A flowmeter

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of flow rate meter, it is related to flow rate measurement field.The flow rate meter includes stem assembly, direction self-aiming mechanism and rotating turbine, direction self-aiming mechanism includes first rotating part and second rotating part rotatablely connected.The utility model passes through the vertical setting of the rotating axis of first rotating part and second rotating part in direction self-aiming mechanism, constructs the attitude adjustment ability of multidimension.When liquid flows, first direction adjusting plate part and second direction adjusting plate part are driven corresponding rotating part action under water flow impact respectively, by the rotating axis of vertically arranged first rotating part and second rotating part, realize flexible deflection in three-dimensional space.Thereby drive rotating turbine fixed thereon to adjust orientation autonomously, ensure that impeller always keeps facing with water flow direction, realize full-angle speed measurement, avoid the speed deviation caused by the included angle between impeller and water flow, improve the accuracy of measuring point.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of measurement technology, and in particular relates to a flow meter. Background Technology

[0002] With the rise of immersion liquid cooling technology in data centers, flow control within liquid-cooled server racks has become a key area of ​​research. The complex structure of liquid-cooled server racks, housing servers and other IT equipment, makes it difficult to determine the fluid velocity at specific chips within these devices. In the field of heat dissipation, the flow rate of the cooling fluid directly affects the cooling effect and is a critical parameter. Therefore, developers can detect the liquid flow rate at specific locations within the rack to assess the cooling effect, optimize the structural design, and ultimately improve the cooling efficiency of IT equipment.

[0003] During flow velocity measurement, to ensure data accuracy, the impeller of the flow meter must be aligned with the direction of water flow. However, in existing technologies, the adjustment structure of flow meters is relatively simple, and it can usually only achieve adjustment in a single direction (such as only the horizontal direction), and cannot complete adjustment in other directions such as vertical, that is, it does not have multi-directional adjustment capability. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a flow meter that allows for multi-directional autonomous adjustment of the flow meter's orientation to improve the accuracy of flow velocity measurement.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0006] This utility model provides a flow meter, including a rod assembly; a directional autocollimation mechanism, including a first rotating part and a second rotating part rotatably connected to the rod assembly, the first rotating part and the second rotating part being rotatably connected, and their rotation axes being perpendicular to each other; the first rotating part includes a rotating shaft, a first directional plate, and a second directional plate; the first directional plate and the second directional plate are deflected in the direction of flow due to the rotation of the rotating shaft, and the second directional plate is deflected in the direction of flow due to the rotation of the second rotating part; and a rotary turbine, including a shaft and an impeller, the impeller being sleeved around the shaft to rotate around the shaft under the impact of flowing liquid, the shaft being fixedly connected to the first rotating part; the rotary turbine is provided with a speed measuring element for measuring the impeller speed.

[0007] In one embodiment, the surface of the first directional plate is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating shaft; the surface of the second directional plate is parallel to the rotation axis of the second rotating part; wherein, the surfaces of both the first directional plate and the second directional plate are arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel axle.

[0008] In one embodiment, one of the second rotating part and the rod assembly is provided with a through hole, and the other is provided with a connecting shaft, the connecting shaft passing through the through hole so that the second rotating part is rotatably connected to the rod assembly.

[0009] In one embodiment, the second rotating part is provided with a connecting shaft, and the rod assembly is provided with a through hole; the second rotating part includes a bottom edge and two side edges connected to both ends of the bottom edge, and the bottom edge is provided with the connecting shaft; the two side edges extend from both ends of the bottom edge to the same side to form a first opening; the rotating shaft is disposed in the first opening and is rotatably connected to the two side edges.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first steering plate portion and the second steering plate portion intersect perpendicularly, and the wheel axle is provided at the intersection of the first steering plate portion and the second steering plate portion.

[0011] In one embodiment, the end of the wheel shaft away from the first rotating part has a protrusion that protrudes from the front side of the impeller, wherein: the diameter of the protrusion gradually decreases in the direction away from the impeller; and / or, the surface of the protrusion is a smooth curved surface.

