A transducer module

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a kind of transducer module, it is related to flow measurement and detection equipment field, the transducer module includes: shell, first chamber is in shell;Transducer body, transducer body is at least partially located in first chamber;Flexible partition, flexible partition is located between transducer body and the inner wall of first chamber, to separate transducer body and the inner wall of first chamber, avoid transducer body and shell direct contact, and flexible partition is flexible, can be realized acoustic decoupling by damping dissipation and block vibration path, reduce the transmission of mechanical vibration generated by piezoelectric crystal of transducer body to shell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of flow measurement and detection equipment, and more particularly to a transducer module. Background Technology

[0002] With the gradual development of ultrasonic metering technology, ultrasonic gas flow meters have been widely used in fields such as natural gas and petroleum gas. Medium-pressure ultrasonic flow meters typically include a housing and a pair of transducer modules. One transducer module serves as the transmitter, and the other as the receiver. The two modules can be interchanged according to usage requirements. The sound waves generated by the piezoelectric crystal of the transmitter transducer module propagate along the gas medium through the emitting surface to the receiver transducer module, forming a signal propagation.

[0003] A transducer module typically consists of a housing and a transducer body. In practical applications, when the transducer module is used as the transmitter, the sound waves generated by the piezoelectric crystal in the transducer body are divided into two parts. One part propagates along the gas medium through the transmitting surface to the receiving end, forming normal signal propagation. The remaining part is conducted along the housing and then from the housing to the receiving end, forming noise interference and significantly reducing the signal-to-noise ratio of the ultrasonic gas flow meter. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a transducer module to solve the problem that the acoustic waves generated by the piezoelectric crystal in existing transducer modules are conducted along the outer shell, forming noise interference and significantly reducing the signal-to-noise ratio of the gas ultrasonic flow meter.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a transducer module, including:

[0006] An outer casing, wherein the outer casing has a first chamber;

[0007] A transducer body, wherein the transducer body is at least partially located within the first chamber;

[0008] A flexible separator is located between the transducer body and the cavity wall of the first chamber to separate the transducer body from the inner wall of the first chamber.

[0009] In one possible implementation, a limiting member is further included, which extends at least partially into the first chamber and engages with the outer shell for limiting. The limiting member is configured to abut against a portion of the flexible partition surrounding the transducer body to restrict the position of the transducer body within the first chamber by pressing the flexible partition against the inner wall of the first chamber along the axial direction of the transducer body.

[0010] There is a gap between the limiting member and the side wall of the transducer body.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the flexible separator has an annular protrusion on the portion surrounding the transducer body, the annular protrusion protruding in a direction away from the sidewall of the transducer body, and the limiting member abutting against the annular protrusion on the side facing the limiting member.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the flexible separator further extends between the sidewall of the transducer body and the limiting member, and the limiting member has a gap with the flexible separator on the side facing the sidewall of the transducer body.

[0013] The flexible separator has a gap between the side wall away from the transducer body and the inner wall of the first chamber.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the limiting member is provided with a notch, which is configured to form an avoidance cavity with the flexible partition when the limiting member presses the flexible partition against the inner wall of the first chamber.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the housing further includes a second chamber communicating with the first chamber, and a transition connection surface is formed between the first chamber and the second chamber; the flexible partition includes a shock-absorbing pad located at one end of the transducer body facing the second chamber, and the shock-absorbing pad abuts against the transition connection surface, and the signal lead of the transducer body extends through the shock-absorbing pad into the second chamber.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the outer casing is provided with a through hole, which communicates with the first chamber;

[0017] The shock-absorbing pad has an air inlet groove on the side facing the transducer body, and the air inlet groove is connected to the through hole.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the shock-absorbing pad includes:

[0019] A rigid pad abuts against the transition connection surface. The rigid pad has a first connection hole, and the signal lead passes through the first connection hole with a gap between the signal lead and the hole wall.

[0020] A flexible pad is located between the rigid pad and the transducer body, and the flexible pad is provided with a second connection hole for the signal lead to pass through.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the flexible separator further includes a flexible sleeve that is fitted around the periphery of the transducer body, with one end of the flexible sleeve in contact with the shock-absorbing pad.

