Ultrasonic measurement device and fluid measurement method

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic measurement device that easily obtains high signal strength even when the distance over which ultrasonic vibrations propagate is increased.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic measurement device used being attached to piping includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers that is provided on the piping, separated from each other and mutually transmits and receives ultrasonic vibrations, and a pair of matching members that is provided so as to lie between each ultrasonic transducer and the piping to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations. Each of the matching members has an adhesion surface that adheres to the surface of the piping and is nearly parallel to the pipe axial direction, and a transducer attachment surface that is inclined with respect to the pipe axial direction and to which the ultrasonic transducer is attached. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the pipe axial direction, the length of the transducer attachment surface is longer than the length of the adhesion surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic measurement device and a fluid measurement method using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional ultrasonic measurement device, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, an ultrasonic transducer for signal transmission and an ultrasonic transducer for signal reception are installed on either side of a pipe through which a fluid to be measured flows. In this device, each ultrasonic transducer is installed at an angle to the pipe and fixed via a matching member made of an elastic material that takes into account the acoustic impedance of the measurement target. Each ultrasonic transducer is installed in a positional relationship such that ultrasonic vibration emitted from the ultrasonic transducer for transmission is refracted by the pipe and the fluid and enters the ultrasonic transducer for reception in the shortest distance.

[0003] In this configuration, the distance between the transmitting ultrasonic transducer and the receiving ultrasonic transducer is short, which has the advantage of allowing a high signal strength to be obtained, but the disadvantage is that the distance passing through the fluid is short, which reduces the resolution and reduces the measurement accuracy.

[0004] On the other hand, if the ultrasonic transducers are installed in a positional relationship such that the ultrasonic vibration is reflected inside the pipe, the distance the ultrasonic vibration propagates can be increased, and the resolution can be increased. However, in this case, the strength of the received ultrasonic vibration is reduced, so the effect of disturbances becomes greater, resulting in a problem of reduced measurement accuracy. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-048471 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main object is to provide an ultrasonic measurement device that makes it easy to obtain high signal strength even when the distance over which ultrasonic vibrations propagate is long. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] That is, the ultrasonic measuring device of the present invention is an ultrasonic measuring device that is attached to a pipe for use, and comprises a pair of ultrasonic transducers that are spaced apart from each other on the pipe and mutually transmit and receive ultrasonic vibrations, and a pair of matching members that are interposed between each of the ultrasonic transducers and the pipe and transmit ultrasonic vibrations, each of the matching members having a contact surface that is approximately parallel to the pipe axis direction and that is in close contact with the surface of the pipe, and a transducer mounting surface that is inclined with respect to the pipe axis direction and to which the ultrasonic transducer is attached, and is characterized in that, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the pipe axis direction, the length of the transducer mounting surface is greater than the length of the contact surface.

[0008] With this configuration, the matching member is formed so that the transducer mounting surface is longer than the contact surface in a cross-sectional view, so that an ultrasonic transducer of a larger size than the piping size can be used, and ultrasonic vibrations can be efficiently transmitted between the ultrasonic transducer and the piping. This allows ultrasonic vibrations of high intensity to be transmitted between a pair of ultrasonic transducers, making it easier to obtain high signal strength even if the distance the ultrasonic vibrations propagate is long, and improving measurement accuracy.

[0009] That is, in order to transmit ultrasonic waves of sufficient strength between a pair of ultrasonic transducers, it is necessary to set the acoustic radiation surface of the ultrasonic transducer to a diameter of, for example, about 10 mm or more. However, when measuring a small diameter pipe of, for example, about 3 to 7 mm in diameter, if the size of the transducer mounting surface of the matching member is reduced to match the pipe diameter and the size of the ultrasonic transducer used is reduced, it becomes difficult to transmit ultrasonic waves of sufficient strength. On the other hand, when measuring such a small diameter pipe, if the transducer mounting surface of the matching member is made large relative to the pipe diameter and the contact surface is also made large, ultrasonic vibrations escape within the matching member, making it difficult to efficiently transmit the ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic transducer. With the above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, the matching member is formed so that the transducer mounting surface is longer than the contact surface, so that even in a small diameter pipe, an ultrasonic transducer of a large size relative to the pipe size can be applied, and further, since the contact surface is smaller than the transducer mounting surface, ultrasonic vibrations that escape within the matching member can be reduced, and ultrasonic vibrations can be efficiently transmitted between the ultrasonic transducer and the pipe.

