Valve chest monitoring system and valve chest

Abstract

The application relates to a valve box monitoring system and a valve box. In cooperation of a vibration sensor, a strain gauge and a control circuit, the valve box can only perform work time accumulation based on an electric signal output by the strain gauge when vibration signals of the valve box in three axial directions are all greater than a threshold value, so that the accuracy and reliability of valve box working state monitoring are greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of valve box monitoring technology, and in particular to a valve box monitoring system and a valve box. Background Technology

[0002] During operation, especially in hydraulic valve boxes, rapid changes in fluid velocity during valve opening, closing, or regulation can cause pressure fluctuations, leading to valve box vibration. A valve box monitoring system can detect this vibration. Traditionally, the monitoring system calculates pulsation signals to represent pressure changes during valve box operation; however, this calculation is prone to errors and has low accuracy. Utility Model Content

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a valve box monitoring system and valve box with high monitoring accuracy.

[0004] Firstly, a valve box monitoring system is provided, comprising:

[0005] Vibration sensors are used to collect vibration signals of the valve box in three axes;

[0006] Strain gauges are attached to the outer wall of the valve box.

[0007] The control circuit is connected to the vibration sensor and the strain gauge respectively. The control circuit is used to receive the electrical signal output by the strain gauge when the intensity of the vibration signal in all three axes is greater than the threshold. The electrical signal is used to characterize the deformation of the strain gauge.

[0008] The control circuit outputs the working duration, which is the duration for which the electrical signal is greater than or equal to a preset value.

[0009] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system further includes:

[0010] The signal conditioning circuit has multiple input terminals connected to the vibration sensor and strain gauge, respectively, and its output terminal connected to the control circuit.

[0011] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system further includes:

[0012] Wheatstone bridge;

[0013] The strain gauge is connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal of the Wheatstone bridge;

[0014] The control circuit is connected to the output terminal and the reference terminal of the Wheatstone bridge, respectively.

[0015] In one embodiment, the vibration sensor is a triaxial accelerometer.

[0016] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system further includes:

[0017] The housing has a receiving space to house the vibration sensor and control circuitry;

[0018] The strain gauge is positioned on one side of the outer shell of the valve box, where the housing contacts the outer shell.

[0019] In one embodiment, the housing includes:

[0020] The bottom cover is located near the outer shell of the valve box, and the strain gauge is mounted on the bottom cover;

[0021] The upper shell, together with the bottom cover, forms an accommodating space.

[0022] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system further includes:

[0023] The display module is connected to the control circuit; the display module is mounted on the housing.

[0024] In one embodiment, the display module communicates wirelessly with the control circuitry.

[0025] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system further includes:

[0026] Alarm module, the alarm module is connected to the control circuit;

[0027] The control circuit is also used to drive the alarm module to work when the working time is greater than or equal to the preset time.

[0028] Secondly, a valve box is provided, including a valve box body and the aforementioned valve box monitoring system.

[0029] The aforementioned valve box monitoring system and valve box, in conjunction with vibration sensors, strain gauges, and control circuits, can accumulate working time based on the electrical signals output by the strain gauges only when the intensity of the vibration signals of the valve box in all three axes is greater than the threshold, greatly improving the accuracy and reliability of monitoring the working status of the valve box. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is one of the structural block diagrams of a valve box monitoring system according to an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a second structural block diagram of a valve box monitoring system according to one embodiment;

[0033] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a valve box monitoring system according to one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application will be thorough and complete.

[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0036] It is understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application may be used herein to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, a first comparator may be referred to as a second comparator, and similarly, a second comparator may be referred to as a first comparator. Both the first comparator and the second comparator are comparators, but they are not the same comparator.

[0037] It is understood that the term "connection" in the following embodiments should be understood as "electrical connection," "communication connection," etc., if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc., have electrical signal or data transmission with each other.

[0038] It is understandable that "at least one" refers to one or more, and "multiple" refers to two or more. "At least a part of an element" refers to part or all of an element.

[0039] When used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” may also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” etc., specify the presence of the stated feature, whole, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0040] In one embodiment, a valve box monitoring system 10 includes: a vibration sensor 102, a strain gauge 104, and a control circuit 106.