[0022] In one possible implementation, a seal is also included, which is fitted onto the outside of the housing.

[0023] The transducer module provided in this application embodiment comprises a housing, a transducer body, and a flexible separator. The transducer body is disposed within a first chamber inside the housing. The flexible separator is located between the transducer body and the cavity wall of the first chamber, separating the transducer body from the cavity wall of the first chamber and preventing direct contact between the transducer body and the housing. The flexible separator is flexible and can achieve acoustic decoupling by damping dissipation and blocking vibration paths, reducing the transmission of mechanical vibration generated by the piezoelectric crystal of the transducer body to the housing, thereby reducing energy loss and noise interference transmitted from the gas ultrasonic flow meter housing to the receiving end, thus effectively improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the gas ultrasonic flow meter. Attached Figure Description

[0024] 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.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the transducer module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 2 A cross-section of a transducer module provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 3 A cross-section of a transducer module provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 4 A perspective view of the shock-absorbing pad in the transducer module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 5 A top view of the shock-absorbing pad in the transducer module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional view of the shock-absorbing pad in the transducer module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the transducer body and the flexible sleeve in the transducer module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 8A schematic diagram of the structure of a first embodiment of the limiting member in the transducer module provided in this application;

[0033] Figure 9 for Figure 8 AA section view in the middle;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the limiting member in the transducer module provided in this application.

[0035] Figure label:

[0036] 100 - Outer shell, 110 - First chamber, 120 - Second chamber, 130 - Transition connection surface, 140 - Through hole, 200 - Transducer body, 210 - Signal lead, 300 - Flexible separator, 310 - Shock-absorbing pad, 311 - Rigid gasket, 3111 - First connection hole, 312 - Flexible gasket, 3121 - Air inlet groove, 3122 - Second connection hole, 320 - Flexible sleeve, 321 - Annular protrusion, 400 - Limiting element, 410 - Notch, 420 - Silicone coating, 500 - Sealing element, 600 - Sintered seat, 610 - Second sealing ring.

[0037] 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

[0038] 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.

[0039] As mentioned in the background section, some of the sound waves generated by the piezoelectric crystal are conducted along the outer casing, and then from the flowmeter housing to the receiver, thus causing noise interference at the receiver. Furthermore, sound wave propagation is enhanced in low-temperature environments, making it easier for the sound waves generated at the transmitting end to be conducted along the casing to the receiver, thereby weakening the normal transmitted signal and causing crosstalk at the receiver signal. Under these circumstances, the signal-to-noise ratio will be further reduced.

[0040] The common approach to address this problem is to extend the transmission path from the transmitter transducer to the housing in terms of structure. This results in a relatively complex overall structure that is difficult to implement.

[0041] In response, this application provides a transducer module that can reduce signal noise propagating through the housing of the transmitter transducer module by decoupling the sound source, reduce signal crosstalk at low temperatures, effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and thus effectively improve the performance.

[0042] It should be noted that the transducer module can be applied not only to ultrasonic gas flow meters, but also, through adaptive adjustments, to related technical fields such as gas leak detection and component analysis. This application does not limit its application in this regard.

[0043] 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.

[0044] This application provides a transducer module; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, it includes a housing 100, a transducer body 200, and a flexible partition 300.

[0045] The outer casing 100 is typically made of a material with a certain strength, such as hard metal. The outer casing 100 has a first chamber 110 inside, and the transducer body 200 is at least partially located inside the first chamber 110. The flexible separator 300 is located between the transducer body 200 and the cavity wall of the first chamber 110 to separate the transducer body 200 from the cavity wall of the first chamber 110 and prevent the transducer body 200 from directly contacting the outer casing 100.

[0046] In this embodiment, the transducer body 200 is primarily the transmitting end, equivalent to an ultrasonic frequency electronic oscillator. It typically includes a piezoelectric crystal, an electrode plate, and a resonator. When an ultrasonic voltage is applied to the piezoelectric crystal, the piezoelectric crystal will generate longitudinal motion under the influence of the electric field, converting electromagnetic oscillation energy into mechanical vibration. That is, when a pulse signal is applied to the electrode plate, the piezoelectric crystal will resonate, driving the resonator to vibrate and pushing the surrounding medium to vibrate, thereby generating ultrasonic waves.

