An ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device

Abstract

The application discloses an ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device, and relates to the technical field of ultrasonic transducer detection.The device comprises a main pipeline, the bottom end and the top end of which are blocked by a base and a mounting seat respectively, an ultrasonic wave emitter for emitting ultrasonic beams is installed at the center of the inner bottom surface of the main pipeline; a beam-splitting reflector is fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting seat, the top surface of the beam-splitting reflector is a square, the bottom surface is upwardly beveled to form four main reflecting surfaces and multiple mounting surfaces, the ultrasonic beams of the ultrasonic wave emitter are vertically emitted along the central axis of the beam-splitting reflector to the lower tip; a mounting assembly is arranged on the outer wall of the main pipeline and used for fixing the main body of the ultrasonic transducer, and the mounting assembly is arranged in correspondence with the main reflecting surfaces, so that the receiving surface of the main body of the ultrasonic transducer corresponds to the wave emission direction of the main reflecting surfaces. The application realizes four-way synchronous detection of single-source signals, does not need to be detected one by one, greatly improves the batch detection efficiency, and adapts to the large-scale production demand of ultrasonic water meters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ultrasonic transducer testing technology, specifically to an acoustic sensitivity testing device for ultrasonic water meter transducers. Background Technology

[0002] Ultrasonic water meters, as high-precision, low-energy-consumption flow measurement devices, are widely used in urban water supply, industrial water use, and other flow measurement scenarios due to their advantages such as non-contact measurement and strong anti-interference capabilities. The measurement accuracy of an ultrasonic water meter directly depends on the acoustic performance of its core component—the ultrasonic transducer. Acoustic sensitivity is a key indicator, characterizing the efficiency with which the ultrasonic transducer converts acoustic signals into electrical signals (or vice versa). Transducers with poor sensitivity consistency or deviation from the design threshold will lead to excessive measurement errors in the ultrasonic water meter, and may even cause measurement disputes. Therefore, accurately testing the acoustic sensitivity of the ultrasonic transducer during the production and assembly process is a crucial step in ensuring the quality of ultrasonic water meter products.

[0003] Currently, the industry mainly uses two methods to test the acoustic sensitivity of ultrasonic water meter transducers: one is the single-channel one-by-one testing method, which uses a single ultrasonic transmitter to test a single transducer, collects the output electrical signal and compares it with a preset standard value to determine the sensitivity; the other is the multi-channel parallel testing method, which uses multiple independent transmitters to transmit ultrasonic signals to multiple transducers under test, and collects the signals simultaneously for comparative testing.

[0004] However, the existing detection technologies mentioned above have significant drawbacks and are insufficient to meet the high-precision and high-efficiency detection requirements of ultrasonic water meter transducers: The single-channel, one-by-one testing method is inefficient and unsuitable for mass production scenarios. This method can only test one transducer at a time, and the testing process is cumbersome and time-consuming. With the expansion of the ultrasonic water meter market, it has become a bottleneck restricting the improvement of production efficiency. At the same time, factors such as the stability of the emission source and fluctuations in environmental parameters between different testing batches can easily introduce systematic errors, resulting in poor consistency of test results.

[0005] Multi-channel parallel detection methods suffer from uneven beam splitting and energy loss. In existing multi-channel detection schemes, if multiple independent transmitters are used, the transmission parameters (frequency, amplitude, waveform) are difficult to be completely consistent, leading to inconsistent detection benchmarks. If a single transmitter is used with a beam splitting structure (such as a planar mirror array), the poor geometric symmetry of the beam splitting structure prevents the incident ultrasonic waves from being evenly divided into multiple paths, resulting in differences in the ultrasonic energy received by each transducer under test, and consequently, misjudging the acoustic sensitivity of the transducer. Furthermore, the split ultrasonic beams are prone to divergence, resulting in low energy utilization and a low signal-to-noise ratio in the transducer output signal, making it difficult to accurately extract sensitivity-related parameters.

[0006] Existing testing methods lack an effective structural error calibration mechanism. Structural factors such as the processing error of the beam splitting structure and the installation and positioning deviation of the transducer directly affect the testing accuracy. However, existing technologies do not have a specific calibration process for these structural errors, and cannot eliminate their interference with the testing results, resulting in large testing errors and making it difficult to meet the high-precision testing requirements of ultrasonic water meter transducers.

[0007] In summary, current ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity testing technology suffers from defects such as low efficiency, inconsistent testing standards, uneven beam splitting, high energy loss, uncalibrated structural errors, and poor adaptability. These defects severely affect testing accuracy and production efficiency, making it difficult to meet the high-quality, large-scale production needs of the ultrasonic water meter industry.

