Rotatable Display Consumption Meter for Piping Installations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound consumption meters face challenges in mounting and reading due to their compact design, where the display may become upside down when correctly installed, requiring multiple manufacturing versions and complex logistics to address readability issues.
Innovation Solution
A consumption meter design featuring two interconnected units with adjustable angular positions via electrical terminals, allowing the display to be rotated for easy reading without the need for multiple manufacturing versions, with terminals connected directly to circuit boards for simplified manufacturing and potential wire connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display is fixed in a single orientation on the meter housing, then the manufacturing is simple, but the display cannot be read comfortably in all piping installation orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The display is made rotatable relative to the meter housing through a rotational mechanism, allowing the display orientation to be dynamically adjusted to match different piping installation orientations. The display can be rotated to multiple angular positions (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) while the housing remains fixed, enabling comfortable reading in any installation scenario without requiring multiple fixed-display versions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of the meter are manufactured with different display orientations, then all installation orientations are covered, but the manufacturing and logistics become complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal meter version is produced with a rotatable display mechanism that can adapt to all installation orientations. Instead of manufacturing separate versions for different orientations, one standardized meter housing contains a display that can be rotated to the appropriate angle during installation, simplifying manufacturing, inventory management, and logistics while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The meter is divided into functionally independent modules: a fixed housing containing the measurement electronics and a separately rotatable display unit. This segmentation allows the display to be independently positioned without affecting the housing or internal components, enabling a single version to serve multiple orientation requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the display is rotated relative to the housing, then readability in various orientations is achieved, but the connection between display and housing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The display is extracted as a separate rotatable component from the housing, connected through simplified interfaces. The electrical connection uses flexible printed circuit boards (FPC) that can accommodate rotational movement, and the mechanical connection employs a simple rotational joint with positioning features. This extraction allows the display to rotate independently while maintaining reliable electrical and mechanical connections through straightforward mechanisms.
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
Enables easy reading of the display in various orientations within a single casing, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while ensuring comfortable readability in piping installations with a single meter version.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound transducer (306) arranged for measurement of a flow velocity of the fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A consumption meter, e.g. a heat, cooling, gas or water meter, with a housing with the measuring tube inside, and an ultrasound transducer arranged for measurement of fluid flow in the measuring tube. The meter includes a first unit 101 with a first circuit board 111 with an electronic measurement circuit arranged to operate the ultrasound transducer, and a first set of terminals 115 electrically connected to the first circuit board 111. The meter further includes a second unit 103 with a second circuit board 131, a display element 133 arranged to display a measured amount, preferably also a calculator circuit, and a second set of terminal 135 connected to the second circuit board 131. The second set of terminals 135 is arranged for engagement with the first set of terminals 115 at least at two different angular positions relative to each other, such as at four different angular positions in 90° steps. Hereby, the display 133 can be turned for comfortable reading in relation to the measurement circuit, and thus in relation to the housing, irrespective of an actual orientation of the housing in a specific piping installation. A coaxial type connector can be used to interconnect the first and second circuit boards, thus allowing free relative rotation of the display at any angle. A simple type of connector 115 based on conductive pins geometrically arranged to fit the desired angular resolution can also be used. Preferably, three connections are provided by the first and second set of terminals: electric ground, electric supply, and flow rate signal.