[0010] It is preferable that the ultrasonic measuring device has a convex portion protruding toward the surface of the piping on the opposing surface of each alignment member, and that the contact surface is formed by the tip surface of the convex portion. With this configuration, a convex portion is formed from the opposing surface of the matching member toward the pipe, and the tip surface of the convex portion is brought into close contact with the pipe, so that the contact area between the pipe and the matching member can be made smaller and the pressing pressure applied to the contact surface can be made higher than when a uniformly flat opposing surface without unevenness is pressed against the pipe for close contact. As a result, ultrasonic vibrations can be efficiently transmitted from the matching member to the pipe on the transmitting side, and ultrasonic vibrations can be efficiently transmitted from the pipe to the matching member on the receiving side. As a result, ultrasonic vibrations of higher intensity can be propagated between a pair of ultrasonic transducers, and even if the distance over which the ultrasonic vibrations propagate is increased, a higher signal strength can be easily obtained. In addition, by forming the alignment member in such a shape with a convex portion, the left and right side surfaces of the alignment member can be formed to be straight in the pressing direction in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the pipe axis direction, which makes it easier to clamp and fix the alignment member to the inner wall of the casing, for example, and makes it easier to press the alignment member straight against the pipe.

[0011] In this case, it is preferable that the tip surface of the protrusion is formed into a flat surface. By making the tip surface of the convex portion, which is the contact surface of the matching member, flat, the pressing pressure can be transmitted to the pipe more efficiently than if the tip surface were curved to match the surface shape of the pipe.

[0012] An example of an ultrasonic measuring device that prominently exhibits the effects of the present invention is one in which the pair of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a positional relationship such that ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from one ultrasonic transducer and reflected multiple times within the piping are received by the other ultrasonic transducer. According to the ultrasonic measuring device of the present invention, even if the ultrasonic vibration is reflected multiple times in the pipe, the ultrasonic vibration can be efficiently transmitted between the matching member and the pipe, thereby obtaining a high signal strength. Furthermore, by reflecting the ultrasonic vibration multiple times in the pipe, the distance over which the ultrasonic vibration propagates can be increased, thereby improving the resolution.

[0013] In order to transmit ultrasonic waves more efficiently between a pair of ultrasonic transducers, the angle between the transducer mounting surface and the contact surface is preferably 30° or more and 60° or less, and is particularly preferably about 45°.

[0014] In the ultrasonic measuring device, it is preferable that each of the matching members is made of an elastic material. In this way, when the contact surface of the matching member is pressed against the surface of the pipe, the contact surface elastically deforms to come into contact with the pipe over a wider area, thereby enabling more efficient transmission of ultrasonic vibrations between the ultrasonic transducer and the pipe.

[0015] A specific embodiment of the ultrasonic measuring device includes one that houses and holds the pair of ultrasonic transducers and the pair of matching members therein, and further has a casing that grips the side surface of the piping and is attached to the piping.

[0016] It is also preferable that the casing is made of a member made of a conductive material. In this way, by surrounding the path along which the ultrasonic vibration propagates (specifically, the piping, ultrasonic transducer, and matching member) with components made of conductive material, electrical noise transmitted from space can be blocked, and even weak ultrasonic signals can be measured with high accuracy.

