Plug-in sensor structure and electromagnetic flowmeter

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of plug-in type flow meters, and discloses a plug-in type sensor structure and an electromagnetic flow meter, the structure comprises a welding connection seat and a probe rod, the probe rod is composed of a rod part and a probe assembly, the probe assembly comprises a coil assembly which can be excited to generate an electromagnetic field, a first electrode and a second electrode which are separated from each other, an insulating lining and a probe shell; a coil assembly is arranged in the probe shell, a first electrode and a second electrode which are separated from each other are arranged in the probe shell, other parts in the shell are filled with an insulating lining, a conducting medium channel is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electric signal is led out through an electrode wire; the inside of the rod part is hollow, and a miniature temperature sensor is embedded in a rod arm. Through the arrangement of temperature and pressure sensors in the probe rod and matched pressure taps, the synchronous measurement of three elements of flow, temperature and pressure is realized; the structure is compact, and extra pipeline space is not occupied; installation is convenient and maintenance is simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of insertion flow meter technology, specifically to an insertion sensor structure and an electromagnetic flow meter. Background Technology

[0002] In industries such as metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and water utilities, insertion electromagnetic flowmeters or insertion electromagnetic water meters are widely used for measuring industrial or municipal water flow. Due to the specific nature of these industries, water flow measurement requires the installation and use of new instruments without affecting the normal operation of existing pipelines. This means that the flow of the medium in the pipeline must continue normally during the installation of the new instrument and cannot be stopped. In this situation, insertion electromagnetic flowmeters, which can be drilled online, perfectly meet the requirements of the operating conditions. Simultaneously, to monitor changes in the temperature and pressure of the medium during measurement to meet process requirements, temperature and pressure measurements are often required alongside the use of new instruments.

[0003] To meet the above application requirements, the conventional solutions offered by domestic flow meter manufacturers are as follows:

[0004] Drill holes in the existing pipeline, install temperature sensors, and send the temperature signals to a secondary instrument for aggregation and processing.

[0005] Drill holes in the existing pipeline, install pressure sensors, and send the pressure signals to secondary instruments for aggregation and processing.

[0006] This approach does meet the needs of industry users, but it also has the following limitations:

[0007] 1. Stop the pipeline operation, drain the medium in the pipeline, and install temperature or pressure sensors. This method cannot meet the customer's need to install temperature or pressure sensors without stopping the pipeline operation.

[0008] 2. Purchase temperature or pressure sensors that can be drilled online. These temperature or pressure sensors can meet the customer's need to install temperature or pressure sensors without stopping pipeline operation, but they are expensive and will increase procurement costs significantly.

[0009] 3. The installation of temperature or pressure sensors on pipelines is often limited by the space of the installation site. The installation requirements are high, and a large number of installation sites cannot provide enough space to install new temperature or pressure sensors.

[0010] 4. Newly installed temperature or pressure sensors can only be used with existing instruments after the temperature or pressure signals have been integrated and processed. This requires the purchase of additional signal integration equipment or increases the cost of signal integration, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0011] To address the aforementioned problems and limitations, there is an urgent need for an insertable sensor structure that integrates temperature and pressure measurement and can be used in both electromagnetic flow meters and electromagnetic water meters. Utility Model Content

[0012] This utility model provides an insertable sensor structure and an electromagnetic flow meter. The insertable sensor structure, applicable to both electromagnetic flow meters and electromagnetic water meters, integrates temperature and pressure measurement. This sensor structure integrates temperature and pressure sensors, fulfilling the customer's requirement for flow measurement while simultaneously providing temperature and pressure functions. It combines flow measurement, temperature measurement, and pressure measurement into one unit. Furthermore, compared to sensors without temperature and pressure measurement, this sensor structure does not increase the required installation space, solving the problem of limited installation space on-site and meeting the usage requirements of the working environment.

[0013] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0014] An insertable sensor structure includes a welded connector and a probe rod. The probe rod consists of a rod section and a probe assembly. The probe assembly includes a coil assembly capable of generating an electromagnetic field, a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other, an insulating liner, and a probe housing. The coil assembly is installed inside the probe housing, and the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart from each other. Other parts of the housing are filled with the insulating liner. A conductive medium channel is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrical signal is led out through electrode wires. The rod section is hollow inside, and a miniature temperature sensor is embedded in the rod arm.

