Water flow switch

Abstract

The utility model discloses a water flow switch which comprises a switch body and a magnetic induction assembly. The switch body comprises a shell, a movable part, a spring and a magnetic part, a movable cavity is formed in the shell, and the movable part is arranged in the movable cavity in a sliding mode; the shell comprises a water inlet and a water outlet; the movable part comprises a front rod body and a rear rod body, the magnetic part is arranged between the front rod body and the rear rod body, the front rod body movably penetrates through the water inlet, and the rear rod body movably penetrates through the water outlet; the spring is arranged in the movable cavity and tends to push the movable part to the water inlet. When water flow pushes the movable part to move towards the water outlet, the magnetic part triggers the magnetic induction assembly. The non-contact water flow detection function is achieved by separating the detection assembly from the water flow contact part, photoelectric conversion is replaced with magnetic field induction, and the assembly difficulty of a precise light path system is eliminated; dynamic matching of the water flow pressure and the magnetic induction state is achieved through the elastic reset mechanism, and the structural complexity and the maintenance cost are reduced while the detection sensitivity is ensured.

Description

A water flow switch Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fluid control technology, and in particular to a water flow switch. Background Technology

[0002] With the popularization and promotion of smart home appliances, flow switches, as an indispensable assistant in water control and automation design, have seen rapid growth in applications in industries such as water dispensers, water heaters, hot water systems, and boiler equipment, becoming core components. As a key component for detecting the flow state of media in pipelines, the structural design and reliability of flow switches directly affect the operational performance of automatic control systems.

[0003] Currently, water flow switches on the market are mainly divided into two categories: mechanical and electronic. Traditional mechanical water flow switches mostly use impeller or baffle structures, which open and close mechanical contacts through the impact of water flow. Although this device is low in cost, the mechanical contacts are prone to wear and oxidation after long-term use, leading to poor contact or even failure, and the sensitivity is significantly insufficient when detecting small flow rates. Electronic water flow switches, which have been developed in recent years, use a non-contact detection principle, specifically using water flow to push a light-blocking plate to change the state of a photoelectric sensor. However, this type of solution requires a sophisticated optical path system, resulting in complex structure and poor resistance to contamination, especially prone to false triggering in water flows containing impurities. These existing technologies generally suffer from technical defects such as difficulty in balancing sensitivity and reliability, high installation and maintenance costs, and insufficient adaptability to complex fluid environments, which urgently need to be improved through innovative design. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems mentioned in the background art, the purpose of this utility model is to propose a water flow switch that solves the problems of low sensitivity and poor compatibility of existing water flow switches.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A water flow switch includes a switch body and a magnetic sensing component, wherein the switch body is installed inside a pipeline and the magnetic sensing component is installed outside the pipeline.

[0007] The switch body includes a housing, a movable component, a spring, and a magnetic component. The housing has an internal movable cavity, and the movable component is slidably disposed within the movable cavity.

[0008] The housing includes an inlet and an outlet, which are respectively connected to the movable cavity;

[0009] The movable component includes a front rod and a rear rod, the magnetic component is disposed between the front rod and the rear rod, the front rod is movably inserted through the water inlet, and the rear rod is movably inserted through the water outlet;

[0010] The spring is disposed in the movable cavity, and the spring has a tendency to push the movable part toward the water inlet;

[0011] When the water flow pushes the movable part toward the outlet, the magnetic part triggers the magnetic sensing component.

[0012] Preferably, a receiving cavity is formed between the front rod and the rear rod, and the magnetic component is installed inside the receiving cavity.

[0013] Preferably, one end of the front rod is provided with a front housing of the receiving cavity, and one end of the rear rod is provided with a rear housing of the receiving cavity, and the front housing and the rear housing are assembled to form the receiving cavity.

[0014] Preferably, the housing is cylindrical and includes a front end shell, a rear end shell, and a side wall. The front end shell is integrally formed on the front end of the side wall, and the rear end shell is detachably installed on the rear end of the side wall.

[0015] The front end shell is provided with the water inlet, and the rear end shell is provided with the water outlet.

[0016] Preferably, the spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rear rod, one end of the spring is connected to the rear end shell, and the other end of the spring is connected to the rear shell of the receiving cavity.

[0017] Preferably, the bottom end face of the rear end shell is provided with an annular groove, the annular groove is coaxially arranged with the water outlet, and one end of the spring is disposed in the annular groove;

[0018] One end of the rear shell of the receiving cavity is recessed downwards and has an annular groove. The annular groove and the rear rod are located on the same end face of the rear shell of the receiving cavity. The annular groove and the rear rod are coaxially arranged. The other end of the spring is located in the annular groove.

[0019] Preferably, a sealing ring is fitted around the outer periphery of the sidewall.

