Method for rapidly detecting error of water meter

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of water meter detection, in particular to a method for quickly detecting errors of a water meter, which comprises the following steps of: S1, preparing a standard container with an accurate known volume and a handheld detection terminal integrated with an image acquisition unit, a data processing unit and a display unit; and S2, a water inlet of the standard container is connected with a water outlet of the water meter to be tested in a sealed mode through a connecting pipeline, and meanwhile it is ensured that an exhaust valve of the standard container is in an open state. According to the method for rapidly detecting the error of the water meter, automatic identification of an integrated image is combined with a standard container, and a valve can be selectively matched for linkage control, so that the reading error and timing delay caused by traditional manual visual observation and manual operation are fundamentally eliminated, and the detection precision and the repeatability of a result are remarkably improved. Meanwhile, the whole process is guided by the handheld terminal, operation simplification and standardization are achieved, single-time detection time is greatly shortened, and the requirement for on-site rapid and batch detection is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water meter testing technology, specifically a method for rapidly detecting water meter errors. Background Technology

[0002] Detecting water meter reading errors is crucial for ensuring fair trade settlements and accurate water resource measurement. Currently, common on-site detection methods are mainly divided into the standard container method and the standard meter method. The standard container method involves directing water from the meter into a pre-calibrated container and comparing the meter reading with the actual container volume to calculate the error. While the principle is intuitive, traditional operation relies on manual visual reading, timing, and valve closure, resulting in low efficiency and susceptibility to human error. The standard meter method connects the water meter under test in series with a high-precision standard water meter, comparing their cumulative flow. This method requires high stability of the on-site water flow, and the standard meter itself needs periodic calibration, increasing maintenance costs.

[0003] However, the aforementioned existing technologies, especially the most widely used traditional standard container method, have a significant drawback: the accuracy and efficiency of their testing process heavily depend on the operator's skill and sense of responsibility. The manual judgment of when the water level reaches the scale line is subject to visual delays and subjective differences, and the manual valve closing action cannot be perfectly synchronized. These two aspects introduce difficult-to-quantify random timing and operational errors. Furthermore, manually recording the readings of the water meter's mechanical pointer or dial is prone to misreading or estimation bias. These factors collectively result in poor repeatability of measurement results from traditional methods, and the overall testing process is time-consuming, making it difficult to meet the urgent needs of the water supply industry for rapid, batch on-site testing of a large number of water meters.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, we have made improvements and proposed a method for rapidly detecting water meter errors. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention provides a method for rapidly detecting water meter errors, comprising the following steps:

[0007] S1. Prepare a standard container with a precisely known volume, and a handheld detection terminal integrating an image acquisition unit, a data processing unit, and a display unit;

[0008] S2. Connect the inlet of the standard container to the outlet of the water meter being tested through a connecting pipe in a sealed manner, while ensuring that the vent valve of the standard container is in the open state.

[0009] S3. Fully open the water supply valve in front of the water meter being tested, so that the water flows through the water meter and into the standard container. At the same time, use the image acquisition unit to continuously capture the running image of the water meter pointer or dial wheel.

[0010] S4. When the water level in the standard container reaches its rated volume mark, immediately close the water supply valve and simultaneously close the air vent valve.

[0011] S5. The data processing unit performs real-time analysis on the acquired image sequence, identifies and records the cumulative water volume V1 displayed by the water meter from the start to the end of the water flow.

[0012] S6. Read the known standard volume value V0 of the standard container;

[0013] S7. The data processing unit calculates the water meter's indication error δ according to the formula δ=(V1-V0) / V0×100%;

[0014] S8. Compare the calculated error value δ with the preset error threshold, and display the detection result and the judgment of whether the error is qualified through the display unit.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, in step S1, the standard container is made of transparent material, with high-definition scale lines on its outer wall, and a pressure sensor is installed at the bottom of the container to help determine whether the liquid level has reached the rated volume scale line.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, in step S3, the image acquisition unit is a high-speed camera with a shooting frame rate of not less than 30 frames / second, and the image recognition algorithm used by the data processing unit includes optical character recognition (OCR) technology or pointer angle recognition technology based on template matching.

[0017] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, before step S3 begins, a system self-test and calibration step is also included: the image acquisition unit of the detection terminal is aimed at a static known value calibration plate to take a picture, and the accuracy of the recognition result is verified. If the error exceeds the allowable range, calibration is performed automatically.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting pipeline is provided with an electrically controllable fast-opening and closing valve. The closing action of the valve is linked with the signal received by the detection terminal that the pressure sensor has reached the preset pressure or the manual trigger signal of the operator, so as to realize the synchronous or slightly delayed closing of the water supply valve.

[0019] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, in step S4, after closing the water supply valve, a preset stabilization time is waited for the residual water flow in the connecting pipeline to be completely injected into the standard container and the liquid level to be stable before the final frame locking of the image analysis and the determination of the water volume value V1 are performed.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes a temperature compensation step: the measured water temperature is obtained by a temperature sensor set in a standard container or at the water inlet, and the data processing unit corrects the volume value V0 of the standard container to the actual volume value V0' at the current water temperature according to the influence of water temperature on water density, and substitutes it into the error calculation formula.