[0012] In one embodiment, the rod assembly includes: a first rod with a connecting shaft at one end for engaging with a through hole on the second rotating part; and a second rod rotatably connected to the other end of the first rod along an axis in the width direction of the first rod; wherein the length of the first rod is less than the length of the second rod; the first rod includes two parallel first side plates, and the second rod includes two parallel second side plates, the two first side plates being rotatably connected to the inner sides of the two second side plates.

[0013] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the first side plate and / or the second side plate is hollowed out; and / or, reinforcing ribs are provided between the two first side plates and / or between the two second side plates.

[0014] In one embodiment, the reinforcing rib between the two second side plates includes a limiting rib; during rotation, the two first side plates can be housed between the two second side plates, and in the housed state, the limiting rib abuts against the two first side plates to restrict the rotation of the two first side plates.

[0015] In one embodiment, the speed measuring element includes a magnet and a Hall sensor, the magnet being disposed on the impeller and the Hall sensor being disposed on the wheel shaft or the first rotating part.

[0016] In one embodiment, the flow meter further includes a handheld part connected to the end of the rod assembly away from the directional autocollimation mechanism. The handheld part has a circuit board assembly inside and an interface, a power switch, and a display screen outside. The interface, the power switch, the display screen, and the speed measuring element are all electrically connected to the circuit board assembly.

[0017] This invention establishes a multi-dimensional attitude adjustment capability by vertically aligning the rotation axes of the first and second rotating parts in a directional self-aligning mechanism. When the liquid flows, the first and second directional plates drive their corresponding rotating parts to move under the impact of the water flow. Utilizing the vertically aligned rotation axes of the first and second rotating parts, flexible deflection in three-dimensional space is achieved. This drives the fixed rotating turbine to autonomously adjust its orientation, ensuring the impeller always faces the water flow direction, achieving full-angle speed measurement and avoiding speed measurement deviations caused by the angle between the impeller and the water flow. Simultaneously, by capturing the impeller speed with a speed-measuring element, the kinetic energy of the water flow can be converted into a quantifiable electrical signal. Accurate flow velocity data can then be derived through the calibration relationship between speed and flow velocity. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 A first-view structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the flow meter provided by this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the flow meter from a second-view perspective.

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the rod assembly, the orientation autocollimation mechanism, and the rotary turbine;

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the directional alignment mechanism and the rotary turbine in the diagram;

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the handheld part in the middle;

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the folded state of the flow meter in the image.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] 1. Rod assembly; 11. First rod; 111. First side plate; 12. Second rod; 121. Second side plate; 13. Reinforcing rib; 131. Limiting rib; 2. Directional self-aligning mechanism; 21. First rotating part; 211. Rotating shaft part; 212. First steering plate part; 213. Second steering plate part; 22. Second rotating part; 221. Base plate part; 222. Side part; 223. First opening; 3. Rotary turbine; 31. Wheel axle; 311. Protrusion; 32. Impeller; 4. Connecting shaft; 5. Handheld part; 51. Interface; 52. Power switch; 53. Display screen. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0028] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0029] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. "Multiple" refers to two or more. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0030] With the rise of immersion liquid cooling technology in data centers, flow control within liquid-cooled server racks has become a key area of ​​research. The complex structure of liquid-cooled server racks, housing servers and other IT equipment, makes it difficult to determine the fluid velocity at specific chips within these devices. In the field of heat dissipation, the flow rate of the cooling fluid directly affects the cooling effect and is a critical parameter. Therefore, developers can detect the liquid flow rate at specific locations within the rack to assess the cooling effect, optimize the structural design, and ultimately improve the cooling efficiency of IT equipment.

[0031] During flow velocity measurement, to ensure data accuracy, the impeller of the flow meter must be aligned with the direction of water flow. However, in existing technologies, the adjustment structure of flow meters is relatively simple, and it can usually only achieve adjustment in a single direction (such as only the horizontal direction), and cannot complete adjustment in other directions such as vertical, that is, it does not have multi-directional adjustment capability.

[0032] In view of this, the present invention provides a flow meter designed to autonomously adjust the orientation of the flow meter in multiple directions to improve the accuracy of flow velocity measurement. This flow meter can be applied to various scenarios, such as fluid velocity measurement inside liquid-cooled cabinets, liquid velocity monitoring in industrial pipelines, and laboratory fluid dynamics research, and is particularly suitable for environments requiring high accuracy in flow velocity measurement.