[0047] It should be noted that the specific structure and principle of the transducer body 200 are well known to those skilled in the art, and the transducer body 200 can be purchased directly, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0048] The flexible separator 300 can be made of rubber, such as natural rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, etc., or it can be made of common flexible materials that can be used for shock absorption, such as polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, foam plastic, engineering plastic, etc.

[0049] During the use of the transducer module, the flexible separator 300 is located between the transducer body 200 and the cavity wall of the first chamber 110. It can separate the transducer body 200 from the cavity wall of the first chamber 110, avoiding direct contact between the transducer body 200 and the outer shell 100. The flexible separator 300 is flexible and can achieve acoustic decoupling by damping dissipation and blocking vibration paths. It reduces the transmission of mechanical vibration generated by the piezoelectric crystal of the transducer body 200 to the outer shell 100, thereby reducing energy loss. When the transducer module is applied to a gas ultrasonic flow meter, it can also reduce noise interference transmitted from the gas ultrasonic flow meter housing to the receiving end, thereby effectively improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the gas ultrasonic flow meter.

[0050] For some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the transducer module also includes a limiting member 400. The limiting member 400 abuts against the portion of the flexible partition 300 surrounding the transducer body 200 and engages with the outer shell 200 to limit the transducer body 200. By pressing the flexible partition 300 against the inner wall of the first chamber 110 (i.e., the end wall of one end of the first chamber 110) along the axial direction (extension direction) of the transducer body 200, the transducer body 200 is fixed within the chamber 110, thereby limiting the position of the transducer body 200 within the first chamber 110 and preventing displacement of the transducer body 200 within the first chamber 110. At the same time, there is a gap between the limiting member 400 and the transducer body 200, that is, there is no direct contact between the limiting member 400 and the transducer body 200, and there is also no direct contact between the transducer body 200 and the outer shell 100, which can avoid rigid transmission of vibration, thereby effectively improving the signal-to-noise ratio and reducing interference transmission.

[0051] The limiting member 400 is usually made of a rigid material, such as metal, to have sufficient strength. The fitting method between the limiting member 400 and the housing 200 can be an interference fit, or a common connection method such as screw connection or snap connection, as long as relative movement between the limiting member 400 and the housing 200 is avoided during use.

[0052] For example, to facilitate installation, the first chamber 110 is open at one end. The transducer body 200 is inserted into the first chamber 110 from the open end. The flexible partition 300 is located between the transducer body 200 and the inner wall of the first chamber 110, and the flexible partition 300 is connected to the transducer body 200. The limiting member 400 enters the first chamber 110 from the open end and abuts against the portion of the flexible partition 300 that surrounds the transducer body 200, pressing the flexible partition 300 against the inner wall of the first chamber 110 (the closed end of the first chamber 110), thereby effectively limiting the position of the transducer body 200 in the first chamber 110.

[0053] For example, the limiting member 400 is a pressure ring, which is interference-fitted with the outer shell 100. Correspondingly, the flexible partition 300 is provided with an annular protrusion 321, that is, the annular protrusion 321 is located between the side of the flexible partition 300 away from the transducer body 200 and the side wall of the first chamber 110, and the annular protrusion 321 protrudes towards the side wall of the first chamber 110 relative to the flexible partition 300. The annular protrusion 321 is also made of the same or similar material as the flexible partition 300. The limiting member 400 applies a clamping force to the flexible partition 300 and the transducer body 200 by squeezing the annular protrusion 321 towards the open end of the first chamber 110, so as to press the transducer body 200 tightly against the closed end of the first chamber 110.

[0054] Furthermore, the flexible separator 300 extends between the side wall of the transducer body 200 and the limiting member 400, and there is a gap between the limiting member 400 and the flexible separator 300 on the side facing the side wall of the transducer body 200.