[0020] Preferably, the outer side of the sidewall is provided with several hollowed-out portions.

[0021] Preferably, the outer side of the sidewall is provided with an arrow-shaped groove, which points from the front end shell to the rear end shell.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, one of the above technical solutions has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] By separating the detection component from the water flow contact part, a non-contact water flow detection function is achieved, eliminating the signal failure problem caused by mechanical contact wear; magnetic field induction is used to replace photoelectric conversion, eliminating the assembly difficulty of the precision optical path system; and a flexible reset mechanism is used to achieve dynamic matching between water flow pressure and magnetic induction state, ensuring detection sensitivity while reducing structural complexity, assembly difficulty and maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of an embodiment of the present invention and the pipeline;

[0025] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 3;

[0028] Figure 5 is an exploded view of Figure 4.

[0029] The components include: switch body 1, housing 11, movable cavity 110, front shell 111, inlet 1110, rear shell 112, outlet 1120, annular groove 1121, side wall 113, hollow part 1130, movable part 12, front rod body 121, receiving cavity 122, front shell of receiving cavity 1221, rear shell of receiving cavity 1222, annular groove 12221, rear rod body 123, spring 13, magnetic component 14, magnetic induction component 2, sealing ring 3, arrow-shaped groove 4, and pipe 9. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0031] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0032] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first," "second," and "third" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0033] It should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5 and through specific embodiments.

[0035] A water flow switch includes a switch body 1 and a magnetic sensing component 2. The switch body 1 is installed inside a pipe 9, and the magnetic sensing component 2 is installed outside the pipe 9.

[0036] The switch body 1 includes a housing 11, a movable component 12, a spring 13, and a magnetic component 14. The housing 11 has an internal movable cavity 110, and the movable component 12 is slidably disposed within the movable cavity 110.

[0037] The housing 11 includes an inlet 1110 and an outlet 1120, and the inlet 1110 and the outlet 1120 are respectively connected to the movable cavity 110;

[0038] The movable component 12 includes a front rod 121 and a rear rod 123. The magnetic component 14 is disposed between the front rod 121 and the rear rod 123. The front rod 121 is movably inserted through the water inlet 1110, and the rear rod 123 is movably inserted through the water outlet 1120.

[0039] The spring 13 is disposed in the movable cavity 110, and the spring 13 has a tendency to push the movable member 12 toward the water inlet 1110;

[0040] When the water flow pushes the movable part 12 toward the outlet 1120, the magnetic part 14 triggers the magnetic sensing component 2.

[0041] This invention combines non-contact detection with simplified assembly through a split-structure design. The magnetic induction component 2 is independently positioned outside the pipe 9, completely isolating it from the water flow environment and avoiding the contamination risk associated with traditional electronic flow switch pipe systems that require contact with fluid. The housing 11 contains a sealed structure with a movable cavity 110. The front rod 121 and rear rod 123 of the movable component 12 pass through the inlet 1110 and outlet 1120 respectively, forming a sliding fit. This allows the magnetic component 14, located between the front and rear rods 121 and 123, to undergo axial displacement with changes in water pressure. A spring 13, located within the movable cavity 110, ensures the automatic reset of the movable component 12 when the water pressure disappears and maintains the stability of the movement of the movable component 12 and the magnetic component 14 through elastic support. The spatial correspondence between the magnetic component 14 and the magnetic sensing component 2 is designed so that when the water flow pushes the movable component 12 to compress the spring 13, the magnetic induction is triggered. When the water flow stops, the spring 13 pushes to reset and release the induction. The whole process does not require mechanical contact friction and avoids the setting of precision optical paths, which improves the reliability of detection and simplifies the structure of the device.

[0042] Furthermore, a receiving cavity 122 is formed between the front rod 121 and the rear rod 123, and the magnetic element 14 is installed inside the receiving cavity 122.

[0043] By constructing a dedicated receiving cavity 122 between the front rod 121 and the rear rod 123, the magnetic component 14 is provided with three-dimensional spatial positioning protection. The magnetic component 14 is installed inside the receiving cavity 122, and the rod structure forms a full-circumferential mechanical barrier, effectively blocking the impact of water turbulence and the collision of solid particles.

[0044] Furthermore, one end of the front rod 121 is provided with a front housing 1221 for receiving cavity, and one end of the rear rod 123 is provided with a rear housing 1222 for receiving cavity. The front housing 1221 and the rear housing 1222 are assembled to form the receiving cavity 122.

