Rain gauge

Abstract

The invention provides a rain gauge. The rain gauge comprises a detection device and a measurement device. The detection equipment comprises a collection mechanism which is provided with an upward opening and an outlet part located at the bottom of the collection mechanism and communicated with the outside, and a collection cavity is formed between the opening and the outlet part and is suitable for collecting rainwater; the sensing mechanism is matched with the outlet part to form a flow channel inclining downwards, rainwater discharged by the collecting cavity flows along the flow channel and is gathered at the end, away from the outlet part, of the sensing mechanism, and the sensing mechanism is constructed to be bent downwards under the condition that the volume of the gathered rainwater reaches the critical volume so that the rainwater can be discharged. When the volume of the gathered rainwater is smaller than the critical volume, resetting is carried out; and the measuring equipment is suitable for measuring the bending frequency of the sensing mechanism and determining the rainfall according to the bending frequency of the sensing mechanism, the area of the opening of the collecting mechanism and the critical volume.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of liquid measurement, and more specifically, to a rain gauge. Background Technology

[0002] Rainfall is one of the most important meteorological indicators. Improving the spatiotemporal resolution of rainfall data acquisition is of great significance for hydrology, meteorology, climate change, agricultural production, ecological cycles, and natural disaster early warning. Self-recording rain gauges are standard instruments for automatically, in real-time, and accurately measuring and recording ground rainfall and its intensity. Based on different measurement principles, common self-recording rain gauges can be classified into various types, including weighing, siphon, tipping bucket, optical, and acoustic types. Weighing, siphon, optical, and acoustic rain gauges have complex structures and high manufacturing and maintenance costs; currently, tipping bucket rain gauges are the most widely used due to their lower cost. Tipping bucket rain gauges can record hourly and minute rainfall, with a maximum observable rainfall intensity of generally 4 mm / min, and conventional rainfall measurement accuracies of 0.5 mm, 0.2 mm, or 0.1 mm. Taking a tipping bucket rain gauge with an accuracy of 0.2 mm as an example, its working principle is as follows: Every time the 20 cm diameter rain-collecting funnel collects 0.2 mm of rainwater (critical volume of 6.28 mL), the bucket tipps once under the weight of the rainwater. This activates a reed switch inside the rain gauge, sending a pulse signal. Then, the other tipping bucket collects the rainwater collected in the upper funnel, and the cycle repeats. The tipping bucket rain gauge only begins measuring after the bucket tilts, making it unable to accurately record the start time of low-intensity rainfall. Furthermore, when the bucket is stationary, i.e., during the accumulation of rainwater, the tipping bucket rain gauge does not provide feedback, resulting in a time delay in the measurement process. This delay increases as the rainfall intensity decreases. Therefore, the tipping bucket rain gauge cannot accurately measure the intensity of low-intensity and intermittent rainfall. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a rain gauge, comprising:

[0004] Detection equipment, including:

[0005] A collection mechanism having an upward opening and an outlet located at the bottom of the collection mechanism that communicates with the outside, wherein a collection cavity is formed between the opening and the outlet for collecting rainwater;

[0006] The sensing mechanism, in cooperation with the outlet, forms a flow channel that is inclined downward relative to the horizontal surface. Rainwater discharged from the collection chamber flows along the flow channel and accumulates at the end of the sensing mechanism away from the outlet. The sensing mechanism is configured to bend downward to a critical position when the volume of the accumulated rainwater reaches a critical volume, so as to discharge the rainwater, and to reset when the volume of the accumulated rainwater is less than the critical volume.