[0055] This increases the connection surface between the flexible separator 300 and the transducer body 200, improving the connection strength and separating the limiting member 400 and the transducer body 200. Simultaneously, the gap between the limiting member 400 and the flexible separator 300 on the side facing the transducer body 200 further reduces the contact area between the limiting member 400 and the transducer body 200, ensuring that only the end of the limiting member 400 abuts against the annular protrusion 321. This significantly reduces the amount of sound waves axially transmitted to the limiting member 400. Even if the flexible separator 300 hardens in low-temperature environments, it effectively reduces signal noise transmission, resulting in a smaller sound signal transmitted outward through the limiting member 400. This ensures the signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer module at low temperatures, thus facilitating low-temperature metering of gas ultrasonic flow meters using the transducer module.

[0056] In addition, the annular protrusion 321 and the flexible partition 300 can be separated from the side wall of the transducer body 200 by a gap with the inner side wall of the first chamber 110, thereby reducing the contact area between the flexible partition 300 and the outer shell 100. In low-temperature environments, this can further improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer module.

[0057] Furthermore, the limiting member 400 abuts against the flexible partition 300 at one end, that is, the end facing the annular protrusion 321 is provided with a notch 410. When the limiting member 400 presses against the flexible partition 300, the area of ​​the limiting member 400 with the notch 410 does not have a solid part in contact with the flexible partition, so that the notch 410 and the flexible partition 300 can enclose and form a clearance cavity. That is, the end of the limiting member 400 is not completely in contact with the annular protrusion 321. It only abuts against the annular protrusion 321 in the area without the notch 410, while the area with the notch 410 has no contact with the annular protrusion 321.

[0058] Although the limiting member 400 is made of rigid material, it may enhance signal noise transmission when it abuts against the annular protrusion 321. However, by setting a notch 410 on the limiting member 400, the contact area between the limiting member 400 and the annular protrusion 321 is significantly reduced. This greatly reduces the amount of sound waves axially transmitted to the limiting member 400, especially in low-temperature environments. The flexible partition 300 becomes rigid. Due to the small contact area between the limiting member 400 and the flexible partition 300, and the gap between the side of the flexible partition 300 and the side wall of the first chamber 110, the contact area between the flexible partition 300 and the outer shell 100 is also small. At this time, the noise transmitted through the limiting member 400 and the outer shell 100 is also less. Therefore, at low temperatures, the signal noise transmission can be effectively reduced, ensuring the signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer module at low temperatures. This is beneficial for achieving low-temperature metering of gas ultrasonic flow meters using transducer modules.

[0059] For example, the limiting member 400 is annular, with four arc-shaped notches 410 evenly arranged around the circumference at one end. The notches 410 extend along the Z direction, and the length of the notches 410 extending along the Z direction is less than the length of the limiting member 400 along the Z direction.

[0060] Of course, the gap 410 can also be non-uniformly arranged, and the number can be 1, 2, 3 or more, which can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0061] In practical applications, it was found that if the notch 410 is not provided on the limiting component 400, the signal-to-noise ratio measured at -27.5℃ is about 100 dB. However, if the notch 410 is provided on the limiting component 400, the signal-to-noise ratio can reach about 600 dB. It can be seen that providing the notch 410 on the limiting component 400, for example, dividing the limiting component 400 into 8 equal parts along the circumference, with 4 parts corresponding to the notch 410, and leaving one part between adjacent notches 410 to contact the annular protrusion 321, can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer module when used in low-temperature environments, effectively improving the performance of the transducer module.

[0062] It should be noted that the notch 410 can also be any other shape, such as a horn shape, as long as it can effectively reduce the contact area between the limiting member 400 and the annular protrusion 321 without affecting the limiting effect of the limiting member 400 on the transducer body 200.

[0063] In some embodiments of this application, the notch 410 may not be provided on the limiting member 400, and the amount of sound waves transmitted outward through the limiting member 400 may be reduced by at least the following two methods:

[0064] For example, the end of the limiting member 400 facing the annular protrusion 321 is covered with a silicone coating 420.

[0065] The silicone coating 420 has good elasticity and damping properties, which can effectively absorb vibration and reduce noise transmission. The silicone coating 420 is located between the annular protrusion 321 and the limiting member 400, which can effectively achieve acoustic decoupling and reduce the amount of sound waves transmitted outward through the limiting member 400.