[0041] The vibration sensor 102 is used to collect vibration signals of the valve box in three axes.

[0042] Strain gauge 104 is attached to the outer wall of the valve box.

[0043] When the valve box is in operation, the plunger inside reciprocates, creating a pressure difference within the valve box cavity. This pressure difference is fed back to the outer wall of the valve box, causing periodic deformation of the outer wall. When the strain gauge 104 is attached to the outer wall of the valve box, it can output an electrical signal when the outer wall of the valve box deforms.

[0044] The control circuit 106 is connected to the vibration sensor 102 and the strain gauge 104 respectively. The control circuit 106 is used to receive the electrical signal output by the strain gauge 104 when the intensity of the vibration signal in all three axes is greater than the threshold. The electrical signal is used to characterize the deformation of the strain gauge 104.

[0045] The control circuit 106 outputs the working duration, where the working duration is the length of time during which the electrical signal is greater than or equal to a preset value.

[0046] When the valve box is in operation, it will experience mechanical vibration. If the vibration sensor 102 can collect vibration signals from the valve box in three axes, it can be considered that the valve box is in operation. Specifically, the three axes can be understood as follows: Taking the center point of the vibration sensor 102 as the origin, and starting from the origin, establishing an xyz coordinate axis with a line parallel to the bottom plane of the vibration sensor 102 as the x-axis, a line perpendicular to the bottom plane of the vibration sensor 102 as the z-axis, and a line parallel to the xz plane as the y-axis. The vibration sensor 102 can collect vibration signals in the x, y, and z axes. When the intensity of the vibration signals from the vibration sensor 102 in the x, y, and z axes exceeds a threshold, the valve box can be considered open and in operation.

[0047] Furthermore, when multiple valve boxes are installed close together, a valve box in operation may cause a valve box in a non-operational state to vibrate simultaneously. However, the vibration force experienced by a valve box in a non-operational state is smaller, and the probability that the intensity of the vibration signal in its corresponding three axes is greater than the threshold is low. Therefore, the probability of misjudging a valve box in a non-operational state as one in operation is also reduced accordingly. Similarly, valve boxes equipped with this valve box monitoring system 10 can also effectively prevent misidentification during valve box transportation, improving the accuracy of monitoring.

[0048] Therefore, with the cooperation of the vibration sensor 102, strain gauge 104 and control circuit 106, the above-mentioned valve box detection system can accumulate working time based on the electrical signal output by strain gauge 104 only when the intensity of the vibration signal of the valve box in three axes is greater than the threshold, which greatly improves the accuracy and reliability of monitoring the working status of the valve box.

[0049] In one embodiment, the control circuit 106 includes a first comparator, a second comparator, a third comparator, an AND gate, and a switch.

[0050] The input terminal of the first comparator is connected to the first output terminal of the vibration sensor 102 to receive the vibration signal of the vibration sensor 102 in the x-axis direction. The reference terminal of the first comparator is used to receive a reference signal, which is a signal with a threshold intensity. The output terminal of the first comparator is connected to the first input terminal of the AND gate.

[0051] The input terminal of the second comparator is connected to the second output terminal of the vibration sensor 102 to receive the vibration signal of the vibration sensor 102 in the y-axis direction. The reference terminal of the second comparator is used to receive the reference signal. The output terminal of the second comparator is connected to the second input terminal of the AND gate.

[0052] The input terminal of the third comparator is connected to the third output terminal of the vibration sensor 102 to receive the vibration signal of the vibration sensor 102 in the z-axis direction. The reference terminal of the third comparator is used to receive the reference signal. The output terminal of the third comparator is connected to the third input terminal of the AND gate.

[0053] The controlled end of the switch is connected to the output end of the door, and the switch is connected in series in the path between the power supply and the strain gauge 104.

[0054] Based on this circuit architecture, the first comparator will only output a high level when the vibration signal intensity on the x-axis exceeds a threshold. Similarly, the second comparator will only output a high level when the vibration signal intensity on the y-axis exceeds a threshold, and the third comparator will only output a high level when the vibration signal intensity on the z-axis exceeds a threshold. The AND gate will only output a high level when all three comparators simultaneously output high levels. After the AND gate outputs a high level, it can trigger the closing of a switch, thereby powering on the strain gauge 104.