[0017] Moreover, it is preferable that a mounting member is provided on one side of the casing for fixing and mounting the casing to a predetermined base, and that the mounting member is made of an insulating material. In this way, when the ultrasonic measuring device is attached to a pipe and also attached to a conductive base such as a metal stand, it is possible to block electrical noise that is conducted from the attachment point.

[0018] Furthermore, the casing holds the pair of ultrasonic transducers and the pair of matching members at a distance along the tube axis direction, and is provided with a main body member that opens in one direction perpendicular to the tube axis direction, a cover member that is connected to the main body member via a first hinge mechanism whose rotation axis extends in the tube axis direction and rotates around the rotation axis of the first hinge mechanism to open and close the opening of the main body member, and a locking mechanism that fixes the cover member in a state where it covers the opening of the main body member, and it is preferable that the locking mechanism is configured to include a hook-shaped member connected to one of the main body member or the cover member via a second hinge mechanism whose rotation axis extends in the tube axis direction, and a recess formed in the other of the main body member or the cover member with which the hook-shaped member engages. With this configuration, the ultrasonic measuring device can be easily attached to the piping by sandwiching the piping between the main body member and the lid member and fixing the lid member with the hook-shaped member.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that the casing has a mounting surface on which the alignment member is mounted, and that the mounting surface is curved and recessed with respect to the opposing mounting surface of the alignment member. In this way, when the pipe is pressed against the matching member, a bending moment acts on the matching member so that the mounting surface is convex toward the mounting surface so that the mounting surface is in close contact with the mounting surface. This brings the matching member and the pipe into closer contact with each other, and allows ultrasonic vibrations to be transmitted more efficiently between the ultrasonic transducer and the pipe. In this way, by making the installation surface of the casing concave in a curved shape, ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted more efficiently between the ultrasonic transducer and the pipe, compared to the case where the contact surface of the matching member is formed by making it concave in a curved shape in advance to match the shape of the pipe. This is thought to be because, when the contact surface of the matching layer is made to be, for example, a concave curved shape, the pressing pressure escapes to the outside when the matching member is pressed against the pipe, whereas, when the installation surface of the casing is made to be a concave curved shape, the matching member deforms when pressed against the pipe, so that a pressing pressure is applied from the outside to the inside of the pipe.

[0020] The flow rate measurement method of the present invention is a method for measuring a fluid flowing through a pipe using the ultrasonic measuring device, and is characterized in that the ultrasonic measuring device is attached to the pipe so as to press the contact surface of each alignment member against the surface of the pipe, and the fluid is measured. Such a fluid measurement method can achieve the same effects as those of the ultrasonic measurement device described above. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic measurement device that can easily obtain a high signal strength even if the distance over which ultrasonic vibrations propagate is increased. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the ultrasonic measurement device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3A is a perspective view showing the configuration of an alignment member of the embodiment, FIG. 3B is a plan view seen from the tube axial direction, and FIG. 3C is a plan view seen from a direction perpendicular to the tube axial direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pipes, the matching member, and the ultrasonic transducer of the embodiment, taken along a line perpendicular to the pipe axis direction. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the piping and the matching member in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the installation surface. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the ultrasonic measurement device of the embodiment with a casing open. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating an operation of attaching the ultrasonic measurement device to a pipe according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an alignment member according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an alignment member according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an alignment member according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an ultrasonic measurement device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] An ultrasonic measurement device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0024] The ultrasonic measurement device 100 of this embodiment is a so-called clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter that is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a pipe P through which a fluid such as a liquid or gas flows and measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the pipe P.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, this ultrasonic measurement device 100 comprises a pair of ultrasonic transducers 1 arranged at a distance from each other along the axial direction (or the direction in which the fluid flows) of the pipe P to which it is attached, a pair of matching members 2 that are provided between each ultrasonic transducer 1 and the pipe P to transmit ultrasonic vibrations, and a casing 3 that houses and holds the ultrasonic transducers 1 and the matching members 2 and is configured to be detachably attached to the pipe P. This ultrasonic measurement device 100 is of the so-called propagation time type, in which ultrasonic signals are alternately transmitted and received by the pair of ultrasonic transducers 1, and the flow rate is measured based on the difference in propagation time between the two ultrasonic signals. Each part will be described below.