[0033] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The current meter includes a rod assembly 1, a directional autocollimation mechanism 2, and a rotating turbine 3. The rod assembly 1 provides support and a mounting base for the entire current meter, and its structural design can be adjusted according to the actual use scenario to adapt to different measurement environment requirements.

[0034] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4The directional alignment mechanism 2 includes a first rotating part 21 and a second rotating part 22. The second rotating part 22 is rotatably connected to the rod assembly 1. The first rotating part 21 further includes a rotating shaft part 211, a first directional plate part 212, and a second directional plate part 213. Both the first directional plate part 212 and the second directional plate part 213 are connected to the rotating shaft part 211. When impacted by flowing liquid, the first directional plate part 212 deflects with the flow by means of the rotation of the rotating shaft part 211, while the second directional plate part 213 deflects with the flow by means of the rotation of the second rotating part 22. Furthermore, the first rotating part 21 and the second rotating part 22 are rotatably connected, and their rotation axes are perpendicular to each other. The shape of the first rotating part 21 and / or the second rotating part 22 can be a frame shape, a shaft shape, or other irregular shapes, specifically designed according to the force balance requirements during fluid impact, as long as the two can be rotatably connected. The shapes of the first directional plate portion 212 and the second directional plate portion 213 can be rectangular, trapezoidal, or streamlined, etc. The size of their plate surface area can be set according to the expected water flow impact force. The larger the area, the greater the impact force received at the same flow velocity, and the faster the deflection response speed. In addition to being perpendicularly intersecting, the installation angle of the two plates can also be adjusted to other preset angles during manufacturing according to the actual water flow direction characteristics. However, the perpendicularly intersecting design can maximize the coverage of water flow impact in both horizontal and vertical directions, ensuring effective downstream deflection in liquid environments with different flow directions.

[0035] Please see Figure 4 The rotary turbine 3 includes a shaft 31 and an impeller 32, with the impeller 32 fitted around the shaft 31. Under the impact of the flowing liquid, the impeller 32 can rotate around the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is fixedly connected to the first rotating part 21. As the core component for flow velocity measurement, the number, shape, and installation angle of the impeller 32 blades in the rotary turbine 3 are not specifically limited, as long as they can generate stable rotational motion when the liquid flows. The fixed connection between the shaft 31 and the first rotating part 21 can be achieved by key connection, welding, or bolt connection, etc.

[0036] Please see Figure 4The rotating turbine 3 is also equipped with a speed measuring element for measuring the rotational speed of the impeller 32. By measuring the rotational speed of the impeller 32 using this speed measuring element, the flow velocity of the liquid can be further calculated. The speed measuring element can be a combination of a magnet and a Hall sensor, or a combination of a photoelectric sensor and a reflector, depending on the measurement accuracy requirements and the operating environment. In the combination of a magnet and a Hall sensor, the magnet is mounted on the blades of the impeller 32 or the connecting ring connecting the blades, and the Hall sensor is fixed at a corresponding position on the wheel shaft 31 or the first rotating part 21. When the impeller 32 rotates, the magnet periodically passes by the Hall sensor, and the Hall sensor outputs a pulse signal. By detecting and calculating the frequency of the pulse signal, the rotational speed of the impeller 32 can be obtained. In the combination of a photoelectric sensor and a reflector, the reflector is set on the blades of the impeller 32, and the light emitted by the photoelectric sensor shines on the reflector and is reflected back to the sensor. During the rotation of the impeller 32, the periodic blocking of the reflector causes the photoelectric sensor to generate a pulse signal, which can also achieve rotational speed measurement.

[0037] The overall implementation principle of this utility model is as follows: When the liquid flows in the measurement environment, its impact force will first act on the first adjusting plate 212 and the second adjusting plate 213 of the directional alignment mechanism 2: Since the rotation axes of the first rotating part 21 and the second rotating part 22 are perpendicular to each other (for ease of explanation, the rotation axis of the first rotating part 21 is taken as the horizontal direction) Figure 4 (represented by dashed line 'a' in the text), the rotation axis of the second rotating part 22 is in the vertical direction ( Figure 4 (Using dashed line b as an example for illustration), the first directional plate 212 drives the rotating shaft 211 to deflect horizontally in the direction of the flow, while the second directional plate 213 deflects vertically in the direction of the flow through the second rotating part 22. The coordinated action of the two enables the entire first rotating part 21 to achieve flexible attitude calibration in three-dimensional space, ultimately making the impeller 32 plane of the rotating turbine 3 fixed on the first rotating part 21 face the direction of water flow (i.e., the rotation plane of the impeller 32 is perpendicular to the main direction of water flow), eliminating the problem of impact force dispersion caused by the angle between the rotation plane of the impeller 32 and the water flow, and avoiding measurement errors caused by angular deviation from the source.