[0008] In view of the above, this application is hereby submitted. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide an acoustic sensitivity detection device for ultrasonic water meter transducers to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0010] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides an acoustic sensitivity detection device for an ultrasonic water meter transducer, comprising: The main pipeline is sealed at its bottom and top by a base and a mounting seat, respectively, and an ultrasonic transmitter for emitting ultrasonic beams is installed at the center of its inner bottom surface. A beam splitter is fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting base. Its top surface is square and its bottom surface is obliquely cut upward to form four main reflective surfaces and multiple mounting surfaces. The ultrasonic beam of the ultrasonic transmitter is perpendicularly injected into its lower tip along the central axis of the beam splitter. The mounting assembly is disposed on the outer wall of the main pipeline to fix the ultrasonic transducer body and is disposed corresponding to the main reflector so that the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer body corresponds to the direction of the emitted wave of the main reflector.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes several acoustic lenses, which are fixed to two opposite mounting surfaces of the beam splitter reflector. The outer surface of the acoustic lens faces the main reflecting surface, and the acoustic lens is used to correct the diverging ultrasonic beam emitted from the side of the main reflecting surface into a parallel beam or a converging beam.

[0012] Furthermore, the acoustic lens includes a sub-reflective surface, an elastic layer, and a bimetallic strip, which are fixed sequentially from the outside to the inside. A heating plate is provided on the bottom surface of the bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip deforms when heated, and the deformation of the bimetallic strip is greater than that of the elastic layer. The sub-reflective surface is initially a planar structure, and the sub-reflective surface deforms into a curved arc-shaped convex structure when heated.

[0013] Furthermore, the bimetallic sheet has an integrally formed embedded portion, and the bottom surface of the elastic layer has an embedded groove, in which the embedded portion is embedded and installed.

[0014] Furthermore, a heat-conducting column is provided on the top surface of the heating plate, and the heat-conducting column is embedded inside the embedded part.

[0015] Furthermore, the mounting assembly includes four secondary pipes connected to the outer wall of the main pipeline. The four secondary pipes are arranged symmetrically in pairs around the perimeter of the main pipeline. The secondary pipes communicate with the interior of the main pipeline. A mounting groove is provided at the end of the secondary pipe away from the main pipeline. The ultrasonic transducer body is installed inside the mounting groove. A positioning mechanism for fixing the ultrasonic transducer body inside the mounting groove is also provided at the end of the secondary pipe away from the main pipeline.

[0016] Furthermore, the positioning mechanism includes multiple clamping rods, which are slidable along the secondary pipe path. One end of the clamping rod extends into the mounting groove and abuts against the outer wall of the ultrasonic transducer body, while the other end extends through the side wall of the secondary pipe to the outside. A sliding sleeve that slides along its axial direction is provided on the outer wall of the secondary pipe. An inclined groove that mates with the clamping rod is provided on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve. A sliding groove is opened on the outer wall of the secondary pipe, and a support spring is installed inside the sliding groove. An extension plate is fixedly installed at the top of the support spring, and the extension plate is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sliding sleeve.

[0017] Furthermore, a through hole is provided on the side wall of the secondary pipeline, which extends along its axial direction. The clamping rod is slidably connected inside the through hole. A return spring is also sleeved on the outer wall of the clamping rod. One end of the return spring is fixed to the outer wall of the clamping rod, and the other end is fixed to the inside of the through hole. The initial elastic force of the return spring pulls the clamping rod to slide out of the mounting groove.

[0018] Furthermore, a water inlet communicating with the interior is provided on the side wall at the bottom of the main pipeline, and an overflow pipe communicating with the interior is provided on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline. The overflow pipe is perpendicular to the secondary pipeline, and the end of the overflow pipe away from the secondary pipeline has its opening facing upward.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. This invention utilizes a core collaborative structure consisting of a single ultrasonic transmitter, a symmetrical beam-splitting reflector, and four sets of synchronously installed components to uniformly split a single-source ultrasonic wave into four synchronous detection signals, significantly improving batch detection efficiency to adapt to large-scale production. At the same time, the single transmitting source ensures a unified detection benchmark, and the beam focusing optimization of the acoustic lens further improves the signal-to-noise ratio and detection accuracy, achieving a balance between high efficiency and precision.

