A water meter durability test device

Abstract

The application discloses a water meter durability test device and relates to the technical field of water meter durability test, which comprises a cold water tank, a hot water tank, a test table, a first three-way reversing valve, a second three-way reversing valve, a hot water return pipe and a cold water return pipe.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In practical applications, water meters need to operate in a flowing water environment for extended periods. Therefore, sufficient durability is one of the core performance indicators to ensure that water meters meet long-term usage requirements and maintain metering accuracy and functional stability. The water meter's resistance to aging in both cold and hot water media directly affects its overall service life. Therefore, existing technologies typically require targeted cold water durability tests and hot water durability tests to verify the aging life of water meters under different water temperature conditions, thereby determining whether the water meter meets relevant usage standards and quality requirements.

[0003] However, current cold and hot water durability tests on water meters have significant operational limitations: due to the lack of an integrated testing solution, cold water and hot water tests must be conducted on two separate dedicated devices. This testing method not only increases equipment investment costs and space requirements but also necessitates multiple disassembly, relocation, and debugging of the water meter between the two devices. This not only prolongs the overall testing cycle but also increases the risk of human error affecting the accuracy of test results. Furthermore, it significantly increases the manpower and time costs during the testing process, causing considerable inconvenience to the quality inspection work of water meter production. Utility Model Content

[0004] To reduce the difficulty of water meter durability testing, this application provides a water meter durability testing device.

[0005] This application provides a water meter durability testing device, which adopts the following technical solution: A water meter durability testing device includes: a cold water tank, the outlet of which is connected to a cold water pipe via a water pump; a hot water tank, the outlet of which is connected to a hot water pipe via a water pump; a test platform, on which a test tube is mounted, and a water meter to be tested is connected to the test tube; a first three-way reversing valve, the outlet ends of the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, and the inlet end of the test tube are all connected to the three-way reversing valve; wherein, the outlet end of the test tube is connected to a second three-way reversing valve, the second three-way reversing valve is also connected to a hot water return pipe and a cold water return pipe, the hot water return pipe is connected to the hot water tank for returning hot water; the cold water return pipe is connected to the cold water tank for returning cold water.

[0006] By adopting the above technical solution, cold water durability tests and hot water durability tests can be completed in the same device in a sequential manner, without the need to disassemble and transfer water meters between two independent devices, thus realizing integrated cold and hot water durability testing and significantly reducing equipment investment, site occupation and manual operation.

[0007] Optionally, both the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe are connected to return water branch pipes, with the corresponding water pump located between the two ends of the return water branch pipe.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, a loop is formed at both ends of the water pump, which can prevent water hammer when the water pump is turned off.

[0009] Optionally, both the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe are connected to an air degassing device.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the gas mixed in the cold water pipe and hot water pipe can be removed in real time, improving the accuracy of test data and ensuring that the durability test results truly reflect the aging performance of the water meter.

[0011] Optionally, the test tube on the test stand is provided with multiple sections, and the water meter to be tested is connected between two adjacent test tubes. A water tank is also provided on the test stand, and the test tube is installed on the water tank.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the test bench can simultaneously arrange multiple water meters to be tested, realizing parallel testing; the water tank can collect dripping water during the disassembly and assembly process in real time, keeping the site clean and facilitating centralized recycling.

[0013] Optionally, a plurality of centering brackets are slidably connected on the test platform. The centering brackets slide along the axial direction of the test tube. Each of the centering brackets corresponds to one of the test tubes. A centering groove is provided on the centering bracket. A centering ring is installed on the test tube and is installed in the centering groove to form a support centering for the test tube.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the test tubes and water meter interfaces can be automatically aligned by sliding adjustment, avoiding the need for manual repeated raising and adjustment of flange angles.

[0015] Optionally, the centering bracket has a cover plate hinged to the centering groove position for closing the centering groove. The cover plate has an arc groove on its inner side. When the cover plate closes the centering groove, the arc groove coincides with the axis of the centering groove. An insert block is fixed to the end of the cover plate away from the hinge point. The centering bracket has a slot for inserting the insert block when the cover plate closes the centering groove. The centering bracket also has a pin that passes through the centering bracket and the insert block to limit the insert block in the slot.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, after the cover plate is closed, it can be used together with the centering groove to fix the centering ring, further enhancing the stability of the test tube and preventing the test tube from shaking during the test; the cooperation of the plug, slot and pin can reliably lock the cover plate, preventing the cover plate from being opened accidentally, while the disassembly and assembly are convenient, facilitating the replacement and maintenance of the test tube.