[0038] When the impeller 32 is precisely aligned with the direction of water flow, the flowing liquid will directly impact the blades of the impeller 32 along the axial direction, driving the impeller 32 to rotate stably around the shaft 31. Within the calibrated flow velocity range, the rotational speed of the impeller 32 exhibits a strict linear relationship with the liquid flow velocity, that is, the higher the flow velocity, the greater the hydrodynamic pressure on the blades, and the faster the rotational speed of the impeller 32.

[0039] At this time, the speed measuring element on the rotating turbine 3 starts working synchronously: if a combination of magnet and Hall sensor is used, the magnet rotating with the impeller 32 will periodically approach or move away from the fixed Hall sensor, causing the sensor to output a regular pulse electrical signal due to the change in magnetic field strength. The pulse frequency is proportional to the rotational speed of the impeller 32. If a combination of photoelectric sensor and reflector is used, the reflector will periodically reflect the light emitted by the photoelectric sensor as the impeller 32 rotates, forming a pulse signal. Its frequency also directly reflects the rotational speed of the impeller 32.

[0040] Once the external processing unit acquires the pulse signal, it calculates the number of pulses per unit time to obtain the real-time rotational speed of the impeller 32. Combined with the "rotational speed and flow rate" conversion model obtained through standard flow field calibration in the early stage, the actual flow rate of the liquid can be accurately calculated.

[0041] In short, this utility model, through the multi-directional adjustment of the directional alignment mechanism 2, can ensure that the impeller 32 of the rotating turbine 3 is always aligned with the direction of water flow, effectively reducing the measurement error caused by the angle between the rotation plane of the impeller 32 and the direction of water flow, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of flow velocity measurement.

[0042] In summary, this embodiment of the invention constructs a multi-dimensional attitude adjustment capability by setting the vertical rotation axes of the first rotating part 21 and the second rotating part 22 in the directional alignment mechanism 2. When the liquid flows, the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213 drive the corresponding rotating parts to move under the impact of the water flow. With the help of the vertically set rotation axes of the first rotating part 21 and the second rotating part 22, flexible deflection in three-dimensional space is achieved. This drives the rotating turbine 3 fixed on it to autonomously adjust its orientation, ensuring that the impeller 32 is always aligned with the direction of the water flow, realizing full-angle speed measurement and avoiding speed measurement deviation caused by the angle between the rotation plane of the impeller 32 and the water flow. At the same time, in conjunction with the speed measuring element to capture the speed of the impeller 32, the kinetic energy of the water flow can be converted into a quantifiable electrical signal, and then the accurate flow velocity data can be derived by calibrating the relationship between the speed and the flow velocity.

[0043] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 In order to obtain a more efficient driving torque for the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213 under the impact of water flow, the setting direction of the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213 has been optimized.

[0044] Specifically, since the plate surface of the first directional plate 212 is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 211, the force generated by the water flow impacting the plate surface will form a torque around the rotation axis. This torque can directly drive the first rotating part 21 to deflect around the horizontal axis with the flow. Since the plate surface is parallel to the rotation axis, the tangential component of the water flow impact force is maximized, reducing the ineffective component force perpendicular to the rotation direction, making the deflection action more direct and rapid.

[0045] Similarly, since the plate surface of the second directional plate 213 is parallel to the rotation axis of the second rotating part 22, the water flow impact will generate an effective torque around the vertical axis, driving the second rotating part 22 to cause the overall structure to deflect around the vertical axis with the flow. Similarly, through the parallel relationship between the plate surface direction and the rotation axis, the impact force is efficiently converted into adjustment power.

