Gas meter

Abstract

This application provides a gas meter. The gas meter includes: a meter housing having a receiving cavity and an assembly port communicating with the receiving cavity, the assembly port being used to connect to an external pipeline; a gas valve including: a valve frame fixed within the receiving cavity, the valve frame including a valve chamber and an airflow channel communicating with the valve chamber, the airflow channel communicating with the assembly port, and a pressure tapping port on the side wall of the airflow channel; a valve core movably disposed within the valve chamber, the valve core being used to open and close the valve chamber; and a pressure detection device disposed on the valve frame, the pressure detection device being adapted to detect the pressure within the airflow channel through the pressure tapping port. The gas meter of this application, by placing the pressure detection device on the valve frame inside the meter housing, avoids making openings in the meter housing, thus improving the safety of the gas meter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of gas metering device technology, and in particular to a gas meter. Background Technology

[0002] Ensuring the safety and reliability of gas meters is paramount in their application. While the primary function of a gas meter is to measure and record gas consumption, leak detection is also a critical safety requirement in practical use.

[0003] Traditional leak detection methods typically involve drilling a hole in the gas meter housing to install a pressure sensor to monitor changes in internal pressure. This method can effectively detect pressure changes inside the gas meter, thereby determining whether a leak exists.

[0004] However, creating openings in the casing weakens the structural integrity of the gas meter, increasing potential leak points. This can not only lead to gas leaks but also affect the meter's durability and lifespan. Furthermore, the sealing process after creating the opening needs to be extremely precise to ensure that poor sealing does not lead to further leaks. Additionally, the method of installing sensors through openings may increase the complexity and cost of manufacturing and maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application provides a gas meter that, by placing the pressure detection device on the valve frame inside the meter housing, avoids making holes in the meter housing, reduces the possibility of leakage points at the installation location of the pressure detection device, and helps improve the structural integrity of the gas meter housing, thereby improving the safety of the gas meter in use.

[0006] This application provides a gas meter, comprising: a meter housing having a receiving cavity and an assembly port communicating with the receiving cavity, the assembly port being used to connect to an external pipeline; a gas valve comprising: a valve frame fixed within the receiving cavity, the valve frame including a valve chamber and an airflow channel communicating with the valve chamber, the airflow channel communicating with the assembly port, and a pressure tapping port on the side wall of the airflow channel; a valve core movably disposed within the valve chamber, the valve core being used to open and close the valve chamber; and a pressure detection device disposed on the valve frame, the pressure detection device being adapted to detect the pressure within the airflow channel through the pressure tapping port.

[0007] This utility model of gas meter, by setting the pressure detection device on the valve bracket inside the meter housing, avoids making holes in the meter housing, which helps to prevent the reduction of the strength of the meter housing, reduces the possibility of leakage points at the installation location of the pressure detection device, and improves the safety of gas meter use.

[0008] Furthermore, existing gas meters require a sealing test during the production stage, typically at a pressure of 50 kPa, which necessitates a pressure sensor with a detection range of at least 50 kPa. However, for pressure detectors, the detection range is positively correlated with the detection error; that is, with the same detection accuracy, a larger detection range results in a larger detection error. In this invention, the pressure detection device is located on the valve frame inside the meter. Compared to existing gas meters where the pressure detection instrument is mounted on the casing, this allows for the selection of a smaller detection range, which is beneficial for determining whether there are minor leaks in the gas meter.

[0009] In some embodiments, the valve holder includes:

[0010] The main body defines the valve cavity;

[0011] A connecting portion is provided on one side of the main body, defining the airflow channel. A pressure tap extends radially through the connecting portion along the airflow channel, and the detection channel of the pressure detection device is connected to the pressure tap.

[0012] The valve cavity is provided with a sealing surface, and the valve core can be separated from and contacted with the sealing surface to open or close the valve cavity.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the projection of the airflow channel onto the reference plane is located inside the projection of the valve cavity onto the reference plane, and the reference plane is perpendicular to the axis of the airflow channel.

[0014] The pressure tap is located near the connection between the connecting part and the main body.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure detection device includes:

[0016] The sensor includes a support body and a sensing element. The support body defines a detection channel that communicates with the pressure tapping port, and the sensing element is disposed within the detection channel.

