Water flow sensor, cooling water tank and welding machine

Abstract

This application relates to the field of sensor technology, and discloses a water flow sensor, a cooling water tank, and a welding machine. The water flow sensor includes a housing, a water flow detection component, a heat-conducting element, and a temperature detection element. The housing has a measuring chamber, an inlet, and an outlet, which are connected to the measuring chamber. The water flow detection component is fixed to the housing and is used to detect the flow rate or velocity of the liquid flowing through the measuring chamber. The heat-conducting element passes through the housing, with one end exposed on the wall of the housing facing the measuring chamber. The temperature detection element is connected to the other end of the heat-conducting element. Through the above method, the water flow sensor of this application embodiment can detect the temperature of the liquid flowing through the measuring chamber, thus meeting more application requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of sensor technology, and in particular to a water flow sensor, a cooling water tank and a welding machine. Background Art

[0002] The main function of the welding machine water tank is to provide cooling water for the welding machine's electrodes and welding area to maintain the normal operation of the welding machine and improve the welding effect. In order to monitor the flow of cooling water, a water flow sensor is generally set in the welding machine water tank.

[0003] When the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the water flow sensor is too low, the ice condensed in the cooling water may block or damage the water flow sensor. When the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the water flow sensor is too high, the water flow cannot meet the cooling needs of the welding machine and may even damage the electronic components of the water flow sensor.

[0004] The current water flow sensor only has the function of detecting the cooling water flow rate, but cannot monitor the temperature of the water flowing through the water flow sensor. Therefore, the control system of the welding machine water tank cannot set a corresponding protection mechanism according to the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the water flow sensor. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the problems existing in the background technology, the purpose of the present application is to provide a water flow sensor, a cooling water tank and a welding machine, which overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems.

[0006] According to the first aspect of the present application, there is provided a water flow sensor, comprising: a housing, a water flow detection assembly, a heat conductor and a temperature detection element. The housing is provided with a measuring cavity, a water inlet and a water outlet, and the water inlet and the water outlet are connected to the measuring cavity. The water flow detection assembly is fixed to the housing, and the water flow detection assembly is used to detect the flow rate or flow velocity of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity. The heat conductor is passed through the housing, and one end of the heat conductor is exposed to the wall of the housing facing the measuring cavity. The temperature detection element is connected to the other end of the heat conductor.

[0007] In one or more optional embodiments above, the shell is provided with a through hole, the through hole is connected to the measuring cavity, and the inner wall of the through hole is provided with a first annular protrusion. The heat conductor includes a main body, a second annular protrusion and a third annular protrusion, the second annular protrusion and the third annular protrusion are respectively arranged around the opposite ends of the main body, the main body is passed through the through hole, along the axial direction of the through hole, the second annular protrusion is located on the side of the first annular protrusion facing the measuring cavity, and is fixedly attached to the side of the first annular protrusion facing the measuring cavity, along the axial direction of the through hole, the third annular protrusion is located on the side of the first annular protrusion facing away from the measuring cavity, and is fixedly attached to the side of the first annular protrusion facing away from the measuring cavity.

[0008] In one or more of the above optional embodiments, the other end of the heat conductor extends out of the shell, and the temperature detection element is connected to the portion of the heat conductor extending out of the shell.

[0009] In one or more of the above optional embodiments, the water flow detection component includes a rotating shaft, an impeller, a rotor, a magnetic body and a Hall sensing element, the rotating shaft is at least partially arranged in the measuring cavity, the impeller and the rotor are passed through the rotating shaft, the rotor is connected to the impeller, the impeller is located in the measuring cavity, the impeller is used to drive the rotor to rotate around the rotating shaft under the drive of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity, the magnetic body is fixed to the rotor, the Hall sensing element is fixed to the housing, and the Hall sensing element is used to sense the changes in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic body when the rotor rotates.

[0010] In one or more of the above optional embodiments, one end of the rotating shaft is fixed to one end of the heat conducting member close to the measuring cavity.