[0066] For example, a flexible gasket 312 is provided between the limiting member 400 and the annular protrusion 321, and the hardness of the flexible gasket 312 is less than the hardness of the annular protrusion 321.

[0067] The hardness of the flexible gasket 312 is less than that of the annular protrusion 321, which can prevent direct contact between the annular protrusion 321 and the limiting member 400, and block the direct transmission of vibration and noise between the flexible sleeve 320 and the limiting member 400. In addition, the flexible gasket 312 has high elasticity and damping characteristics, which can absorb and attenuate vibration, reduce the transmission of vibration energy, thereby achieving acoustic decoupling and reducing the amount of sound waves transmitted outward through the limiting member 400.

[0068] Further, please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 7As shown, the outer casing 100 also has a second chamber 120, which is connected to the first chamber 110, and a transition connection surface 130 is formed between the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 120.

[0069] Specifically, the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 120 are arranged in a bottom-up relationship in the Z direction, and are opposite to and connected to each other. The cross-sectional dimension of the first chamber 110 in the X direction is smaller than that of the second chamber 120 in the X direction, so that a transition connection surface 130 is formed at the junction of the two, and the transition connection surface 130 is located at the end of the first chamber 110 facing the second chamber 120.

[0070] The flexible partition 300 includes a shock-absorbing pad 310, which is located at the end of the transducer body 200 adjacent to the second chamber 120 and contacts the end of the transducer body 200 facing the second chamber 120. The shock-absorbing pad 310 abuts against the transition connection surface 130. The signal lead 210 of the transducer body 200 extends through the shock-absorbing pad 310 into the second chamber 120 and then through the second chamber 120 to the outside of the outer shell 100. That is, a clearance channel can be opened on the shock-absorbing pad, and the signal lead 210 extends directly through the clearance channel into the second chamber 120. The position of the transducer in the first chamber 110 can be restricted by the abutment between the shock-absorbing pad 310 and the transition connection surface 130.

[0071] The flexible separator 300 also includes a flexible sleeve 320, which is sleeved on the outer side (peripheral side, in contact with the side of the transducer body 200) of the transducer body 200, and one end of the flexible sleeve 320 is in contact with the shock-absorbing pad 310. Through the cooperation between the flexible sleeve 320 and the shock-absorbing pad 310, the outer shell 100 and the transducer body 200 are isolated.

[0072] In practical applications, the end of the first chamber 110 facing away from the second chamber 120 is open, and the end of the second chamber 120 facing away from the first chamber 110 is also open. There is no contact between the end of the transducer body 200 facing away from the second chamber 120 and the outer shell 100. Therefore, it is only necessary to isolate the end of the transducer body 200 from the transition connection surface 130 by the shock-absorbing pad 310 and to separate the side wall of the transducer body 200 from the outer shell 100 by the flexible separator 300.

[0073] The transducer body 200 typically has a circular end, so the shock-absorbing pad 310 can also be circular to match the shape of the transducer body 200's end. Correspondingly, the flexible sleeve 320 also adapts to the shape of the transducer body 200's exterior to effectively fit against it. The flexible sleeve 320 can be directly fitted onto the outside of the transducer body 200, with the two connected and limited by structures such as limiting grooves and limiting blocks to prevent separation. Alternatively, to improve connection stability, the flexible sleeve 320 can be directly fixed to the transducer body 200, for example, through vulcanization or adhesive bonding.

[0074] Of course, the damping pad 310 and the flexible sleeve 320 can be made of the same material or different materials. The specific method can be adjusted according to the actual use to effectively improve the acoustic decoupling effect.

[0075] It should be noted that the flexible separator 300 can also be integrally molded. However, integral molding is more difficult to assemble and process, while split molding is more convenient. In addition, the material types of the shock-absorbing pad 310 and the flexible sleeve 320 can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0076] At this time, the annular protrusion 321 can be set on the flexible sleeve 320, and the annular protrusion 321 is located at the end of the flexible sleeve 320 adjacent to the shock-absorbing pad 310.