[0021] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, in step S8, the display unit displays the error δ in a combination of numerical value, percentage progress bar and color code, wherein green indicates qualified and red indicates unqualified. At the same time, the detection terminal has data storage and wireless transmission functions, and can package and send the detection results, water meter number and timestamp information to a remote server.

[0022] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, in step S2, the connection between the connecting pipe and the outlet of the water meter being tested adopts a quick connector. The quick connector has a sealing ring inside and a locking clamp outside, which is suitable for water meter outlets of different diameters.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This method for rapidly detecting water meter errors, by integrating automatic image recognition with a standard container and optionally adding valve linkage control, fundamentally eliminates reading errors and timing delays caused by traditional manual visual inspection and operation, significantly improving detection accuracy and result repeatability. Simultaneously, the entire process is guided by a handheld terminal, simplifying and standardizing operations, greatly reducing the time required for a single test, and meeting the needs of rapid, batch testing on-site. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the detection preparation and self-test process for a method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the detection execution and data acquisition process of a method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to the present invention; Detailed Implementation

[0027] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0028] Example: Figures 1-2 As shown, a method for quickly detecting water meter errors includes the following steps:

[0029] S1. Prepare a standard container with a precisely known volume, and a handheld detection terminal integrating an image acquisition unit, a data processing unit, and a display unit;

[0030] S2. Connect the inlet of the standard container to the outlet of the water meter being tested through a connecting pipe in a sealed manner, while ensuring that the air vent valve of the standard container is in the open position.

[0031] S3. Fully open the water supply valve in front of the water meter being tested, so that the water flows through the water meter and into the standard container. At the same time, use the image acquisition unit to continuously capture the running image of the water meter pointer or dial wheel.

[0032] S4. When the water level in the standard container reaches its rated volume mark, immediately close the water supply valve and simultaneously close the air vent valve.

[0033] S5. The data processing unit performs real-time analysis on the acquired image sequence, identifies and records the cumulative water volume V1 displayed by the water meter from the start to the end of the water flow.

[0034] S6. Read the known standard volume value V0 of the standard container;

[0035] S7. The data processing unit calculates the water meter's indication error δ according to the formula δ=(V1-V0) / V0×100%;

[0036] S8. Compare the calculated error value δ with the preset error threshold, and display the detection result and the judgment of whether the error is qualified through the display unit.

[0037] In step S1, the standard container is made of transparent material, with high-definition scale lines on its outer wall, and a pressure sensor is installed at the bottom of the container to help determine whether the liquid level has reached the rated volume scale line.

[0038] In step S3, the image acquisition unit is a high-speed camera with a shooting frame rate of not less than 30 frames per second, and the image recognition algorithm used by the data processing unit includes optical character recognition (OCR) technology or pointer angle recognition technology based on template matching.

[0039] Before step S3 begins, a system self-test and calibration step is also included: the image acquisition unit of the detection terminal is aimed at a static known value calibration plate to take a picture to verify the accuracy of the recognition result. If the error exceeds the allowable range, calibration is performed automatically.

[0040] The connecting pipeline is equipped with an electrically controllable fast-opening and closing valve. The closing action of the valve is linked to the signal received by the detection terminal from the pressure sensor that the pressure has reached the preset pressure or the manual trigger signal from the operator, so as to realize the synchronous or slightly delayed closing of the water supply valve.

[0041] In step S4, after closing the water supply valve, wait for a preset stabilization time. After the residual water in the connecting pipeline has been completely injected into the standard container and the liquid level has stabilized, perform the final frame locking of image analysis and determine the water volume value V1.

[0042] The method also includes a temperature compensation step: the measured water temperature is obtained by a temperature sensor set in a standard container or at the water inlet, and the data processing unit corrects the volume value V0 of the standard container to the actual volume value V0' at the current water temperature according to the effect of water temperature on water density, and substitutes it into the error calculation formula.

[0043] In step S8, the display unit displays the error δ using a combination of numerical values, percentage progress bars, and color indicators, where green indicates pass and red indicates fail. At the same time, the detection terminal has data storage and wireless transmission functions, and can package and send the detection results, water meter number, and timestamp information to a remote server.

[0044] In step S2, the connection between the connecting pipe and the outlet of the water meter being tested is made using a quick connector. The quick connector has an internal sealing ring and an external locking clamp, which is suitable for water meter outlets of different diameters.

[0045] Twenty DN15 mechanical pointer water meters of the same model but with different usage levels were selected as the test sample.

[0046] An integrated testing system using the above method. The standard container is a 20L transparent acrylic container with a high-definition scale and a bottom pressure sensor. The testing terminal has a built-in high-speed camera and image recognition algorithm, and an electrically controlled valve is installed on the connecting pipeline.

[0047] Control group: The standard container method using traditional manual operation was adopted. Three technicians with different levels of experience (A: senior, B: general, C: novice) independently operated the same standard container using stopwatches and paper record sheets.

[0048] The tests were conducted under the same water supply pressure (0.1 MPa) and room temperature (20°C). Each water meter was tested once by the example system and three technicians, and the reading error and the time taken for each test were recorded.