[0020] 2. This invention improves adaptability through multi-dimensional adjustable and adaptive structural design. The adjustable acoustic lens achieves fine-tuning of focusing accuracy by means of the thermal deformation of the bimetallic sheet, which can adapt to the detection needs of ultrasonic transducers with different receiving apertures and different propagation distances. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a front view structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a side view of the structure of the present invention; Figure 3 For along Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the center section AA; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of the structure at point A in the middle; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the front view structure of the beam-splitting reflector in this invention; Figure 6 This is a side view of the beam-splitting reflector in this invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the beam-splitting reflector structure from below in this invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the layered structure of the acoustic lens in this invention.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Base; 2. Main pipe; 3. Ultrasonic transmitter; 4. Water inlet; 5. Secondary pipe; 6. Mounting base; 7. Beam splitter reflector; 8. Main reflector; 9. Ultrasonic transducer body; 10. Overflow pipe; 11. Sliding sleeve; 12. Straight slot; 13. Clamping rod; 14. Mounting slot; 15. Inclined slot; 16. Through hole; 17. Return spring; 18. Slide groove; 19. Extension plate; 20. Support spring; 21. Acoustic lens; 211. Secondary reflector; 212. Elastic layer; 213. Bimetallic strip; 214. Heating plate; 215. Heat-conducting column; 216. Embedded part. Detailed Implementation

[0023] 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.

[0024] Please see Figures 1-8 This invention provides a technical solution: an acoustic sensitivity detection device for an ultrasonic water meter transducer, comprising: The main pipeline 2 is sealed at its bottom and top by a base 1 and a mounting base 6 respectively, and an ultrasonic transmitter 3 for emitting ultrasonic beams is installed at the center of its inner bottom surface. The beam splitter reflector 7 is fixed on the bottom surface of the mounting base 6. Its top surface is square and its bottom surface is obliquely cut upward to form four main reflective surfaces 8 and multiple mounting surfaces. The ultrasonic beam of the ultrasonic transmitter 3 is perpendicularly injected into its lower tip along the central axis of the beam splitter reflector 7. The mounting assembly is installed on the outer wall of the main pipeline 2 to fix the ultrasonic transducer body 9 and is set in correspondence with the main reflector 8 so that the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer body 9 corresponds to the direction of the emitted wave of the main reflector 8.

[0025] Specifically, the main pipeline 2 is sealed by the base 1 and the mounting seat 6 to form a closed cavity, providing a stable environment for ultrasonic wave propagation; the ultrasonic transmitter 3 is installed at the center of the bottom surface of the main pipeline 2, and emits an ultrasonic beam vertically along the central axis of the beam splitter reflector 7 to its lower tip, ensuring that the incident direction coincides with the center of symmetry of the beam splitter reflector 7; the beam splitter reflector 7 uses four symmetrical main reflector surfaces 8 formed by the oblique cutting of the bottom surface to uniformly reflect and split the incident ultrasonic wave into four beams; the mounting assembly fixes the main body 9 of the ultrasonic transducer through the secondary pipeline 5 on the outer wall of the main pipeline 2, and makes the receiving surface of the transducer precisely correspond to the output wave direction of the main reflector surface 8, ensuring that the split ultrasonic wave can be stably incident on the transducer.

[0026] By using a single ultrasonic transmitter 3 in conjunction with a beam-splitting structure consisting of four main reflectors 8, four-channel synchronous detection of a single-source signal can be achieved, eliminating the need for individual detection and significantly improving batch detection efficiency, thus meeting the needs of large-scale production of ultrasonic water meters. This avoids reference deviations caused by differences in parameters of multiple emission sources. At the same time, the design of the square top surface of the beam-splitting reflector 7 and the symmetrical distribution of the main reflectors 8 ensures beam uniformity and provides a unified reference for sensitivity detection. In addition, the enclosed main pipeline 2, combined with the transducer's precise alignment structure, reduces environmental interference and improves detection stability.

[0027] As a technical optimization of the present invention, it also includes a plurality of acoustic lenses 21, which are fixed to two opposite mounting surfaces of the beam splitter reflector 7. The outer surface of the acoustic lens 21 faces the main reflecting surface 8. The acoustic lens 21 is used to correct the diverging ultrasonic beam emitted from the side of the main reflecting surface 8 into a parallel beam or a converging beam.

[0028] Specifically, the acoustic lens 21 is fixed to the two opposite mounting surfaces of the beam splitter reflector 7, with its outer surface facing the main reflecting surface 8. The ultrasonic beam emitted from the main reflecting surface 8 of the beam splitter reflector 7 is in a divergent state. When it passes through the acoustic lens 21, the lens corrects the divergent beam into a parallel beam or a converging beam through its own structure, ensuring that the energy does not diffuse during the beam propagation process and accurately covers the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer body 9.

[0029] If the split ultrasonic beam propagates directly, it is prone to divergence, resulting in insufficient energy received by the transducer, low signal-to-noise ratio, and difficulty in accurately extracting sensitivity parameters. The addition of acoustic lens 21 can effectively concentrate beam energy, improve energy utilization, enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer output signal, provide a clear signal basis for accurate detection of acoustic sensitivity, and avoid sensitivity misjudgment caused by energy loss.

