Water Treatment Armature with Integrated Magnetic Flow Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment systems require separate devices for fluid flow measurement, which occupy additional space and can be less reliable due to the use of separate components for flow detection.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a rotatable, magnetic fluid flow measuring device within a monobloc fluid flow guiding insert in a water treatment armature, allowing for compact design and reliable fluid flow measurement by guiding fluid flow through a housing with coaxial and perpendicular flow channel sections, and using a sensing coil pair with different phases and polarities to minimize noise interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for fluid flow measurement, then measurement function is provided, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fluid flow measurement function with the water treatment armature by integrating a rotatable magnetic element and sensing coil directly into the armature housing. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate measurement devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable flow measurement capability through the integrated magnetic sensing mechanism
2Reliability
If separate devices are used for fluid flow measurement, then measurement function is provided, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement components (rotatable magnetic element, sensing coil) are integrated within the existing armature housing volume rather than requiring separate device space. The flow guiding insert is also integrated into the housing, allowing the measurement function to share the same spatial envelope as the water treatment function, thereby eliminating additional space requirements
3Measurement precision
If rotatable magnetic element is positioned in fluid flow, then fluid flow measurement is enabled, but element lifespan is reduced due to exposure to untreated water
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guiding insert creates a predetermined flow path that directs treated water to pass over the rotatable magnetic element before the water is discharged. This preliminary action of treating the water upstream protects the magnetic element from exposure to untreated water, extending its lifespan while maintaining accurate flow measurement capability
4Volume of moving object
If compact design is implemented, then space requirements are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the flow guiding insert is positioned within the housing, the rotatable magnetic element is positioned within a recess of the flow guiding insert, and the sensing coil is positioned around the magnetic element. This nesting arrangement achieves compact design by placing multiple functional components within the spatial envelope of each other, reducing overall volume while managing complexity through organized hierarchical placement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated solution provides a compact and reliable fluid flow measurement system that reduces space requirements and increases the lifespan of the magnetic element by ensuring it only interacts with treated water, while also eliminating the need for separate flow measurement devices.
Implementation Method 1
the rotation of the rotatable, magnetic element generates a magnetic field which is detected by a sensing coil. The magnetic field induces an electrical current signal in the sensing coil
Implementation Method 2
at least one sensing coil pair having a first sensing coil and a second sensing coil sensing the magnetic field that depends from the fluid flow
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
The invention provides a water treatment armature (10) for the handling of water, especially water treatment armature. The armature comprises a housing (12) having an inlet (13) for the fluid, an outlet (14) for the fluid being coaxial with the inlet (13), and a flow channel (15) for the fluid extending between the inlet (13) and the outlet (14). The water treatment armature comprises further a water treatment element connected between the inlet (13) and the outlet (14) of the housing (12). The water treatment armature comprises further a fluid flow measuring device (11) configured to measure the fluid flow through the flow channel (15), the fluid flow measuring device having a rotatable, magnetic element (16), wherein the rotatable, magnetic element (16) is positioned in the fluid flow, wherein the rotation of the rotatable, magnetic element (16) depends from the fluid flow, and wherein the rotation of the rotatable, magnetic element (16) generates a magnetic field, at least one sensing coil pair (18) having a first sensing coil (18a) and a second sensing coil (18b) sensing the magnetic field that depends from the fluid flow. The water treatment armature comprises further a monobloc fluid flow guiding insert (23) configured to guide the fluid flow along the rotatable, magnetic element (16) of the fluid flow measuring device (11), wherein the fluid flow guiding insert (23) is positioned within a recess (24) of the housing (12), and wherein the rotatable, magnetic element (16) of the fluid flow measuring device (11) is positioned within a recess (25) of the fluid flow guiding insert (23). The monobloc fluid flow guiding insert (23) is configured to guide the fluid flow from the inlet (13) of the housing towards the water treatment element, then from the water treatment element towards the rotatable, magnetic element of the fluid flow measuring device (11), and then from the rotatable, magnetic element towards the outlet (14) of the housing. (Figure 4)