[0055] In one embodiment, the control circuit 106 further includes a fourth comparator and a timer.

[0056] The input terminal of the fourth comparator is connected to the output terminal of the strain gauge 104, and the reference terminal of the fourth comparator is connected to the deformation reference signal. The deformation reference signal is used to characterize the minimum deformation of the valve box under normal working conditions.

[0057] The input of the timer is connected to the output of the fourth comparator.

[0058] When the strength of the electrical signal output by strain gauge 104 is greater than or equal to the deformation reference signal, the valve box can be considered to be in normal working condition. At this time, the fourth comparator outputs a high level to the timer, and the timer starts counting. When the strength of the electrical signal output by strain gauge 104 is less than the deformation reference signal, the valve box can be considered to be in a stopped state. At this time, the fourth comparator outputs a low level to the timer, the timer stops counting, and the accumulated working time is output for the operator to check.

[0059] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the valve box monitoring system 10 also includes a signal conditioning circuit 108.

[0060] The signal conditioning circuit 108 has multiple input terminals connected to the vibration sensor 102 and the strain gauge 104, respectively, and the output terminal of the signal conditioning circuit 108 is connected to the control circuit 106.

[0061] The signal conditioning circuit 108 receives the vibration signal output by the vibration sensor 102 and processes the vibration signal to improve the quality of the vibration signal and ensure the accuracy and reliability of the vibration signal.

[0062] Similarly, the signal conditioning circuit 108 receives the electrical signal output by the strain gauge 104 and detects it. Since the plunger inside the valve box reciprocates, the outer wall of the valve box undergoes periodic deformation. The signal conditioning circuit 108 can detect whether the electrical signal output by the strain gauge 104 matches the periodic deformation of the valve box. If they match, the electrical signal output by the strain gauge 104 is output to the control circuit 106; otherwise, the electrical signal output by the strain gauge 104 is not output to the control circuit 106.

[0063] In one embodiment, the control circuit 106 may further include a main control chip.

[0064] The control terminal of the main control chip is connected to the controlled terminal of the strain gauge 104.

[0065] The strain gauge 104 can also be powered on by the main control chip to enable its operation. Specifically, the main control chip can be a low-power chip from the STM32F407 series. This chip can be configured to start once at preset intervals for a preset duration to provide continuous power to the strain gauge 104, thereby enabling the fourth comparator to receive the electrical signal output by the strain gauge 104. The main control chip can ensure the normal operation of the strain gauge 104 even in the event of a failure in the signal conditioning circuit 108, thus improving the reliability of the valve box monitoring system 10.

[0066] In one embodiment, the preset time can be 5 minutes, and the preset duration is 10 seconds. That is, every 5 minutes, the main control chip powers on the strain gauge 104, and the power-on duration is 10 seconds. If the fourth comparator can output a high level within these 10 seconds, causing the timer to start, it indicates that there is a circuit fault in the signal conditioning circuit 108. At this time, the staff can inspect and repair the signal conditioning circuit 108.

[0067] Furthermore, the power consumption of the low-power main control chip can be within 1W, and it can be configured with periodic low-power modes. In non-operating states, the main control chip can also enter a low-power state to reduce power consumption. Additionally, a main control chip that can maintain normal operation in temperature environments ranging from -40℃ to 85℃ can be selected to adapt to low-temperature environments.

[0068] In one embodiment, the main control chip can be fixed by copper pillars and fully sealed with silicone.

[0069] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system 10 further includes a Wheatstone bridge.

[0070] The strain gauge 104 is connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal of the Wheatstone bridge.

[0071] The control circuit 106 is connected to the output terminal of the Wheatstone bridge and the reference terminal of the Wheatstone bridge, respectively.

[0072] When strain gauge 104 does not detect deformation of the outer wall of the valve box, its resistance remains constant, and the Wheatstone bridge is balanced. At this time, the voltage output from the Wheatstone bridge to the control circuit 106 is 0. When strain gauge 104 detects deformation of the outer wall of the valve box, it undergoes a corresponding deformation, causing a change in its resistance. This disrupts the balance of the Wheatstone bridge, and the voltage output from the Wheatstone bridge to the control circuit 106 is proportional to the deformation of strain gauge 104.

