Rotatable Sensor Housing for Flow Meter Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow meters face challenges in simplifying the assembly of the measuring housing and sensor housing, which are often rigidly coupled, making it difficult to rotate the sensor housing for readjustment or retrofitting without loosening connections.
Innovation Solution
The measuring housing is designed as a cylindrical tube with a rotatable sensor housing that can be fixed in any position, using clamping elements and peripheral flanges for stability, and incorporating a conical wall thickness for optimal signal transmission and stability, with a transparent material for the measuring window and sensor housing to enable contactless and wireless detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the sensor housing is rigidly coupled to the measuring housing, then the assembly stability is improved, but the ease of readjustment and retrofitting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow meter is divided into two separate housings: the measuring housing containing the measuring element and the sensor housing containing the sensor and evaluation electronics. These housings are connected via a coupling arrangement that allows rotational adjustment while maintaining stable assembly. The segmentation enables independent optimization of each housing and facilitates readjustment without requiring complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling arrangement between the measuring housing and sensor housing is designed to be dynamically adjustable in the rotational direction. The sensor housing can be rotated relative to the measuring housing to optimize sensor positioning, and this rotational degree of freedom is maintained while ensuring stable connection. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between stability and readjustment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the sensor housing is rigidly coupled to the measuring housing, then the assembly stability is improved, but the adaptability for different configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling arrangement incorporates rotational adjustability, allowing the sensor housing to be positioned at different angular orientations relative to the measuring housing. This dynamic positioning capability enables adaptation to various installation configurations and sensor types while maintaining stable assembly through the same coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling arrangement is designed as a universal interface that accommodates different sensor configurations and installation orientations. The same coupling structure supports multiple application scenarios, making the flow meter adaptable to different systems without requiring custom assembly solutions for each configuration.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wall thickness of the measuring tube is uniform, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the signal transmission quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring tube is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, featuring a thinned section in the area where the sensor housing is positioned. This local variation in wall thickness optimizes the transmission of electromagnetic signals between the measuring element and the sensor, improving signal quality. The rest of the tube maintains standard wall thickness for structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity.
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 design allows for simplified assembly and readjustment of the sensor housing, enabling contactless and wireless detection of liquid flow with high stability and optimal signal transmission, facilitating a compact and versatile flow meter setup.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller is mounted axially symmetrically in a piece of pipe made of non-magnetic material without axle bushings and, when rotating, causes a periodic change in a magnetic field that is detected by a magnetic sensor mounted outside of the piece of pipe
Implementation Method 2
the wall thickness of the cylindrical surface area of the measuring tube is conical, with a wall of the measuring tube having a smaller wall thickness in the area of the measuring element than in the area of the peripheral flanges
Implementation Method 3
The wall of the measuring tube and the measuring window of the sensor housing are made of a material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a flow meter (10) for liquids, comprising a measuring housing (12) with a first connection (20) such as inlet and a second connection (22) such as outlet, a measuring element (24) such as a turbine wheel or impeller, which is rotatably mounted in the measuring housing (12), with at least one sensor element (26) such as a magnet, a sensor housing (14) which can be coupled to the measuring housing (12) and at least partially enclosing it, with at least one sensor (28) responding to the sensor element (26) for determining a quantity of liquid flowing through the measuring housing (12) based on the rotations of the measuring element (24).To enable easy assembly and, in particular, subsequent adjustment of the sensor housing (14) with the measuring housing (12) permanently mounted, it is provided that the measuring housing (12) is designed as a measuring tube and has a closed cylindrical surface (38) and that the sensor housing (14) has a recess (46) adapted to the cylindrical surface (38) and is arranged coaxially to the measuring housing (12) and rotatably to it in the circumferential direction.