Recessed Elastic Coupling Members for Ultrasonic Flow Meter Crosstalk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic flow meters experience significant crosstalk and noise signals when measuring small diameter fluid conduits due to transducer contact, leading to reduced signal quality and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The use of elastic coupling members with recessed sidewalls and optional spacer elements to minimize air gaps and crosstalk between transducers, ensuring proper alignment and signal propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transducers are mounted close together on small diameter conduits, then measurement capability is improved, but crosstalk and noise signals increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sound wave paths are extracted and redirected away from the direct transducer-to-transducer path. The coupling member's geometry extracts the useful acoustic energy while leaving the harmful direct paths open to air attenuation, separating the useful signal from the harmful crosstalk.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member acts as an intermediary acoustic medium between the transducers and the conduit. It mediates the sound wave transmission by providing a controlled acoustic path through its material and geometry, while the air gaps serve as intermediary barriers that block harmful direct paths.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If air gaps are present between transducers and conduit, then crosstalk is reduced, but signal transmission quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the coupling member have different acoustic properties. The bulk material provides good acoustic coupling for the useful signal, while the air gaps in specific locations provide isolation for harmful paths. This local differentiation of acoustic quality resolves the contradiction between coupling and isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member is segmented into solid coupling regions and air gap regions. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of good acoustic coupling where needed and isolation where harmful, by dividing the coupling interface into functional zones with different acoustic properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If coupling members are made rigid, then structural stability is improved, but adaptation to conduit surface variations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member uses a flexible elastomeric material that can conform to conduit surface variations while maintaining its structural integrity. This flexible shell approach allows the coupling member to adapt to different conduit geometries and surface conditions while providing stable acoustic coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material properties are selected to provide optimal balance between flexibility and structural stability. By changing the material parameters (elasticity, damping characteristics), the coupling member can adapt to surface variations while maintaining sufficient rigidity for stable acoustic transmission.
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 crosstalk and noise signals, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and improving the accuracy of ultrasonic flow measurements, especially in small diameter conduits.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling member is elastic and configured for acoustically coupling an ultrasonic transducer to a fluid conduit
Implementation Method 2
The flow meter operates by alternately transmitting and receiving bursts of ultrasonic waves between the two transducers and measuring the transit time
Implementation Method 3
The received ultrasonic wave has a frequency shift (Doppler frequency shift), which is directly proportional to the flow
Implementation Method 4
Ultrasonic flow meters utilise the fact that sound waves move faster when travelling in the same direction as a flowing medium, and slower when travelling against the flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a coupling member (20) for a flow metering device, the coupling member (20) being configured for acoustically coupling an ultrasonic transducer (26) to a fluid conduit (90), wherein the coupling member comprises a first face (22) adapted to be connected to an ultrasonic transducer (26) and a second face (24) adapted to be connected to a fluid conduit. At least one sidewall (30) connects the first and second faces (22, 24), wherein the at least one sidewall (30) comprises a recess (40) extending from the second face (24).