Ultrasonic Flow Meter Sensor Clamp with Axial Sliding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamp-on ultrasonic flow-meters lack an adjustment mechanism for varying pipe diameters, leading to defects in ultrasonic wave propagation and require time-consuming sensor position adjustments to maintain optimal reception sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A sensor-clamp device with a sliding mechanism that allows ultrasonic sensors to be obliquely adjusted relative to the pipe's axial direction, eliminating the need for two-way interval adjustments and ensuring optimal sensor positioning for various pipe diameters, thereby facilitating quick and accurate fluid flow rate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pair of ultrasonic sensors is provided on the same side or opposite side of the pipe without an adjustment mechanism, then the device structure is simple, but the measurable range of pipe outer diameter is limited and clearance forms between the pipe and sensor causing defect in ultrasonic wave propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sliding mechanism that enables dynamic adjustment of the ultrasonic sensor positions along the pipe axis. This allows the sensor clamp device to adapt to pipes of various outer diameters by sliding the sensors to appropriate positions, eliminating the clearance problem while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If position adjustment mechanisms are provided in both axial direction and thickness direction to accommodate pipe diameter variation, then the device can be clamped onto pipes of various diameters, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming requiring monitoring of reception sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thickness-direction adjustment function from the traditional two-directional adjustment mechanism, retaining only the axial-direction sliding mechanism. This simplifies the adjustment process to a single direction while still achieving adaptability to various pipe diameters, eliminating the time-consuming monitoring of reception sensitivity in the thickness direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding mechanism provides dynamic axial adjustment of sensor positions, allowing quick adaptation to different pipe diameters without the complex two-way adjustment and sensitivity monitoring required by conventional designs.
3Ease of operation
If the optimal position of ultrasonic sensor in thickness direction is not maintained, then adjustment is simpler, but the reception sensitivity of ultrasonic waves decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the thickness-direction adjustment mechanism entirely, relying solely on axial-direction sliding to achieve diameter adaptation. This extraction simplifies operation while the axial sliding maintains sufficient reception sensitivity by keeping the sensor at an appropriate axial position relative to the pipe.
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 prompt clamping onto pipes of various diameters without time-consuming adjustments, maintaining ultrasonic reception sensitivity and ensuring accurate fluid flow rate measurement by maintaining the optimal position of ultrasonic sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of ultrasonic-sensors for sending and receiving ultrasonic-waves mutually between the pair of ultrasonic-sensors
Implementation Method 2
calculating, by arithmetic processing, the fluid flow-rate within the pipe according to the time-lag in the propagation of the ultrasonic-waves
Implementation Method 3
it has the supporting-base with a sliding-mechanism that can slide at least one of the pair of ultrasonic-sensors obliquely with respect to the axial-direction of the pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor-clamp device for clamping a pipe of different outer-diameters promptly without having to do a time-consuming sensor-position adjustment includes a pair of ultrasonic-sensors incorporating an ultrasonic-transducer for sending and receiving ultrasonic-waves ‘So’ and further includes a supporting-plate on which is provided a sliding-mechanism. The pair of ultrasonic-sensors clamps the outer-wall of the pipe in which flows a fluid W1. Of the supporting-plate, the pair of ultrasonic-sensors used in irradiating the ultrasonic-waves ‘So’ obliquely to the pipe are offset in the axial-line direction of the pipe and firmly placed face to face. The sliding-mechanism slides one of the pair of ultrasonic-sensors obliquely with respect to the axial-line direction of the pipe, thus making the sliding-mechanism to clamp the pipe of various outer-diameters.