Device for testing ultrasonic flowmeter of intelligent fire hydrant

Abstract

The utility model provides a device for testing an ultrasonic flowmeter of an intelligent fire hydrant, which comprises a control module, a water inlet pipe section, an assembly pipe section, a water outlet pipe section, a water pump and a linear execution module, the axes of the mounting grooves intersect with the center line of the assembly pipe section, the linear execution modules are correspondingly arranged at groove openings of the pair of mounting grooves respectively, the control module controls the linear execution modules to push the transducers into or pull the transducers out of the mounting grooves, the whole fire hydrant does not need to be mounted on a water testing pipeline, and the mounting efficiency is improved. Rapid detection of the ultrasonic flowmeter of the intelligent fire hydrant is realized, and the testing and maintenance cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fire hydrants, and in particular to a device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants. Background Technology

[0002] Smart fire hydrants are modern fire protection facilities based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology. They integrate sensors, communication modules, and data analysis systems to upgrade traditional fire hydrants to intelligent operation. Their core functions include real-time flow monitoring, water pressure sensing, leak warning, and remote status monitoring. They typically incorporate high-precision flow meters, pressure sensors, and positioning devices, and utilize low-power communication technologies such as NB-IoT and LoRa to transmit operational data to a cloud management platform in real time. Compared to traditional fire hydrants, smart fire hydrants can accurately record water consumption data, automatically identify abnormal water usage behavior (such as unauthorized opening or pipe bursts), and quickly locate fault points through visual maps, significantly improving the efficiency of fire protection network maintenance. This equipment has significant application value in smart city fire protection systems and industrial park security, effectively solving the "information silo" problem of traditional fire hydrants through data interconnection and providing a digital solution for fire water supply supervision.

[0003] Currently, smart fire hydrant manufacturers generally use the following testing method when testing the flow monitoring function: install the smart fire hydrant to be tested into the test water pipe, start a high-power water pump to make the water pressure reach the predetermined value and then conduct a water discharge test. Subsequently, compare the water consumption data reported by the smart fire hydrant with the reading of the standard flow meter installed on the test water pipe to determine whether the flow monitoring function is normal.

[0004] Analysis revealed the following shortcomings in the existing technology:

[0005] (1) High testing cost: A single test requires the completion of the entire process of intelligent fire hydrant installation, water pump start-up, pressure stabilization operation and water discharge test, involving multiple high-cost links such as equipment installation, high-power water pump operation and pressure stabilization operation.

[0006] (2) Low testing efficiency: Due to the limited capacity of the test water pipe, the intelligent fire hydrant needs to be tested in sequence, and it takes a long time for the water pump to start and reach the test water pressure. The equipment disassembly and assembly process also takes a long time.

[0007] (3) High maintenance costs: When the flow meter malfunctions, the smart fire hydrant must be removed from the test pipe before maintenance can be performed, which reduces the efficiency of fault repair. Utility Model Content

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to provide a device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants, which can solve the problems of high cost, low efficiency and high maintenance cost of existing testing methods.

[0009] The utility model provides a kind of device for intelligent fire hydrant ultrasonic flowmeter test, including control module, water inlet pipe section, assembly pipe section, water outlet pipe section, water pump and linear execution module;The control module is electrically connected with water pump and linear execution module respectively, the water inlet end of the water pump is connected with water source, the water outlet end of the water pump is connected with water inlet pipe section, the water inlet pipe section is connected with water outlet pipe section by the assembly pipe section;One pair of mounting groove for installing transducer of ultrasonic flowmeter is equipped on the assembly pipe section, the axis of the mounting groove intersects with the center line of assembly pipe section, the slot mouth of one pair of the mounting groove is respectively correspondingly provided with the linear execution module, and linear execution module is pushed into or pulled out mounting groove by control module control.

[0010] Further, the linear execution module includes an air compressor and a pneumatic push rod, and the driving end of the pneumatic push rod is used to drive the transducer of the ultrasonic flowmeter to move linearly.

[0011] Further, the pair of mounting grooves are oppositely arranged on the opposite sides of the outer wall of the assembly pipe section and are crossly arranged at a certain angle with the assembly pipe section.

[0012] Further, it further includes a track groove, the track groove is arranged along the direction of the pair of mounting grooves, the two ends of the track groove are respectively fixed with the pneumatic push rod, and the driving end of the pneumatic push rod is connected with a fixing member for fixing the transducer.