[0011] In one or more of the above optional embodiments, the water flow detection component also includes a circuit board, which is fixed to the shell, and the Hall sensing element is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the circuit board is used to convert the magnetic field signal received by the Hall sensing element into a flow signal or a speed signal of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity.

[0012] In one or more of the above optional embodiments, the shell is an injection-molded part, and the shell and the heat-conducting part are integrally injection-molded.

[0013] In one or more of the above optional embodiments, the heat conducting member is a brass member.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present application, a cooling water tank is provided, comprising the water flow sensor as described above.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present application, a welding machine is provided, comprising the cooling water tank as described above.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application are as follows: the water flow sensor provided by the embodiments of the present application, by arranging a heat conductor at the shell, one end of the heat conductor is exposed to the measuring cavity, and the other end of the heat conductor is connected to the temperature detection element. The heat conductor plays a role of heat transfer between the temperature measurement element and the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity, so that the water flow sensor can detect the temperature of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity and meet more usage requirements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for the specific embodiments or the prior art description. In all the drawings, similar elements or parts are generally identified by similar reference numerals. In the drawings, the elements or parts are not necessarily drawn according to the actual scale.

[0018] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of a water flow sensor provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the water flow sensor is shown;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A top view of the water flow sensor shown;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view at AA in the middle;

[0022] Figure 5 An exploded view of a housing and a heat conductor of a water flow sensor provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application is described in more detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or there can be one or more centered elements therebetween. When an element is described as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there can be one or more centered elements therebetween. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right", "inside", "outside" and similar expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0025] In the description of this specification, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0026] In addition, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0027] See also Figure 1-4 The water flow sensor 1000 includes a shell 1, a water flow detection component 2, a heat conductor 3 and a temperature detection element 4. The shell 1 is provided with a measuring cavity 1a, a water inlet 1b and a water outlet 1c, and the water inlet 1b and the water outlet 1c are connected to the measuring cavity 1a. The water flow detection component 2 is fixed to the shell 1, and the water flow detection component 2 is used to detect the flow rate or flow velocity of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity 1a. The heat conductor 3 is penetrated by the shell 1, and one end of the heat conductor 3 is exposed to the wall of the shell 1 facing the measuring cavity 1a, and the other end of the heat conductor 3 is connected to the temperature detection element 4.

[0028] When the water flow sensor 1000 is working, the liquid flows through the water inlet 1b, the measuring cavity 1a and the water outlet 1c in sequence. The end of the heat conductor 3 exposed to the wall of the shell 1 facing the measuring cavity 1a contacts the liquid in the measuring cavity 1a to generate heat exchange. The temperature detection element 4 detects the temperature of the heat conductor 3, thereby realizing the temperature measurement of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity 1a, and then providing temperature data to the host computer. Taking the water flow sensor 1000 used in the welding machine water tank as an example, the temperature detection element 4 is connected to the control board of the welding machine water tank. When the temperature collected by the temperature detection element 4 is too low or high, the control board sends an alarm signal or controls the equipment to shut down.

[0029] In some embodiments, the heat conducting member 3 is a brass member. It is understandable that in some other embodiments, the heat conducting member 3 may also be made of other materials with good thermal conductivity.

[0030] It is understandable that the temperature detection element 4 can be a temperature sensor, a thermocouple, a thermal resistor, etc. Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the temperature detection element 4 is an NTC temperature sensor.

[0031] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the housing 1 is provided with a through hole 1d, which is connected to the measuring chamber 1a, and the inner wall of the through hole 1d is provided with a first annular protrusion 11. The heat conductor 3 includes a main body 31, a second annular protrusion 32 and a third annular protrusion 33, and the second annular protrusion 32 and the third annular protrusion 33 are respectively arranged around the opposite ends of the main body 31, and the main body 31 is penetrated by the through hole 1d. Along the axial direction of the through hole 1d, the second annular protrusion 32 is located on the side of the first annular protrusion 11 facing the measuring chamber 1a, and is fixedly attached to the side of the first annular protrusion 11 facing the measuring chamber 1a. Along the axial direction of the through hole 1d, the third annular protrusion 33 is located on the side of the first annular protrusion 11 facing away from the measuring chamber 1a, and is fixedly attached to the side of the first annular protrusion 11 facing away from the measuring chamber 1a. The first annular protrusion 11 cooperates with the second annular protrusion 32 and the third annular protrusion 33, so that the heat conductor 3 can be more firmly fixed to the shell 1. On the other hand, the first annular protrusion 11, the second annular protrusion 32 and the third annular protrusion 33 greatly increase the path for the liquid to flow from the measuring chamber 1a along the gap between the heat conductor 3 and the shell 1 to the outside of the shell 1, thereby improving the sealing effect of the measuring chamber 1a.