[0073] For example, strain gauge 104 can be a strain gauge 104 of model BA350-5AA180 with a resistance of 350 ohms (Ω).

[0074] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system 10 further includes an amplifier circuit.

[0075] The input terminal of the amplifier circuit is connected to the output terminal of the Wheatstone bridge, and the output terminal of the discharge circuit is connected to the input terminal of the control circuit 106.

[0076] The output voltage generated by the strain gauge 104 of the Wheatstone bridge is amplified by the amplifier circuit and then input to the control circuit 106. This can eliminate any zero-point drift or offset, so that the output voltage can accurately reflect the strain corresponding to the strain gauge 104.

[0077] Furthermore, the amplifier circuit can employ a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter with a sampling resolution of 4096 bits to achieve low-power signal amplification.

[0078] In one embodiment, the vibration sensor 102 is a triaxial accelerometer.

[0079] The vibration sensor 102 can be a triaxial accelerometer of model ADXL345. This triaxial accelerometer has low power consumption, high resolution (13 bits), a measurement range of ±16g, and output data in 16-bit binary two's complement format. It can be accessed through a 3-wire or 4-wire SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) or I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) digital interface, making it easy to use.

[0080] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system 10 further includes a housing.

[0081] The housing has a receiving space to accommodate the vibration sensor 102 and the control circuit 106.

[0082] The housing can integrate and encapsulate the valve box monitoring system 10, thereby protecting the modules installed inside the housing.

[0083] The strain gauge 104 is positioned on one side of the housing that contacts the outer shell of the valve box.

[0084] The strain gauge 104 is positioned close to the outer shell of the valve box, enabling it to accurately sense the deformation of the outer wall of the valve box, thereby improving the accuracy of the valve box monitoring system 10.

[0085] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the housing includes a bottom cover 110 and an upper housing 112.

[0086] The bottom cover 110 is located near the outer shell of the valve box, and the strain gauge 104 is mounted on the bottom cover 110.

[0087] The upper shell 112 and the bottom cover 110 fit together to form an accommodating space.

[0088] The upper housing 112 and the bottom cover 110 can be secured together using multiple screws and a corresponding number of nuts. This screw and nut fixing method facilitates disassembly and allows for easy maintenance and repair of the valve box monitoring system 10. Alternatively, the upper housing 112 and the bottom cover 110 can be fixed together by welding, thereby improving the stability of the fixation.

[0089] For example, in addition to the vibration sensor 102 and the control circuit 106, the power supply for providing electrical signals to the valve box monitoring system 10 can also be installed inside the housing.

[0090] In one embodiment, the strain gauge 104 can be attached to the bottom cover 110 by an adhesive.

[0091] In one embodiment, the power source can be a lithium battery. After the lithium battery is depleted, it can be recharged and reused, thereby reducing battery pollution.

[0092] In one embodiment, the power source can also be a low-temperature ternary lithium battery. This battery can provide power in a low-temperature environment of -40°C, thereby maintaining the normal operation of the valve box monitoring system 10.

[0093] In one embodiment, the power supply can use a flexible film as the external encapsulation material to improve the portability of the battery.

[0094] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the valve box monitoring system 10 also includes a display module 114.

[0095] The display module 114 is connected to the control circuit; the display module 114 is mounted on the housing.

[0096] The display module 114 receives and displays the operating time output by the control circuit 106, allowing operators to read the operating time of the valve box by directly observing the display module 114 installed on the housing.

[0097] The display module 114 can be directly integrated into the housing, forming a unified design. The display module 114 can also be mounted on the housing, allowing each worker to adjust the mounting angle of the display module 114 to suit their own reading angle, thereby improving the comfort of the worker during reading work.

[0098] In one embodiment, the display module 114 communicates wirelessly with the control circuit 106.

[0099] With the display module 114 communicating wirelessly with the control circuit 106, operators can read the working time from a location far from the valve box monitoring system 10, improving work flexibility.

[0100] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system 10 may further include a communication module.

[0101] The communication module is used to connect to the terminal.

[0102] The control circuit 106 is also used to output the working time to the communication module. After obtaining the working time, the communication module can transmit the working time to the terminal connected to it, so that the staff can perform statistical processing on the working time on the terminal.

