottom, an upper protective shell (1), a first flow-guiding protective structure (2), and a second flow-guiding protective structure (3). The second protective structure includes, from top to bottom, a third flow-guiding protective structure (4), a fourth flow-guiding protective structure (5), a fifth flow-guiding protective structure (6), and a lower protective shell (7). The upper protective shell (1), the first flow-guiding protective structure (2), the second flow-guiding protective structure (3), the third flow-guiding protective structure (4), the fourth flow-guiding protective structure (5), and the fifth flow-guiding protective structure (6) are all convex upward curved surfaces, while the lower protective shell (7) is a convex downward curved surface. The tangential surfaces of the fifth flow-guiding protective structure (6) and the lower protective shell (7) are in contact with each other. The radii of curvature of the upper protective shell (1), the first flow-guiding protective structure (2), and the second flow-guiding protective structure (3) increase from top to bottom. The curvature radii of the third flow-guiding protective structure (4), the fourth flow-guiding protective structure (5), and the fifth flow-guiding protective structure (6) increase sequentially from top to bottom; the curvature radius of the third flow-guiding protective structure (4) is smaller than the curvature radius of the second flow-guiding protective structure (3); the density of the constituent materials of the first protective structure, the third flow-guiding protective structure (4), and the fourth flow-guiding protective structure (5) is smaller than the density of the constituent materials of the fifth flow-guiding protective structure (6), the lower protective shell (7), and the leveling connector (101); The support assembly includes a mounting base (102) and a leveling connector (101) rotatably connected to the mounting base (102). The mounting base (102) has a ball-and-socket structure for connecting the external structure to be measured by the measuring sensor. The leveling connector (101) has a ball-head structure and is fixedly connected to the bottom layer of the second protective structure. The overall center of gravity of the protective device is located below the rotation center of the leveling connector (101).

2. The adaptive all-angle protection device for measuring sensors according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a locking member (103) disposed on the mounting base (102) for selectively restricting the rotational position of the mounting base (102).

3. The adaptive all-angle protection device for measuring sensors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper protective shell (1) has the same geometric parameters as the third flow guiding protective structure (4); the first flow guiding protective structure (2) has the same geometric parameters as the fourth flow guiding protective structure (5); the second flow guiding protective structure (3) has the same geometric parameters as the fifth flow guiding protective structure (6); and the lower protective shell (7) has the same cross-sectional diameter and convex surface curvature as the fifth flow guiding protective structure (6).

4. The adaptive all-angle protection device for measuring sensors according to claim 1, characterized in that, An annular light-shielding area (41) is provided on the upper surface of the third flow-guiding and protective structure (4).

5. An adaptive all-angle protection method for a measurement sensor, characterized in that, The measurement sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is implemented using an adaptive all-angle protection device, comprising: The protective device is mounted on the external structure via the mounting base (102); When the orientation of the external structure changes, the protective component adaptively maintains its vertical position under the influence of gravity. Measurements are taken using the measuring sensor (8) while the protective assembly remains vertical.

Images