A liquid level detection device

Abstract

The utility model provides a liquid level detection device, including piezoelectric ceramic transducer piece, be used for eliminating piezoelectric ceramic transducer piece and the air gap between container and realizes the silica gel shell of acoustical coupling, the silica gel shell is wrapped or half -wrapped in piezoelectric ceramic transducer piece outside, the utility model discloses a piezoelectric ceramic transducer piece is wrapped or half -wrapped by silica gel shell, cooperates the structure cooperation of central coupling area and deformation groove, need not smear coupling agent to be able to eliminate the air gap between transducer piece and container completely, the relative position of transducer piece and coupling area can be fixed by the wrapped or half -wrapped structure that silica gel shell adopts, ensure that the stable acoustical conduction path, and deformation groove provides sufficient deformation space for silica gel, let central coupling area closely adhere with container surface profile, actively discharge the air of adhering surface, solved the pain point that traditional scheme operation is complicated and coupling agent is easy to fail, and the acoustical conduction performance of silica gel material is excellent simultaneously, can guarantee ultrasonic wave high -efficient transmission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of liquid level detection technology, and specifically relates to a liquid level detection device. Background Technology

[0002] In liquid level detection scenarios involving metal containers such as liquefied gas tanks and chemical raw material drums, ultrasonic liquid level measurement methods are widely used due to their non-contact detection advantages. The core principle involves emitting ultrasonic waves through a piezoelectric ceramic transducer and calculating the liquid level height using the reflected waves from the liquid-gas interface. However, this method requires extremely precise coupling between the transducer and the container surface. If an air gap exists between them, the ultrasonic waves will be strongly reflected at the gap, failing to effectively transmit to the liquid level interface and leading to detection failure.

[0003] In existing technologies, the mainstream solution to the air gap problem is to coat the transducer and the container surface with a coupling agent, using the coupling agent to fill the gap and achieve acoustic conduction. However, this solution has significant drawbacks:

[0004] 1) Applying coupling agent is a cumbersome process, which increases the workload of on-site testing. In addition, coupling agent is expensive, and long-term use will increase testing costs.

[0005] 2) The coupling agent is volatile and easily affected by ambient temperature and humidity. It will gradually fail over time, resulting in a decrease in the coupling stability between the transducer and the container, which cannot meet the needs of long-term continuous detection. In addition, some improvement solutions attempt to reduce the gap through planar bonding structure, but the compatibility is poor and it can only be used for planar containers. Moreover, air is still easily left in the bonding process, which cannot completely solve the coupling problem. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a liquid level detection device to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a liquid level detection device, comprising a piezoelectric ceramic transducer and a silicone shell for eliminating the air gap between the piezoelectric ceramic transducer and the container and achieving acoustic coupling, wherein the silicone shell covers or partially covers the piezoelectric ceramic transducer.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, a central coupling region is provided at the position directly opposite the piezoelectric ceramic transducer, and the edge of the central coupling region and the emptying adsorption region of the silicone shell are provided with deformation grooves.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the inner side of the central coupling region is tightly fixed to the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the height of the central coupling zone is higher than the plane of the emptying and adsorption zone of the silicone shell.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the central coupling region is one of a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, or a polygon.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] 1) This utility model uses a silicone shell to enclose or partially enclose a piezoelectric ceramic transducer. With the structural synergy of the central coupling area and the deformation groove, the air gap between the transducer and the container can be completely eliminated without the need to apply a coupling agent. The enclosed or partially enclosed structure of the silicone shell can fix the relative position of the transducer and the coupling area, ensuring a stable acoustic transmission path. The height of the central coupling area is higher than the plane of the empty adsorption area, so that the central coupling area will preferentially contact the container surface during detection. The deformation groove provides sufficient deformation space for the silicone, allowing the central coupling area to fit tightly with the contour of the container surface. With the pressure formed by the magnet in the product structure or manual pressing, the air on the bonding surface is actively expelled. This solves the pain points of cumbersome operation and easy failure of coupling agent in traditional solutions. At the same time, the excellent acoustic transmission performance of silicone material can ensure efficient transmission of ultrasonic waves.

