Ultrasonic Flow Meter Housing With Welded Arc Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flow meters are complex, costly to manufacture, and prone to measurement inaccuracies due to turbulence, dead spaces, and leakage, necessitating a simpler and more reliable design.
Innovation Solution
A measuring device with a measuring tube arranged between an inlet and an outlet, featuring ultrasonic transducers spaced along the tube, housed in a plastic structure with identical parts welded together, and channel sections forming a circular arc offset from the tube's axis, ensuring reflection-free sound transmission and uniform coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components (sensors, measuring tube, housing parts) are used in the measuring device, then the device can be assembled with modular flexibility, but the device complexity increases and assembly effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the ultrasonic sensors, measuring tube, and housing parts into a single integrated measuring device body. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate components and their associated sealing elements, thereby reducing device complexity and assembly effort while maintaining the core measurement functionality.
2Ease of operation
If multiple valves and connecting tubes are used to connect the measuring tube, then the device can be assembled with flexible connections, but the manufacturing complexity increases and dead spaces are created
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting tubes and valves are integrated directly into the housing parts, eliminating the need for separate connecting components. This integration reduces manufacturing complexity and eliminates dead spaces that would otherwise be created by multiple separate connecting elements.
3Reliability
If seals and plugs are used to seal the connecting tubes, then leakage can be prevented, but additional work steps are required and capillaries/dead spaces are created
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is integrated into the welded connections between housing parts and the measuring tube, eliminating the need for separate seals and plugs. This integration maintains leakage prevention while reducing manufacturing steps and eliminating capillaries that would create dead spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sealing elements (seals and plugs) with welded connections. This substitution eliminates the need for additional sealing work steps and removes the capillaries between sealing surfaces that would otherwise create dead spaces.
4Measurement precision
If reflectors are projected into the measuring channel, then sound reflection can be achieved, but turbulence is created that negatively affects measurement results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reflectors from the measuring channel and integrates their function into the housing structure. This extraction eliminates the turbulence caused by reflectors projecting into the flow path while maintaining the necessary sound transmission capabilities for measurement.
5Reliability
If the measuring tube is subsequently encased in a housing, then the measuring device can be protected, but additional assembly steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The housing and measuring tube are integrated into a single measuring device body, eliminating the need for subsequent encasement assembly steps. This integration maintains device protection while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, easy-to-assemble device with reduced assembly effort, minimizing turbulence and measurement errors, and enhancing accuracy by eliminating dead spaces and leakage risks.
Implementation Method 1
at least two ultrasonic transducers spaced apart from one another along the measuring tube are provided for transmitting sound through the medium
Data Source
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
In order to measure the throughflow of a medium flowing in a measuring tube (20) by means of ultrasound, a measuring device is proposed, in the case of which the measuring tube (20) is arranged in a housing (30) of the measuring device (10) between an inlet (21) and an outlet (22) for the medium, wherein at least two ultrasonic transducers (40a, 40b) which are spaced apart from one another along the measuring tube (20) are provided to ultrasonically test the medium, wherein at least one ultrasonic transducer (40a, 40b) is arranged in each end region of the measuring tube (20) in such a way that a measuring path which permits ultrasonic testing parallel to a longitudinal axis (23) of the measuring tube (20) is formed between the ultrasonic transducers (40a, 40b), wherein the housing (30) can be assembled or is assembled together with the measuring tube (20) from housing parts (30a, 30b) which are configured from at least one plastic and are produced by means of a primary forming manufacturing method, wherein the housing (30) is configured with two identical housing parts (30a, 30b) which can be connected or are connected to one another without seals by way of a welding operation, wherein channel portions (12a, 12b) which are arranged at the inlet (21) and the outlet (22) are curved in the shape of a circular arc, and wherein a centre point of that circle to which the circular arc is assigned has an eccentric offset (25) in relation to the longitudinal axis (23) of the measuring tube (20).