[0045] Modular assembly is achieved by designing the receiving cavity 122 as a split assembly structure consisting of a front housing 1221 and a rear housing 1222. The front housing 1221 is directly connected to the front rod 121 and passes through the inlet 1110, while the rear housing 1222 is connected to the rear rod 123 and passes through the outlet 1120. This split design allows each part of the moving component 12 to be independently processed and assembled, reducing processing difficulty and assembly errors. The split structure allows for independent operation of the internal space of the receiving cavity 122 when installing the magnetic component 14, avoiding the difficulties of installing the magnetic component 14 in a narrow cavity as with an integral structure. The front rod 121 and the rear rod 123 are positioned through their respective inlets 1110 and outlets 1120, ensuring the axial movement accuracy of the moving component 12 within the moving cavity 110.

[0046] Furthermore, the housing 11 is cylindrical and includes a front end housing 111, a rear end housing 112, and a side wall 113. The front end housing 111 is integrally formed on the front end of the side wall 113, and the rear end housing 112 is detachably installed on the rear end of the side wall 113.

[0047] The front end shell 111 is provided with the water inlet 1110, and the rear end shell 112 is provided with the water outlet 1120.

[0048] The cylindrical shell 11 matches the circular cross-section of the pipe 9, reducing fluid flow resistance and improving the pressure resistance of the shell 11. The shell 11 consists of a front shell 111, a rear shell 112, and a side wall 113. The front shell 111 and side wall 113 are integrally molded, eliminating sealing issues caused by connection gaps and enhancing structural integrity. The rear shell 112 and side wall 113 are detachably connected, facilitating maintenance or replacement of components such as the movable cavity 110, movable parts 12, and springs 13 inside the shell 11. The side wall 113, as the main part connecting the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112, uses a different connection method to ensure the stability and sealing of the front structure while also enabling the detachable function of the rear structure, thus balancing long-term reliability and ease of maintenance.

[0049] Furthermore, the spring 13 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rear rod 123, one end of the spring 13 is connected to the rear end shell 112, and the other end of the spring 13 is connected to the rear shell 1222 of the receiving cavity.

[0050] By fitting spring 13 onto the outer periphery of the rear rod 123, the physical space of spring 13 and movable component 12 is integrated, avoiding the cumbersome installation and structural redundancy caused by the separation of spring and rod in traditional structures. This design ensures that the compression and reset directions of the spring are completely consistent with the axial movement of movable component 12, guaranteeing the linear deformation of spring 13 under water flow thrust, and limiting the radial offset of spring through the outer periphery support of rear rod 123, thereby improving operational stability. The design that the two ends of spring 13 are connected to the rear end shell 112 and the rear shell 1222 of the receiving cavity respectively ensures the automatic reset function of movable component 12 when water flow pressure disappears, and maintains the movement stability of magnetic component 14 through elastic support. In addition, the coaxial layout of spring 13 and rear rod 123 simplifies the assembly process, and the rear rod 123 serves as a guide structure for spring 13, preventing spring 13 from twisting or jamming due to uneven force, ensuring accurate triggering and reset of magnetic component 14 and magnetic induction component 2.

[0051] Furthermore, the bottom end face of the rear end shell 112 is provided with an annular groove 1121, the annular groove 1121 is coaxially arranged with the water outlet 1120, and one end of the spring 13 is disposed in the annular groove 1121;

[0052] One end of the rear shell 1222 of the receiving cavity is recessed downward with an annular groove 12221. The annular groove 12221 and the rear rod 123 are located on the same end face of the rear shell 1222 of the receiving cavity. The annular groove 12221 and the rear rod 123 are coaxially arranged. The other end of the spring 13 is located in the annular groove 12221.

[0053] This technical solution optimizes the installation stability of spring 13 through a dual positioning structure. Specifically, the annular groove 1121 on the bottom end face of the rear housing 112 is coaxial with the outlet 1120, forming a precise axial positioning reference and ensuring that one end of spring 13 obtains stable radial constraint inside the housing 11. At the same time, the annular groove 12221 on the end face of the rear housing 1222 of the receiving cavity is coaxial with the rear rod 123, giving the other end of spring 13 a symmetrical positioning structure. The synergistic effect of these two annular positioning features not only achieves precise axial alignment of the two ends of the spring, but also effectively prevents radial displacement of spring 13 during compression / rebound through the circumferential constraint characteristics of the annular groove. In particular, by setting the annular groove 12221 on the same end face of the rear housing 1222 of the receiving cavity and the rear rod 123, the supporting surface of spring 13 remains strictly perpendicular to the axis of motion of moving part 12, avoiding torsional stress in spring 13 during dynamic operation, thereby improving the service life of the elastic element.

[0054] Furthermore, a sealing ring 3 is fitted around the outer periphery of the sidewall 113.