[0013] Further, the fixing member includes a U-shaped part, one side of the U-shaped part is fixedly connected with the driving end of the pneumatic push rod, the other side is provided with an opening, the outer side of the opening is fixedly connected with a limiting part, the top of the limiting part is provided with an opening, and the opening and the opening are used for the transducer of the ultrasonic flowmeter to pass through and be placed in the limiting part.

[0014] Further, it further includes a water tank, the water tank is arranged below the assembly pipe section, the water tank is respectively provided with a water inlet and a drain, the water inlet end of the water inlet pipe section is connected to the lower part of the water tank, and the water outlet end of the water outlet pipe section is connected to the upper part of the water tank.

[0015] Further, it further includes a storage tray, the storage tray is fixedly connected with the water tank and is horizontally arranged.

[0016] Further, the control module is fixed on one side of the outer wall of the water tank.

[0017] Different from the prior art, the technical scheme comprises a control module, a water inlet pipe section, an assembly pipe section, a water outlet pipe section, a water pump and a linear execution module, a pair of mounting grooves for mounting transducers of an ultrasonic flowmeter are arranged on the assembly pipe section, the axis of the mounting groove intersects the center line of the assembly pipe section, the slot openings of the pair of mounting grooves are respectively provided with the linear execution modules, the linear execution modules are controlled by the control module to push or pull the transducers into or out of the mounting groove, the fire hydrant does not need to be installed on the water testing pipe, the ultrasonic flowmeter of the intelligent fire hydrant is quickly detected, and the testing and maintenance costs are reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 A structural front view of a device for testing an ultrasonic flowmeter of an intelligent fire hydrant according to the specific embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 A structural front view of a device for testing an ultrasonic flowmeter of an intelligent fire hydrant according to the specific embodiment;

[0020] Figure 3 A structural front view of a device for testing an ultrasonic flowmeter of an intelligent fire hydrant according to the specific embodiment;

[0021] Figure 4 A partial structural perspective view of a device for testing an ultrasonic flowmeter of an intelligent fire hydrant according to the specific embodiment;

[0022] Figure 5 A structural front view of a device for testing an ultrasonic flowmeter of an intelligent fire hydrant according to the specific embodiment;

[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] 10, control module; 20, water inlet pipe section; 21, assembly pipe section; 211, mounting groove; 22, water outlet pipe section; 30, water pump; 40, linear execution module; 401, air compressor; 402, pneumatic push rod; 50, track groove; 60, fixing piece; 601, U-shaped part; 602, notch; 603, limiting part; 604, opening; 70, water tank; 701, water inlet; 702, drain; 80, storage tray. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to describe the technical content, structural features, purposes and effects of the technical scheme in detail, the following will be described in detail in combination with specific embodiments and the drawings.

[0026] The term "embodiment" is mentioned in this document means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The term "embodiment" appearing in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it particularly limit its independence or association with other embodiments. In principle, in this application, as long as there is no technical contradiction or conflict, the technical features mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any way to form a corresponding implementable technical solution.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, the meaning of the technical terms used in this document is the same as that generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present application belongs; the use of related terms in this document is only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present application.

[0028] In the description of the present application, the phrase "and / or" is used to describe the logical relationship between the objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which means that there are three cases: A exists, B exists, and A and B exist at the same time. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally represents the logical relationship of "or" between the associated objects before and after.

[0029] In this application, such as "first" and "second", the terms are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual quantity, primary and secondary or order relationship between the entities or operations.

[0030] In this application, without more limitation, the "includes", "contains", "has" or other similar expressions used in the sentence are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, and these expressions do not exclude the presence of other elements in the process, method or product including the described elements, so that the process, method or product including a series of elements can not only include those limited elements, but also include other elements not explicitly listed, or also include the elements inherent in such process, method or product.

[0031] In this application, "greater than", "less than", "exceed" and other expressions are understood as not including the number; "above", "below", "within" and other expressions are understood as including the number. In addition, the meaning of "multiple" in the description of the embodiments of the present application is more than two (including two), and similar expressions related to "multiple" are also understood in this way, for example, "multiple groups", "multiple times" and the like, unless otherwise explicitly limited.