[0007] A measuring device suitable for measuring the frequency of bending of the sensing mechanism and determining the rainfall amount based on the frequency of bending of the sensing mechanism, the area of ​​the opening of the collecting mechanism, and the critical volume.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing mechanism includes a rod portion, wherein the rod portion bends downward to a critical position when the critical volume overcomes the elastic limit of the rod portion.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rod portion includes:

[0010] Conductor layer;

[0011] A covering layer is adapted to cover the side of the conductor layer facing the rainwater and expose at least a portion of the side of the conductor layer facing away from the rainwater;

[0012] The material on the side of the coating layer facing the rainwater is a hydrophilic material, which is suitable for collecting rainwater;

[0013] The material on the side of the coating layer away from rainwater is a hydrophobic material, which is used to prevent rainwater from entering the conductor layer.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the measuring device includes:

[0015] Data acquisition mechanism, including data acquisition components;

[0016] After the sensing mechanism bends to a critical position, the exposed portion of the conductor layer makes electrical contact with the acquisition component, forming a local conductive loop. Under the combined effect of contact electrification and capacitive coupling, a pulsed electrical signal is generated. This pulsed electrical signal is used to determine the frequency at which the sensing mechanism bends to the critical position.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outlet is configured as a cylindrical structure that slopes downward from the bottom of the collecting cavity relative to the horizontal plane, and a positioning groove is formed on the end face of the cylindrical structure away from the collecting cavity;

[0018] The sensing mechanism also includes:

[0019] The mounting part is flexible and can be inserted into the positioning groove. The rod part is connected to the mounting part and cooperates with the outlet part and the mounting part to form the flow channel.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there are multiple detection devices, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening of each detection device is different.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the reset state, the initial included angle between the flow channel and the horizontal plane is 20° to 60°.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the width of the rod portion in the direction orthogonal to the direction of rainwater flow is 2 to 8 mm.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collection mechanism includes:

[0024] An upright tube having the aforementioned opening;

[0025] The collecting assembly is installed at the lower end of the upright pipe and has a structure that tapers from top to bottom, with the outlet located at the bottom of the collecting assembly.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rain gauge further includes:

[0027] The enclosure is suitable for housing detection and measurement equipment, while exposing openings.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the rain gauge, after the rainwater is collected through the opening of the collection mechanism, it flows into the inclined flow channel formed by the sensing mechanism through the outlet. When the weight of the rainwater at the end of the sensing mechanism reaches a critical volume, the sensing mechanism will directly bend downward to drain the water, without waiting for additional mechanical actions such as tipping over. The drainage action and the metering trigger occur simultaneously, avoiding the measurement delay of traditional rain gauges and enabling accurate measurement of the rainfall intensity of low-intensity and intermittent rainfall. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a rain gauge provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the extended state of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0032] Figure 3 A perspective view is shown of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, not installed at the outlet.

[0033] Figure 4A perspective view of a sensing mechanism installed at the outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 5 A side view and a mid-section view of the pole body along the direction of rainwater flow are shown according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the side of the rod portion facing away from rainwater, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown.

[0036] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the side of the rod portion facing the rainwater according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0037] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a multi-channel rain gauge according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0038] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the bending process of the tip of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0039] Figure 10 The diagram illustrates the change in distance between the tip and the acquisition component and the change in voltage pulse signal during the bending process of the tip of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0041] 1: Detection equipment; 11: Collection mechanism; 111: Opening; 112: Outlet; 112a: Positioning groove; 113: Collection assembly; 114: Vertical tube; 12: Sensing mechanism; 121: Rod body; 121a: Conductor layer; 121b: Covering layer; 122: Mounting part; 2: Measuring equipment; 21: Acquisition mechanism; 211: Acquisition assembly; 212: Acquisition assembly bracket; 213: Oscilloscope; 22: Data processing assembly; 3: Cover; 31: Cover shell; 32: Cover base. Detailed Implementation

[0042] In the process of developing this invention, it was discovered that rainwater drainage from plant leaves is a common phenomenon in nature, and its process is very similar to that of a tipping bucket rain gauge, both consisting of two steps: water collection and drainage. Rainwater first impacts the leaf surface as droplets. Then, driven by gravity, the accumulated rainwater converges towards the center of the leaf and flows towards the tip, gradually increasing the tip angle. Finally, when the accumulated rainwater reaches a certain volume, it leaves the tip as droplets, the tip angle decreases, and the process begins again. Related technologies have also demonstrated that when the shape, size, and tilt angle of the leaf tip are constant, the droplet volume of the leaf tip drainage is a fixed value within a certain flow range. If the leaf has a periodic and stable drainage process, i.e., "leaf surface rainwater collection flux = leaf tip drainage flux," then the amount of rainfall intercepted by the leaf surface can be fed back by monitoring the leaf tip drainage flux, thus achieving a "rain measurement" function. Therefore, designing a leaf tip-inspired rain gauge will provide a new approach to improving the accuracy of rainfall measurement.

