Asymmetric Piezometer Ring for Liquid-Free Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezometer rings used to measure average fluid pressure are susceptible to liquid accumulation in the sense line, which can lead to inaccurate pressure measurements due to space constraints around the fluid line and pressure sensing device.
Innovation Solution
The piezometer ring is designed with asymmetrical ring holes, where two bottom holes are spaced farther apart than upper holes, preventing liquid from flowing into the sense line and maintaining accurate pressure measurements by ensuring the sense line remains dry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the sense line and sense hole are positioned at the bottom of the piezometer ring to meet space constraints, then the device complexity is reduced and space utilization is improved, but liquid accumulation occurs in the sense line leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the sense hole at the top of the piezometer ring rather than at the bottom, creating an asymmetric hole distribution pattern. This asymmetric positioning prevents liquid accumulation in the sense line while still meeting space constraints, thereby maintaining measurement precision without increasing device complexity
2Measurement precision
If holes are equally spaced circumferentially around the piezometer ring, then the average pressure measurement is accurate, but liquid can flow through all holes into the sense line causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the symmetric hole distribution by creating an asymmetric pattern where the sense hole is positioned at the top while other holes are distributed circumferentially. This asymmetric configuration maintains the ability to measure average pressure while preventing liquid from reaching the sense line, thus preserving both measurement precision and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving different functional roles to different holes based on their positions. The top-positioned sense hole serves a different function (pressure sensing) compared to other holes (fluid sampling), with differentiated spacing and positioning to optimize both measurement accuracy and liquid prevention
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1E
AI summary
An assembly includes a housing (12) along a fluid line (14) through which gas can flow with the housing having an annular shape, a housing groove (30) extending circumferentially around a radial interior, and a sense hole (32) adjacent the housing groove in a bottom side of the housing; and a piezometer ring (34) disposed within the housing groove and coaxial with the housing. The piezometer ring includes a ring groove (36) extending circumferentially around a radially outer side adjacent the housing and a plurality of ring holes (38) extending radially through the piezometer ring with the plurality of ring holes including two bottom holes (38A) closest to the bottom side of the housing that are spaced farther apart from one another than from adjacent holes of the plurality of ring holes.