[0055] By providing a sealing ring 3 around the outer periphery of the side wall 113 of the housing, the sealing connection between the housing 11 and the pipeline 9 is strengthened. This sealing ring 3 creates radial pressure around the outer surface of the side wall 113, preventing leakage caused by displacement of the housing 11 due to vibration during the operation of the flow switch. As the core pressure-bearing area where the housing 11 contacts the external pipeline 9, providing a sealing ring 3 here can specifically improve the sealing performance between the housing 11 and the pipeline 9.

[0056] Furthermore, the outer side of the sidewall 113 is provided with several hollowed-out portions 1130.

[0057] By providing a perforated portion 1130 on the outer side of the sidewall 113, a dual effect of structural weight reduction and fluid guidance is achieved. Specifically, the perforated portion 1130 effectively reduces the overall weight of the flow switch by partially removing material from the sidewall 113, while ensuring the overall structural strength of the housing 11. At the same time, the channel formed by the perforated portion 1130 allows the pipe 9 to generate convection in the cavity of the perforated portion 1130, which not only avoids the long-term deposition of impurities in the sealing ring 3, but also reduces the continuous pressure on the sealing ring 3 through dynamic airflow exchange.

[0058] Furthermore, the outer side of the sidewall 113 is provided with an arrow-shaped groove 4, which points from the front end shell 111 to the rear end shell 112.

[0059] By providing arrow-shaped grooves 4 in a specific direction on the outer side of the side wall 113, clear visual guidance is provided for the installation and maintenance of the flow switch. The design of the arrow-shaped grooves 4, pointing from the front housing 111 to the rear housing 112, directly relates to the consistency between the physical direction of the water flow driving the movable part 12 and the external installation direction. When the water flow drives the movable part 12 towards the rear housing 112, the magnetic element 14 and the magnetic sensing component 2 sense and trigger a signal; conversely, the sensing is canceled when the spring 13 resets. The introduction of the arrow-shaped grooves 4 allows installers to quickly identify the orientation of the flow switch body, avoiding ineffective sensing or abnormal reset of the magnetic sensing component 2 and magnetic element 14 due to misalignment, thereby ensuring the correct matching of the flow direction between the switch body 1 and the pipeline 9. The arrow-shaped grooves 4 not only simplify the installation process but also reduce the risk of mechanical failure caused by incorrect orientation, while providing an intuitive positioning reference for later maintenance.

[0060] The technical principles of this utility model have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are merely for explaining the principles of this utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model in any way. Based on this explanation, those skilled in the art can readily conceive of other specific embodiments of this utility model without any inventive effort, and these embodiments will all fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A flow switch, characterized in that: The device includes a switch body and a magnetic sensing component. The switch body is installed inside a pipeline, and the magnetic sensing component is installed outside the pipeline. The switch body includes a housing, a movable component, a spring, and a magnetic component. The housing has a movable cavity inside, and the movable component is slidably disposed within the movable cavity. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet, which are respectively connected to the movable cavity. The movable component includes a front rod and a rear rod, and the magnetic component is disposed between the front and rear rods. The front rod movably passes through the inlet, and the rear rod movably passes through the outlet. The spring is disposed in the movable cavity and has a tendency to push the movable component towards the inlet. When the water flow pushes the movable component to move towards the outlet, the magnetic component triggers the magnetic sensing component.

2. A flow switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: A receiving cavity is formed between the front rod and the rear rod, and the magnetic component is installed inside the receiving cavity.

3. A flow switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: One end of the front rod is provided with a front housing of the receiving cavity, and one end of the rear rod is provided with a rear housing of the receiving cavity. The front housing and the rear housing are assembled to form the receiving cavity.

4. A flow switch according to claim 3, characterized in that: The shell is cylindrical and includes a front shell, a rear shell, and a side wall. The front shell is integrally formed on the front end of the side wall, and the rear shell is detachably installed on the rear end of the side wall. The front shell is provided with the water inlet, and the rear shell is provided with the water outlet.

5. A flow switch according to claim 4, characterized in that: The spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rear rod, one end of the spring is connected to the rear end shell, and the other end of the spring is connected to the rear shell of the receiving cavity.

6. A flow switch according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom end face of the rear end shell is provided with an annular groove, which is coaxially arranged with the water outlet, and one end of the spring is located in the annular groove; one end face of the rear end shell of the receiving cavity is recessed with an annular groove, which is located on the same end face of the rear end shell of the receiving cavity as the rear rod body, and the annular groove is coaxially arranged with the rear rod body, and the other end of the spring is located in the annular groove.

7. A flow switch according to claim 4, characterized in that: A sealing ring is fitted around the outer periphery of the sidewall.

8. A flow switch according to claim 7, characterized in that: The outer side of the sidewall has several hollowed-out sections.

9. A flow switch according to claim 8, characterized in that: The outer side of the sidewall is provided with an arrow-shaped groove, which points from the front end shell to the rear end shell.

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