[0017] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the distance between the central axis of the sensing element and the sealing surface in the axial direction of the airflow channel is 1mm-20mm.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the valve frame is provided with a mounting hole, and the mounting hole communicates with the pressure tapping port, and the support body is disposed in the mounting hole; the mounting hole is sealed to the support body.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure detection device further includes: a circuit board connected to the support body and electrically connected to the sensing element to obtain the detection result of the sensing element, wherein the circuit board is fixed to the body.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the outer wall of the valve frame is provided with a mounting groove, and the circuit board of the pressure detection device is fixed in the mounting groove.

[0021] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the gas valve further includes: a cover plate for sealing the mounting groove; an integrally formed enclosure plate is provided on the outer side wall of the valve frame, a part of the enclosure plate is connected to the main body and another part is connected to the connecting part, and the cover plate and the enclosure plate are detachably connected.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the circuit board is disposed in the middle of the support body, the support body includes a first support section located on a first side of the circuit board and a second support section located on a second side of the circuit board, and the first support section is provided with a mounting hole on the valve frame;

[0023] The gas valve further includes: an elastic seal, which is sleeved on the second support section and located between the cover plate and the circuit board. The elastic seal is interference-fitted with the second support section and interference-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting groove.

[0024] In some embodiments, there are two assembly ports, one of which is an air inlet and the other is an air outlet.

[0025] The gas valve is located at one of the gas inlet and the gas outlet.

[0026] The gas meter also includes an ultrasonic flow meter, which has a metering channel that is connected to the valve chamber of the gas valve. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0028] Figure 1 This is one of the internal structural diagrams of a gas meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of the internal structure of a gas meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a gas valve according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a gas valve according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pressure detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a pressure detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a gas valve according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 8 This is an exploded structural diagram of a gas valve according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of a gas valve according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0038] 100. Gas meter;

[0039] 110. Case; 111. Receiving cavity; 112. Assembly port;

[0040] 120. Gas valve; 121. Valve frame; 1211. Valve chamber; 1212. Airflow passage; 1213. Pressure tap; 121a. Main body; 121b. Connecting part; 122. Valve core; 123. Pressure detection device; 1231. Sensor; 1231a. Support body; 1231b. Sensing element; 1232. Circuit board; 124. Sealing surface; 125. Mounting groove; 126. Elastic seal; 127. Cover plate;

[0041] 130. Ultrasonic flow meter.

[0042] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0044] Traditional leak detection methods typically involve drilling a hole in the gas meter housing to install a pressure sensor to monitor changes in internal pressure. This method can effectively detect pressure changes inside the gas meter, thereby determining whether a leak exists.

[0045] However, creating openings in the casing weakens the structural integrity of the gas meter, increasing potential leak points. This can not only lead to gas leaks but also affect the meter's durability and lifespan. Furthermore, the sealing process after creating the opening needs to be extremely precise to ensure that poor sealing does not lead to further leaks. Additionally, the method of installing sensors through openings may increase the complexity and cost of manufacturing and maintenance.

[0046] In view of this, this application provides a gas meter that, by setting the pressure detection device on the valve frame inside the meter housing, avoids making holes in the meter housing, which not only improves the safety of the gas meter but also helps to reduce the manufacturing and maintenance costs of the gas meter.

[0047] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] refer to Figures 1 to 9 This application provides a gas meter 100, which may include a meter housing 110 and a gas valve 120.

[0049] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The housing 110 provides a structural basis for the installation of the gas valve 120. The housing 110 has a receiving cavity 111 and an assembly port 112 communicating with the receiving cavity 111. The assembly port 112 is used to connect an external pipeline, that is, the external pipeline is connected to the assembly port 112, so that the gas flows through the gas meter 100 for measurement.

[0050] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 9The gas valve 120 may include a valve frame 121, a valve core 122, and a pressure detection device 123. The valve frame 121 is fixed in the receiving cavity 111. For example, the valve frame 121 may be fixedly installed in the receiving cavity 111 by means of a slot or screw or other connecting parts.

[0051] The valve frame 121 may include a valve chamber 1211 and an airflow passage 1212 communicating with the valve chamber 1211. The airflow passage 1212 is connected to the assembly port 112, so that gas input from the external pipeline flows into the gas meter 100 through the assembly port 112 for metering.