[0030] As a technical optimization of the present invention, the acoustic lens 21 includes a sub-reflective surface 211, an elastic layer 212 and a bimetallic strip 213 fixed from the outside to the inside. A heating plate 214 is provided on the bottom surface of the bimetallic strip 213. The bimetallic strip 213 deforms after being heated. The deformation of the bimetallic strip 213 is greater than that of the elastic layer 212. The initial state of the sub-reflective surface 211 is a planar structure. The sub-reflective surface 211 is deformed into a curved arc-shaped protrusion structure after being heated.

[0031] Specifically, the acoustic lens 21 consists of a sub-reflecting surface 211, an elastic layer 212, a bimetallic strip 213, and a heating plate 214. In the initial state, the sub-reflecting surface 211 is planar, which can achieve basic planar focusing. During calibration or testing, the heating plate 214 heats the bimetallic strip 213, causing it to deform. Since the deformation of the bimetallic strip 213 is greater than that of the elastic layer 212, it causes the sub-reflecting surface 211 to bend from a planar shape into an arc-shaped convex structure. By adjusting the heating state to change the deformation of the bimetallic strip 213, the curvature of the sub-reflecting surface 211 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the beam focusing effect.

[0032] The adjustable acoustic lens 21 can adjust the curvature of the sub-reflector 211 by heating, which can accurately correct the focusing offset caused by the processing and installation deviation of the beam splitter reflector 7 and improve the focusing accuracy. At the same time, it can adapt to the testing needs of ultrasonic transducers with different receiving apertures and different propagation distances, thus improving the versatility of the device. In addition, the elastic layer 212 can buffer the deformation stress of the bimetallic sheet 213, ensure the structural stability of the sub-reflector 211, and extend its service life.

[0033] As a technical optimization of the present invention, an embedded part 216 is integrally formed on the bimetallic sheet 213, and an embedded groove is formed on the bottom surface of the elastic layer 212, and the embedded part 216 is embedded and installed inside the embedded groove.

[0034] Specifically, an embedded part 216 is integrally formed on the bimetallic sheet 213, and a matching embedded groove is opened on the bottom surface of the elastic layer 212. Through the embedded part 216 and the embedded groove, a stable connection between the bimetallic sheet 213 and the elastic layer 212 is achieved. When the bimetallic sheet 213 is deformed by heat, the embedded structure can ensure that the deformation force is uniformly transmitted to the elastic layer 212, thereby driving the sub-reflective surface 211 to bend synchronously and uniformly.

[0035] To avoid uneven deformation transmission caused by loose connection between bimetallic strip 213 and elastic layer 212, and to prevent abnormal local bending of sub-reflector 211, ensuring uniform beam focusing; the one-piece embedded part 216 is easy to process and has high connection strength, which can avoid connection failure caused by long-term thermal expansion and contraction, improve the detection stability and service life of the device, and further ensure the accuracy of sensitivity detection.

[0036] As a technical optimization of the present invention, a heat-conducting column 215 is provided on the top surface of the heating plate 214, and the heat-conducting column 215 is embedded in the interior of the embedded part 216.

[0037] Specifically, a heat-conducting column 215 is added to the top surface of the heating plate 214 and embedded in the embedding part 216 of the bimetallic sheet 213. The heat generated by the heating plate 214 during operation is directly transferred to the embedding part 216 through the heat-conducting column 215, and then evenly diffused to the entire bimetallic sheet 213 by the embedding part 216, so as to achieve precise and uniform heat transfer.

[0038] To avoid local overheating or uneven heat distribution caused by direct heat transfer from the heating plate 214, the bimetallic strip 213 is ensured to deform uniformly, thereby ensuring uniform curvature of the sub-reflective surface 211 and improving the accuracy of focusing adjustment. At the same time, the design of the heat-conducting column 215 embedded in the embedding part 216 can also enhance the connection stability between the heating plate 214 and the bimetallic strip 213, and prevent structural displacement during heating from affecting the adjustment effect.

[0039] As a technical optimization of the present invention, the installation assembly includes a secondary pipe 5 connected to the outer wall of the main pipe 2. Four secondary pipes 5 are provided, and the four secondary pipes 5 are arranged symmetrically in pairs on the four sides of the main pipe 2. The secondary pipes 5 are connected to the interior of the main pipe 2. An installation groove 14 is provided at the end of the secondary pipe 5 away from the main pipe 2. The ultrasonic transducer body 9 is installed inside the installation groove 14. A positioning mechanism for fixing the ultrasonic transducer body 9 inside the installation groove 14 is also provided at the end of the secondary pipe 5 away from the main pipe 2.