[0046] Since both plates are parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel shaft 31, the directional adjustment action and the force direction of the impeller 32 are coordinated. That is, the deflection direction of the directional plates always revolves around the rotation axis of the impeller 32, so that during the coordinated adjustment of the first and second rotating parts 22, the attitude adjustment of the impeller 32 is always centered on its own rotation axis, ultimately achieving a more precise alignment between the plane of the impeller 32 and the direction of water flow.

[0047] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 To facilitate the rotatable mounting of the second rotating part 22 onto the rod assembly 1, the connection method between the second rotating part 22 and the rod assembly has been simplified. Specifically, one of the second rotating part 22 and the rod assembly 1 is provided with a through hole, and the other is provided with a connecting shaft 4. The connecting shaft 4 passes through the through hole so that the second rotating part 22 is rotatably connected to the rod assembly 1.

[0048] In other words, this embodiment includes two connection methods. First, a through hole is provided on the second rotating part 22, and a corresponding connecting shaft 4 is provided on the rod assembly 1. The connecting shaft 4 is inserted into the through hole and forms a rotational fit with the inner wall of the through hole. Second, a through hole is provided on the rod assembly 1, and a corresponding connecting shaft 4 is provided on the second rotating part 22. The connecting shaft 4 passes through the through hole to achieve a rotational connection. The fit between the connecting shaft 4 and the through hole can be a clearance fit. The size of the clearance needs to be set according to the rotational flexibility and stability requirements during actual use. Too small a clearance may cause rotational jamming, while too large a clearance may cause shaking and affect measurement accuracy.

[0049] This embodiment of the utility model achieves the rotational connection between the second rotating part 22 and the rod assembly 1 with a minimalist mechanical design by using a through hole and connecting shaft 4, which simplifies the assembly process and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0050] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4To achieve a stable rotational connection between the rotating shaft 211 and the first rotating part 21, and to provide sufficient space for the steering action, the second rotating part 22 is configured as a frame structure. Specifically, the second rotating part 22 includes a bottom edge and two side edges 222 connected to both ends of the bottom edge. The bottom edge is provided with a connecting shaft 4, and the rod assembly 1 is provided with a through hole. The connecting shaft 4 passes through the through hole so that the second rotating part 22 is rotatably connected to the rod assembly 1. The two side edges 222 extend from both ends of the bottom edge to the same side to form a first opening 223. The rotating shaft 211 is disposed in the first opening 223 and is rotatably connected to the two side edges 222.

[0051] It is understandable that when the rotating shaft 211 rotates within the first opening 223, the first adjusting plate 212, the second adjusting plate 213, and the rotating turbine 3, which are fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 211, will all rotate accordingly. Therefore, the dimensions of the first adjusting plate 212, the second adjusting plate 213, and the rotating turbine 3 should not be too large, and it must be ensured that they do not collide or interfere with the side or bottom edge of the second rotating part 22 during rotation, so as to ensure smooth rotation.

[0052] The second rotating part 22 of the frame structure, consisting of the bottom and two side sides 222, provides stable two-point support for the rotating shaft 211 through the two side sides 222. Compared with single-point support, this effectively reduces the radial sway of the rotating shaft 211 and improves the overall structural stability of the directional self-aligning mechanism 2. Simultaneously, the design of the first opening 223 provides ample space for the deflection of the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213, preventing directional adjustment failure due to structural interference under water flow impact. Furthermore, the side sides 222 and bottom of the frame structure can be manufactured using a one-piece molding process, such as injection molding or metal stamping, which further enhances the structural strength of the second rotating part 22 and extends its service life during long-term use.

[0053] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 To achieve dynamic balance of the entire structure comprised of the first directional plate 212, the second directional plate 213, the rotating shaft 211, and the wheel axle 31, and to reduce the vibration and displacement of the overall structure under water flow impact, the entire structure is optimized accordingly. Specifically, the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213 are perpendicularly intersecting, and the wheel axle 31 is correspondingly positioned at the intersection of the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213.

[0054] During the specific measurement process, when the water flow impacts the first directional plate 212 and the second directional plate 213, since they are perpendicularly intersecting, the impact force they bear will be decomposed into two mutually perpendicular components. If the first directional plate 212 bears the impact force in the horizontal direction, then the second directional plate 213 will bear the impact force in the vertical direction. The forces in these two directions achieve torque balance at the intersection, which can prevent the whole from generating additional torsion or swaying due to uneven force distribution.