[0032] In some embodiments, the housing 1 is an injection molded part, and the housing 1 and the heat conductor 3 are integrally injection molded. The heat conductor 3 is embedded in the housing 1 through the injection molding process, and the outer surface of the heat conductor 3 can be tightly fitted with the housing 1, thereby achieving a good sealing effect to prevent the liquid from flowing out through the gap between the heat conductor 3 and the housing 1 through the measuring cavity 1a.

[0033] In some embodiments, the injection molding process includes placing the heat conductor 3 into a mold, the injection molding equipment heats and melts the injection molding material, the melted injection molding material flows into the mold, the injection molding material solidifies to form the housing 1 and is bonded and fixed to the heat conductor 3, and then the housing 1 and the heat conductor 3 are removed from the mold. Optionally, the injection molding material includes polyethylene.

[0034] In some embodiments, the other end of the heat conductor 3 extends out of the housing 1 , and the temperature detection element 4 is connected to the portion of the heat conductor 3 extending out of the housing 1 .

[0035] See also Figure 2 and Figure 4In some embodiments, the housing 1 includes a top cover 12, a sealing ring 13 and a base 14. The top cover 12 is disposed on the base 14. The sealing ring 13 is disposed between the top cover 12 and the base 14. The top cover 12 is screwed and fixed to the base 14. The top cover 12 and the base 14 enclose a measuring chamber 1a.

[0036] See also Figure 2 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the water flow detection component 2 includes a rotating shaft 21, an impeller 22, a rotor 23, a magnetic body 24 and a Hall sensing element 251. The rotating shaft 21 is at least partially disposed in the measuring cavity 1a. The impeller 22 and the rotor 23 are penetrated by the rotating shaft 21. The rotor 23 is connected to the impeller 22. The impeller 22 is located in the measuring cavity 1a. The impeller 22 is used to drive the rotor 23 to rotate around the rotating shaft 21 under the drive of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity 1a. The magnetic body 24 is fixed to the rotor 23. The Hall sensing element 251 is fixed to the housing 1. The Hall sensing element 251 is used to sense the magnetic field changes generated by the magnetic body 24 when the rotor 23 rotates.

[0037] In some embodiments, the heat conducting member 3 is disposed on the bottom wall 141 of the base 14 facing the top cover 12, the water inlet 1b and the water outlet 1c are respectively connected to the measuring cavity 1a through the flow channel penetrating the side wall 142 of the base 14, one end of the rotating shaft 21 is fixed to the top cover 12, and the other end of the rotating shaft 21 is fixed to the heat conducting member 3. Since the heat conducting member 3 is generally made of a metal material with relatively high strength, fixing one end of the rotating shaft 21 to the heat conducting member 3 can improve the stability of the rotating shaft 21 without the need to provide additional metal fasteners.

[0038] In some embodiments, the water flow measurement component 2 also includes a circuit board 25, the circuit board 25 is fixed to the shell 1, the Hall sensing element 251 is arranged on the circuit board 25, the Hall sensing element 251 is electrically connected to the circuit board 25, and the circuit board 25 is used to convert the magnetic field signal received by the Hall sensing element 251 into a flow signal or a speed signal of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity 1a.

[0039] In some embodiments, along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 21 , the circuit board 25 , the top cover 12 , the rotor 23 and the impeller 22 are arranged in sequence.