[0017] Optionally, a heat insulation layer is provided on the outer periphery of the test tube.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solutions, heat loss during hot water flow in the test tube can be reduced, ensuring that the water temperature meets the test standard requirements during hot water testing, avoiding the impact of water temperature fluctuations on the accuracy of aging life verification results, and also providing insulation and protection for the test tube; in cold water operation, it can also reduce the interference of the external environment on the low-temperature medium, reduce heating / cooling energy consumption, ensure stable temperature parameters during the test, and improve test consistency and repeatability.

[0019] Optionally, a drain valve is connected between the first three-way reversing valve and the test tube, and a drain pipe is connected to the outlet of the drain valve. The test platform is located in the water tank and has a collection tank. The outlet of the drain pipe extends into the collection tank. A return water pump is installed in the collection tank, and the outlet of the return water pump is connected to the hot water tank through a pipe to return the water in the collection tank to the hot water tank.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, when switching operating conditions or ending the test, the residual water in the pipe can be introduced into the collection tank through the drain pipe by opening the drain valve, and then automatically pumped back to the hot water tank by the return water pump to realize heat energy recovery; the collection tank is located at the lowest point of the water tank, avoiding water accumulation on the ground, saving water resources and maintaining site cleanliness.

[0021] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial effects: 1. By combining hot and cold water tanks, double three-way reversing valves and return pipes, cold and hot water durability tests are integrated into the same device, which not only shortens the test cycle and reduces the impact of human operation errors on test results, but also realizes the recycling of hot and cold water, reduces water and heat waste, and reduces equipment investment and site occupation costs. 2. The multi-segment test tube design allows for the simultaneous testing of multiple water meters, significantly improving testing efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the test bench in this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the test bench in this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the central support in this application; Figure 5 This is an exploded schematic diagram of the central support structure in this application.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Cold water tank; 2. Hot water tank; 3. Test bench; 4. First three-way reversing valve; 5. Second three-way reversing valve; 6. Water pump; 7. Cold water pipe; 8. Hot water pipe; 9. Return water branch pipe; 10. Cold water branch pipe; 11. Hot water branch pipe; 12. Switch valve; 13. Degassing device; 14. Test tube; 15. Water meter to be tested; 16. Pipe expansion joint; 17. Cylinder; 18. Water tank; 19. Insulation layer; 20. Centering bracket; 21. Roller; 22. Slide rail; 23. Slide groove; 24. Centering groove; 25. Centering ring; 26. Cover plate; 27. Arc groove; 28. Insert block; 29. ​​Slot; 30. Pin; 31. Hot water return pipe; 32. Cold water return pipe; 33. Drain valve; 34. Drain pipe; 35. Collection tank. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] This application discloses a water meter durability testing device. The core of this device lies in its integrated design, which enables combined cold and hot water durability testing. Its overall structure revolves around three core components: "water supply - testing - return flow." All components work together to meet the requirements for testing accuracy and efficiency. Specific component configurations and functions are as follows: Reference Figure 1 , 2 The test apparatus includes a cold water tank 1, a hot water tank 2, a test bench 3, and a first three-way reversing valve 4. The cold water tank 1 can be connected to a refrigeration unit to control the temperature of the cold water inside, ensuring it meets the standard requirements for cold water testing. The hot water tank 2 can be equipped with heating components, such as electric heating elements, to heat the water to the standard temperature for hot water meter testing. The outlets of both tanks are connected to the cold water pipe 7 and the hot water pipe 8 via independent water pumps 6. The water pump 6 must be selected to meet the required water pressure and flow rate for the test, ensuring a stable water flow through the water meter under test 15, simulating actual water flow conditions.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 Meanwhile, both the cold water pipe 7 and the hot water pipe 8 are connected to return water branch pipes 9, and the corresponding water pump 6 is located between the inlet and outlet of the return water branch pipe 9, forming a bypass loop. The key function of this design is that when the test switching conditions require the water pump 6 to be shut down, the water flow in the pipeline can flow smoothly through the return water branch pipe 9, avoiding the water hammer effect caused by the sudden interruption of water flow, protecting the water pump 6, pipeline and the water meter under test 15 from impact damage, and extending the overall service life of the device.

[0027] In addition, cold water pipe 7 and hot water pipe 8 are respectively connected to cold water branch pipe 10 and hot water branch pipe 11. The diameters of cold water branch pipe 10 and hot water branch pipe 11 are smaller than the diameters of cold water pipe 7 and hot water pipe 8. For example, when the diameter of cold water pipe 7 is DN100, the diameter of cold water branch pipe 10 can be set to DN50. The diameters of hot water pipe 8 and hot water branch pipe 11 are matched in the same way. Both cold water branch pipe 10 and hot water branch pipe 11 are connected to on / off valves 12, which can be ball valves or gate valves, for easy quick opening and closing and fine adjustment of flow. Cold water pipe 7 and hot water pipe 8 are also connected to on / off valves 12, and the on / off valves 12 on cold water pipe 7 and hot water pipe 8 are located between the two ends of the corresponding cold water branch pipe 10 and hot water branch pipe 11.