[0032] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the spatial relative expressions, such as "central", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "vertical", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", and the like, indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the specific embodiments or the drawings, and are only used to facilitate the description of the specific embodiments of the present application or to facilitate the reader's understanding, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the indicated device or element must have a particular position, a particular orientation, or be constructed or operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0033] Unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, the terms "mount", "connect", "connection", "fix", "set", and the like used in the description of the embodiments of the present application should be interpreted broadly. For example, the "connection" can be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or integral setting; it can be mechanical connection, or electrical connection, or communication connection; it can be direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art of the present application, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0034] It needs to be explained that the ultrasonic flow meter of the new type is to realize flow detection by measuring the change of ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics in flowing liquid. Its core working process is based on time difference method or Doppler effect principle. In the application of time difference method, two transducers are symmetrically installed at a specific angle on the outer wall of the pipeline, respectively as ultrasonic wave transmitter and receiver. When the fluid is static, the propagation speed of ultrasonic wave in the downstream and upstream directions is the same; when the fluid flows, the sound wave in the downstream direction will be accelerated due to the water flow, and the sound wave in the upstream direction will be decelerated, resulting in a propagation time difference. The precise timing circuit measures this micro time difference (usually in nanoseconds), and combines the known pipeline diameter and the geometric parameters of the sound wave propagation path, so as to calculate the flow rate. For the medium containing suspended particles, the Doppler effect is used: the transducer transmits ultrasonic waves of fixed frequency, and the particles in the fluid will cause the frequency of the reflected wave to shift, and the flow rate can be calculated by detecting the frequency change. The whole process is calculated by the built-in microprocessor in real time, and the influence of environmental factors such as temperature and pressure on sound velocity is automatically compensated, and finally the accurate instantaneous flow and cumulative flow values are output. This non-contact measurement method is particularly suitable for intelligent fire hydrant system, which can not only avoid damaging the pipeline structure, but also realize long-term stable monitoring in high pressure environment. The specific structure of ultrasonic flow meter can refer to the following models: Badger Meter Dynasonics TFX-5000; Siemens FUE1010 Fire Protection Series; KROHNE WATERFLUX3070F.

[0035] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 The embodiment provides a device for testing ultrasonic flow meter of intelligent fire hydrant, which comprises a control module 10, a water inlet pipe section 20, an assembly pipe section 21, a water outlet pipe section 22, a water pump 30 and a linear execution module 40; the control module 10 is electrically connected with the water pump 30 and the linear execution module 40 respectively, the water inlet end of the water pump 30 is connected with a water source, the water outlet end of the water pump 30 is connected with the water inlet pipe section 20, the water inlet pipe section 20 is connected with the water outlet pipe section 22 through the assembly pipe section 21; a pair of mounting grooves 211 for mounting transducers of ultrasonic flow meter are arranged on the assembly pipe section 21, the axis of the mounting groove 211 intersects with the center line of the assembly pipe section 21, a pair of mounting grooves 211 are respectively provided with the linear execution module 40 at the groove opening, and the linear execution module 40 is controlled by the control module 10 to push or pull the transducer into or out of the mounting groove 211. It needs to be explained that the electric connection is realized in the new type, in order not to affect the display of the structure, most of the connection lines are hidden in the drawings, and the air pipes of the air compressor 401 and the pneumatic push rod 402 are the same, and the connection mode of the related electric connection and air connection can refer to the prior art.

[0036] The control module 10 can adopt a microprocessor, for example, an STM32H743 microprocessor as the core, integrated with a high-precision pressure acquisition chip and a motor driving chip. The pressure feedback unit acquires the pipe section water pressure data in real time through the pressure transmitter, inputs the PID control algorithm after noise reduction by the digital filter, and outputs the PWM signal to dynamically adjust the frequency of the three-phase frequency converter of the water pump 30, so as to realize the stable water pressure within the reasonable fluctuation range of the set value. The linear execution unit can detect the displacement by adding a magnetic encoder, combine the feedback signal of the contact force sensor, adopt a fuzzy control algorithm to automatically adjust the feeding speed of the transducer, ensure that the transducer assembly pressure is stable within the appropriate range, and avoid damage to the transducer due to excessive pressure. In addition, a PLC controller can also be used, and the control process is similar to the aforementioned microprocessor.

[0037] In some embodiments, the linear execution module 40 includes an air compressor 401 and a pneumatic push rod 402, and the driving end of the pneumatic push rod 402 is used to drive the transducer of the ultrasonic flowmeter to move linearly. Specifically, the pneumatic linear drive is adopted, and the extension and retraction movement of the cylinder piston rod is controlled by the electromagnetic valve. The end of the push rod can be provided with an elastic buffer head and the transducer is connected through a buckle structure, or other limiting mechanisms can be used for connection, and the propulsion force is controlled within a safe range by adjusting the pressure regulating valve of the gas circuit. The linear execution module 40 only needs to realize the functions of one-way propulsion and reset: when receiving the propulsion control signal from the control module 10, the cylinder smoothly pushes the transducer into the mounting groove 211 at a constant speed until the detection position; when the reverse action is performed, the push rod is retracted by excluding the gas in the pneumatic chamber, so that the transducer moves reversely and is separated from the mounting groove 211. Further, a mechanical position indicator can be configured to limit the insertion depth of the transducer to meet the basic assembly positioning requirements. This scheme is simple and reliable. In other embodiments, the linear execution module 40 can also include a motor and an electric push rod, which adopts a micro DC motor to drive a worm and gear transmission mechanism, and converts the rotary motion into linear displacement through a screw nut. The front end of the push rod is provided with a guide groove matched with the outer contour of the transducer, and an overload protection circuit is built-in to automatically cut off the power supply. The control module 10 outputs a fixed duty ratio PWM signal to make the push rod execute one-degree-of-freedom linear motion at a constant low speed. The transducer is detected by a simple microswitch when the contact is pressed and closed, and the propulsion is immediately stopped. The system realizes the disassembly of the transducer through spring reset, and the assembly contact pressure is maintained within a reasonable range.