[0014] 2) This utility model uses a central coupling area that is tightly attached to the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer, and the thickness of the silicone shell is controlled at a suitable thickness. This reduces the propagation path and energy loss of ultrasound in the silicone while retaining the elastic deformation capability of the silicone. It balances detection sensitivity and bonding stability. The central coupling area can be designed in various shapes such as circle, rectangle or triangle. Combined with the arc transition surface of the empty adsorption area, it can be adapted to metal containers of different shapes such as plane or column, thus expanding the applicable scenarios of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to explain the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the device of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the silicone shell structure of this utility model.

[0019] In the figure: 10, piezoelectric ceramic transducer; 100, silicone shell; 110, central coupling region; 120, deformation groove. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Example

[0022] Please see Figure 1-3 The present invention provides the following technical solution: a liquid level detection device, including a piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10 and a silicone shell 100 for eliminating the air gap between the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10 and the container and realizing acoustic coupling, wherein the silicone shell 100 covers or partially covers the outside of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10.

[0023] When making silicone or polyurethane shells, materials with a Shore hardness of 0 to 40 can be selected. By choosing materials with appropriate hardness, the shells can have good deformation characteristics.

[0024] Specifically, in the scenario of liquid level detection of metal containers such as liquefied gas tanks and chemical raw material drums, when using it, the operator does not need to apply additional coupling agent. He only needs to align the device with the container detection area. The enclosed or semi-enclosed design of the silicone shell 100 can firmly fix the relative position of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10 and the silicone coupling surface, avoiding coupling failure caused by vibration or displacement during the detection process.

[0025] Silicone material itself has excellent elasticity and acoustic conductivity. It can not only fill the tiny gaps between the transducer and the container as an intermediate medium, but also reduce the energy loss of ultrasonic waves during propagation. When the device is close to the container, the silicone shell 100 directly contacts the container surface. It initially expels the air from the contact surface by its own elastic deformation. At the same time, the encapsulation structure forms a closed acoustic conduction channel, completely blocking the generation of air gaps. This allows the ultrasonic waves emitted by the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10 to efficiently penetrate the silicone shell 100 and enter the container. The reflected waves can also be stably fed back through the same path. This fundamentally solves the problems of cumbersome operation and easy failure of traditional coupling agents, and realizes convenient and long-term stable liquid level detection.

[0026] In this embodiment: a central coupling region 110 is provided at the position directly opposite the silicone shell 100 and the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10, and a deformation groove 120 is provided at the edge of the central coupling region 110 and the empty adsorption region of the silicone shell 100.

[0027] Specifically, during the testing process, when the device is attached to the surface of the metal container by magnetic adsorption or manual pressing, the central coupling area 110 of the silicone shell 100 is aligned with the transmitting and receiving area of ​​the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10 to ensure concentrated transmission of ultrasonic energy, while the deformation groove 120 set at its edge provides sufficient deformation buffer space for the silicone material.

[0028] When the device is attached to the container, whether it is the curved surface of a cylindrical container or a flat container, the deformation groove 120 will adapt to the contour of the contact surface, causing the central coupling area 110 to fit tightly against the container surface. At the same time, the emptying adsorption area will help to expel the residual air around the central coupling area 110, so that the central coupling area 110 can actively fill the tiny unevenness of the container surface, completely eliminating air gaps. The elastic recovery force of the deformation groove 120 can also maintain the contact pressure of the central coupling area 110, avoiding the interruption of acoustic transmission due to loosening of the contact surface during the detection process, ensuring the stable transmission of ultrasonic waves between the transducer and the container, and improving the accuracy of the detection results.

[0029] In this embodiment, the inner side of the central coupling region 110 is tightly attached to the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10.

[0030] Specifically, in the acoustic transmission link of liquid level detection, the inner side of the central coupling region 110 is tightly fixed to the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10. When the ultrasonic vibration generated by the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10 is energized, it will be directly transmitted to the central coupling region 110 through the tightly fixed contact surface without the need for additional medium conversion. This minimizes the energy loss of ultrasonic waves inside the device. Moreover, the tightly fixed structure can also prevent the transducer and coupling region from shifting relative to each other due to vibration, ensuring that the ultrasonic wave emission direction is always consistent with the transmission direction of the central coupling region 110, thus improving the energy focusing effect.