[0052] The side wall of the airflow channel 1212 is provided with a pressure tap 1213. A pressure detection device 123 is mounted on the valve frame 121. The pressure detection device 123 is adapted to detect the pressure within the airflow channel 1212 through the pressure tap 1213. For example, the pressure detection device 123 can be directly installed inside the pressure tap 1213 to detect the pressure within the airflow channel 1212 connected to the pressure tap 1213. Alternatively, the detection channel of the pressure detection device 123 (as described later) can be connected to the pressure tap 1213 to detect the pressure within the airflow channel 1212 connected to the pressure tap 1213. In this way, by detecting pressure changes through the pressure detection device 123, it is possible to determine whether the gas meter 100 is leaking.

[0053] The valve core 122 is movably disposed in the valve chamber 1211. The valve core 122 is used to open and close the valve chamber 1211. For example, the valve core 122 can move along the axis of the airflow channel 1212, and a plunger can be provided at one end of the valve core 122 facing the airflow channel 1212. When the valve core 122 moves to block the airflow channel 1212 with the plunger, the valve chamber 1211 of the gas valve 120 is closed. When the valve core 122 moves to block the airflow channel 1212 with the plunger, the valve chamber 1211 of the gas valve 120 is opened.

[0054] The gas meter 100 of this invention, by placing the pressure detection device 123 on the valve holder 121 inside the meter housing 110, avoids making openings in the meter housing 110. This helps prevent a reduction in the strength of the meter housing 110, reduces the possibility of leaks at the installation point of the pressure detection device 123, and improves the structural integrity of the gas meter housing, thereby enhancing the safety of the gas meter 100. The absence of openings in the meter housing 110 also reduces the difficulty of sealing the housing, further reducing the possibility of leaks. Simultaneously, the elimination of the need for openings in the meter housing 110 to install the sensor reduces the manufacturing difficulty of the gas meter 100 and simplifies the process of removing and installing the sensor for maintenance, thus lowering maintenance costs. Furthermore, existing gas meters require a sealing test during the production stage, typically at a pressure of 50 kPa, requiring the pressure sensor 1231 to have a detection range of at least 50 kPa. However, for pressure detectors, the detection range and detection error are positively correlated. That is, with the same detection accuracy, the larger the detection range, the larger the corresponding detection error. In the gas meter 100 of this invention, since the pressure detection device 123 is set on the valve frame 121 inside the meter, a detection device with a smaller detection range can be selected, which is beneficial for determining whether there is a minor leak in the gas meter 100.

[0055] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, the valve holder 121 may include a main body 121a and a connecting part 121b. The main body 121a is the core part of the valve holder 121, defining the space of the valve cavity 1211, that is, the area where the valve core 122 moves, allowing the valve core 122 to move therein to control the opening and closing of the airflow passage 1212.

[0056] The connecting part 121b is located on one side of the main body 121a (such as one side of the main body 121a along the vertical direction, or one side of the main body 121a in the circumferential direction, corresponding to the position of the mounting port 112 on the housing 110). The connecting part 121b defines the airflow channel 1212. The pressure tap 1213 passes through the connecting part 121b radially along the airflow channel 1212. The detection channel of the pressure detection device 123 is connected to the pressure tap 1213. In this way, the pressure detection device 123 can conveniently collect the pressure information inside the gas meter 100 without affecting the normal flow of airflow.

[0057] A sealing surface 124 is provided inside the valve cavity 1211. For example, the portion of the inner wall of the valve cavity 1211 located around the airflow passage 1212 forms the sealing surface 124, improving the sealing reliability of the gas valve 120 when closed. The valve core 122 can be separably contacted with the sealing surface 124. For example, when a part of the structure of the valve core 122 (such as the plunger mentioned above) contacts the sealing surface 124, it blocks the airflow passage 1212, causing the gas valve 120 to close. When the valve core 122 moves away from the sealing surface 124, the airflow passage 1212 opens, and the airflow can flow normally through the gas meter 100. Thus, the gas valve 120 of this embodiment can not only effectively control the airflow, but also achieve efficient leakage monitoring through the integrated pressure detection device 123. The sealing cooperation between the sealing surface 124 and the valve core 122 ensures the safety and reliability of the gas meter 100 under various operating conditions, which is beneficial to improving the overall performance of the gas meter 100 and meeting the high requirements of modern gas systems for safety and efficiency.

[0058] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the projection of the airflow channel 1212 on the reference plane is inside the projection of the valve cavity 1211 on the reference plane. The reference plane is perpendicular to the axis of the airflow channel 1212. In other words, in the reference plane perpendicular to the axis of the airflow channel 1212, the area of ​​the valve cavity 1211 is larger than the area of ​​the airflow channel 1212. Thus, the projected area of ​​the valve core 122 located in the valve cavity 1211 on the reference plane can exceed the area of ​​the airflow channel 1212, thereby ensuring the sealing effect of the valve core 122 on the airflow channel 1212 and improving the structural reliability of the gas valve 120.