[0038] In some embodiments, a pair of mounting grooves 211 are oppositely arranged on opposite sides of the outer wall of the assembly pipe section 21 and are arranged at an angle with the assembly pipe section 21. In order to make the detection result of the ultrasonic flowmeter accurate and stable, the axis of the mounting groove 211 and the center line of the pipeline are usually designed to have an angle in the range of 45°-60°. The angle is set based on the optimization requirement of the ultrasonic propagation path: when the transducer is embedded in the pipe wall at this angle, according to the calculation of the sound refraction angle according to Snell's Law, the ultrasonic beam can effectively cover the center layer flow area of the pipeline, while avoiding the interference of near-wall turbulence; a smaller angle (such as <45°) will result in a too short sound propagation path and reduce the flow rate detection sensitivity, and a larger angle (such as >60°) will cause excessive attenuation of ultrasonic waves at the pipe wall-fluid interface, resulting in a decrease in signal strength. In addition, this angle range is compatible with the mechanical structure limitation of the standard interface of the fire hydrant, ensuring that the outer contour of the transducer remains flush with the body of the fire hydrant after installation, avoiding damage to protruding parts in outdoor environments.

[0039] Further, a track groove 50 is also included, which is arranged in the direction of a pair of mounting grooves 211. The two ends of the track groove 50 are respectively fixed with the pneumatic push rod 402, and the driving end of the pneumatic push rod 402 is connected with a fixing member 60 for fixing the transducer. The track groove 50 has a U-shaped structure, the inner wall of which can be provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene wear-resistant slide rail and extends in parallel with the axis of the mounting groove 211. The two ends of the track groove 50 are fixed with the pneumatic push rod 402, and the driving end of the push rod is connected with the fixing member. The fixing member can include a V-shaped positioning seat (with a silica gel anti-skid pad embedded) and a spring pin type self-locking quick-release mechanism. The transducer is placed in the seat and locked by the spring pin. The double push rods are synchronously pushed along the track until the mechanical limit switch is triggered to complete the assembly. This design realizes the precise embedding of the transducer without deflection by restricting the movement trajectory through track guidance, compensating for the deviation by using a universal coupling, and synchronously pressing by using double push rods. At the same time, the quick-release mechanism is used to simplify the assembly and disassembly process, and the modular structure can adapt to different pipe diameter testing requirements, effectively improving the assembly reliability and operation convenience. In order to reduce costs and simplify the structure, in some embodiments, the fixing member includes a U-shaped part 601, one side of the U-shaped part 601 is fixedly connected with the driving end of the pneumatic push rod 402, the other side is provided with an opening 602, the outer side of the opening 602 is fixedly connected with a limiting part 603, the top of the limiting part 603 is provided with an opening 604, and the opening 602 and the opening 604 are used for passing the transducer of the ultrasonic flowmeter and placing the transducer in the limiting part 603. The base of the transducer can be placed inside the U-shaped part 601, and the detection end of the transducer can be clamped into the limiting part 603, thereby realizing the fixation of the transducer. When the pneumatic push rod 402 is elongated or contracted, the two side surfaces of the U-shaped part 601 can push the transducer to move linearly.

[0040] In some embodiments, a water tank 70 is further included, which is arranged below the assembly pipe section 21, and the water tank 70 is respectively provided with a water inlet 701 and a water outlet 702, the water inlet end of the water inlet pipe section 20 is connected to the lower part of the water tank 70, and the water outlet end of the water outlet pipe section 22 is connected to the upper part of the water tank 70. By arranging the water tank 70, a sufficient amount of circulating water can be input through the water inlet before testing, and by starting the water pump 30, the water in the water tank 70 can pass through the water inlet pipe section 20, the assembly pipe section 21 and the water outlet pipe section 22 and then return to the water tank 70, forming an internal circulation, which greatly reduces the amount of water used for testing, reduces costs and saves energy.