[0028] Through this design, cold water pipe 7 and cold water branch pipe 10, and hot water pipe 8 and hot water branch pipe 11 can each correspond to different pipe diameters, thus adapting to the testing of two different flow meter specifications. In other embodiments, more branches with different pipe diameters can be added according to testing requirements, further expanding the device's adaptability to multiple types of flow meters and improving the device's versatility.

[0029] Both the cold water pipe 7 and the hot water pipe 8 are equipped with de-airers 13. Automatic de-airers 13 can be selected, and their installation position is preferably close to the water outlet of the water pump 6, which can remove air mixed in the pipeline in real time. If air bubbles are present in the pipeline, it will cause unstable water flow, which will affect the accuracy of the water meter's metering accuracy test data. The setting of the de-airer 13 can effectively avoid this problem and ensure that the test data truly reflects the aging performance of the water meter at different water temperatures.

[0030] Reference Figure 1 , 2 The test bench 3 is equipped with multiple test tubes 14. The water meter 15 to be tested is connected to two adjacent test tubes 14 via flanges (or threaded connections, depending on the water meter interface type) to achieve continuous water flow. The design of multiple test tubes 14 allows multiple water meters 15 to be tested to be installed simultaneously, enabling parallel testing and significantly improving testing efficiency. This is especially suitable for batch quality inspection scenarios in water meter manufacturing enterprises.

[0031] Reference Figure 1 , 2 The three ports of the first three-way reversing valve 4 are respectively connected to the outlet of the cold water pipe 7, the outlet of the hot water pipe 8, and the inlet of the test pipe 14. By controlling the operation of the first three-way reversing valve 4, cold water or hot water can be selectively introduced into the test pipe 14.

[0032] Reference Figure 2 , 3To optimize the ease of connection and sealing between the test tube 14 and the water meter, a tubular expansion joint 16 is used for connection at the end of the test tube 14. A connecting seat is welded to the outer periphery of the tubular expansion joint 16, and the connecting seat is fixed to the test bench 3 with bolts. A flange is fixedly installed at the movable end of the tubular expansion joint 16, and the tubular expansion joint 16 is connected to a cylinder 17 fixedly installed on the test bench 3. When the test tube 14 needs to be connected, the piston rod is driven by the cylinder 17 to extend, pushing the flange at the movable end of the tubular expansion joint 16 towards the flange at the end of the test tube 14 until the movable end of the tubular expansion joint 16 is tightly connected. Simultaneously, a sealing structure is used between the flanges to enhance waterproofing: an annular sealing groove can be opened on the sealing surface of the flange, and a heat-resistant rubber sealing ring can be embedded, suitable for both hot and cold water conditions. Materials such as nitrile rubber or fluororubber can be selected, or a flexible sealing gasket, such as an asbestos rubber gasket or a graphite composite gasket, can be directly laid. The clamping force generated by the cylinder 17 fully compresses the sealing element, forming a reliable sealing connection.

[0033] Reference Figure 2 , 3 The test bench 3 is also equipped with a water tank 18, and all test tubes 14 are installed above the water tank 18, with the connection points of the test tubes 14 and the water meter facing the opening of the water tank 18. The purpose of this design is that during the installation and removal of the water meter, residual water in the pipes will drip into the water tank 18, avoiding safety hazards and environmental mess caused by water accumulation on the ground; at the same time, the water tank 18 can initially collect the dripping water, facilitating subsequent centralized treatment or recycling.

[0034] In addition, refer to Figure 4 , 5 The outer periphery of the test tube 14 is also wrapped with an insulation layer 19. The insulation layer 19 can be made of rock wool insulation pipe or polyurethane insulation material, etc. Its function is to reduce the heat loss of hot water during the flow of hot water in the test tube 14 during hot water testing, ensuring that the temperature of the hot water when it reaches the water meter still meets the test standard requirements, and avoiding the impact of water temperature drop on the accuracy of the water meter aging life verification results. During cold water testing, it can also reduce the heat transferred from the external environment to the test tube 14, maintain the cold water temperature stability, further ensure the consistency and repeatability of test parameters, and at the same time reduce the energy consumption of heating in the hot water tank 2 and cooling in the cold water tank 1, achieving energy saving effect.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 , 4Several centering supports 20 are slidably connected to the test platform 3. The number of centering supports 20 corresponds one-to-one with the number of test tubes 14, and the centering supports 20 can slide freely along the axis of the test tubes 14. Specifically, two sets of rectangularly distributed rollers 21 are rotatably connected to the centering supports 20. Slide rails 22 are welded and fixed on the two opposite walls of the water tank 18. Each slide rail 22 has a groove 23 for mounting the rollers 21. The groove 23 extends along the axis parallel to the test tubes 14. The centering supports 20 slide along the slide rails 22 with the help of the two sets of rollers 21.