[0055] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 To reduce the resistance of the rotating turbine 3 to the flowing liquid, the front end of the axle 31 is designed with a bullet-shaped tip. Specifically, the end of the axle 31 away from the first rotating part 21 has a protrusion 311 that protrudes from the front side of the impeller 32, wherein: the diameter of the protrusion 311 gradually decreases in the direction away from the impeller 32; and / or, the surface of the protrusion 311 is a smooth curved surface.

[0056] With this configuration, the bullet-shaped protrusion 311 at the front end of the axle 31 can significantly optimize the liquid flow characteristics, fundamentally reduce the resistance interference of the rotating turbine 3 on the flowing liquid, and thus improve the accuracy of flow velocity measurement.

[0057] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 To enable the flow meter to extend into narrow gaps to measure liquid flow velocity, the rod assembly 1 was designed to be steerable, and its front end length was shortened. Specifically, the rod assembly 1 includes a first rod 11 and a second rod 12; one end of the first rod 11 is provided with a connecting shaft 4, which is used to engage with a through hole provided on the second rotating part 22; the second rod 12 is rotatably connected to the other end of the first rod 11 along the axis located in the width direction of the first rod 11; and the length of the first rod 11 is less than the length of the second rod 12.

[0058] The first rod 11 serves as a transitional component connecting the directional autocollimation mechanism 2 and the second rod 12. Its shorter length effectively reduces the overall size of the flow meter's front end, making it easier for the measuring end, composed of the directional autocollimation mechanism 2 and the rotary turbine 3, to penetrate into narrow gaps or complex structural spaces, such as the gaps between densely packed components inside a liquid-cooled cabinet or the bends in industrial pipelines. The second rod 12 provides the main grip and operating part of the flow meter. Its longer length facilitates external adjustment and fixation of the measuring end by the operator, preventing interference with the liquid flow due to the hand being close to the measuring area. The rotatable connection structure between the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 allows them to rotate relative to each other around the axis in the width direction of the first rod 11, thereby achieving pitch adjustment of the measuring end within a certain angle range and further enhancing the flow meter's adaptability to different measurement scenarios. For example, when measuring the liquid flow velocity at the bottom or top of a vertical pipe, the angle of the first rod 11 can be adjusted by rotating the second rod 12 to adapt to the installation angle of the vertical pipe, allowing the rotary turbine 3 to smoothly extend and maintain a stable measuring posture.

[0059] This embodiment of the invention optimizes the structure of the current meter rod, achieving flexible adjustment of the measuring end and ease of operation. The first rod 11 adopts a short-length design, solving the problem of deep measurement in confined spaces; the second rod 12 adopts a long-length design, improving safety and stability during operation.

[0060] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 To facilitate storage and enable the first rod 11 to fold inward into the second rod 12, the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 have been optimized accordingly. Specifically, the first rod 11 includes two parallel first side plates 111, and the second rod 12 includes two parallel second side plates 121. The two first side plates 111 are rotatably connected to the inner sides of the two second side plates 121.

[0061] When storage is required, the two first side plates 111 can be rotated inward around the pivot to fit between the two second side plates 121, thereby significantly shortening the overall length of the flow meter and reducing storage space occupation. Simultaneously, the parallel arrangement of the two first side plates 111 and the two second side plates 121 ensures structural stability during folding, preventing misalignment or jamming between components. When unfolded for use, the first side plates 111 and the second side plates 121 extend in a straight line. At this time, their relative positions can be fixed using positioning latches, friction damping, and other structures located at the rotating connection.

[0062] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3To reduce the resistance of the first side plate 111 and / or the second side plate 121 to the liquid, at least a portion of the first side plate 111 and / or the second side plate 121 is designed with a hollowed-out shape. To improve the structural strength of the first side plate 111 and / or the second side plate 121, reinforcing ribs 13 are provided between the two first side plates 111 and / or the two second side plates 121.