[0026] The ultrasonic transducer 1 is for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic vibrations through, for example, an acoustic emission surface 1s having a substantially circular shape, and is configured using, for example, a piezoelectric element of PZT (lead zirconate titanate). The ultrasonic transducers 1 of this embodiment are arranged on the upstream side and downstream side along the axial direction of the pipe P, and are arranged in a positional relationship such that ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from one ultrasonic transducer 1 and reflected inside the pipe P (for example, the pipe wall) are received by the other ultrasonic transducer 1. More specifically, the pair of ultrasonic transducers 1 are provided at approximately the same positions in the circumferential direction of the pipe P when viewed from the axial direction.

[0027] The matching members 2 are provided to reduce the acoustic impedance difference between the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the piping P, thereby enabling efficient transmission of ultrasonic vibrations. A pair of matching members 2 is provided corresponding to each ultrasonic transducer 1, and transmits ultrasonic signals transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer 1 to the piping P, and transmits ultrasonic signals from the piping P to the ultrasonic transducer 1. The matching members 2 are provided on a mounting surface 3s set on the inner surface of the casing 3.

[0028] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the matching member 2 has a rectangular column shape, and is provided so that its column axis (height direction) is perpendicular to the pipe axis direction of the piping P. The matching member 2 is a resin molded product entirely made of an elastic material (elastically deformable material) such as a silicone-based resin, and is configured as a single part. The matching member 2 has a contact surface 22s that elastically deforms to come into close contact with the surface of the piping P and thereby transmits ultrasonic vibrations to and from the piping P, a transducer mounting surface 23 that is attached so that the acoustic emission surface 1s of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is in surface contact with the contact surface, and a mounting surface 25 that contacts the mounting surface 3s of the casing 3 on its side.

[0029] More specifically, a contact surface 22s is formed on one side surface (opposing surface 21) that is substantially parallel to the pipe axis direction and faces the surface of the pipe P, and the other side surface inclined with respect to the pipe axis direction becomes the transducer mounting surface 23 and the installation surface 25. The transducer mounting surface 23 and the installation surface 25 are formed to face in opposite directions, the transducer mounting surface 23 is formed outward in the pipe axis direction (i.e., in a direction away from the other matching member 2), and the installation surface 25 is formed inward in the pipe axis direction (i.e., in a direction approaching the other matching member 2). The transducer mounting surface 23 is inclined with respect to the contact surface 22s, and the angle between the transducer mounting surface 23 and the contact surface 22s is 30° or more and 60° or less, more specifically about 45°. Similarly, the installation surface 25 is also inclined with respect to the contact surface 22s, and the angle between the installation surface 25 and the contact surface 22s is 30° or more and 60° or less, more specifically about 45°. In addition, both left and right side surfaces 24 of the matching member 2 as viewed from the tube axis direction are formed so as to be perpendicular to the contact surface 22s, the transducer mounting surface 23, and the installation surface 25. In this embodiment, the contact surface 22s, the transducer mounting surface 23, the installation surface 25, and both side surfaces are all formed so as to have a flat shape when the pipe P is not pressed against them.

[0030] 4, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the tube axis direction, the matching member 2 of this embodiment has a contact surface 22s formed at the tip from the ultrasonic transducer 1 side toward the pipe P side, and the length of the transducer mounting surface 23 is longer than the length of the contact surface 22s. In this embodiment, in a cross-section at an arbitrary position perpendicular to the tube axis direction (i.e., all cross-sections), the length of the transducer mounting surface 23 is longer than the length of the contact surface 22s.