[0059] The pressure tap 1213 is located near the connection between the connecting portion 121b and the main body 121a. On one hand, the location of the pressure tap 1213 at the connection between the connecting portion 121b and the main body 121a utilizes the structural strength of the connecting portion 121b and the main body 121a to ensure the stability and durability of the pressure tap 1213, thereby extending the service life of the pressure detection device 123. On the other hand, the pressure tap 1213, being close to the connection, can more accurately reflect pressure changes within the airflow channel 1212, resulting in more accurate detection results.

[0060] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pressure detection device 123 may include a sensor 1231. The sensor 1231 may include a support body 1231a and a sensing element 1231b. The design of the support body 1231a ensures the stable installation of the sensor 1231 in the pressure tapping port 1213, reducing displacement or loosening caused by vibration or other external factors, thereby improving the reliability of the pressure detection device 123.

[0061] The support body 1231a defines a detection flow channel, which communicates with the pressure tap 1213. The sensing element 1231b is disposed within the detection flow channel. This allows the sensing element 1231b to directly contact the pressure changes within the airflow channel 1212, thereby improving the accuracy and sensitivity of pressure detection. By defining the detection flow channel within the support body 1231a, the sensing element 1231b can operate in a relatively isolated environment, reducing interference from the external environment on the detection results and improving the stability and accuracy of the measurement.

[0062] Understandably, when detecting a leak in the gas meter 100, the valve core 122 needs to block the airflow passage 1212 to close the gas valve 120. In this embodiment of the invention, the sensor 1231 used can be either a differential pressure sensor 1231 or an absolute pressure sensor 1231. The detection methods of the two are slightly different, and their corresponding structures are slightly different as well.

[0063] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 When the sensor 1231 is a differential pressure sensor 1231, the detection flow channel passes through the supporting body 1231a, and the sensing element 1231b can be a sensing diaphragm. The sensing diaphragm is located inside the detection flow channel, dividing the detection flow channel into two detection chambers. At this time, one detection chamber is connected to the airflow channel 1212, and the other detection chamber is connected to the receiving cavity 111 between the housing 110 and the gas valve 120. When a leak is detected, the airflow channel 1212 is blocked by the valve core 122, and the gas valve 120 is closed. Under pressure-holding conditions, the pressure difference is reflected by the deformation of the sensing diaphragm, thereby determining whether there is a leak in the gas meter 100.

[0064] refer to Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 When sensor 1231 is an absolute pressure sensor, the sensing element 1231b of the absolute pressure sensor 1231 can also be a sensing diaphragm. It should be noted that the absolute pressure sensor 1231 determines whether there is a leak in the gas meter 100 by judging the absolute pressure change within the target. The side of the sensing diaphragm facing the airflow channel 1212 is connected to the gas flow channel, and the side facing away from the airflow channel 1212 is blocked by other structural components (such as the cover plate 127 mentioned later). In this case, the absolute pressure sensor 1231 directly detects the pressure change within the airflow channel 1212.

[0065] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the distance between the central axis of the sensing element 1231b and the sealing surface 124 in the axial direction of the airflow channel 1212 is 1mm-20mm. For example, the distance between the central axis of the sensing element 1231b and the sealing surface 124 in the axial direction of the airflow channel 1212 can be 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, or 20mm. Preferably, the distance is 5mm-10mm. This ensures a suitable distance between the sensing element 1231b and the sealing surface 124, preventing the distance from being too small (e.g., less than 1mm or even in direct contact), and avoiding any impact on the detection results of the pressure detection device 123 at the pressure tap 1213 due to the movement of the valve core 122. On the other hand, to avoid the distance between the detection position of the sensing element 1231b and the sealing surface 124 being too far (e.g., more than 20mm), when the sensor 1231 is an absolute pressure sensor 1231, the detection position of the pressure sensor 1231 is too far from the gas meter 100, resulting in inaccurate detection results.

[0066] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the valve frame 121 is provided with a mounting hole, and the mounting hole is connected to the pressure tap 1213. The support body 1231a is provided in the mounting hole. For example, the support body 1231a can be fixedly installed in the mounting hole by means of threaded connection or snap-fit, so that the support body 1231a can be stably installed in the second section. This close fit design enhances the installation stability of the sensor 1231 and reduces the possibility of displacement or loosening of the sensor 1231 due to vibration or external force.