[0040] In some embodiments, the magnetic body 24 includes a first magnet 241 and a second magnet 242, which are disposed oppositely at two ends of the rotor 23, and the polarity of the end of the first magnet 241 facing the Hall sensing element 251 is opposite to the polarity of the end of the second magnet 242 facing the Hall sensing element 251. When the water flow sensor 1000 is working, the rotation of the impeller 22 drives the rotor 23 to rotate, and the first magnet 241 and the second magnet 242 rotate with the rotor 23, thereby changing the relative position between the first magnet 241 and the second magnet 242 and the Hall sensing element 251, and the Hall sensing element 251 collects the magnetic field signals generated by the first magnet 241 and the second magnet 242.

[0041] It is understandable that the specific structure and position of the magnetic body 24 can be set according to actual needs. For example, in some other embodiments, the magnetic body 24 can also be a ring-shaped structure, with N poles and S poles alternately arranged in sequence along the direction of the rotating shaft 21 that rotates around the magnetic body 24 around the rotating shaft 21.

[0042] It should be understood that the present application does not specifically limit the type of water flow measurement component. For example, in some other embodiments, the water flow measurement component may also be an electromagnetic flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, etc., which are not listed in detail here.

[0043] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a cooling water tank, including the water flow sensor 1000 in any of the above embodiments. The cooling water tank is used to provide cooling liquid to the equipment requiring liquid cooling, and the water flow sensor 1000 is arranged at the output end of the cooling water tank to detect the flow rate of the cooling liquid output by the cooling water tank.

[0044] Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a welding machine, including the above-mentioned cooling water tank.

[0045] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A water flow sensor, characterized in that: include: A housing is provided with a measuring cavity, a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water inlet and the water outlet are connected to the measuring cavity; A water flow detection component, fixed to the housing, and used to detect the flow rate or flow velocity of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity; A heat conducting member, wherein the heat conducting member is disposed through the shell, and one end of the heat conducting member is exposed on a wall surface of the shell facing the measuring cavity; The temperature detection element is connected to the other end of the heat conducting member.

2. The water flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing is provided with a through hole, the through hole is communicated with the measuring cavity, and the inner wall of the through hole is provided with a first annular protrusion; The heat conductor includes a main body, a second annular protrusion and a third annular protrusion, wherein the second annular protrusion and the third annular protrusion are respectively arranged around the opposite ends of the main body, and the main body is penetrated by the through hole. Along the axial direction of the through hole, the second annular protrusion is located on the side of the first annular protrusion facing the measuring cavity, and is fitted and fixed to the side of the first annular protrusion facing the measuring cavity. Along the axial direction of the through hole, the third annular protrusion is located on the side of the first annular protrusion facing away from the measuring cavity, and is fitted and fixed to the side of the first annular protrusion facing away from the measuring cavity.

3. The water flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The other end of the heat conducting member extends out of the shell, and the temperature detecting element is connected to the portion of the heat conducting member extending out of the shell.

4. The water flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water flow detection component includes a rotating shaft, an impeller, a rotor, a magnetic body and a Hall sensing element. The rotating shaft is at least partially arranged in the measuring cavity. The impeller and the rotor are penetrated by the rotating shaft. The rotor is connected to the impeller. The impeller is located in the measuring cavity. The impeller is used to drive the rotor to rotate around the rotating shaft under the drive of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity. The magnetic body is fixed to the rotor, and the Hall sensing element is fixed to the housing. The Hall sensing element is used to sense the change of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic body when the rotor rotates.

5. The water flow sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that: One end of the rotating shaft is fixed to one end of the heat conducting member close to the measuring cavity.

6. The water flow sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that: The water flow detection component also includes a circuit board, which is fixed to the shell. The Hall sensor element is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the circuit board is used to convert the magnetic field signal received by the Hall sensor element into a flow signal or a speed signal of the liquid flowing through the measuring cavity.

7. The water flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell is an injection molded part, and the shell and the heat conducting part are integrally injection molded.

8. The water flow sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The heat conducting member is a brass member.

9. A cooling water tank, characterized in that: Comprising a water flow sensor as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A welding machine, characterized in that: Comprising the cooling water tank as claimed in claim 9.

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