[0077] During assembly, the limiting member 400 is pressed into the first chamber 110. The limiting member 400 presses the annular protrusion 321 away from the second chamber 120, so that the end of the transducer body 200 facing the second chamber 120 abuts against the shock-absorbing pad 310, and the end of the shock-absorbing pad 310 away from the transducer body 200 abuts against the transition connection surface 130. After the limiting member 400 enters the first chamber 110 to a suitable depth, it is interference-fitted with the outer shell 100, thereby fixing the transducer body 200 in the first chamber 110 and preventing the transducer body 200 from shifting or detaching from the first chamber 110.

[0078] For example, the limiting member 400 is a pressure ring, which is interference-fitted with the outer shell 100. The limiting member 400 presses the annular protrusion 321 away from one end of the shock-absorbing pad 310, and the limiting member 400 can be sleeved on the outer side of the flexible sleeve 320 away from the annular protrusion 321.

[0079] In order to reduce the amount of sound waves transmitted outward through the limiting member 400, the limiting member 400 can be made to contact only the annular protrusion 321, while a certain gap is maintained between it and the side wall of the flexible sleeve 320, thereby reducing the contact area between the limiting member 400 and the flexible sleeve 320, and thus reducing the transmission of signal noise.

[0080] The annular protrusion 321 and the flexible sleeve 320 are typically integrally formed. The annular protrusion 321 is located on the side of the flexible sleeve 320 facing away from the transducer body 200. One end of the annular protrusion 321 facing the second chamber 120 abuts against the damping pad 310, while the other end abuts against the end of the pressure ring. After the pressure ring is pressed into the first chamber 110, the pressure ring will press against the surface of the annular protrusion 321, causing the annular protrusion 321 to push the damping pad 310 against the transition connection surface 13. The flexible sleeve 320, transducer body 200 and shock absorber 310 are simultaneously restricted on the 0, and disassembly is also convenient if inspection or maintenance is required in the future. The transducer body 200 can be taken out separately by simply removing the pressure ring. Even if the flexible sleeve 320 is fixed on the transducer body 200, since the flexible sleeve 320 only covers a part of the periphery of the transducer body 200, it will not affect the normal use and maintenance of the transducer body 200.

[0081] Furthermore, at least one through hole 140 can be provided on the outer casing 100, the through hole 140 connecting the space outside the outer casing 100 with the first chamber 110, so that the gas in the first chamber 110 and the outside of the outer casing 100 can flow between each other through the through hole 140.

[0082] Correspondingly, an air inlet groove 3121 is provided on the side of the vibration damping pad facing the transducer body 200. The air inlet groove 3121 is connected to the through hole 140, so that the area between the transducer body 200 and the vibration damping pad can be connected to the external area of ​​the outer shell 100, thereby balancing the internal and external air pressure. This is beneficial to the stability of the sound length under pressure fluctuations, which can not only prevent the deformation of the transducer body 200, but also protect the sensor element of the transducer body 200, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the transducer body 200 when used in different environments.

[0083] In order to facilitate the balance of internal and external air pressure, two opposite through holes 140 can be provided on the outer shell 100, and two air inlet grooves 3121 corresponding to the through holes 140 can be provided on the vibration damping pad. The ends of the two air inlet grooves 3121 are connected to the clearance channel through which the signal lead 210 passes.

[0084] For example, the vibration damping pad can be a circular pad with a certain thickness.

[0085] Further, please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the shock-absorbing pad 310 includes a rigid pad 311 and a flexible pad 312.

[0086] The rigid gasket 311 can be made of a hard material such as stainless steel and needs to have a certain low-temperature resistance. The rigid gasket 311 abuts against the transition connection surface 130. The rigid gasket 311 is provided with a first connection hole 3111. The signal lead 210 passes through the first connection hole 3111 and has a gap between it and the hole wall of the first connection hole 3111, so that the signal lead 210 will not come into contact with the rigid gasket 311, thereby reducing signal noise.

[0087] The flexible gasket 312 is connected to the rigid gasket 311 on the side away from the transition connection surface 130, and the side of the flexible gasket 312 away from the rigid gasket 311 contacts the transducer body 200. The flexible gasket 312 is provided with a second connection hole 3122, which is coaxially arranged with the first connection hole 3111. The air inlet groove 3121 is provided on the side of the flexible gasket 312 facing the transducer body 200. The contact between the flexible gasket 312 and the transducer body 200 can reduce signal noise.