[0040] Specifically, the support spring 20 is installed in the groove 18 on the outer wall of the secondary pipe 5. Its elastic force acts on the sliding sleeve 11 through the extension plate 19, pushing the sliding sleeve 11 to slide axially along the secondary pipe 5. The inclined groove 15 on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve 11 squeezes the clamping rod 13, causing the clamping rod 13 to slide along the through hole 16 into the mounting groove 14, thereby clamping the transducer. The reset spring 17 is sleeved on the outer wall of the clamping rod 13. In the initial state, it pulls the clamping rod 13 to slide out of the mounting groove 14, making it easy to remove the transducer.

[0041] The sliding sleeve 11 is automatically pushed by the elastic force of the support spring 20 to automatically tighten the clamping rod 13, eliminating the need for manual tightening and improving installation efficiency. The cooperation between the inclined groove 15 and the clamping rod 13 ensures that the clamping force is evenly distributed, preventing the transducer from being deformed under pressure and ensuring stable transducer performance. The reset spring 17 enables automatic unlocking after testing, facilitating quick removal of the transducer and further improving the efficiency of the testing process. The cooperation between the sliding groove 18 and the extension plate 19 ensures that the sliding sleeve 11 slides smoothly and avoids jamming that could affect operation.

[0042] As a technical optimization of the present invention, the positioning mechanism includes a plurality of clamping rods 13. The clamping rods 13 can slide radially along the secondary pipeline 5. One end of the clamping rod 13 extends into the mounting groove 14 and abuts against the outer wall of the ultrasonic transducer body 9, and the other end extends through the side wall of the secondary pipeline 5 to the outside. A sliding sleeve 11 is provided on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline 5 and slides along its axial direction. An inclined groove 15 that cooperates with the clamping rod 13 is provided on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve 11. A sliding groove 18 is opened on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline 5. A support spring 20 is installed inside the sliding groove 18. An extension plate 19 is fixedly installed on the top of the support spring 20 and is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sliding sleeve 11.

[0043] Specifically, the support spring 20 is installed in the groove 18 on the outer wall of the secondary pipe 5. Its elastic force acts on the sliding sleeve 11 through the extension plate 19, pushing the sliding sleeve 11 to slide axially along the secondary pipe 5. The inclined groove 15 on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve 11 squeezes the clamping rod 13, causing the clamping rod 13 to slide along the through hole 16 into the mounting groove 14, thereby clamping the transducer. The reset spring 17 is sleeved on the outer wall of the clamping rod 13. In the initial state, it pulls the clamping rod 13 to slide out of the mounting groove 14, making it easy to remove the transducer.

[0044] The sliding sleeve 11 is automatically pushed by the elastic force of the support spring 20 to automatically tighten the clamping rod 13, eliminating the need for manual tightening and improving installation efficiency. The cooperation between the inclined groove 15 and the clamping rod 13 ensures that the clamping force is evenly distributed, preventing the transducer from being deformed under pressure and ensuring stable transducer performance. The reset spring 17 enables automatic unlocking after testing, facilitating quick removal of the transducer and further improving the efficiency of the testing process. The cooperation between the sliding groove 18 and the extension plate 19 ensures that the sliding sleeve 11 slides smoothly and avoids jamming that could affect operation.

[0045] As a technical optimization of the present invention, a through hole 16 is provided on the side wall of the secondary pipeline 5, which extends along its axial direction. The clamping rod 13 is slidably connected inside the through hole 16. A return spring 17 is also sleeved on the outer wall of the clamping rod 13. One end of the return spring 17 is fixed to the outer wall of the clamping rod 13, and the other end is fixed to the inside of the through hole 16. The initial elastic force of the return spring 17 pulls the clamping rod 13 to slide out of the mounting groove 14.

[0046] Specifically, the clamping rod 13 is slidably connected in the through hole 16, which provides precise sliding guidance for the clamping rod 13; one end of the return spring 17 is fixed to the outer wall of the clamping rod 13, and the other end is fixed to the inside of the through hole 16. In the initial state, it is in a stretched state, generating a pulling force towards the outside of the mounting groove 14, pulling the clamping rod 13 to reset; when the sliding sleeve 11 slides in the opposite direction, the squeezing force of the inclined groove 15 on the clamping rod 13 disappears, and the return spring 17 pulls the clamping rod 13 to slide outward, releasing the clamping of the transducer.

[0047] The guiding function of the through hole 16 prevents the clamping rod 13 from shifting during sliding, ensuring that the clamping rod 13 can be accurately aligned with the transducer for clamping, further improving positioning accuracy; the automatic reset function of the return spring 17 ensures that the clamping rod 13 can be quickly and stably reset after the test, preventing the transducer from being unable to be removed due to jamming of the clamping rod 13, thus improving the reliability of the device operation; at the same time, the spring force of the return spring 17 is stable, and it can be used for a long time without easily failing, extending the service life of the positioning mechanism.