[0067] Thus, the mounting hole and pressure tap 1213 can form a stepped structure, making the assembly and disassembly of the support body 1231a convenient.

[0068] The mounting hole is sealed to the support body 1231a. For example, sealant can be filled between the mounting hole and the outer wall of the support body 1231a. Alternatively, a sealing gasket can be provided between the end face of the support body 1231a facing the pressure tap 1213 and the support body 1231a to prevent gas in the airflow channel 1212 from leaking between the support body 1231a and the inner wall of the pressure tap 1213, thus ensuring the reliability of the detection results of the pressure detection device 123.

[0069] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 8According to some embodiments of this utility model, the pressure detection device 123 may further include a circuit board 1232. The circuit board 1232 is connected to the support body 1231a and electrically connected to the sensing element 1231b to obtain the detection result of the sensing element 1231b, thereby realizing the direct acquisition and processing of the detection result. This integrated design reduces the complexity of the external connection of the pressure detection device 123 and is beneficial to improving the overall reliability of the gas meter 100. The circuit board 1232 is fixed to the body 121a. For example, a slot may be provided on the circuit board 1232, and a part of the structure of the body 121a protrudes outward to form a latch. The latch engages with the side wall of the slot to fix the circuit board 1232 and the body 121a. Alternatively, the circuit board 1232 and the body 121a may also be fixedly connected by fasteners such as screws, thereby improving the installation stability of the pressure detection device 123.

[0070] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 8 According to some embodiments of this utility model, the outer wall of the valve holder 121 is provided with a mounting groove 125. The circuit board 1232 of the pressure detection device 123 is fixed in the mounting groove 125. The mounting groove 125 provides a dedicated space to protect the circuit board 1232 from the influence of the external environment, which helps to reduce the impact of dust, moisture and physical damage on the circuit board 1232, and improves the reliability and durability of the system. The design of the mounting groove 125 makes the installation process of the circuit board 1232 simpler. The circuit board 1232 can be directly fixed in the mounting groove 125, reducing the need for additional support structures. The optional design of the cover plate 127 allows for easy removal when needed, facilitating the inspection and maintenance of the circuit board 1232.

[0071] refer to Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 According to some embodiments of this utility model, when the sensor 1231 used is an absolute pressure sensor 1231, the gas valve 120 may further include a cover plate 127. The cover plate 127 is used to cover the mounting groove 125, providing physical protection for the circuit board 1232 and other internal components. By preventing the intrusion of dust, moisture and other external factors, the cover plate 127 improves the durability and reliability of the pressure detection device 123.

[0072] The outer wall of the valve frame 121 is provided with an integrally formed enclosure plate, which encloses the aforementioned mounting groove 125. A part of the enclosure plate is connected to the main body 121a, and another part is connected to the connecting part 121b. In this way, the valve frame 121 is formed into an integral structure, which enhances the structural strength of the entire gas valve 120, ensures the tight connection between the components, and helps to improve the structural stability of the gas valve 120.

[0073] The cover plate 127 and the surrounding plate are detachably connected. For example, the cover plate 127 can be directly engaged with the surrounding plate, or the cover plate 127 can be provided with a resilient locking tongue, and the surrounding plate can be provided with a corresponding lock hole. The resilient locking tongue is engaged in the lock hole. When it is necessary to remove the cover plate 127, it can be unlocked simply by moving the resilient locking tongue, which is convenient to operate. Alternatively, the side of the cover plate 127 facing the surrounding plate can form a mounting ring, the inner wall of the mounting ring can form an internal thread, and the outer wall of the surrounding plate can form an external thread. The cover plate 127 and the surrounding plate are detachably connected by a threaded connection.

[0074] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the circuit board 1232 is disposed in the middle of the support body 1231a. The support body 1231a includes a first support section located on the first side of the circuit board 1232 and a second support section located on the second side of the circuit board 1232. The first support section is disposed in the mounting hole on the valve frame 121. Exemplarily, the first support section can be at least partially inserted into the mounting hole. The support of the first support section ensures the stable installation of the circuit board 1232, which helps to reduce the vibration and displacement that the circuit board 1232 may be subjected to during operation and improves the structural reliability of the pressure detection device 123.