[0088] In practical applications, the rigid gasket 311 abuts against the filter connection surface, providing a certain abutment strength and achieving a good limiting effect. The flexible gasket 312 contacts the transducer body 200 and the flexible sleeve 320, which can reduce the amount of sound waves transmitted to the outer shell 100, thus achieving a good noise reduction effect.

[0089] Furthermore, the second connecting hole 3122 can be divided into a first connecting segment and a second connecting segment. The first connecting segment and the second connecting segment are arranged vertically along the Z direction. The end of the first connecting segment away from the second connecting segment is connected to the rigid gasket 311, for example, by common methods such as bonding or vulcanization. The end of the second connecting segment away from the first connecting segment is in contact with the transducer body 200. The diameter of the second connecting segment is larger than the diameter of the first connecting segment, and the diameter of the first connecting hole 3111 is larger than the diameter of the first connecting segment but smaller than the diameter of the second connecting segment. The air inlet groove 3121 is located at the end of the second connecting segment away from the first connecting segment. One end of the air inlet groove 3121 extends to the outer wall of the flexible gasket 312, and the other end communicates with the second connecting segment.

[0090] This structure allows for a certain gap between the second connecting section, the air inlet slot 3121, and the transducer body 200, which is beneficial for improving the pressure balance effect.

[0091] Of course, the size of the second connection hole 3122 can also be slightly larger than the size of the signal lead 210 to avoid direct contact between the shock-absorbing pad 310 and the signal lead 210.

[0092] At this time, a sintering seat 600 can be set in the second chamber 120. The sintering seat 600 is connected to the outer shell 100, and a second sealing ring 610 is provided between the sintering seat 600 and the outer shell 100 to effectively seal the space. The signal lead 210 passes through the sintering seat 600 and extends to the side of the sintering seat 600 away from the first chamber 110. The signal lead 210 can be locked and fixed by the sintering seat 600.

[0093] Of course, the sintering base 600 and the outer shell 100 can be connected by common connection methods such as interference fit and threaded connection, as long as the sintering base 600 will not shift within the outer shell 100. At the same time, there is a gap between the sintering base 600 and the damping pad 310, and the two do not directly contact each other.

[0094] In some embodiments of this application, the transducer module further includes a seal 500, which is sleeved on the outside of the housing 100.

[0095] Specifically, the sealing element 500 can be made of commonly used materials, such as rubber, to form the first sealing ring. One or more sealing elements 500 can be provided, and corresponding grooves can be opened on the outside of the housing 100 so that the sealing element 500 can be embedded in the groove for limiting. Of course, part of the sealing element 500 extends outside the groove. When the transducer module is assembled into the housing of the gas ultrasonic flow meter, the sealing element 500 can contact the housing, thereby reducing the signal noise transmission from the housing 100 to the housing through the soft contact between the sealing element 500 and the housing.

[0096] That is, when the transducer module is assembled into the housing of the ultrasonic gas flow meter, a three-stage isolation structure can be formed:

[0097] Primary isolation: The shock-absorbing pad 310 and the flexible sleeve 320 separate the outer shell 100 from the transducer body 200, thereby reducing the signal noise transmitted from the transmitter transducer body 200 to the outer shell 100 through sound source decoupling;

[0098] Secondary isolation: The limiting member 400 with notch 410 restricts the position of the transducer body 200 in the first chamber 110. The acoustic signal generated by the transducer body 200 has strong axial propagation. By reducing the contact area between the limiting member 400 and the flexible sleeve 320, the acoustic wave transmission path is reduced, which can effectively attenuate signal noise at low temperature.

[0099] Three-level isolation: A seal 500 is installed on the housing 100. The soft contact of the seal 500 on the housing 100 reduces the transmission of noise from the housing 100 to the housing and signal. At the same time, a through hole 140 is provided on the housing 100 to ensure that the pressure inside the transducer body 200 is balanced with the medium.

[0100] This application also provides a gas ultrasonic flow meter, including a housing and the transducer module described in the above embodiments, wherein the transducer module is located inside the housing.