[0031] More specifically, the matching member 2 has a protrusion 22 that protrudes toward the surface of the pipe P and is provided in a partial region of the opposing surface 21. When viewed from the axial direction of the pipe P, the protrusion 22 is formed by partially protruding the central region of the opposing surface 21, and its tip surface has a rectangular shape extending along the axial direction in a plan view. When not attached to the pipe P, the tip surface of the protrusion 22 has a flat shape, and the tip surface forms a contact surface 22s. When the tip surface of the protrusion 22 is pressed against the surface of the pipe P, it elastically deforms to match the surface shape of the pipe P and becomes a curved shape.

[0032] In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the pipe axis direction, the matching member 2 is formed so that the length of the contact surface 22a is smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe P to be measured, and the length of the transducer mounting surface 23 is longer than the outer diameter of the pipe P. Furthermore, the diameter of the acoustic emission surface 1s of the ultrasonic transducer 1 attached to the transducer mounting surface 23 is larger than the length of the contact surface 22a and larger than the outer diameter of the pipe P.

[0033] The installation surface 3s of the casing 3, which the installation surface 25 of the matching member 2 comes into contact with, is a concave curved surface that is recessed with respect to the installation surface 25. More specifically, as shown in Figs. 5(a) and (b), the installation surface 3 is formed in a curved shape (e.g., a partial arc shape) that is recessed with respect to the installation surface 25 in a cross section perpendicular to the installation surface 25. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5(a), when the pipe P is not pressed against the matching member 2, a bow-shaped (or D-shaped) gap is formed between the installation surface 25 and the installation surface 3s. Then, as shown in Fig. 5(b), when the pipe P is pressed against the matching member 2, the matching member 2 elastically deforms to be convex toward the installation surface 3s so that the installation surface 25 comes into close contact with the installation surface 3s. This makes it easier for stress to concentrate on the contact surface 22s, and the pressing pressure becomes even stronger. The installation surface 3s is inclined with respect to the pipe axis direction and is formed to be approximately parallel to the installation surface 25.

[0034] The casing 3 is, for example, a long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is attached to the pipe P so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the pipe axis direction of the pipe P. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the casing 3 holds a pair of ultrasonic transducers 1 and a pair of matching members 2 at a distance along the longitudinal direction, and includes a box-shaped main body member 31 that opens in one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a plate-shaped lid member 32 that covers the opening of the main body member 31. The casing 3 is configured to be attached to the pipe P by sandwiching the pipe P between the main body member 31 and the lid member 32 and gripping the outer peripheral surface. The main body member 31 holds the ultrasonic transducer 1 and the matching member 2 so that the contact surface 22s of the matching member 2 faces the back surface of the lid member 32, and when the pipe P is sandwiched between the main body member 31 and the lid member 32, the pipe P is pressed against the contact surface 22s of the matching member 2, and the contact surface 22s is elastically deformed.

[0035] The cover member 32 is connected to the main body member 31 via a first hinge mechanism 34a whose rotation axis extends in the longitudinal direction, and the opening of the main body member 31 can be opened and closed by rotating around the rotation axis of this first hinge mechanism 34a.

[0036] The casing 3 further includes a lock mechanism 33 that locks the movement of the cover member 32 when the opening of the main body member 31 is covered. The lock mechanism 33 is composed of a hook-shaped member 331 whose base end is connected to the main body member 31 and whose tip end is bent into a hook shape, and a recess 332 formed on the upper surface of the cover member 32 with which the tip end of the hook-shaped member 331 engages. Specifically, the hook-shaped member 331 is rotatably connected to the main body member 31 via a second hinge mechanism 34b whose rotation axis extends in the longitudinal direction. The second hinge mechanism 34b is provided on the opposite side to the first hinge mechanism 34a across the opening of the main body member 31 when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] The operation of attaching the casing 3 to the pipe P in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. First, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the lid member 32 is opened and the contact surface 22s of the alignment member 2 is set to contact the pipe P. Then, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the lid member 32 is rotated by the first hinge mechanism 34a to cover the opening of the main body member 31. Then, the lid member 32 presses the pipe P against the contact surface 22s of the alignment member 2, and the contact surface 22s is elastically deformed. Then, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the hook-shaped member 331 is rotated by the second hinge mechanism 34b to engage with the recess 332 of the lid member 32. This completes the attachment of the casing 3 to the pipe P.