[0041] In some embodiments, a storage tray 80 is further included, which is fixedly connected with the water tank 70 and arranged horizontally. The storage tray 80 is used for placing the main body of the ultrasonic flowmeter, which facilitates the detection of the staff and improves the efficiency.

[0042] In some embodiments, the control module 10 is fixed to one side outer wall of the water tank 70. This facilitates the control of the staff and improves the integration.

[0043] The working process of the novel device is as follows: first, open the water inlet of the water tank, input a sufficient amount of water for testing, and then close the water inlet. The ultrasonic flowmeter to be tested for the intelligent fire hydrant is placed on the storage tray and electrically connected with the control module, a pair of transducers is installed in the fixing member, the air compressor is started by the control module, the pneumatic push rod is controlled to push the fixing member to drive the transducers to move linearly along the direction of the track groove, and the movement stops when the transducers are pushed into the detection position in the installation groove, thereby completing the assembly of the ultrasonic flowmeter. The water pump and the ultrasonic flowmeter are started by the control module, so that the assembly pipeline is filled with stable water flow, the data of the ultrasonic flowmeter is collected, after the test is completed, the water pump is closed by the control module, the pneumatic push rod is controlled to retract so that the transducers are separated from the installation groove, the transducers are taken out, and the next ultrasonic flowmeter to be tested is replaced to repeat the foregoing operation.

[0044] The utility model discloses a control module, water inlet pipe section, assembly pipe section, water outlet pipe section, water pump and linear execution module, be provided with a pair of installation groove for installing the transducer of ultrasonic flowmeter on the assembly pipe section, the axis of installation groove crosses the center line of assembly pipe section, a pair of slot mouth of installation groove is corresponding respectively to set linear execution module, pushes in or draws out installation groove through control module control linear execution module transducer, need not to install the fire hydrant whole plug on the water testing pipeline, realizes the quick detection of the ultrasonic flowmeter of intelligent fire hydrant, has reduced test and maintenance cost.

[0045] It should be noted that although the above embodiments have been described herein, the patent protection scope of the utility model is not limited thereby. Therefore, based on the innovative concept of the utility model, the changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein, or the equivalent structures or equivalent process transformations made by using the contents of the utility model specification and drawings, directly or indirectly apply the above technical solutions to other related technical fields, are all included in the protection scope of the utility model patent.

Claims

1. A device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants, characterized in that: The system includes a control module, an inlet pipe section, an assembly pipe section, an outlet pipe section, a water pump, and a linear actuator module. The control module is electrically connected to both the water pump and the linear actuator module. The inlet end of the water pump is connected to a water source, and the outlet end of the water pump is connected to the inlet pipe section. The inlet pipe section is connected to the outlet pipe section via the assembly pipe section. The assembly pipe section has a pair of mounting slots for installing transducers of ultrasonic flow meters. The axis of the mounting slots intersects the center line of the assembly pipe section. The linear actuator module is positioned at the opening of each mounting slot. The control module controls the linear actuator module to push or pull the transducer into or out of the mounting slot.

2. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linear actuator module includes an air compressor and a pneumatic push rod. The drive end of the pneumatic push rod is used to drive the transducer of the ultrasonic flow meter to move linearly.

3. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 2, characterized in that: A pair of mounting slots are disposed opposite each other on the outer wall of the assembly pipe section and are arranged at a certain angle to the assembly pipe section.

4. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a track groove, which is arranged along the direction of a pair of mounting grooves. The pneumatic push rods are fixed at both ends of the track groove, and the driving end of the pneumatic push rods is connected to a fixing member for fixing the transducer.

5. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fixing component includes a U-shaped part, one side of which is fixedly connected to the drive end of the pneumatic push rod, and the other side is provided with a notch. A limiting part is fixedly connected to the outside of the notch, and the top of the limiting part is provided with an opening. The notch and the opening are used for the transducer of the ultrasonic flow meter to pass through and be placed in the limiting part.

6. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a water tank, which is located below the assembly pipe section. The water tank is provided with an inlet and a outlet. The inlet end of the inlet pipe section is connected to the lower part of the water tank, and the outlet end of the outlet pipe section is connected to the upper part of the water tank.

7. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a storage tray, which is fixedly connected to the water tank and is horizontally positioned.

8. The device for testing ultrasonic flow meters in intelligent fire hydrants according to claim 6, characterized in that: The control module is fixed to one side of the outer wall of the water tank.

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