[0075] The gas valve 120 may also include an elastic seal 126, which is sleeved on the second support section and located between the cover plate 127 and the circuit board 1232. The elastic seal 126 provides effective shock absorption, which can absorb and mitigate the impact of external shocks and vibrations on the circuit board 1232, thereby extending the service life of the circuit board 1232 and the overall system.

[0076] The elastic seal 126 is interference-fitted with the second support section. For example, the elastic seal 126 may have a mating hole corresponding to the second support section. The outer diameter of the second support section may be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the mating hole. When the elastic seal 126 is assembled with the second support section, the mating hole undergoes partial deformation, resulting in an interference fit between the elastic seal 126 and the second support section. The elastic seal 126 is also interference-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting groove 125. For example, the outer contour dimension of the elastic seal 126 slightly exceeds the inner wall dimension of the mounting groove 125. When the elastic seal 126 is installed in the mounting groove 125, the outer contour of the elastic seal 126 undergoes slight deformation, resulting in an interference fit between the elastic seal 126 and the inner wall of the mounting groove 125. Thus, the elastic seal 126 provides good sealing performance for the circuit board 1232 and the pressure tap 1213, and also provides good support for the second support section, improving the installation stability of the pressure detection device 123 and helping to further improve the detection accuracy of the pressure detection device 123.

[0077] In some embodiments, there may be two assembly ports 112, one of which is an air inlet and the other is an air outlet. The gas valve 120 is located at one of the air inlet and the air outlet. For example, the gas valve 120 may be located at the air inlet, or the gas valve 120 may be located at the air outlet.

[0078] Understandably, when sensor 1231 is a differential pressure sensor, the gas valve 120 is closed during gas meter 100 leak detection. Gas valve 120 is located at the gas inlet. Differential pressure sensor 1231 detects the pressure difference between the gas inlet pipe and the receiving cavity 111. Under pressure-holding conditions, if the pressure difference changes, it indicates a leak in gas meter 100 and the gas outlet pipe (rear end of gas meter 100); otherwise, gas meter 100 does not leak. When gas valve 120 is located at the gas outlet, differential pressure sensor 1231 detects the pressure difference between the gas outlet pipe and the receiving cavity 111. Under pressure-holding conditions, if the pressure difference changes, it indicates a leak in the gas outlet pipe (rear end of gas meter 100); otherwise, it does not leak. In other words, when sensor 1231 is a differential pressure sensor, gas valve 120 can detect leaks whether it is located at the gas inlet or the gas outlet.

[0079] When sensor 1231 is an absolute pressure sensor 1231, gas valve 120 is mainly located at the gas outlet. When gas meter 100 performs leak detection, gas valve 120 is closed. At this time, pressure detection device 123 detects whether there is a leak in the gas outlet pipeline (rear end of gas meter 100).

[0080] The gas meter 100 may also include an ultrasonic flow meter 130, which has a metering channel that communicates with the valve chamber 1211 of the gas valve 120. By integrating the gas valve 120 and the ultrasonic flow meter 130, an integrated design is achieved, reducing the complexity of external connections and piping of the gas meter 100, improving the structural compactness of the gas meter 100, and simplifying the installation and maintenance process of the gas meter 100 through a reasonable structural design. The integrated components reduce the number of independent parts that need to be maintained, thereby reducing maintenance costs and complexity.

[0081] In some embodiments, the detection range of the pressure detection device 123 is 5 kPa-15 kPa. For example, the detection range of the pressure detection device 123 can be 5 kPa, 6 kPa, 7 kPa, 8 kPa, 9 kPa, 10 kPa, 11 kPa, 12 kPa, 13 kPa, 14 kPa, or 15 kPa. Compared to the prior art, where the housing needs to undergo airtightness testing in a 50 kPa environment, requiring the pressure detector's detection range to be set to 50 kPa, the pressure detection device 123 in this embodiment is mounted on the valve frame 121, allowing for the selection of a pressure detection device 123 with a smaller range for detection.

[0082] Since the detection range and detection error are positively correlated, meaning that with the same detection accuracy, a larger detection range results in a larger detection error, specifically, with a detection error of 1%, existing pressure detectors have a detection error of 0.5 kPa. However, the detection error of the device with a range of 10 kPa used in this application is only 0.1 kPa. Therefore, the pressure detection device 123 of this application can more easily determine whether there is a minor leak in the gas meter 100. Of course, the 5 kPa-15 kPa range mentioned above is the preferred detection range for the pressure detection device 123. In other embodiments, a pressure detection device 123 with a range of up to 100 kPa can also be used for detection; this application does not impose any limitations on this. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0083] In the description of this utility model, "first feature" and "second feature" may include one or more of the features.