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention for ease of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and techniques are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of the invention.

[0044] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The terms “comprising,” “including,” etc., as used herein indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, or components.

[0045] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of this specification, and not in an idealized or overly rigid way.

[0046] When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B, and C," it should generally be interpreted according to the meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include, but is not limited to, systems having only A, only B, only C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or systems having A, B, and C, etc.). In embodiments of the present invention, the collection, updating, analysis, processing, use, transmission, provision, invention, and storage of data (e.g., including but not limited to user personal information) comply with relevant laws and regulations, are used for legitimate purposes, and do not violate public order and good morals. In particular, necessary measures are taken to prevent unauthorized access to user personal information data and to maintain user personal information security and network security.

[0047] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a rain gauge provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown, the rain gauge includes a detection device 1 and a measuring device 2. The detection device 1 includes a collection mechanism 11 and a sensing mechanism 12. The collection mechanism 11 has an upward-facing opening 111 and an outlet 112 located at the bottom of the collection mechanism and communicating with the outside. A collection chamber is formed between the opening 111 and the outlet 112 for collecting rainwater. The sensing mechanism 12, in conjunction with the outlet 112, forms a flow channel inclined downwards relative to the horizontal plane. Rainwater discharged from the collection chamber flows along the flow channel and accumulates at the end of the sensing mechanism 12 away from the outlet. The sensing mechanism 12 is configured to bend downwards when the volume of accumulated rainwater reaches a critical volume (critical weight) to allow the rainwater to drain, and to return to its original position when the volume of accumulated rainwater is less than the critical volume. The measuring device 2 is adapted to measure the frequency of bending of the sensing mechanism 12 and to determine the rainfall amount based on the bending frequency of the sensing mechanism 12, the area of ​​the opening of the collection mechanism 11, and the critical volume.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the rain gauge of the present invention, after the opening 111 of the collecting mechanism 11 collects rainwater, the rainwater flows into the inclined flow channel formed by the sensing mechanism 12 through the outlet 112. When the weight of the rainwater at the end of the sensing mechanism 12 reaches a critical volume, the sensing mechanism 12 will directly bend downward to drain the water, without waiting for additional mechanical actions such as tipping over. The drainage action and the metering trigger occur synchronously, avoiding the measurement delay of traditional rain gauges, and enabling accurate measurement of the rainfall intensity of low-intensity and intermittent rainfall. The rain gauge of this embodiment of the present invention can detect rainfall of 0~4mm.

[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collecting mechanism 11 includes: an upright pipe body 114 and a collecting assembly 113. The upright pipe body 114 has an opening. The collecting assembly 113 is installed at the lower end of the upright pipe body 114 and has a structure that tapers from top to bottom, with an outlet 112 disposed at the bottom of the collecting assembly 113.

[0051] The inner walls of the upright pipe 114 and the collecting component 113 are treated with super-hydrophilic inner walls. Even with a small amount of low-intensity rainfall, a continuous water film can be formed on the pipe wall and flow downwards. The water will not be unable to enter the sensing mechanism 12 due to rainwater adhesion, thus ensuring the measurement sensitivity in low-intensity rainfall scenarios.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collecting component 113 adopts a top-to-bottom tapering structure (e.g., a funnel), and with a superhydrophilic inner wall, it can quickly collect rainwater in the upright pipe 114 to the outlet 112, preventing rainwater from stagnating in the collection chamber. The outlet 112 is located at the bottom of the collecting component 113 to drain all rainwater from the collecting component 113. The seamless connection design between the upright pipe 114 and the collecting component 13 ensures the measurement logic of "rainwater collection flux = drainage flux", reducing measurement errors caused by rainwater residue.

