Clamp-on Ultrasonic Flow Meter with Self-Aligning Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clamp-on type ultrasonic flow amount measuring devices require complex and time-consuming operations to accurately attach ultrasonic transmission and reception units to the tube, making prompt and accurate measurement challenging.

Innovation Solution

The device features a base, tube holding portions, ultrasonic transmission and reception units, and a locking mechanism made of synthetic resin, allowing for easy attachment and secure locking of the units to the tube using a ring-shaped locking member, ensuring accurate positioning and efficient ultrasonic beam transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pair of ultrasonic transmission and reception units are attached according to the shape of the tube, then measurement accuracy is improved, but attachment complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow amount measurement accuracyVSAvoidattachment operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a body portion and a pair of attachment portions that can be separately positioned and attached to the tube. Each attachment portion has a simplified structure with ultrasonic units pre-installed, allowing independent attachment to achieve accurate positioning without complex manual alignment of separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ultrasonic transmission and reception units are pre-installed on the attachment portions during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex on-site alignment and attachment operations, allowing users to simply attach the pre-configured attachment portions to the tube for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If ultrasonic units are attached to accurately measure fluid flow, then measurement reliability is improved, but attachment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidattachment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The body portion and attachment portions are designed to be easily combined through a simple attachment operation. The attachment portions include positioning structures that automatically align with the tube, merging the ultrasonic units with the measurement system in a single rapid operation rather than requiring separate alignment and attachment steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment portions are designed with self-aligning positioning structures that automatically find the correct position on the tube when attached. This self-service feature eliminates the need for manual positioning and adjustment, achieving both rapid attachment and reliable measurement without requiring skilled operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If a locking mechanism is added to maintain device position, then measurement stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice positioning stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking member is integrated within the attachment portions, with locking protrusions and recesses nested into the tube surface. This nested structure provides stable positioning and locking functionality without adding external complexity, as the locking features are incorporated into the existing attachment portion geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables rapid and accurate attachment of the ultrasonic flow amount measuring device to the tube, ensuring proper ultrasonic beam transmission and efficient fluid flow measurement, with the locking mechanism maintaining the device's position during measurement.

Implementation Method 1

transmits an ultrasonic beam to a fluid inside the tube to measure a flow amount of the fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave transmission: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

a pair of ultrasonic transmission and reception units according to the shape of the tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave reception: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS11340101B2Clamp-on ultrasonic flow measuring device for accurately positioning on an existing flow tube of a specific shape

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 RYUSOK CO LTD

AI summary

An ultrasonic flow amount measuring device includes a pair of tube holding portions respectively connected to a base by a shaft portion so as to be openable and closeable, and ultrasonic transmission and reception units disposed in the tube holding portions so as to face each other in an inclined direction. When the tube holding portions are opened so as to insert a tube between holding concave portions formed in clamping portions and closed so as to clamp the tube, front end surfaces of ultrasonic transmission bodies are in close contact with both sides of a surface of the tube. When measuring a flow amount, an ultrasonic beam is alternatively transmitted and received between the ultrasonic transmission and reception units through the tube. A flow rate is obtained by obtaining a transmission time difference between the travel time and the return time of the ultrasonic beam.