[0038] Moreover, the casing 3 of this embodiment is made of a member made of a conductive material such as a conductive resin. In this embodiment, the main body member 31, the cover member 32, and the hook-shaped member 331 are all made of a conductive material.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plate-shaped mounting member 4 for fixing and mounting the casing 3 to a predetermined base is attached to one side surface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the casing 3. This mounting member 4 is made of an insulating material such as insulating resin.

[0040] According to the ultrasonic measuring device 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the matching member 2 is formed so that the transducer mounting surface 23 is longer than the contact surface 22s in a cross-sectional view, so that an ultrasonic transducer 1 having a size larger than the size of the pipe P can be applied. Moreover, since the convex portion 22 protruding from the facing surface 21 of the matching member 2 toward the pipe P is formed and its tip surface is made to contact the pipe P, the contact area between the pipe P and the matching member 2 can be made smaller and the pressing pressure applied to the contact surface can be made higher than when the facing surface 21 without unevenness is pressed against the pipe P for contact. As a result, ultrasonic vibration can be efficiently transmitted from the matching member 2 to the pipe P on the transmitting side, and ultrasonic vibration can be efficiently transmitted from the pipe P to the matching member 2 on the receiving side. As a result, ultrasonic vibration with high strength can be propagated between the pair of ultrasonic transducers 1, and high signal strength can be easily obtained even if the distance over which the ultrasonic vibration propagates is long.

[0041] Furthermore, the pair of ultrasonic transducers 1 are positioned so that the ultrasonic vibrations emitted from one ultrasonic transducer 1 and reflected within the piping P are received by the other ultrasonic transducer 1, thereby increasing the distance over which the ultrasonic vibrations propagate and achieving high resolution.

[0042] Furthermore, since the entire casing 3 is made of a conductive material and the mounting member 4 attached to the base is made of an insulating material, electrical noise transmitted from space and electrical noise conducted from the base are blocked, enabling ultrasonic signals to be measured with high accuracy.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the tip surface of the protrusion 22 of the matching member 2 is formed to have a flat shape when not attached to the pipe P, but this is not limited to this. In other embodiments, as shown in Fig. 8, the tip surface of the protrusion 22 of the matching member 2 may be formed to have, for example, a curved shape that is recessed along the surface of the pipe P when not attached to the pipe P.

[0044] In other embodiments, the convex portion 22 may not be formed on the opposing surface 21 of the matching member 2 that faces the pipe P. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the matching member 2 may be formed to have a trapezoidal shape in a cross section perpendicular to the pipe axis direction. Alternatively, it may have a polygonal (hexagonal) shape as shown in Fig. 10. Even in this case, the effect of the present invention can be achieved as long as the contact surface 22s is formed at the tip extending from the ultrasonic transducer 1 side to the pipe P side, and the length of the transducer mounting surface 23 is longer than the length of the contact surface 22s.

[0045] Furthermore, the matching member 2 in another embodiment may be formed so that the length of the contact surface 22a is the same as or greater than the outer diameter of the pipe P to be measured.

[0046] In addition, the matching member 2 in the above embodiment is formed so that the length of the transducer mounting surface 23 is greater than the length of the contact surface 22s in all cross sections perpendicular to the tube axis direction, but this is not limited to this. The matching member 2 can achieve the effects of the present invention as long as the length of the transducer mounting surface 23 is greater than the length of the contact surface 22s in at least some cross sections perpendicular to the tube axis direction.

