Oval Gear Meter Optical Detection Non-Contact Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oval gear flow meters face challenges in accurately measuring fluid flow characteristics due to limitations in detecting gear rotation and flow rate, particularly in systems where direct contact sensors may fail or be impractical.
Innovation Solution
A flow measuring system utilizing a pair of rotating members with normally-reflecting and non-normally reflecting portions to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation, allowing for optical detection of rotational characteristics and flow measurements without direct contact, using an emitter and detector aligned with the normally-reflecting portion to determine rotational count and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct contact sensors are used to detect gear rotation, then measurement capability is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to sensor failure and operational impracticality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact sensors with an optical detection system. An optical sensor detects the rotational position of the gear without physical contact, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating the reliability issues associated with direct contact sensors such as wear, failure, and operational impracticality.
2Measurement precision
If timing gear systems with shaft apertures are used, then gear rotation measurement is enabled, but device complexity increases due to additional components and sealed chamber requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical detection function from the internal gear structure and positions it externally. The optical sensor is placed outside the sealed chamber to detect the gear through the chamber wall, eliminating the need for shaft apertures and timing gear systems while maintaining measurement precision and reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If non-contact magnetic sensors are used, then gear rotation can be detected without contact, but device complexity increases due to sealed chamber and sensor placement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic sensors with an optical sensor system. The optical sensor detects the rotational position of the gear through the chamber wall without requiring magnetic fields or complex sensor placements, thereby maintaining non-contact detection reliability while simplifying the overall device structure.
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
This solution enhances measurement accuracy and reliability by enabling non-contact detection of gear rotation and flow characteristics, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity compared to systems with inserts or additional components.
Implementation Method 1
At least one rotating member includes a normally-reflecting portion adapted to reflect an incident beam in a direction toward a detector
Implementation Method 2
The at least one rotating member also includes a non-normally reflecting portion adapted to reflect the incident beam in a direction away from the detector
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments include a flow measuring system for measuring characteristics of a fluid flow. The flow measuring system can include a pair of rotating members rotating synchronously to the fluid flow. At least one rotating member can include a normally-reflecting portion and a non-normally reflecting portion. The normally-reflecting portion reflects an incident beam in a direction parallel to the normal direction of the plane of the normally-reflecting portion. The non-normally reflecting portion reflects the incident beam in a direction non-parallel to the normal direction of the plane of the normally-reflecting portion. The flow measuring system measures the optical characteristics of a beam reflected by the normally-reflecting portion and determines rotational characteristics of the rotating member. The flow measuring system determines characteristics of the flow based on the rotational characteristics of the rotating member.