Ultrasonic Flow Meter Housing for Compact Diagonal Transducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flow meters with transducers oriented diagonally to the pipeline have a larger footprint, posing challenges in arrangement and assembly, and are not suitable for large-scale industrial use.
Innovation Solution
A flow meter design featuring ultrasonic transducers oriented at a non-zero angle to the pipeline, housed within a casing with orthogonal sleeves that cover the transducers, and filled with a thermosetting resin to protect and secure electronic components, allowing for easy assembly and reduced size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transducers are oriented diagonally to the pipeline, then measurement capability is improved, but the flow meter footprint increases and assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the transducers inside the pipeline wall cavity, with the first transducer positioned in a first cavity and the second transducer in a second cavity. The housing structure is designed to accommodate these nested transducers within the pipeline wall, allowing diagonal orientation for accurate measurement while minimizing the external footprint of the flow meter device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional external mounting to internal wall mounting by utilizing the third dimension (depth into the pipeline wall). The transducers are oriented diagonally within the wall thickness, converting a two-dimensional surface mounting problem into a three-dimensional spatial solution that reduces external footprint while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If transducers are oriented diagonally to the pipeline, then measurement capability is improved, but assembly and arrangement constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pipeline wall into distinct cavities or chambers, with the first transducer mounted in a first cavity and the second transducer in a second cavity. This segmentation allows independent positioning and mounting of each transducer, simplifying the assembly process while enabling the required diagonal orientation for accurate flow measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves as an intermediary element that facilitates the assembly of diagonally oriented transducers. The housing includes mounting features and structural support that mediate between the transducer positioning requirements and the pipeline wall geometry, thereby simplifying the overall assembly process.
3Strength
If traditional housing design is used, then structural support is provided, but manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing structure with the pipeline wall mounting function. The housing is designed to be attached directly to the external surface of the pipeline, combining structural support, transducer mounting, and protection into a single integrated component. This merging simplifies manufacturing and assembly by eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and reducing the number of parts.
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
Facilitates easy arrangement and fixing of components, reduces the flow meter's size, and enables mass production at industrial costs, ensuring reliability and resistance to environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Measuring the travel time of an ultrasonic wave through a fluid using at least one ultrasonic transducer allows us to deduce the fluid flow rate
Implementation Method 2
Measuring the travel time of an ultrasonic wave through a fluid using at least one ultrasonic transducer allows us to deduce the fluid flow rate
Implementation Method 3
each ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezoelectric plate and two conductive rods electrically connected to said electronic board
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a flow meter comprising a pipe (2), two ultrasonic transducers mounted opposite each other and oriented in a measurement direction forming an angle that is non-zero and less than 90° with a longitudinal axis of the pipe, a housing (8) comprising a main receptacle (9) attached to said pipe, a first sleeve (10) and a second sleeve (11) extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said pipe, projecting from a bottom of the main receptacle (9) and to either side of said pipe; and wherein each sleeve (10, 11) is configured so as to cover said first or second ultrasound transducer at least partially, thus defining an internal receiving volume, and the main internal volume of the main receptacle communicates with said internal receiving volumes for said first and second ultrasound transducers. The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a flow meter.