[0053] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the reset state, the angle between the flow channel and the horizontal plane is 20° to 60°. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tilt angle of 20° to 60° allows rainwater to be guided by gravity to flow and converge rapidly towards the end of the sensing mechanism 12. Even with low-intensity rainfall, a critical volume of tens of microliters can be rapidly accumulated at the tip and dripped, avoiding the problems of rainwater retention due to an excessively small angle and overflow due to an excessively large angle.

[0054] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the extended state of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0055] Figure 3 A perspective view is shown of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, not installed at the outlet.

[0056] Figure 4 A perspective view of a sensing mechanism installed at the outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0057] Please combine Figures 2-4The outlet 112 is constructed as a cylindrical structure that slopes downwards from the bottom of the collection chamber relative to the horizontal plane, and a positioning groove 112a is formed on the end face of the cylindrical structure away from the water collection chamber. The sensing mechanism 12 is constructed as a biomimetic leaf tip structure, for example, a biomimetic bodhi leaf tip structure. The sensing mechanism 12 includes a rod portion 121. When the critical volume overcomes the elastic limit of the rod portion 121, the rod portion 121 bends downwards. The width of the rod portion in the direction orthogonal to the direction of rainwater flow is 2~8mm. This width matches the thickness and elastic modulus parameters of the rod portion, ensuring that the bending amplitude of the rod portion under the action of rainwater gravity is stable and controllable. A width exceeding this range will cause the rod portion 121 to be too rigid or too weak, resulting in fluctuations in the critical volume of dripping, while a width of 2~8mm ensures that the critical volume of each drip is consistent, improving the accuracy of the measurement data.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing mechanism 12 further includes a mounting portion 122. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the mounting part 122 is flexibly inserted into the positioning groove (e.g., Figure 4 As shown), the rod body 121 and the mounting part 122 are integrally formed, and together with the outlet part 112 and the mounting part 122, they form a flow channel.

[0059] The mounting part 122 can be bent and inserted into the positioning groove 112a, which can quickly fix the sensing mechanism 12. This design does not require additional fasteners, the disassembly and assembly process is simple and efficient, and it is easy to replace the pole part 121 of different specifications in the future to adapt to different rainfall scenarios.

[0060] Figure 5 A side view and a mid-section view of the pole body along the direction of rainwater flow are shown according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the side of the rod portion facing away from rainwater, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown.

[0062] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the side of the rod portion facing the rainwater according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0063] like Figures 5-7 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rod portion 121 includes: a conductor layer 121a and a covering layer 121b. The conductor layer 121a may be, for example, a metal thin film layer. The covering layer 121b is adapted to cover the rain-facing side of the conductor layer and expose at least a portion of the rain-repellent side of the conductor layer; the material of the rain-facing side of the covering layer 121b is a hydrophilic material suitable for collecting rainwater. The material of the rain-repellent side of the covering layer is a hydrophobic material, which is used to prevent rainwater from entering the conductor layer 121a.

[0064] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing mechanism 12 is manufactured using a molding process and laser cutting technology. The material of the covering layer 121b can be, for example, a polymer film material, with alternative materials including polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. Alternative materials for the conductor layer include copper, aluminum, etc. Specifically, the middle metal film layer is covered by two polymer film materials of specific thickness and elastic modulus, molded using a molding process, and then the shape of the sensing mechanism 12 is obtained using laser cutting technology. In the resulting sensing mechanism 12, the middle conductor layer 121a is completely covered by the covering layer 121b, with only the conductor layer 121a at the tip of the sensing mechanism 12 facing away from rainwater partially exposed. The upper surface of the sensing mechanism 12 is treated as a superhydrophilic surface, and the lower surface is treated as a superhydrophobic surface. The overall thickness of the sensing mechanism 12 is less than 1 mm, exhibiting a certain degree of elasticity and bending stiffness.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the side of the cladding layer 121b away from rainwater is made of a hydrophobic material, which can effectively isolate rainwater and prevent the conductor layer 121a from being soaked in rainwater and causing malfunctions such as oxidation and short circuits. This design can ensure the long-term stable operation of the conductor layer 121a, reducing the maintenance frequency and operating costs of the equipment.