[0063] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 To ensure the flow meter maintains a stable retracted state, a limiting structure is provided. Specifically, the reinforcing rib 13 between the two second side plates 121 includes a limiting rib 131; during rotation, the two first side plates 111 can form a retracted state between the two second side plates 121. In the retracted state, the limiting rib 131 abuts against the two first side plates 111 to restrict the rotation of the two first side plates 111.

[0064] In practice, when the two first side plates 111 rotate around the axis to the inside of the second side plate 121 until they are completely fitted between the second side plates 121, the limiting rib 131 will abut against the first side plates 111, physically blocking the first side plates 111 from continuing to rotate, ensuring that the first side plates 111 will not be accidentally unfolded due to external force when stored. This limiting structure design is simple and reliable, and can achieve stable storage without the need for additional locking devices.

[0065] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The speed measuring element includes a magnet and a Hall sensor. The magnet is mounted on the impeller 32, and the Hall sensor is mounted on the wheel shaft 31 or the first rotating part 21.

[0066] The working principle of the magnet and Hall sensor is as follows: When the impeller 32 rotates with the water flow, the magnet rotates synchronously with the impeller 32. The relative position between the magnet and the Hall sensor changes periodically, causing a regular change in the magnetic field strength around the Hall sensor. After sensing the change in the magnetic field, the Hall sensor outputs a corresponding pulse electrical signal. The frequency of this pulse signal corresponds precisely to the rotational speed of the impeller 32. This magneto-electric induction speed measurement method has the characteristics of simple structure and strong anti-interference ability. It can work stably in harsh liquid environments (such as industrial wastewater containing a small amount of impurities) and is not easily affected by external environmental factors such as light and temperature.

[0067] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 5 The flow meter also includes a handheld part 5, which is connected to the end of the rod assembly 1 away from the direction auto-alignment mechanism 2. The handheld part 5 has a circuit board assembly inside, and an interface 51, a switch 52 and a display screen 53 are provided outside the handheld part 5. The interface 51, the switch 52, the display screen 53 and the speed measuring element are all electrically connected to the circuit board assembly.

[0068] The handheld unit 5 provides a convenient grip area for the operator, and its surface can be designed with an anti-slip texture to improve grip stability during use. The circuit board assembly, as the core control unit of the flow meter, integrates a signal processing module, a microprocessor, and a storage unit. It can filter, amplify, and digitize the pulse signal transmitted by the speed measuring element, and calculate the flow rate value in real time according to a preset "speed and flow rate" conversion model. The display screen 53 is used to intuitively display the measured flow rate data, measurement status, and battery level information. The interface 51 may include a data transmission interface (such as a USB interface) and a charging interface. The data transmission interface is used to export measurement data to external devices for further analysis and storage, while the charging interface provides a charging channel for the battery built into the handheld unit 5.

[0069] To facilitate the introduction of signal lines from test components to the circuit board, the handheld part 5 is provided with signal line openings.

[0070] This utility model embodiment integrates control, display, operation and power supply functions into one through the integrated design of the handheld part 5, which greatly improves the portability and ease of use of the flow meter, enabling operators to quickly complete measurement, reading and data recording on site.

[0071] It should be further noted that in all the above embodiments, "vertical" and "horizontal" are not geometrically vertical or horizontal in an absolute sense, but are relative descriptions used to facilitate understanding and explanation of the technical principles.

[0072] The "axis of rotation" is the virtual center line around which a component rotates. In the structure of this flowmeter, the axis of rotation is specifically manifested as follows: For the first rotating part 21, its axis of rotation is a virtual straight line passing through both ends of the rotating shaft part 211, and the first directional plate part 212 achieves downstream deflection (such as horizontal rotation) around this axis; For the second rotating part 22, its axis of rotation is a virtual straight line perpendicular to the bottom connecting shaft 4, and the second directional plate part 213 completes deflection in another dimension (such as vertical rotation) around this axis.

[0073] The specific operating procedure of the flow meter is as follows: S1. Turn on the power switch 52 of the flow meter to power it on and start it up. S2. The circuit board collects the rotational speed data of the impeller 32 sensed by the Hall sensor and transmits it to the display screen 53. If the impeller 32 is stationary, the data displayed on the display screen 53 will be 0. S3. Using the handheld part 5, place the rotating turbine 3 at the location where the flow velocity needs to be measured and ensure its stability. S4. The direction auto-alignment mechanism 2 will automatically adjust to keep the flow velocity direction parallel to the direction of the wheel shaft 31 of the rotating turbine 3. S5. Observe the data displayed on the display screen 53. After the value stabilizes, this value is the flow velocity value at the test location.