[0048] As a technical optimization of the present invention, a water inlet 4 communicating with the interior is provided on the side wall at the bottom of the main pipeline 2, and an overflow pipe 10 communicating with the interior is provided on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline 5. The overflow pipe 10 is perpendicular to the secondary pipeline 5, and the end of the overflow pipe 10 away from the secondary pipeline 5 is set with its opening facing upward.

[0049] Specifically, the water inlet 4 is located on the bottom side wall of the main pipeline 2 and is used to inject the detection medium, such as clean water, into the closed main pipeline 2 and the secondary pipeline 5; ② The overflow pipe 10 is located on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline 5 and is connected to the inside of the secondary pipeline 5, with its opening facing upward; when the medium is injected, the air in the cavity is discharged through the overflow pipe 10. When the medium overflows from the overflow pipe 10, it indicates that the cavity is full of medium. Closing the water inlet 4 will form a closed environment full of medium; the upward opening design of the overflow pipe 10 can balance the pressure inside and outside the cavity and avoid pressure fluctuations caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the medium.

[0050] The enclosed environment filled with the medium avoids the loss of ultrasonic waves due to reflection and refraction caused by the presence of air during propagation, ensuring stable ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics and improving detection accuracy. The injected clean water medium is consistent with the actual working medium of the ultrasonic water meter, making the detection environment close to the actual working conditions, avoiding sensitivity detection deviations caused by medium differences, and improving the reliability of detection results. The cooperation between the water inlet 4 and the overflow pipe 10 makes the medium filling operation convenient and can accurately determine whether the medium is full, improving the ease of operation of the device.

[0051] This device enables efficient and accurate detection of the acoustic sensitivity of ultrasonic water meter transducers. All components are linked according to preset logic. The specific working principle is as follows: I. Preparation stage for testing: Constructing a closed and stable acoustic propagation environment Device sealing and media filling: The main pipeline 2 is sealed at both ends through the bottom base 1 and the top mounting seat 6 to form a closed detection chamber; the detection medium, such as clean water, is injected into the chamber through the water inlet 4 on the bottom side wall of the main pipeline 2, matching the actual working medium of the ultrasonic water meter. During the injection process, air is discharged through the overflow pipe 10 on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline 5 until the medium fills the interior of the main pipeline 2 and the secondary pipeline 5, ensuring that there is no air interference in the ultrasonic wave propagation path. At the same time, the upward opening of the overflow pipe 10 can maintain the stable pressure of the medium in the chamber and avoid pressure fluctuations from affecting the ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics.

[0052] Positioning and fixing of the transducer body 9: The ultrasonic transducer body 9 to be tested is installed into the mounting groove 14 at the end of the four secondary pipes 5 away from the main pipe 2. The support spring 20 in the sliding groove 18 on the outer wall of the secondary pipe 5 is in a compressed state. Its elastic force acts on the sliding sleeve 11 through the extension plate 19, pushing the sliding sleeve 11 to slide along the axial direction of the secondary pipe 5. During the sliding process of the sliding sleeve 11, the inclined groove 15 on its inner wall squeezes the clamping rod 13, causing the clamping rod 13 to slide radially into the mounting groove 14 along the secondary pipe 5 until one end of the clamping rod 13 is tightly abutted against the outer wall of the ultrasonic transducer body 9, completing the rapid positioning and fixing of the transducer. At this time, the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer body 9 is accurately aligned with the main reflecting surface 8 of the beam splitter 7 through the connecting channel between the secondary pipe 5 and the main pipe 2, ensuring that the receiving direction is consistent with the ultrasonic wave emission direction.

[0053] Pre-adjustment and calibration of acoustic lens 21: The initial state of the sub-reflecting surface 211 of acoustic lens 21 is a flat planar structure. This planar state can realize the basic planar focusing function and ensure the initial orderly propagation of the split ultrasonic beam. When entering the calibration stage, the heating plate 214 of acoustic lens 21 is activated. The heating plate 214 accurately transfers heat to the embedding part 216 of bimetallic strip 213 through the heat-conducting column 215 on the top surface. The embedding part 216 and the embedding groove on the bottom surface of elastic layer 212 are interference fit, which not only realizes the stable connection between bimetallic strip 213 and elastic layer 212, but also increases the heat-conducting contact area and ensures that the heat is evenly diffused to the entire bimetallic strip 213. Since bimetallic strip 213 is composed of two metals with different coefficients of thermal expansion, it will produce directional deformation after heating, and its deformation is much greater than that of elastic layer 212. This deformation difference will cause the sub-reflecting surface 211, which is closely attached to elastic layer 212, to bend and deform synchronously, gradually transitioning from the initial planar structure to an arc-shaped convex structure. During calibration, the heating power of the heating plate 214 can be dynamically adjusted based on the receiving aperture of the ultrasonic transducer under test, the propagation distance from the acoustic lens 21, and the clarity of the previously acquired signal, reflecting the focusing effect. Higher heating power results in greater deformation of the bimetallic strip 213, more significant curvature of the sub-reflector 211, and a focal point closer to the lens; conversely, lower curvature reduces curvature, and the focal point moves further away from the lens. This adjustable thermal deformation adjustment precisely corrects focusing offset issues caused by processing errors and installation deviations of the beam splitter 7, until the ultrasonic beam, after being focused by the sub-reflector 211, completely covers the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer body 9 with uniform energy distribution, thus completing the focusing accuracy calibration and ensuring signal stability for subsequent sensitivity testing.