[0066] Continue to refer to Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the measuring device 2 includes a data acquisition mechanism 21, which includes a data acquisition component 211 and a data acquisition component support 212. The data acquisition component support 212 is a three-dimensional displacement axis that can precisely adjust the position of the data acquisition component 211 so that after the sensing mechanism 12 bends to a critical position, the exposed portion of the conductor layer 121a makes electrical contact with the data acquisition component 211, forming a conductive circuit and generating a pulse electrical signal. The pulse electrical signal is used to determine the bending frequency of the sensing mechanism 12.

[0067] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the acquisition mechanism 21 further includes an oscilloscope 213. When a water droplet at the tip of the sensing mechanism 12 reaches a critical volume, the sensing mechanism 12 bends to a critical position, and the exposed portion of the conductor layer 121a makes electrical contact with the acquisition component 211. The monitoring screen of the oscilloscope 213 generates a set of voltage pulse signals, recording one dripping event. After the rainwater reaches the critical volume and drips down, the sensing component 12 rebounds upward and begins to vibrate. Before the next rainwater droplet falls, the exposed portion of the conductor layer 121a does not make contact with the acquisition component 211, and the monitoring screen of the oscilloscope records the voltage background signal. The measuring device 2 also includes a data processing component 22, which obtains the real-time rainfall measurement value based on the bending frequency of the sensing mechanism 12, the area of ​​the opening of the collection mechanism 1, and the critical volume, and outputs it in real time for acquisition by the telemetry terminal.

[0068] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 1The aforementioned rain gauge also includes a cover 3. The cover 3 is used to cover the detection device 1 and the measuring device 2, and exposes the opening 111 of the detection device. The cover 3 includes a cover shell 31 and a cover base 32. The cover shell 31 is cylindrical, with the top surface closed except for the opening 111, and the bottom surface fixed to a hard surface by the cover base 32. The cover base 32 also has a leveling function, which can be adjusted by a knob to ensure the detection device 1 is in a horizontal position. The cover 3 can prevent wind, dust, fallen leaves, and other debris from contacting the rod portion 121 of the sensing mechanism 12, avoiding the impact of debris on rainwater collection efficiency and preventing problems such as critical volume fluctuations and false electrical signal triggering caused by foreign object interference. Simultaneously, the cover 3 can reduce the interference of external airflow on the trajectory of falling water droplets, ensuring a stable water droplet falling frequency, and ensuring that all rainwater received by the rod portion 121 comes from the collection mechanism. Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a multi-channel rain gauge according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0069] like Figure 8 As shown, the number of detection devices 1 is, for example, multiple ( Figure 8 There are three detectors 1 in total, and each detector 1 has a different cross-sectional area of ​​its opening. The design of multiple detectors 1 with openings of different cross-sectional areas enables multiple technical effects, including coverage of various rainfall intensity levels, cross-validation of data, and improved measurement stability. Openings of different cross-sectional areas correspond to different rainwater harvesting efficiencies. Larger openings can efficiently collect minute amounts of rainwater, accurately capturing subtle changes in low-intensity, intermittent rainfall; smaller openings reduce the rainwater flux per unit time, avoiding rainwater overflow or frequent triggering of the sensing mechanism 12 in heavy rainfall scenarios. The combined use of multiple detectors can cover the range from minute rainfall to heavy rainfall. Furthermore, multiple detectors can achieve multi-channel data cross-validation, improving the accuracy of measurement results. Multiple detectors 1 can simultaneously collect rainfall data for the same area. The data processing component 22 can logically compare and correct the measurement results of detectors with different opening specifications, eliminating measurement deviations caused by structural defects or environmental interference in individual devices, and outputting more reliable rainfall data.

[0070] The following combination Figures 1-8 The specific principles of rainfall detection are explained in detail.