[0036] Reference Figure 4 , 5 The centering bracket 20 has a centering groove 24 with a semi-circular opening. The test tube 14 is fitted with a centering ring 25, which is made of rubber or metal. Its inner diameter is tightly fitted with the outer diameter of the test tube 14. The centering ring 25 is fitted into the centering groove 24 to support and center the test tube 14.

[0037] When installing the water meter 15 to be tested, the position of the test tube 14 can be adjusted by sliding the centering bracket 20, so that the interface of the test tube 14 is automatically aligned with the interface of the water meter. This avoids manually raising the test tube 14 repeatedly or adjusting the flange angle, reducing the difficulty of installation, while ensuring the sealing of the connection and reducing the risk of water leakage.

[0038] Reference Figure 4 , 5 A cover plate 26 is hinged to the centering bracket 20 at the position corresponding to the centering groove 24. An arc groove 27 is formed on the inner side of the cover plate 26, and the radius of the arc groove 27 is the same as the outer diameter of the centering ring 25. When the cover plate 26 closes the centering groove 24, the arc groove 27 and the centering groove 24 together form a complete circular channel, tightly wrapping the centering ring 25. This further enhances the stability of the test tube 14 and prevents the test tube 14 from shaking due to water flow impact during the test, which would affect the connection sealing and the accuracy of the test data.

[0039] Reference Figure 4 , 5 A plug 28 is fixed to the end of the cover plate 26 away from the hinge point. A slot 29 adapted to the plug 28 is provided on the centering bracket 20. When the cover plate 26 is closed, the plug 28 can be inserted into the slot 29. A pin 30 is also provided on the centering bracket 20. The pin 30 passes through pre-drilled holes on the centering bracket 20 and the plug 28, limiting the plug 28 in the slot 29, thus reliably locking the cover plate 26 and preventing accidental opening during testing. This locking structure is easy to install and remove; simply pulling out the pin 30 allows the cover plate 26 to be opened, facilitating the replacement and maintenance of the test tube 14 and improving operational convenience.

[0040] Reference Figure 1The outlet end of the test tube 14 is connected to a second three-way reversing valve 5. The other two ports of the second three-way reversing valve 5 are connected to the hot water return pipe 31 and the cold water return pipe 32, respectively. The other end of the hot water return pipe 31 is connected to the hot water tank 2, and the other end of the cold water return pipe 32 is connected to the cold water tank 1.

[0041] During the test, the valve core switching of the second three-way reversing valve 5 is synchronized with that of the first three-way reversing valve 4: when conducting a cold water test, the second three-way reversing valve 5 switches to connect the test pipe 14 with the cold water return pipe 32, and the cold water passing through the water meter flows back to the cold water tank 1 through the cold water return pipe 32, realizing the recycling of cold water; when conducting a hot water test, the second three-way reversing valve 5 switches to connect the test pipe 14 with the hot water return pipe 31, and the hot water passing through the water meter flows back to the hot water tank 2 through the hot water return pipe 31, avoiding the waste of heat and water resources caused by direct discharge of hot water and reducing test costs. In addition, refer to Figure 2 , 3 A drain valve 33 is connected between the first three-way reversing valve 4 and the test tube 14. The outlet of the drain valve 33 is connected to a drain pipe 34. A collection tank 35 is provided in the water tank 18 of the test bench 3. The collection tank 35 is located at the bottom of the water tank 18, and the outlet end of the drain pipe 34 extends into the collection tank 35. When the test is over or the water meter needs to be replaced, the drain valve 33 can be opened to drain the water remaining in the test tube 14, the first three-way reversing valve 4, and the connecting pipes into the collection tank 35.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 , 3 A return water pump 6 is also installed in the collection tank 35. The outlet of the return water pump 6 is connected to the hot water tank 2 through a pipe. It can pump the water collected in the collection tank 35, especially the hot water left after the hot water test, back to the hot water tank 2 to further realize heat energy recovery, reduce the heating energy consumption of the hot water tank 2, avoid water waste, and keep the test site clean.

