Flow Meter Unit Wireless Sensor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow meters face challenges in integrating additional sensors for measuring parameters like pressure without increasing the risk of fluid leakage into the electronic circuitry, and require complex manufacturing processes to accommodate these sensors.
Innovation Solution
A flow meter unit design with a housing compartment containing an ultrasonic sensor arrangement and a second sensor arrangement outside the housing, connected via wireless communication, where the second sensor is galvanically and materially separated, allowing easy customization and replacement, and using passive electronic circuitry powered by the housing's electromagnetic field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an additional sensor is integrated into the flow meter housing compartment, then the flow meter can measure additional fluid parameters, but the risk of fluid leakage into the electronic circuitry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow meter is divided into two separate compartments: a hermetically sealed housing compartment containing the electronic circuitry and a flow tube compartment where the second sensor contacts the fluid. This segmentation allows additional sensing capability while maintaining protection of the electronics from fluid ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensor arrangement is extracted from the housing compartment and placed in direct contact with the fluid in the flow tube. By removing the sensor from the protected compartment, the patent eliminates the leakage risk to electronics while preserving the ability to measure additional fluid parameters.
2Reliability
If a drainage channel is added to transport leaked fluid away from electronics, then the protection of electronics is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex drainage channels within the housing compartment, the patent extracts the second sensor entirely from the protected compartment and places it in direct fluid contact. This eliminates the need for drainage channels and associated complexity while maintaining electronics protection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the second sensor arrangement is placed outside the housing compartment in direct fluid contact, then the versatility of the flow meter is improved, but the risk of fluid ingress is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The second sensor arrangement is extracted from the housing compartment and positioned in direct contact with the fluid within the flow tube. This extraction allows the sensor to measure fluid parameters directly while being galvanically and materially separated from the electronic circuitry, eliminating fluid ingress risk to the electronics.
4Ease of repair
If wireless communication is used between the second sensor and the electronic circuitry, then the ease of sensor replacement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical/electrical connections between the sensor and circuitry with wireless communication. This substitution allows sensors to be easily replaced or changed without complex wiring modifications, and the wireless communication overhead is minimal compared to the benefit of sensor interchangeability.
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
Reduces the risk of fluid ingress into the electronic circuitry, enables easy customization and replacement of sensors, and extends the operational lifetime of the flow meter by optimizing power usage in battery-powered applications.
Implementation Method 1
comprises two piezoelectric transducers placed on a bottom wall of the housing compartment
Implementation Method 2
measures transit times of ultrasonic signals reflected on reflecting surfaces
Implementation Method 3
The second sensor arrangement is in wireless communication with the electronic metering circuitry via transmitter and receiver means placed in the compartment
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A flow meter unit (1) comprising a flow tube (2), a housing (3) and a housing compartment (4), wherein the housing compartment comprises an electronic metering circuitry (5). The flow meter unit uses a first sensor arrangement (6) for determining a fluid flow rate or a fluid flow volume through the flow tube. In order to determine further physical parameters relating to the fluid a second sensor arrangement (7, 20, 30, 32, 60) is placed outside the housing compartment (4), is fluidically and mechanically connected to the flow tube and is in wireless communication with the electronic metering circuitry (5) via a short-range antenna of transmitter and receiver means (8, 8', 8'', 8''') placed in the second sensor arrangement and a short-range antenna (9, 31, 67) placed inside the housing compartment (4). The short-range antenna is positioned at a height in-between a long-range antenna and a bottom wall of the housing compartment. The solution has the advantage that the risk of fluid leakage into the housing when using fluid sensors is reduced and that such a second sensor arrangement is easy to replace or to retro-fit to an already installed flow meter.