[0015] In one specific embodiment, the probe housing has a probe housing base at its bottom, and a sealing ring is provided between the probe housing base and the probe housing and they are connected by threads. The probe housing is hollow inside and contains a first electrode and a second electrode. A conductive dielectric channel is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an insulating liner is formed by filling with epoxy potting compound. A coil assembly is arranged on the center line of the first electrode and the second electrode, and epoxy potting compound is filled on both sides.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, both the first electrode and the second electrode are anti-rotation electrodes, which are fixed by electrode locking nuts, and electrode wires are crimped between the electrodes and the electrode locking nuts.

[0017] In one specific embodiment, a guide groove is provided on the inner side of the probe housing, the coil assembly is inserted along the guide groove, and epoxy potting compound fills and covers the top of the coil assembly to form an insulating liner.

[0018] In one specific embodiment, the rod is provided with a connecting wire for a miniature temperature sensor, an electrode wire for an electrode, and a connecting wire for a coil assembly, which are fixed inside the rod by filling with epoxy potting compound.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, the rod is fitted with a probe fixing seat, which has a cavity for receiving the probe assembly; the probe assembly can move up and down within the cavity and is fixed by a probe rod locking nut.

[0020] In a specific embodiment, a sealing ring and a slotted retaining ring are provided at the insertion point between the rod and the probe fixing seat.

[0021] In one specific embodiment, the rod is welded and fixed to the welding connector, and a guide rod is welded to the welding connector along the direction of conductive medium flow; the rod is provided with readable scale values ​​from top to bottom.

[0022] An electromagnetic flowmeter employing the above-mentioned insertion sensor structure is characterized in that the rod is inserted into a mounting ball valve, the mounting ball valve is externally connected to a right-angle pressure tapping valve through a live nut joint, and a pressure sensor is mounted on the right-angle pressure tapping valve; the pressure sensor, the miniature temperature sensor, and the electrodes are all electrically connected to the converter.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0024] 1. An insertable sensor structure that can be installed online without shutting down existing pipelines; it solves the problem of not being able to install temperature or pressure sensors due to space limitations; and reduces the cost of purchasing new temperature and pressure sensors.

[0025] 2. A sealed structure is provided for embedding sensor electrodes in a probe housing, which eliminates the need for skilled installation operations when installing small-sized electrodes.

[0026] 3. A miniature temperature sensor is used, which is in direct contact with the flow measurement tube wall. The flow measurement tube wall is made of stainless steel, which has excellent thermal conductivity, effectively reducing the resistance loss of the temperature sensor and increasing the measurement accuracy of the temperature sensor.

[0027] 4. This utility model optimizes the structure. For example, the electrode embedding structure of this utility model embeds the flow measurement electrode inside the probe housing, eliminating the need for additional assembly. This effectively reduces the high requirements for sensor assembly during electrode installation, decreases the probability of sensor malfunction due to improper electrode assembly, and greatly improves the product qualification rate. The designed electrode embedding structure also features an anti-rotation structure, ensuring that the electrode will not rotate with the nut when tightened, greatly facilitating assembly. The probe housing has a guide groove structure, allowing the coil to be inserted simply by following the guide groove during assembly, further enhancing assembly convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic of an insertable sensor structure.

[0030] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of the probe assembly structure in this utility model;

[0031] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic of the probe housing structure in this utility model;

[0032] Figure 4 The figure shown is a cross-sectional view of the probe housing in this utility model;

[0033] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of an electromagnetic flowmeter.

[0034] In the attached diagram: 1-Welding connector; 2-Probe rod; 3-Probe rod locking nut; 4-Slotted retaining ring; 5-Miniature temperature sensor; 6-Probe mounting base; 7-Probe assembly; 8-Sealing ring one; 9-Sealing ring two; 10 / 18-Epoxy potting compound; 11-Guide rod; 12-Probe housing; 13-Coil assembly; 14-Anti-rotation electrode; 15-Sealing ring three; 16-Probe housing base; 17-Electrode locking nut; 19-Electrode wire; 20-Converter; 21-Insertion sensor (built-in temperature sensor); 22-Mounting ball valve; 23-Swivel nut connector; 24-Right-angle pressure tapping valve; 25-Pressure sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solutions of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0036] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates a specific embodiment of the present invention, "An Insertion Sensor Structure and Electromagnetic Flowmeter," but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] like Figures 1-4 As shown, an insertable sensor structure includes:

[0039] Welding connector 1;

[0040] The probe rod 2 is composed of a rod and a probe assembly 7.