[0054] II. Ultrasonic emission and beam splitting stage: Achieving uniform multipath splitting of single-source signals Ultrasonic directional emission: The ultrasonic transmitter 3 installed at the center of the bottom surface of the main pipeline 2 is activated and emits a stable ultrasonic beam at a preset frequency that matches the working frequency of the ultrasonic water meter. The ultrasonic beam is directed vertically upward along the central axis of the beam splitter reflector 7 and into its lower tip, ensuring that the incident direction coincides with the center of symmetry of the beam splitter reflector 7, thus laying the foundation for subsequent uniform beam splitting.

[0055] Symmetrical beam splitting reflection: After the ultrasonic beam contacts the lower tip of the beam splitter reflector 7, it is reflected by the four main reflecting surfaces 8 formed by the upward oblique cut of the bottom surface of the beam splitter reflector 7. Since the top surface of the beam splitter reflector 7 is square and the four main reflecting surfaces 8 are symmetrically distributed, and the ultrasonic beam is incident along the central axis, the reflected ultrasonic wave is uniformly divided into four beams. The four ultrasonic beams propagate to the four sides of the main pipeline 2 along the reflection direction of the four main reflecting surfaces 8, realizing the uniform multipath splitting of single-source ultrasonic waves.

[0056] III. Beam Focusing and Propagation Phase: Enhancing Energy Concentration and Propagation Stability After being split, the four ultrasonic beams propagate towards the main body of the ultrasonic transducer 9. First, they pass through the acoustic lenses 21 fixed to the two opposite mounting surfaces of the beam splitter reflector 7. The sub-reflecting surface 211 of the acoustic lens 21 has been pre-deformed into an arc-shaped convex structure, which can correct the diverging ultrasonic beam emitted from the main reflector 8 into a parallel beam or a converging beam, depending on the detection requirements. The controllable deformation of the bimetallic strip 213 ensures the adjustability of the curvature of the sub-reflecting surface 211, which can be adapted to the detection requirements of ultrasonic transducers with different frequencies and receiving apertures. The elastic layer 212 plays the role of buffering deformation stress and ensuring the stability of the curvature of the sub-reflecting surface 211. Finally, the ultrasonic beam propagates with high energy concentration along the detection medium inside the secondary pipe 5 to the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer main body 9.

[0057] IV. Signal Reception and Sensitivity Determination Stage: Achieving Accurate Detection and Result Output Signal reception and acquisition: After receiving the focused and conducted ultrasonic beam, the ultrasonic transducer body 9 converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal; through an external detection device connected to the ultrasonic transducer body 9, such as a multi-channel data acquisition instrument (not specified in the claims), which is a necessary supporting device for detection, the electrical signals output by the four ultrasonic transducer bodies 9 are acquired simultaneously to obtain key parameters such as signal amplitude, waveform, and frequency response.

[0058] Sensitivity determination: Using the output signal of a preset standard ultrasonic transducer or a reference component among the four transducers to be tested as a reference, the amplitude of the output signal of the transducer to be tested is compared to reflect the energy conversion efficiency, i.e., the core indicators of acoustic sensitivity, waveform distortion, and other parameters. If the parameter deviation is within the preset allowable range, the acoustic sensitivity of the ultrasonic transducer to be tested is determined to be qualified; if the deviation exceeds the threshold, it is determined to be unqualified.

[0059] V. Reset Stage After Testing After the test is completed, the ultrasonic transmitter 3 and heating plate 214 are turned off. After the bimetallic strip 213 cools down and returns to its initial state, the sub-reflecting surface 211 returns to the planar structure. The sliding sleeve 11 slides in the opposite direction. Under the elastic force of the reset spring 17, the clamping rod 13 slides out of the mounting groove 14, releasing the clamping and fixing of the ultrasonic transducer body 9, and the transducer can be taken out. The test medium in the cavity is discharged through the water inlet 4, completing the test process reset.