[0071] In a rainfall scenario, the rainwater collected by the upright tube 114 (also known as a rain-collecting cylinder) flows downward and converges, flowing through the collecting component 113 (water funnel) and the outlet 112 to the upper surface of the sensing mechanism 12 (bionic blade tip structure).

[0072] Rainwater forms a continuous water film on the upper surface of the rod section 121 (bionic leaf tip), and gradually accumulates at the tip to form a water droplet; as the water droplet increases in volume, the rod section 121 gradually bends and droops under the influence of the droplet's gravity; after the water droplet reaches a critical volume, it drips from the tip of the rod section 121, the rod section 121 bounces back upward, and the rainwater accumulates again at the tip of the rod section 121 to form a droplet, and so on.

[0073] The water droplet at the tip of the rod 121 is subject to gravity and surface tension. For a rod 121 with a specific shape, size, angle, thickness, and elastic modulus, the critical volume for the water droplet to fall at its tip is fixed. The vertical height difference between the lowest and highest points of the rod 121 before and after the water droplet falls, i.e., the amplitude, is also fixed.

[0074] When the rainfall intensity changes, the drip volume of the pole body 121 remains constant, but the drip frequency changes accordingly. During this process, the liquid volume on the inner wall of the upright pipe 114 (rain-collecting cylinder) and at the bottom of the collecting component 113 (water-guiding funnel) remains constant. Therefore, the rainwater collection flux corresponding to the cross-sectional area of ​​the upright pipe 114 (i.e., the opening 111) is equal to the drainage flux of the pole body 121.

[0075] Therefore, the rainwater collection flux of the upright pipe 114, i.e. the real-time rainfall intensity, can be calculated by the critical volume of drainage of the pole section 121 and the recorded drip frequency. The expression is: Real-time rainfall intensity = frequency of bending of the pole section 121 × critical volume.

[0076] The critical volume of the rod portion 121 is approximately tens of microliters, which is two orders of magnitude lower than that of the tipping bucket rain gauge, significantly improving the accuracy of volumetric measurement of real-time rainfall. The acquisition component 211 (also known as a voltage probe) of the acquisition mechanism 21 is fixedly installed below the tip of the rod portion 121 (bionic leaf tip). By adjusting the acquisition component bracket 212, the position and angle of the acquisition component 211 are adjusted so that when a water droplet on the rod portion 121 reaches the critical volume, the rod portion 121 bends and droops until the exposed conductor layer 121a (metal film) on its back just contacts the acquisition component 211. The oscilloscope 213 monitors the screen and generates a set of voltage pulse signals, recording one droplet event. After the water droplet reaches the critical volume and falls, the rod portion 121 rebounds upward and begins to vibrate. Before the next water droplet falls, the rod portion 121 does not contact the acquisition component 211, and the oscilloscope 213 monitors the screen and records the voltage background signal. Each time a water droplet falls from the pole 121, it contacts the data acquisition component 211, generating a voltage pulse signal. This cycle repeats, recording the rainfall intensity and amount. The data processing component 22 digitally filters the collected voltage signals, analyzing the time interval and number of voltage pulse signals. These represent the dripping frequency and the total number of water droplets from the pole 121, respectively, allowing for the calculation of real-time rainfall intensity and total rainfall. The oscilloscope 213 achieves a waveform capture rate of milliseconds for the voltage pulse signals, enabling this rain gauge to easily achieve a time resolution at the second level. Simultaneously, the data processing component 22 uploads the analyzed rainfall monitoring data to the terminal in real time, enabling real-time, remote monitoring of the rainfall process.

[0077] The following combination Figures 1-8 The process of measuring rainfall using a rain gauge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0078] The present invention proposes a high-precision self-recording rain gauge based on a biomimetic blade tip structure, which consists of an upright tube body 114, a collecting component 113, an outlet 112, a sensing mechanism 12, a data acquisition component 211, a data acquisition component support 212, an oscilloscope 213, and a data processing component 22.