[0103] In one embodiment, the communication module can be a 4G (4th generation mobile communication technology) communication module, model WH-LTE-7S1. This module supports the LTE Cat-1 (Long Term Evolution Category 1) network standard, with a maximum download speed of 10 Mbps and a maximum upload speed of 5 Mbps, providing low-latency data transmission beneficial for real-time data processing. The module is small in size and its packaging is compatible with both 2G (2nd generation mobile communication technology) and NB (Narrowband Internet of Things) module designs, facilitating integration. It also supports dual-mode communication of LTE Cat.1 and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), enhancing network connection reliability. Furthermore, the module can directly transmit data from a serial port, such as a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter), to the network, simplifying data transmission and enhancing system reliability. The communication module also supports a keep-alive mechanism, which can periodically send signals to keep the connection active and prevent it from disconnecting due to timeout, thereby enhancing connection stability.

[0104] In one embodiment, the communication module can also be a Bluetooth communication module. Bluetooth communication enables data transmission in areas without signal coverage.

[0105] In one embodiment, the communication module can also be a communication module that supports the LoRa (Long Range) scheme to perform long-distance, low-power data reading.

[0106] In one embodiment, the valve box monitoring system 10 further includes an alarm module.

[0107] The alarm module is connected to the control circuit 106.

[0108] The control circuit 106 is also used to drive the alarm module to work when the working time is greater than or equal to the preset time.

[0109] The alarm module can be an audible and visual alarm device such as a light bulb or a buzzer. Specifically, driven by the control circuit 106, an alarm module including a light bulb can alert staff by keeping the bulb constantly lit or flashing; an alarm module including a buzzer can alert staff by emitting a sound.

[0110] The preset duration can be determined based on the valve box's service life. The valve box's service life can be determined according to its instruction manual. When the valve box's operating time is greater than or equal to 90% of its service life, it can be considered that the valve box poses a risk of failure and needs to be replaced. At this point, personnel can obtain this information through the alarm module. Of course, the preset duration can also be 95% of the service life, 98% of the service life, etc.

[0111] In one embodiment, a valve box includes a valve box body and the valve box monitoring system 10 described above.

[0112] Without the need for other human or material resources, the valve box equipped with the valve box monitoring system 10 can achieve self-monitoring of the valve box and obtain reliable monitoring results.

[0113] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "some embodiments," "other embodiments," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or examples.

[0114] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0115] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A valve box monitoring system, characterized in that, include: Vibration sensors are used to collect vibration signals of the valve box in three axes; Strain gauge, the strain gauge being attached to the outer wall of the valve box; A control circuit is connected to the vibration sensor and the strain gauge respectively. The control circuit is used to receive the electrical signal output by the strain gauge when the intensity of the vibration signal in the three axes is greater than a threshold. The electrical signal is used to characterize the deformation of the strain gauge. The control circuit outputs a working duration, wherein the working duration is the duration for which the electrical signal is greater than or equal to a preset value.

2. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A signal conditioning circuit, wherein multiple input terminals of the signal conditioning circuit are respectively connected to the vibration sensor and the strain gauge, and the output terminal of the signal conditioning circuit is connected to the control circuit.

3. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Wheatstone bridge; The strain gauge is connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal of the Wheatstone bridge. The control circuit is connected to the output terminal and the reference terminal of the Wheatstone bridge, respectively.

4. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vibration sensor is a triaxial accelerometer.

5. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A housing having a receiving space to accommodate the vibration sensor and the control circuitry; The strain gauge is positioned on the side of the housing that contacts the outer shell of the valve box.

6. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing includes: A bottom cover is disposed near the outer shell of the valve box, and the strain gauge is mounted on the bottom cover; The upper housing, which mates with the bottom cover, forms the receiving space.

7. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: The display module is connected to the control circuit and is mounted on the housing.

8. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The display module communicates wirelessly with the control circuit.

9. The valve box monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An alarm module is connected to the control circuit. The control circuit is also used to drive the alarm module to work when the working duration is greater than or equal to a preset duration.

10. A valve box, characterized in that, It includes the valve box body and the valve box monitoring system according to any one of claims 1-9.

Images