[0041] The probe assembly 7 includes the following structure:

[0042] Probe housing 12: Made of stainless steel, hollow inside, with a threaded interface at the bottom and a sealing ring 15, threaded to the probe housing base 16;

[0043] Probe housing base 16: threaded connection with probe housing 12, and the two are sealed together by sealing ring 3 15 to prevent leakage;

[0044] First electrode and second electrode: The two are coaxially arranged inside the probe housing 12, separated from each other to form a conductive medium channel. The outer wall of the electrode body is filled with epoxy potting compound to form an insulating liner. The electrode adopts a design with anti-rotation groove and is fixed by electrode locking nut 17. The electrode wire 19 is crimped out from the locking nut.

[0045] Coil assembly 13: It is set on the center line between the first electrode and the second electrode, and is inserted and positioned through the guide groove inside the probe housing 12. The sides and top are filled with epoxy potting compound 10 to form a stable insulating layer.

[0046] Electrode wire 19 and coil wire: respectively led out from the first and second electrodes and coil assembly 7, and enter the rod after being sealed by the packing inside the probe housing 12.

[0047] Rod: The rod is hollow inside and has an integrated miniature temperature sensor 5 embedded in it, which is in direct contact with the flow measurement tube wall. The flow measurement tube wall is made of stainless steel, which has excellent thermal conductivity, effectively reducing the resistance loss of the temperature sensor and increasing the measurement accuracy of the temperature sensor.

[0048] The outer surface of the rod is engraved with readable scale values ​​along its length, which are used to visually determine the probe insertion depth on site.

[0049] The bottom end of the rod is inserted into the probe mounting base 6. The insertion point is equipped with a sealing ring 9 and a slotted retaining ring 4 to ensure sealing and prevent detachment. The probe assembly 7 can be adjusted axially up and down within the accommodating cavity of the probe mounting base 6. After reaching the required depth, it is locked by the probe rod locking nut 3.

[0050] Welded connection: The upper end of the rod is welded and fixed to the welding connection seat 1. A short guide rod 11 is placed along the flow direction of the conductive medium to determine the flow direction of the conductive medium.

[0051] Electrical connections:

[0052] The temperature sensor wire, two electrode wires and coil wire 19 inside the probe rod 2 are all led out from inside the rod and converged to the converter 20 through a shielded cable;

[0053] The converter 20 integrates flow and temperature signal conditioning circuits to output analog (4–20mA) or digital (Modbus / RS-485) signals to the upper control system.

[0054] Matching electromagnetic flowmeter:

[0055] The welding connector of the above-mentioned insertion sensor structure is welded to the inside of a ball valve 22; the other end of the ball valve is connected to an adjustable right-angle pressure tapping valve 24 via a live nut connector 23.

[0056] A standard diaphragm pressure sensor 25 is installed on the right-angle pressure tapping valve 24, and the cable outlet of the pressure sensor 25 is also introduced into the converter 20.

[0057] The converter 20 processes flow rate, electrode signals (voltage or current), temperature signals and pressure signals in a unified manner, and can provide real-time feedback on pipeline conditions through local display or remote communication.

[0058] This specific embodiment, while ensuring the accuracy of traditional electromagnetic flow measurement, achieves simultaneous measurement of flow, temperature, and pressure through the layout of temperature and pressure sensors 25 inside the probe rod 2 and the matching pressure tap. It has a compact structure, does not occupy additional pipeline space, is easy to install and maintain, and greatly improves the monitoring capability and system integration of the field pipeline network.

[0059] The specific implementation steps are as follows:

[0060] Probe housing 12 injection molding: The anti-rotation electrode 14 is embedded into the probe housing 12 during injection molding, such as... Figure 3 Schematic diagram of probe housing 12 Figure 4 The probe housing cross-sectional view is shown.

[0061] Probe assembly 7: Install electrode wire 19 onto anti-rotation electrode 14 and tighten it with electrode lock nut 18;

[0062] Insert the coil assembly 7 along the guide groove inside the probe housing 12, such as... Figure 3 As shown in the schematic diagram of the probe housing, the inner slot is the guide groove.

[0063] Install the sealing ring 15 and the probe housing base 16 into the probe housing 12 respectively, ensuring that the sealing ring 15 is assembled flat after installation.

