Fluid Meter Casing With Desiccant Chamber for Moisture Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid flow meters in moist environments face challenges with resin-based protective coatings that are difficult to apply uniformly, require complex installation, and are hard to remove, leading to maintenance difficulties and potential malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A casing with a desiccant material inside, allowing gas communication between portions, protects electronic components from moisture while maintaining easy access and minimizing bulk, using materials like polycarbonate or polyolefin for sealing and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resin coating is applied to protect electronic components from moisture, then protection effectiveness is improved, but application difficulty and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a sealed housing containing electronic components and a separate desiccant chamber containing moisture-absorbing material. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the housing provides structural protection while the desiccant actively manages moisture, eliminating the complexity of resin application while maintaining effective moisture protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A desiccant material serves as an intermediary substance between the external moist environment and the electronic components. Rather than directly coating the components with resin, the desiccant absorbs moisture in the air space, providing indirect protection that is equally effective but much simpler to implement and maintain.
2Reliability
If resin coating is used to seal electronic interface, then moisture sealing is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is separated from the electronic components by placing the desiccant in a separate chamber. The housing provides the sealed enclosure while the desiccant handles moisture absorption. This allows the electronic components to remain accessible through the housing opening for maintenance, while the sealed desiccant chamber continues to provide protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The desiccant material can be periodically replaced when saturated, providing a recoverable maintenance cycle. Unlike permanent resin coatings that are difficult to remove, the desiccant can be exchanged by simply opening the housing, making maintenance straightforward while preserving continuous sealing protection.
3Manufacturing precision
If resin is applied in multiple steps to cover electronic elements, then coverage completeness is improved, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multi-step resin coating process is extracted and replaced by a simple desiccant placement procedure. The desiccant is placed in its own chamber without needing to be applied to each electronic component individually, eliminating the time-consuming multiple coating steps while achieving complete moisture protection through the sealed housing environment.
4Reliability
If resin coating is applied to electronic components, then moisture protection is improved, but bulk and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing acts as a thin-walled sealed shell that encloses the electronic components and desiccant material. This shell provides the necessary moisture barrier without adding significant bulk, as the wall thickness is minimized while maintaining sealing integrity. The desiccant chamber is integrated into the same housing volume rather than adding external bulk.
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 solution effectively protects electronic components from moisture, ensures easy access for maintenance, and reduces bulk, while maintaining efficient gas circulation and easy desiccant replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a second portion incorporating at least one desiccant material 4
Implementation Method 2
the first portion 1131 and the second portion 1132 of the interior volume of the casing 11 being configured to allow gas communication therebetween
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Device for protecting a fluid meter against moisture The present invention relates to a device (1) for protecting electronic components (31) of a fluid measuring meter (9) against moisture, characterized in that the device (1) comprises: - a casing (11) comprising: - at least one opening (112) associated with a closure means (2) and configured to cooperate with one another in order to partition the casing (11), - an interior volume (113) defining at least, on the one hand, a first portion (1131) configured for housing electronic components (31) and/or electric accumulators (32) and, on the other hand, a second portion (1132) incorporating at least one desiccant material, the first portion (1131) and the second portion (1132) of the interior volume of the casing (11) being configured to allow gas communication therebetween, - an interface for mounting and/or fastening (12) the casing (11) on and/or to part of a measuring meter (9).