[0074] Method for eliminating flow velocity sampling error (using moving average filtering algorithm): The flow velocity sampled by the actual Hall sensor will have a certain jitter deviation, which needs to be processed to eliminate the jitter and take the average value. The method is as follows:

[0075] First, the instantaneous sampling flow rates are calculated as f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6…fn;

[0076] Then, take 6 signals from fn-5 to fn, that is, move the window size to 6;

[0077] Finally, the Speed ​​value is taken as the average of these six signals and output to the display screen 53.

[0078] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A flow meter, characterized in that, include: Rod assembly; A directional auto-alignment mechanism includes a first rotating part and a second rotating part rotatably connected to the rod assembly. The first rotating part and the second rotating part are rotatably connected, and their rotation axes are perpendicular to each other. The first rotating part includes a rotating shaft, a first directional plate, and a second directional plate. Both the first directional plate and the second directional plate are connected to the rotating shaft. Under the impact of flowing liquid, the first directional plate deflects downstream due to the rotation of the rotating shaft, and the second directional plate deflects downstream due to the rotation of the second rotating part. as well as, A rotary turbine includes a shaft and an impeller. The impeller is sleeved around the shaft to rotate around the shaft under the impact of flowing liquid. The shaft is fixedly connected to the first rotating part. The rotary turbine is provided with a speed measuring element for measuring the speed of the impeller.

2. The flow meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the first adjusting plate is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating shaft; the surface of the second adjusting plate is parallel to the rotation axis of the second rotating part. The surfaces of both the first and second steering plates are arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel axle.

3. The flow meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, One of the second rotating part and the rod assembly is provided with a through hole, and the other is provided with a connecting shaft. The connecting shaft passes through the through hole so that the second rotating part is rotatably connected to the rod assembly.

4. The flow meter according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second rotating part is provided with a connecting shaft, and the rod assembly is provided with a through hole; The second rotating part includes a bottom edge and two side edges connected to both ends of the bottom edge. The bottom edge is provided with the connecting shaft. The two side edges extend from both ends of the bottom edge to the same side to form a first opening. The rotating shaft is disposed in the first opening and is rotatably connected to the two side edges.

5. The flow meter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first steering plate portion and the second steering plate portion intersect perpendicularly, and the wheel axle is correspondingly positioned at the intersection of the first steering plate portion and the second steering plate portion.

6. The flow meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the axle away from the first rotating part has a protrusion, which protrudes from the front side of the impeller, wherein: The diameter of the protrusion gradually decreases in the direction away from the impeller; and / or, The surface of the protrusion is a smooth curved surface.

7. The flow meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rod assembly includes: a first rod with a connecting shaft at one end for engaging with a through hole on the second rotating part; and a second rod rotatably connected to the other end of the first rod along an axis located in the width direction of the first rod; wherein the length of the first rod is less than the length of the second rod. The first rod includes two first side plates arranged in parallel, and the second rod includes two second side plates arranged in parallel. The two first side plates are rotatably connected to the inner sides of the two second side plates.

8. The flow meter according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least a portion of the first side panel and / or the second side panel is hollowed out; and / or, Reinforcing ribs are provided between the two first side plates and / or between the two second side plates.

9. The flow meter according to claim 8, characterized in that, The reinforcing ribs between the two second side plates include limiting ribs; During rotation, the two first side plates can be tucked between the two second side plates. In the tucked state, the limiting rib abuts against the two first side plates to restrict the rotation of the two first side plates.

10. The flow meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The speed measuring element includes a magnet and a Hall sensor, the magnet being disposed on the impeller, and the Hall sensor being disposed on the wheel shaft or the first rotating part; and / or, The flow meter also includes a handheld part, which is connected to the end of the rod assembly away from the directional auto-alignment mechanism. The handheld part is equipped with a circuit board assembly, and an interface, a power switch, and a display screen are provided outside the handheld part. The interface, the power switch, the display screen, and the speed measuring element are all electrically connected to the circuit board assembly.

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