[0064] An airtightness test was conducted on the probe housing 12, which is equipped with sealing ring 3 15 and probe housing base 16, to ensure that there is no leakage at the anti-rotation electrode and no leakage at sealing ring 3 15.

[0065] Pour epoxy potting compound 10 into the probe housing 12. The epoxy potting compound 10 should cover the top of the coil assembly 13. Let it stand and wait for the epoxy potting compound to solidify. The probe assembly 7 is now complete and ready for use.

[0066] Insertion sensor (built-in temperature sensor) 21 assembly:

[0067] The miniature temperature sensor 5 is fixed to the inner wall of the probe rod 2 with insulating tape.

[0068] Screw the prepared probe assembly 7 into the probe rod thread and seal it with sealing ring 2 9.

[0069] Pour the epoxy potting compound into probe rod 2 and let it stand until the epoxy potting compound solidifies.

[0070] Insert the sealing ring 8 into the sealing groove inside the probe holder 6, and then put the probe rod 12 into the probe holder.

[0071] Insert the slotted retaining ring 4 and the probe rod locking nut 3 into the probe rod 2 in sequence;

[0072] Weld the welding connector 1 to the probe rod 2, and weld the guide rod 11 to the side of the welding connector 1. During welding, pay attention to the relative position of the guide rod 11 and the probe assembly 7. Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an insertable sensor (with built-in temperature sensor);

[0073] External pressure sensor assembly:

[0074] Connect the converter 20 to the welding connector 1, such as Figure 5 Schematic diagram of an insertable sensor (external pressure sensor)

[0075] Connect the installation ball valve to the probe, and connect the right-angle pressure tap 24 to the live nut connector 23 on the side of the installation ball valve 22. When installing the right-angle pressure tap 24, ensure that the threaded interface side of the pressure sensor 25 is installed vertically upwards. Figure 5 Schematic diagram of an insertable sensor (external pressure sensor)

[0076] Install the pressure sensor 25 into the right-angle pressure tapping valve 24, and connect the cable of the pressure sensor 25 into the converter 20.

[0077] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0078] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An insertable sensor structure, comprising a welded connector and a probe rod, characterized in that: The probe rod consists of a rod section and a probe assembly. The probe assembly includes a coil assembly that can be excited to generate an electromagnetic field, a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other, an insulating liner, and a probe housing. The coil assembly is installed inside the probe housing, and the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart from each other. The other parts of the housing are filled with the insulating liner. A conductive medium channel is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrical signal is led out through the electrode wire. The rod section is hollow inside, and a miniature temperature sensor is embedded in the rod arm.

2. The insertable sensor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The probe housing has a probe housing base at the bottom, and a sealing ring is provided between the probe housing base and the probe housing and connected by threads. The probe housing is hollow inside and contains a first electrode and a second electrode. A conductive medium channel is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an insulating liner is formed by filling with epoxy potting compound. A coil assembly is set on the center line of the first electrode and the second electrode, and epoxy potting compound is filled on both sides.

3. The insertable sensor structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the first and second electrodes are anti-rotation electrodes, which are fixed by electrode locking nuts, and electrode wires are crimped between the electrodes and electrode locking nuts.

4. The insertable sensor structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The probe housing has a guide groove on its inner side. The coil assembly is inserted along the guide groove, and epoxy potting compound fills and covers the top of the coil assembly to form an insulating liner.

5. The insertable sensor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rod contains a connecting wire for a miniature temperature sensor, electrode wires for the electrodes, and a connecting wire for the coil assembly, which are fixed inside the rod by filling it with epoxy potting compound.

6. The insertion sensor structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The probe is fitted with a probe mounting base, which has a cavity for receiving the probe assembly. The probe assembly can move up and down within the cavity and is secured by a probe rod locking nut.

7. The insertable sensor structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The rod and the probe mounting base are fitted with a sealing ring and a slotted retaining ring.

8. The insertion sensor structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The rod is welded and fixed to the welding connector, and a guide rod is welded to the welding connector along the direction of conductive medium flow; the rod is provided with readable scale values ​​from top to bottom.

9. An electromagnetic flowmeter employing the insertion sensor structure described in claim 8, characterized in that, The rod is inserted into the mounting ball valve, which is externally connected to a right-angle pressure tapping valve via a live nut connector. A pressure sensor is mounted on the right-angle pressure tapping valve. The pressure sensor, the miniature temperature sensor, and the electrodes are all electrically connected to the converter.

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