[0043] The implementation principle of the water meter durability testing device in this application is as follows: Cold water durability test: Start the water pump 6 of cold water tank 1 and the chiller, open the cold water passage of the first three-way reversing valve 4 and the cold water return passage of the second three-way reversing valve 5, and turn on the deaerator 13 to discharge the air in the cold water branch pipe 10 in real time. After the test, turn off the water pump 6 of cold water tank 1 and the chiller, open the drain valve 33 to drain the residual cold water in the pipeline and the pipe expansion joint 16 into the collection tank 35, and close the drain valve 33 after the water is drained.

[0044] Turn on the electric heating element of hot water tank 2 to heat the water and maintain it at the required test temperature. Start the water pump 6 of hot water tank 2, open the hot water passage of the first three-way reversing valve 4 and the hot water return passage of the second three-way reversing valve 5, and maintain the hot water temperature stably with the help of the insulation layer 19 of test tube 14. Open the degassing device 13 to expel the air in the hot water branch pipe 11, and record the start time of the hot water test. After the test, turn off the electric heating element and water pump 6 of hot water tank 2, open the drain valve 33 to drain the residual hot water in the pipe, and close the drain valve 33 after the water has been drained.

[0045] Post-test procedures: Control the piston rod of cylinder 17 to retract, separate the tubular expansion joint 16 from the test tube 14, and remove the water meter 15 to be tested. If there is a large amount of water in the collection tank 35, start the return water pump 6 to send the water back to the hot water tank 2 for recycling.

[0046] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A water meter durability testing device, characterized in that: include: The cold water tank (1) has a cold water pipe (7) connected to its outlet via a water pump (6). The hot water tank (2) has a hot water pipe (8) connected to its outlet via a water pump (6); Test bench (3), on which a test tube (14) is installed, and a water meter (15) to be tested is connected to the test tube (14). The outlet of the first three-way reversing valve (4), the outlet of the cold water pipe (7) and the hot water pipe (8), and the inlet of the test pipe (14) are all connected to the first three-way reversing valve (4); The outlet end of the test tube (14) is connected to a second three-way reversing valve (5). The second three-way reversing valve (5) is also connected to a hot water return pipe (31) and a cold water return pipe (32). The hot water return pipe (31) is connected to the hot water tank (2) for returning hot water; the cold water return pipe (32) is connected to the cold water tank (1) for returning cold water.

2. The water meter durability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the cold water pipe (7) and the hot water pipe (8) are connected to return water branch pipes (9), and the water pump (6) is located between the two ends of the return water branch pipe (9).

3. The water meter durability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the cold water pipe (7) and the hot water pipe (8) are connected to an air degasser (13).

4. The water meter durability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The test tube (14) on the test bench (3) is provided with multiple sections. The water meter (15) to be tested is connected between two adjacent test tubes (14). A water tank (18) is also provided on the test bench (3). The test tube (14) is installed on the water tank (18).

5. A water meter durability testing device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: Several centering brackets (20) are slidably connected on the test platform (3). The centering brackets (20) slide along the axis of the test tube (14). The centering brackets (20) correspond one-to-one with the test tube (14). Centering grooves (24) are provided on the centering brackets (20). Centering rings (25) are installed on the test tube (14). The centering rings (25) are installed in the centering grooves (24) to form the support centering of the test tube (14).

6. The water meter durability testing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The centering bracket (20) is hinged to a cover plate (26) at the position corresponding to the centering groove (24) for closing the centering groove (24). The inner side of the cover plate (26) is provided with an arc groove (27). When the cover plate (26) closes the centering groove (24), the arc groove (27) coincides with the axis of the centering groove (24). A plug (28) is fixed at one end of the cover plate (26) away from the hinge point. The centering bracket (20) is provided with a slot (29) for inserting the plug (28) when the cover plate (26) closes the centering groove (24). The centering bracket (20) is also provided with a pin (30) that passes through the centering bracket (20) and the plug (28) to limit the plug (28) in the slot (29).

7. The water meter durability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the test tube (14) is provided with a heat insulation layer (19).

8. The water meter durability testing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A drain valve (33) is connected between the first three-way reversing valve (4) and the test tube (14). The outlet of the drain valve (33) is connected to a drain pipe (34). The test platform (3) is located in the water tank (18) and has a collection tank (35). The outlet of the drain pipe (34) extends into the collection tank (35). A return water pump (6) is installed in the collection tank (35). The outlet of the return water pump (6) is connected to the hot water tank (2) through a pipe to return the water in the collection tank (35) to the hot water tank (2).

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