[0079] Continue to refer to Figures 1-4 The upright pipe body 114, the collecting assembly 113, the outlet 112, and the sensing mechanism 12 constitute a rain collection and dripping device. The opening 111 of the upright pipe body 114 has a circular cross-section of a specific area. The collecting assembly 113 is connected to the lower end of the upright pipe body 114. A small circular opening is opened on the lower side of the collecting assembly 113 for connecting to the outlet 112. The centerline of the outlet 112 makes an angle of approximately 30° with the horizontal direction.

[0080] The outlet section 112 has a cylindrical structure, with a positioning groove 112a approximately 1 mm wide and 10-15 mm deep at one end. The sensing mechanism 12 is manufactured using thermoplastic and laser cutting techniques, with a tip length of 50 mm, a width of 3 mm, and a thickness of approximately 120 micrometers. The rod section 121 forms an angle of approximately 30° with the horizontal direction, and its tip discharges water in a volume of 40 microliters. The rod section 121 has a certain degree of elasticity and can be rolled up and embedded into the positioning groove 112a of the outlet section 112 for fixation.

[0081] like Figures 5-7 As shown, the rod body 121 is composed of a covering layer 121b and a conductor layer 121a. The two covering layers 121b cover the conductor layer 121a in the middle. Only on the back of the tip of the rod body 121 is there an area of ​​about 1.5 mm × 2 mm where the conductor layer 121a is exposed, which is used to contact the acquisition component 211 and generate an electrical signal.

[0082] In a rainfall scenario, rainwater enters the vertical pipe 114 and flows to the bottom of the collecting assembly 113. It then flows through the outlet 112 onto the pole 121, finally dripping from the tip of the pole 121. The vertical pipe 114, collecting assembly 113, and outlet 112 are made of stainless steel with smooth, hydrophilic inner walls, reducing rainwater adhesion and accumulation. This ensures that all collected rainwater is promptly and completely transferred to the bottom of the collecting assembly 113, then flows onto the pole 121, and drips from the tip of the pole 121, ensuring that the rainwater collection capacity of the vertical pipe 114 equals the drainage capacity of the pole 121.

[0083] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the bending process of the tip of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0084] Figure 10 The diagram illustrates the change in distance between the tip and the acquisition component and the change in voltage pulse signal during the bending process of the tip of the sensing mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the state when the tip of the sensing mechanism contacts the acquisition component, i.e., the state where the sensing mechanism is bent to a critical position, is represented as i); the state where the tip of the sensing mechanism separates from the acquisition component and the water droplet on the tip of the sensing mechanism slides off the sensing mechanism, is represented as ii); and the state where the sensing mechanism is in a reset state, is represented as iii). In each state, the vertical distance between the tip of the sensing mechanism and the acquisition component is... Figure 10 The denoted 'd' is used in the middle.

[0086] When the water droplets on the rod 121 reach a critical volume, the rod 121 bends and droops until the exposed conductor layer 121a on its back just contacts the acquisition component 211. The oscilloscope 213 detects a set of voltage pulse signals and records one dripping event. After the water droplets reach the critical volume and fall, the rod 121 rebounds upward and begins to vibrate continuously up and down. Before the next water droplet falls, the rod 121 does not contact the acquisition component 211, and the oscilloscope 213 monitors the screen and records the voltage background signal. In this rainfall event, the oscilloscope 213 recorded a dripping interval of 2 seconds, a dripping frequency of 0.5 drops / second, and a drainage flux of 0.5 × 40 = 20 microliters / second. Dividing this by the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening 111 of the upright tube 114 gives the real-time rainfall. Therefore, this rain gauge can achieve a volume resolution of tens of microliters and a time resolution of seconds when observing rainfall. The above calculation process is automatically completed by the data processing component 22 and uploaded to the user terminal in real time, realizing real-time and remote monitoring of the rainfall process.