[0049] The table below compares the test data of three representative water meters (#05, #10, #15).

[0050] Water meter number Detection method / operator The measured water level value V1 (L) Calculation error δ (%) Time taken per test (seconds) Remark #05 Example Method 20.08 +0.40 52 Automatic identification and valve linkage Comparative Example - Technician A 20.1 +0.50 78 Manual reading, manual valve closing Comparative Example - Technician B 20.2 +1.00 95 Estimated pointer, valve closing delay Comparative Example - Technician C 19.9 -0.50 121 Water level misjudgment, secondary water replenishment #10 Example Method 19.91 -0.45 48 Enable temperature compensation Comparative Example - Technician A 19.9 -0.50 75 Comparative Example - Technician B 20.0 0.00 110 Correction of typos Comparative Example - Technician C 19.8 -1.00 134 #15 Example Method 20.12 +0.60 55 Automatic data upload Comparative Example - Technician A 20.1 +0.50 80 Comparative Example - Technician B 19.9 -0.50 102 Comparative Example - Technician C 20.3 +1.50 145

[0051] The error results obtained by the method in the examples are highly consistent and repeatable among different operators (with very small standard deviation), effectively eliminating the two main variables of human reading error and operation asynchrony (see the significant fluctuations in control examples B and C).

[0052] The average detection time of the method in this embodiment (approximately 50 seconds) is significantly lower than that of even the most skilled technician (78 seconds), representing an efficiency improvement of approximately 35%, and an efficiency improvement of over 60% for novices. This verifies the beneficial effect of the present invention in achieving "rapid" detection.

[0053] The problems of "misjudgment of water level", "recording error" and "secondary water replenishment" that occurred in the comparative example did not occur in the embodiment.

[0054] Experimental data fully demonstrate that, compared with traditional manual detection methods, the rapid detection method provided by this invention has significant advantages in terms of measurement accuracy, operational efficiency, and result reliability. It effectively solves the core shortcomings mentioned in the background art and achieves the expected beneficial effects.

[0055] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for rapidly detecting water meter errors, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Prepare a standard container with a precisely known volume, and a handheld detection terminal integrating an image acquisition unit, a data processing unit, and a display unit; S2. Connect the inlet of the standard container to the outlet of the water meter being tested through a connecting pipe in a sealed manner, while ensuring that the vent valve of the standard container is in the open state. S3. Fully open the water supply valve in front of the water meter being tested, so that the water flows through the water meter and into the standard container. At the same time, use the image acquisition unit to continuously capture the running image of the water meter pointer or dial wheel. S4. When the water level in the standard container reaches its rated volume mark, immediately close the water supply valve and simultaneously close the air vent valve. S5. The data processing unit performs real-time analysis on the acquired image sequence, identifies and records the cumulative water volume V1 displayed by the water meter from the start to the end of the water flow. S6. Read the known standard volume value V0 of the standard container; S7. The data processing unit calculates the water meter's indication error δ according to the formula δ=(V1-V0) / V0×100%; S8. Compare the calculated error value δ with the preset error threshold, and display the detection result and the judgment of whether the error is qualified through the display unit.

2. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, the standard container is made of transparent material, with high-definition scale lines on its outer wall, and a pressure sensor is installed at the bottom of the container to help determine whether the liquid level has reached the rated volume scale line.

3. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the image acquisition unit is a high-speed camera with a shooting frame rate of not less than 30 frames per second, and the image recognition algorithm used by the data processing unit includes optical character recognition (OCR) technology or pointer angle recognition technology based on template matching.

4. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before step S3 begins, a system self-test and calibration step is also included: the image acquisition unit of the detection terminal is aimed at a static known value calibration plate to take a picture to verify the accuracy of the recognition result. If the error exceeds the allowable range, calibration is performed automatically.

5. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting pipeline is equipped with an electrically controllable fast-opening and closing valve. The closing action of the valve is linked to the signal received by the detection terminal that the pressure sensor has reached the preset pressure or the manual trigger signal of the operator, so as to realize the synchronous or slightly delayed closing of the water supply valve.

6. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step S4, after closing the water supply valve, wait for a preset stabilization time. After the residual water in the connecting pipeline has been completely injected into the standard container and the liquid level has stabilized, perform the final frame locking of image analysis and determine the water volume value V1.

7. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes a temperature compensation step: the measured water temperature is obtained by a temperature sensor set in the standard container or at the water inlet, and the data processing unit corrects the volume value V0 of the standard container to the actual volume value V0' at the current water temperature according to the effect of water temperature on water density, and substitutes it into the error calculation formula.

8. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S8, the display unit displays the error δ using a combination of numerical values, percentage progress bars, and color indicators, where green indicates pass and red indicates fail. At the same time, the detection terminal has data storage and wireless transmission functions, and can package and send the detection results, water meter number, and timestamp information to a remote server.

9. The method for rapidly detecting water meter errors according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the connection between the connecting pipe and the outlet of the water meter being tested is made using a quick connector. The quick connector has a sealing ring inside and a locking clamp on the outside, and is suitable for water meter outlets of different diameters.

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