[0101] The first sealing ring 500 provided on the outer casing 100 makes soft contact with the casing, which can reduce the transmission of signal noise from the outer casing 100 to the casing and further improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the gas ultrasonic flow meter.

[0102] It should be noted that the transducer module in the above embodiments is mainly the transmitting transducer module. The gas ultrasonic flow meter also includes common components such as a receiving transducer module, a measuring pipe, a signal processing unit, and a computing unit. The receiving transducer module is used in pairs with the transmitting transducer module to receive ultrasonic signals. The ultrasonic waves emitted by the transmitting transducer module propagate through the gas medium to the receiving transducer module, which converts them into electrical signals. The measuring pipe is the main body of the gas ultrasonic flow meter, through which gas flows. The signal processing unit processes the signals received from the receiving transducer, and the computing unit is typically a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) used to perform complex calculations and analyses. These are well-known to those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0103] Finally, it should be noted that other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein, and is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A transducer module, characterized by include: A housing (100) having a first chamber (110) inside; A transducer body (200) is at least partially located within the first chamber (110); A flexible separator (300) is located between the transducer body (200) and the inner wall of the first chamber (110) to separate the transducer body (200) from the inner wall of the first chamber (110).

2. The transducer module of claim 1, wherein, It also includes a limiting member (400) that extends at least partially into the first chamber (110) and engages with the outer shell (100). The limiting member is configured to abut against a portion of the flexible partition (300) surrounding the transducer body (200) to restrict the position of the transducer body (200) within the first chamber (110) by pressing the flexible partition (300) against the inner wall of the first chamber (110) along the axial direction of the transducer body (200). There is a gap between the limiting member (400) and the side wall of the transducer body (200).

3. The transducer module of claim 2, wherein, The flexible separator (300) has an annular protrusion (321) on the portion surrounding the transducer body (200). The annular protrusion (321) protrudes in a direction away from the side wall of the transducer body (200). The limiting member (400) abuts against the annular protrusion (321) on the side facing the limiting member (400).

4. The transducer module of claim 3, wherein, The flexible separator (300) also extends between the side wall of the transducer body (200) and the limiting member (400), and there is a gap between the limiting member (400) and the flexible separator (300) on the side of the limiting member (400) facing the side wall of the transducer body (200). The flexible separator (300) has a gap between the side wall of the transducer body (200) facing away from the side wall of the transducer body (200) and the inner wall of the first chamber (110).

5. The transducer module of claim 2, wherein, The limiting member (400) is provided with a notch (410), which is configured to form an avoidance cavity when the limiting member (400) presses the flexible partition (300) against the inner wall of the first chamber (110).

6. The transducer module of claim 1, wherein, The outer shell (100) also has a second chamber (120), which communicates with the first chamber (110), and a transition connection surface (130) is formed between the first chamber (110) and the second chamber (120); The flexible partition (300) includes a shock-absorbing pad (310) located at one end of the transducer body (200) facing the second chamber (120), and the shock-absorbing pad (310) abuts against the transition connection surface (130). The signal lead (210) of the transducer body (200) extends through the shock-absorbing pad (310) into the second chamber (120).

7. The transducer module of claim 6, wherein, The outer shell (100) is provided with a through hole (140), which communicates with the first chamber (110); The shock-absorbing pad (310) is provided with an air inlet groove (3121) on the side facing the transducer body (200), and the air inlet groove (3121) is connected to the through hole (140).

8. The transducer module of claim 6, wherein, The shock-absorbing pad (310) includes: A rigid pad (311) abuts against the transition connection surface (130). A first connection hole (3111) is provided on the rigid pad (3111). The signal lead (210) passes through the first connection hole (3111) and has a gap with the hole wall of the first connection hole (3111). A flexible pad (312) is located between the rigid pad (311) and the transducer body (200). The flexible pad (312) is provided with a second connection hole (3122) for the signal lead (210) to pass through.

9. The transducer module of claim 6, wherein, The flexible separator (300) also includes a flexible sleeve (320), which is sleeved on the periphery of the transducer body (200), and one end of the flexible sleeve (320) is in contact with the shock-absorbing pad (310).

10. The transducer module of any of claims 1-9, wherein, It also includes a seal (500) which is fitted onto the outside of the housing (100).

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