[0084] In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means two or more.

[0085] In the description of this utility model, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or it may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact through another feature between them.

[0086] In the description of this utility model, the terms "above", "over" and "on top" for the first feature and the second feature include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.

[0087] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the utility models disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0088] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gas meter (100) characterized in that, include: Watch case (110), the watch case (110) having a receiving cavity (111) and an assembly port (112) communicating with the receiving cavity (111), the assembly port (112) being used to connect an external pipeline; Gas valve (120), the gas valve (120) comprising: A valve frame (121) is fixed inside the receiving cavity (111). The valve frame (121) includes a valve cavity (1211) and an airflow channel (1212) communicating with the valve cavity (1211). The airflow channel (1212) is connected to the assembly port (112). The side wall of the airflow channel (1212) is provided with a pressure tap (1213). A valve core (122) is movably disposed in the valve cavity (1211) and is used to open and close the valve cavity (1211). A pressure detection device (123) is provided on the valve frame (121), and the pressure detection device (123) is adapted to detect the pressure in the airflow channel (1212) through the pressure tap (1213).

2. The gas meter (100) of claim 1, characterized in that The valve holder (121) includes: The main body (121a) defines the valve cavity (1211). A connecting portion (121b) is provided on one side of the main body (121a), and the connecting portion (121b) defines the airflow channel (1212). The pressure tap (1213) extends radially through the connecting portion (121b) along the airflow channel (1212), and the detection channel of the pressure detection device (123) is connected to the pressure tap (1213). The valve cavity (1211) is provided with a sealing surface (124), and the valve core (122) can be separated from the sealing surface (124) to open or close the valve cavity (1211).

3. The gas meter (100) of claim 2, characterized in that The projection of the airflow channel (1212) onto the reference plane is located inside the projection of the valve cavity (1211) onto the reference plane, and the reference plane is perpendicular to the axis of the airflow channel (1212). The pressure tap (1213) is located near the connection between the connecting part (121b) and the main body part (121a).

4. The gas meter (100) of claim 3, characterized in that The pressure detection device (123) includes: The sensor (1231) includes a support body (1231a) and a sensing element (1231b). The support body (1231a) defines a detection channel, which is connected to the pressure tap (1213). The sensing element (1231b) is disposed in the detection channel.

5. The gas meter (100) of claim 4, characterized in that The distance between the central axis of the sensing element (1231b) and the sealing surface (124) in the axial direction of the airflow channel (1212) is 1mm-20mm.

6. The gas meter (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The valve frame (121) is provided with a mounting hole, and the mounting hole communicates with the pressure tap (1213). The support body (1231a) is disposed in the mounting hole. The mounting hole is sealed to the support body (1231a).

7. The gas meter (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pressure detection device (123) further includes: a circuit board (1232), which is connected to the support body (1231a) and electrically connected to the sensing element (1231b) to obtain the detection result of the sensing element (1231b), and the circuit board (1232) is fixed to the body (121a).

8. The gas meter (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer wall of the valve frame (121) is provided with a mounting groove (125), and the circuit board (1232) of the pressure detection device (123) is fixed in the mounting groove (125).

9. The gas meter (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The gas valve (120) further includes a cover plate (127) for sealing the mounting groove (125); The outer wall of the valve frame (121) is provided with an integrally formed enclosure, and the cover plate (127) is detachably connected to the enclosure.

10. The gas meter (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The circuit board (1232) is located in the middle of the support body (1231a). The support body (1231a) includes a first support section located on the first side of the circuit board (1232) and a second support section located on the second side of the circuit board (1232). The first support section is provided with a mounting hole on the valve frame (121). The gas valve (120) further includes: an elastic seal (126), which is sleeved on the second support section. The elastic seal (126) is located between the cover plate (127) and the circuit board (1232). The elastic seal (126) is interference-fitted with the second support section and interference-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting groove (125).

11. The gas meter (100) according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, There are two assembly ports (112), one of which is an air inlet and the other is an air outlet. The gas valve (120) is located at one of the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The gas meter (100) further includes an ultrasonic flow meter (130), which has a metering channel that is connected to the valve chamber (1211) of the gas valve (120).

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