Electronic Bucket Precipitation Meter Wind Error Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing precipitation measurement technologies, such as turnover-type and weight-type meters, suffer from errors caused by wind and fail to accurately compensate for temperature-induced volumetric variations in water weight, leading to inaccurate precipitation measurements.
Innovation Solution
An electronic bucket-type precipitation meter with a fixed measurement bucket and two covering parts, featuring a water receiving opening with an angled design, a measurement bucket, a probe for water level detection, and a lifting and lowering driving unit to ensure accurate and wind-resistant precipitation measurement through volume-based calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a turnover-type precipitation meter is used to measure precipitation, then the structure is simple and fabrication cost is low, but wind causes the bucket to tilt and activates the switch falsely, leading to precipitation measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The precipitation measurement function is segmented into two independent parts: a fixed measurement bucket for accurate volume collection and a separate tilting mechanism for drainage control. This segmentation allows the measurement bucket to remain stationary and wind-resistant while the tilting mechanism handles the overflow control, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A cover plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the measurement bucket and the external environment. The cover plate has a drainage hole that controls water overflow while protecting the measurement bucket from direct wind exposure. This intermediary structure prevents wind from tilting the bucket while maintaining the measurement function, thus resolving the contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If a weight-type precipitation meter is used to measure precipitation, then measurement precision is improved, but the structure becomes complicated with precision assembly parts, causing frequent malfunction and increased fabrication cost
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical weighing system (load cell, precision assembly parts) is replaced with a simple geometric volume measurement system. The fixed measurement bucket with known cross-sectional area allows direct conversion of water height to volume without requiring precision mechanical components. This substitution maintains measurement precision while dramatically simplifying the structure and reducing fabrication cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement parameter is changed from weight (requiring complex load cells) to volume (measurable by simple geometric calculation). By using a fixed measurement bucket with known dimensions, the system measures precipitation volume directly through water height measurement, eliminating the need for precision mechanical weighing components and reducing structural complexity.
3Ease of operation
If precipitation height is converted by measuring weight, then measurement can be performed, but volumetric difference respective to temperature cannot be compensated, leading to inaccurate precipitation level measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement parameter is changed from weight to volume, which directly relates to precipitation level. Since volume measurement through water height in a fixed bucket is temperature-independent (unlike weight which varies with water density changes), this parameter change automatically compensates for temperature effects and improves measurement accuracy.
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 electronic bucket-type precipitation meter provides high precision measurements with reduced fabrication costs and eliminates wind-induced errors, achieving accurate precipitation measurement with 0.1mm-level precision while compensating for temperature-related volume variations.
Implementation Method 1
a probe for water level detection
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
Abstract: According to the present invention, an electronic bucket-type precipitation meter includes: an inclined bucket which extends at an angle from one edge to the center so as to collect rainwater; a measurement bucket which extends downward so that the rainwater is collected at the center of the inclined bucket, wherein a measurement unit is installed on a side surface thereof so as to measure the collected rainwater; a covering part in which the upper covering part is formed at the upper part thereof and has an inclined contact surface having the same incline as the inclined bucket, and in which the lower covering part is formed at the lower part thereof so as to block the bottom surface of the measurement bucket; and a lifting and lowering driving unit which lifts and lowers the cover part. Precipitation in the measurement bucket at a predetermined volume is electronically and accurately measured so that the precipitation can be measured accurately. In addition, the fixed measurement bucket is used to address the problem of precipitation measurement errors caused by wind. Further, the present invention can be manufactured to have a simple structure, can be installed at low cost, and can allow high precision measurement. Furthermore, one problem of turnover-type precipitation meters and weight-type precipitation meters of the related art, namely, converting the precipitation height through weight measurements and not compensating for the temperature-based volume variations of the water, is solved so that an accurate precipitation volume is measured, the precipitation height is converted, the temperature-based volume variation of the water is not generated, and the precipitation can be measured accurately.