[0047] In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a pair of ultrasonic transducers 1 may be arranged to face each other across the flow path of the piping P, and ultrasonic vibrations emitted from one ultrasonic transducer 1 and transmitted through the piping P and the fluid without being reflected may be received by the other ultrasonic transducer 1.

[0048] In the casing 3 of the above embodiment, the pipe P is sandwiched between the cover member 32 connected to the main body member 31 via a hinge mechanism and the hook-shaped member 331, but this is not limited to the above. In other embodiments, for example, the ultrasonic measurement device 100 may be attached to the pipe P by fixing the main body member 31 and the cover member 32, with the pipe P sandwiched therebetween, by screwing them together or the like.

[0049] Further, the ultrasonic measurement device 100 in the above embodiment is an ultrasonic flowmeter that measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the pipe P, but is not limited to this. The ultrasonic measurement device 100 in other embodiments may be an ultrasonic concentration meter that measures the concentration of the fluid flowing through the pipe P.

[0050] In addition, various modifications and combinations of the embodiments may be made as long as they do not go against the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 100 Ultrasonic measuring device 1. Ultrasonic transducer 2. Alignment member 22s... Contact surface 23 Transducer mounting surface P...Piping

Claims

1. An ultrasonic measuring device that is attached to a pipe and used, a pair of ultrasonic vibrators spaced apart from each other on the pipe, transmitting and receiving ultrasonic vibrations to and from each other; a pair of matching members that are interposed between each of the ultrasonic vibrators and the piping and transmit ultrasonic vibrations; Each of the alignment members is a contact surface that is in close contact with the surface of the pipe and is substantially parallel to the pipe axis direction; a transducer mounting surface on which the ultrasonic transducer is mounted, the transducer mounting surface being inclined with respect to the tube axis direction; An ultrasonic measuring device in which, in a cross section perpendicular to the pipe axis direction, the length of the transducer mounting surface is greater than the length of the contact surface.

2. The ultrasonic measuring device of claim 1, wherein a convex portion protruding toward the surface of the pipe is provided on the opposing surface of each alignment member that faces the surface of the pipe, and the contact surface is formed by the tip surface of the convex portion.

3. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the tip surface of the convex portion is formed in a flat shape.

4. 3. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed between the transducer mounting surface and the contact surface is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

5. 3. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 1, wherein each of said alignment members is made of an elastic material.

6. 3. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a casing that houses and holds the pair of ultrasonic vibrators and the pair of matching members and that grips a side peripheral surface of the pipe to be attached to the pipe.

7. 7. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the casing is made of a member made of a conductive material.

8. 7. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 6, wherein a mounting member is provided on one side of the casing for fixing and mounting the casing to a predetermined base, the mounting member being made of an insulating material.

9. The casing comprises: a main body member that holds the pair of ultrasonic transducers and the pair of matching members apart along the tube axis direction and that is open in one direction perpendicular to the tube axis direction; a cover member that is connected to the main body member via a first hinge mechanism having a rotation axis extending in the tube axis direction and that rotates around the rotation axis of the first hinge mechanism to open and close an opening of the main body member; a locking mechanism for fixing the cover member in a state where the cover member covers the opening of the main body member, 7. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism includes a hook-shaped member connected to one of the main body member or the cover member via a second hinge mechanism whose rotation axis extends in the tube axis direction, and a recess formed in the other of the main body member or the cover member, with which the hook-shaped member engages.

10. the casing has an installation surface on which the alignment member is installed, 7. The ultrasonic measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the installation surface is curved and recessed relative to the opposing installation surface of the matching member.

11. A method for measuring a fluid flowing through a pipe using the ultrasonic measurement device according to claim 1, comprising: A fluid measurement method in which the ultrasonic measurement device is attached to the pipe so that the contact surfaces of the alignment members are pressed against the surface of the pipe, and the fluid is measured.

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