[0031] When the reflected wave returns from inside the container, the central coupling region 110 can efficiently conduct the acoustic wave energy back to the piezoelectric ceramic transducer 10, causing it to quickly generate an inverse piezoelectric effect and convert it into an electrical signal. Even in scenarios of long-term continuous detection or environmental vibration, the tightly fixed structure can still maintain a stable acoustic coupling state, avoiding acoustic wave reflection interference caused by internal gaps, making the electrical signal received by the circuit board clearer, thereby improving the accuracy of liquid level calculation and meeting the needs of long-term stable detection.

[0032] In this embodiment, the height of the central coupling region 110 is higher than the plane of the empty adsorption region of the silicone shell 100.

[0033] Specifically, when the operator brings the device close to the surface of the metal container, the higher central coupling area 110 will preferentially contact the container surface and form an initial seal. As the device is further bonded using magnetic adsorption components, the central coupling area 110 will be compressed, and the height difference between it and the empty adsorption area forms a pressure gradient, which pushes the air between the contact surfaces to flow to and out of the surrounding empty adsorption area. This allows the central coupling area 110 to actively eliminate air residue during the bonding process, achieving gapless coupling without additional operation.

[0034] Meanwhile, the contact pressure concentration effect caused by the height difference makes the central coupling area 110 fit more tightly with the container surface. Even if there are small scratches or stains on the container surface, they can be filled by the elastic deformation of the silicone to avoid gaps. Whether it is a cylindrical liquefied gas tank or a flat chemical drum, the height difference structure can adapt to different contact surfaces, ensuring the continuity of the ultrasonic transmission path and solving the problem of air residue in traditional flat bonding structures.

[0035] In this embodiment, the central coupling region 110 is one of a circle, triangle, rectangle or polygon.

[0036] Specifically, the central coupling area 110 adopts a circular, triangular, rectangular, or polygonal design to adapt to different types of metal containers and their surface structure characteristics, thus achieving wide compatibility with various detection scenarios.

[0037] When the object being tested is a common cylindrical liquefied gas tank, a circular central coupling area 110 can be selected. Its arc-shaped contour can form a large area of ​​fit with the outer surface of the container. Combined with the elastic deformation of the deformation groove 120, the fit and sealing performance can be further improved.

[0038] When the object being tested is a planar container such as a square chemical raw material drum, the rectangular or polygonal central coupling area 110 can make full use of the advantages of planar contact, expand the coupling area, and reduce the loss of sound wave energy.

[0039] The triangular central coupling region 110 is suitable for edge and corner detection scenarios of containers with special shapes. Precise fitting is achieved through vertex positioning. Regardless of the shape, the central coupling region 110, in conjunction with the deformation groove 120, adapts to the container surface contour, actively expelling air gaps. Simultaneously, the shape design optimizes the ultrasonic wave transmission path, concentrating energy. This multi-shape adaptability design breaks the limitations of traditional single-shape devices, allowing the same detection device to be applied to different types of metal containers, improving the device's versatility and practicality, and reducing the investment cost of detection equipment in different scenarios.

[0040] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Although the present utility model has been disclosed above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes or modifications to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present utility model. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the present utility model without departing from the scope of the present utility model shall fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid level detection device, characterized in that: It includes a piezoelectric ceramic transducer (10) and a silicone shell (100) for eliminating the air gap between the piezoelectric ceramic transducer (10) and the container and realizing acoustic coupling. The silicone shell (100) covers or partially covers the outside of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer (10).

2. The liquid level detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The silicone shell (100) and the piezoelectric ceramic transducer (10) are provided with a central coupling region (110) at the position directly opposite each other, and the edge of the central coupling region (110) and the empty adsorption region of the silicone shell (100) are provided with deformation grooves (120).

3. The liquid level detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner side of the central coupling region (110) is tightly attached to the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer (10).

4. The liquid level detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The height of the central coupling region (110) is higher than the plane of the empty adsorption region of the silicone shell (100).

5. The liquid level detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The central coupling region (110) is one of a circle, triangle, rectangle or polygon.

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