Viscoelastic Damping Member for Ultrasonic Flowmeter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeters face challenges in ensuring detection accuracy due to transmission loss and noise components when measuring fluids in metal piping, particularly with gas, and conventional damping members have poor peelability and stickiness issues, making installation difficult.
Innovation Solution
A viscoelastic damping member made of cross-linked rubber with improved adhesion and peelability, combined with a fixture system to maintain contact and prevent adhesive residue, enhances installation workability and detection accuracy by optimizing surface characteristics and adhesion to the piping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the intensity of the ultrasonic signal is increased to handle background noise, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but sneak path signals and reverberation signals increase, reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A damping member made of viscoelastic material (cross-linked rubber with uncross-linked rubber) is introduced as an intermediary between the ultrasonic device and the metal piping. This damping member absorbs sneak path signals and reverberation signals while transmitting the useful ultrasonic signal, thereby resolving the contradiction between handling background noise and eliminating harmful signals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the damping member by using cross-linked rubber with specific properties (loss tangent, density, hardness) to optimize its damping performance. The cross-linking degree and rubber composition are adjusted to achieve the desired balance between signal transmission and harmful signal absorption
2Reliability
If conventional damping members are used, then some damping effect is achieved, but installation workability deteriorates due to poor peelability and adhesive residue
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member is constructed as a composite material consisting of cross-linked rubber (for structural integrity and damping) and uncross-linked rubber (for adhesion and peelability). This composite structure maintains damping performance while significantly improving installation workability by enabling easy removal without adhesive residue
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the damping member have different rubber compositions optimized for their specific functions: the cross-linked rubber provides the damping function, while the uncross-linked rubber provides the adhesion and peelability properties needed for easy installation and removal
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 improves installation efficiency and detection accuracy for ultrasonic flowmeters on metal and gas piping by ensuring strong adhesion and easy peelability of the damping member, reducing noise interference and enhancing the damping performance.
Implementation Method 1
a damping member which is a viscoelastic damping member made with a cross-linked rubber
Implementation Method 2
a damping member which is a viscoelastic damping member made with a cross-linked rubber provided in a state of being in direct contact with the piping
Implementation Method 3
an ultrasonic transmitting section which transmits an ultrasonic signal emitted from the ultrasonic device to the piping and transmits an ultrasonic signal from the piping to the ultrasonic device
Data Source
AI summary
To improve installation work on piping for a clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter including a damping member. A damping member is provided in a state of being in contact with piping, and the damping member is a sheet-shaped molded article which has moderate flexibility and a predetermined thickness. In addition, the damping member has viscoelasticity and has adhesion and peelability to the metal piping. The damping member is fixed to the piping by a damping fixture surrounding an outer periphery of the damping member, and the damping member is pressed against the piping by the damping fixture. A flow sensor body is fixed on the damping member.