[0087] like Figure 8 As shown, multiple detection devices 1 can be integrated and assembled to build a three-channel self-recording rain gauge, which is then connected to an oscilloscope for recording. Under the same rainfall intensity, the smaller the cross-sectional area of ​​the upright pipe 114, the smaller the amount of rainwater it intercepts, and correspondingly, the lower the drainage flux and drip frequency of the rod section 121; conversely, the larger the cross-sectional area, the lower the amount of rainwater intercepted, and the higher the cross-sectional area, the lower the maximum rainfall intensity that this rain gauge can observe. Therefore, by reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening 111 of the upright pipe 114, the amount of rainwater intercepted can be reduced, thereby increasing the maximum rainfall intensity that this rain gauge can observe; by increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the upright pipe 114, the amount of rainwater intercepted can be increased, enabling accurate measurement of rainfall in low-intensity and intermittent rainfall scenarios. At the same time, the data processing component 22 performs comprehensive logical comparison of the voltage pulse signals recorded by multiple channels, analyzes and obtains the most accurate real-time rainfall measurement value, and outputs it in real time for the telemetry terminal to collect.

[0088] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, these embodiments are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although various embodiments have been described above, this does not mean that the measures in the various embodiments cannot be used advantageously in combination. Various substitutions and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, and all such substitutions and modifications should fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A rain gauge, characterized in that, include: Detection equipment, including: A collection mechanism having an upward opening and an outlet located at the bottom of the collection mechanism that communicates with the outside, wherein a collection cavity is formed between the opening and the outlet for collecting rainwater; The sensing mechanism, in cooperation with the outlet, forms a flow channel that is inclined downward relative to the horizontal surface. Rainwater discharged from the collection chamber flows along the flow channel and accumulates at the end of the sensing mechanism away from the outlet. The sensing mechanism is configured to bend downward to a critical position when the volume of the accumulated rainwater reaches a critical volume, so as to discharge the rainwater, and to reset when the volume of the accumulated rainwater is less than the critical volume. A measuring device suitable for measuring the frequency of bending of the sensing mechanism and determining the rainfall amount based on the frequency of bending of the sensing mechanism, the area of ​​the opening of the collecting mechanism, and the critical volume.

2. The rain gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing mechanism includes a rod portion, and the rod portion bends downward to a critical position when the critical volume overcomes the elastic limit of the rod portion.

3. The rain gauge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rod portion includes: Conductor layer; A covering layer is adapted to cover the side of the conductor layer facing the rainwater and expose at least a portion of the side of the conductor layer facing away from the rainwater; The material of the side of the coating layer facing the rainwater is a hydrophilic material suitable for collecting rainwater; The material on the side of the coating layer away from rainwater is a hydrophobic material, which is used to prevent rainwater from entering the conductor layer.

4. The rain gauge according to claim 3, characterized in that, The measuring device includes: Data acquisition mechanism, including data acquisition components; After the rod portion of the sensing mechanism bends to a critical position, the exposed portion of the conductor layer makes electrical contact with the acquisition component, forming a local conductive circuit. Under the combined effect of contact electrification and capacitive coupling, a pulsed electrical signal is generated. This pulsed electrical signal is used to determine the frequency at which the sensing mechanism bends to the critical position.

5. The rain gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outlet is configured to have a cylindrical structure that slopes downward from the bottom of the collection chamber relative to the horizontal plane, and a positioning groove is formed on the end face of the cylindrical structure away from the collection chamber. The sensing mechanism also includes: The mounting part is flexible and can be inserted into the positioning groove. The rod part is connected to the mounting part and cooperates with the outlet part and the mounting part to form the flow channel.

6. The rain gauge according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The detection devices are multiple, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening of each detection device is different.

7. The liquid flow meter according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, In the reset state, the initial angle between the flow channel and the horizontal plane is 20°~60°.

8. The rain gauge according to claim 5, characterized in that, The width of the rod body in the direction orthogonal to the direction of rainwater flow is 2~8 mm.

9. The rain gauge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The collection mechanism includes: An upright tube having the aforementioned opening; The collecting assembly is installed at the lower end of the upright pipe and has a structure that tapers from top to bottom, with the outlet located at the bottom of the collecting assembly.

10. The rain gauge according to claim 4, characterized in that, The rain gauge also includes: A cover is provided to enclose the detection device and the measuring device, and to expose the opening.

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