[0060] Uniform beam splitting is achieved by using a single transmitter and symmetrical beam-splitting reflectors, solving the problem of inconsistent references among multiple emission sources; the energy concentration of the beam is improved by using an adjustable acoustic lens, solving the problem of large energy loss after beam splitting; and detection stability is ensured by using a closed medium environment and a precise positioning mechanism, ultimately achieving efficient and accurate detection of the acoustic sensitivity of the ultrasonic water meter transducer.

[0061] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0062] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An acoustic sensitivity testing device for an ultrasonic water meter transducer, characterized in that, include: The main pipeline (2) is sealed at its bottom and top by a base (1) and a mounting base (6) respectively, and an ultrasonic transmitter (3) for emitting ultrasonic beams is installed at the center of its inner bottom surface. A beam splitter (7) is fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting base (6). Its top surface is square and its bottom surface is obliquely cut upward to form four main reflective surfaces (8) and multiple mounting surfaces. The ultrasonic beam of the ultrasonic transmitter (3) is perpendicularly injected into the lower tip of the beam splitter (7) along the central axis of the beam splitter (7). The mounting components are installed on the outer wall of the main pipeline (2) to fix the ultrasonic transducer body (9) and are correspondingly set with the main reflector (8) so that the receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer body (9) corresponds to the outgoing wave direction of the main reflector (8).

2. The ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes several acoustic lenses (21), which are fixed to two opposite mounting surfaces of the beam splitter reflector (7). The outer surface of the acoustic lens (21) faces the main reflector (8). The acoustic lens (21) is used to correct the diverging ultrasonic beam emitted from the side of the main reflector (8) into a parallel beam or a converging beam.

3. The ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The acoustic lens (21) includes a sub-reflective surface (211), an elastic layer (212), and a bimetallic strip (213) fixed from the outside to the inside. A heating plate (214) is provided on the bottom surface of the bimetallic strip (213). The bimetallic strip (213) deforms after being heated. The deformation of the bimetallic strip (213) is greater than that of the elastic layer (212). The sub-reflective surface (211) is initially a planar structure. When heated, the sub-reflective surface (211) deforms into a curved arc-shaped protrusion structure.

4. The ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device as described in claim 3, characterized in that: An embedded part (216) is integrally formed on the bimetallic sheet (213), and an embedded groove is provided on the bottom surface of the elastic layer (212), and the embedded part (216) is embedded and installed inside the embedded groove.

5. The acoustic sensitivity detection device for an ultrasonic water meter transducer as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The top surface of the heating plate (214) is provided with a heat-conducting column (215), which is embedded inside the embedded part (216).

6. The ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The installation assembly includes a secondary pipe (5) connected to the outer wall of the main pipe (2). There are four secondary pipes (5), which are arranged on the four sides of the main pipe (2). The four secondary pipes (5) are arranged symmetrically in pairs. The secondary pipes (5) are connected to the inside of the main pipe (2). The end of the secondary pipe (5) away from the main pipe (2) is provided with a mounting groove (14). The ultrasonic transducer body (9) is installed inside the mounting groove (14). The end of the secondary pipe (5) away from the main pipe (2) is also provided with a positioning mechanism for fixing the ultrasonic transducer body (9) inside the mounting groove (14).

7. The ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The positioning mechanism includes multiple clamping rods (13). The clamping rods (13) can slide radially along the secondary pipeline (5). One end of the clamping rod (13) extends into the mounting groove (14) and abuts against the outer wall of the ultrasonic transducer body (9). The other end extends through the side wall of the secondary pipeline (5) to the outside. A sliding sleeve (11) that slides along its axial direction is provided on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline (5). An inclined groove (15) that cooperates with the clamping rod (13) is provided on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve (11). A sliding groove (18) is opened on the outer wall of the secondary pipeline (5). A support spring (20) is installed inside the sliding groove (18). An extension plate (19) is fixedly installed at the top of the support spring (20). The extension plate (19) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the sliding sleeve (11).

8. The ultrasonic water meter transducer acoustic sensitivity detection device as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The side wall of the secondary pipeline (5) is provided with a through hole (16) that runs through it along its axial direction. The clamping rod (13) is slidably connected inside the through hole (16). A return spring (17) is also sleeved on the outer wall of the clamping rod (13). One end of the return spring (17) is fixed to the outer wall of the clamping rod (13), and the other end is fixed to the inside of the through hole (16). The initial elastic force of the return spring (17) pulls the clamping rod (13) to slide outside the mounting groove (14).

9. The acoustic sensitivity detection device for an ultrasonic water meter transducer as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The main pipeline (2) has a water inlet (4) connected to its interior on the side wall at the bottom end. The secondary pipeline (5) has an overflow pipe (10) connected to its interior on the outer wall. The overflow pipe (10) is perpendicular to the secondary pipeline (5), and the end of the overflow pipe (10) away from the secondary pipeline (5) is set with its opening facing upward.

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