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DE-102024132673-A1 - Flow meter

DE102024132673A1DE 102024132673 A1DE102024132673 A1DE 102024132673A1DE-102024132673-A1

Abstract

Revealbart is a flow meter that can be manufactured with minimal equipment effort in different nominal diameters DN and installation lengths LL.

Inventors

  • Matthias Zbinden
  • Trung-Dung Luong
  • Hoang-ha NGUYEN
  • Sergio THADDEY
  • Thanh Lan BUI
  • Markus Helfenstein

Assignees

  • GWF AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241108

Claims (18)

  1. Flow meter with a flow channel base body (2) attachable to a pipeline, on which a measuring unit is held, the measuring unit having at least two spaced-apart sensors, preferably ultrasonic transducers (52, 54), the measuring signals of which can be coupled into a measuring channel (82) through at least one radial recess (48) of the base body (2) and coupled out via reflectors (50), and with control electronics (6) housed in a control housing (4) for controlling the sensors and for processing the measuring signals, wherein the measuring channel (82) is formed at least sectionally by a measuring channel insert (80) which is inserted into the base body (2) through the radial recess (48) and with a fluid inlet (40) or fluid outlet (42) arranged upstream or downstream of the base body (2), characterized in that the fluid inlet (40) and the fluid outlet (42) are force- or are bonded to the base body (2) in a materially bonded manner.
  2. Flow meter after Patent claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet (40) and the fluid outlet (42) each have a fitting, preferably a threaded fitting (26, 28) for connection to the pipeline.
  3. Flow meter after Patent claim 1 or 2 , wherein the basic body (2) is designed such that it can be used for different lengths (LL) at one nominal diameter (DN).
  4. Flow meter after Claim 2 or 3 , wherein pipe sections (22, 24) are provided between the fitting and the base body (2) to adjust the installation length (LL).
  5. Flow meters according to the general term of Patent claim 1 or according to one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the control housing (4) is designed such that the sensors and the components of the control electronics (6) including the power supply, in particular battery (8), their holders, covers and other functional components, can be inserted and fixed in position in the vertical direction, i.e. transverse to the measuring channel axis.
  6. Flow meters according to the general term of Patent claim 1 or according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control housing (4) and the measuring channel insert (80) are formed monolytically or as a one-piece structure of materially bonded components.
  7. Flow meter after Patent claim 6 , wherein the control housing (4) with the measuring channel insert (80) is connected to a body interface (30) of the base body (2) via tangential bolts (36), wherein lateral fixing cheeks (34) on a base (32) of the control housing (4) grip the body interface (30) on both sides.
  8. Flow meter after Patent claim 7 , wherein several tangential bolts (36) are formed on a bolt body (134).
  9. Flow meter after Patent claim 7 or 8 , wherein the tangential bolts (36) or the bolt body (134) are secured by means of a protective cover (128).
  10. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a cover glass (14) is attached to the control housing (4) via a seal (152), wherein the seal (152) is applied to the cover glass (14) or the control housing (4) or is integrated into a sealing recess (150) of the control housing (4).
  11. Flow meter after Patent claim 10 , wherein the control housing (4) and the cover glass (14) are connected/sealed by means of a one-piece sealing frame (17), wherein the sealing frame (17) is preferably materially bonded to the control housing (4) by ultrasonic or laser welding or by snapping.
  12. Flow meter after Patent claim 10 or 11 , wherein a MID seal (172) is applied thermally or by plastic deformation in a butt joint area between sealing frame (17) and control housing (4).
  13. Flow meters according to the general term of Patent claim 1 or according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control electronics (6) is designed with a metering board (178), a UI board (180) and a communication module (76) which are vertically offset in the control housing (4).
  14. Flow meters according to the general term of Patent claim 1 or according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (2) is designed such that, for different nominal diameters (DN), the sensor spacing, reflector spacing, sensor angle of attack and sensor-reflector distance in the direction of flow remain essentially the same.
  15. Flow meter after Claim 14 , wherein a geometry of a control housing-side measuring channel roof (44) with sensor positioning, reflector position is the same for several nominal diameters (DN) and installation lengths (LL).
  16. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a battery holder is designed in two parts with a battery holder lower part (64) and a battery holder upper part (72), which are inserted into the control housing (4) in a force-fit and/or form-fit manner, preferably via undercuts (88, 92) engaging spring elements.
  17. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a battery (8) is contacted with a main PCB (10) or the like via a plug connection, by soldering or via spring contacts (148).
  18. Flow meter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control housing (4) is essentially the same for all nominal diameter (DN) and installation length (LL) combinations, wherein adaptation to different nominal diameters (DN) is achieved by replacing a measuring channel lower part (46).

Description

The invention relates to flow meters for measuring the flow of fluids in a pipeline. Flow meters can, for example, have two ultrasonic transducers that are attached to a section of pipe at a distance from each other as a so-called "clip-on" solution, with both transducers acting as transmitters and receivers. The measurement signals are coupled obliquely through the pipe wall into the fluid. A disadvantage of clip-on flow meters is that the measurement signals penetrate the wall of the measuring channel, so that different materials used to construct the measuring channel can result in different measurement signals, meaning that the influence of the material must be taken into account when evaluating the measurement signal. Solutions are also known that use a measuring insert in which the ultrasonic transducers are housed. This measuring insert is placed into a recess in a pipe section/flow channel, whereby the actual measuring channel can also be part of this measuring insert. The printed materials DE 20 2016 008 775 U1 , WO 2016/012 024 A1 , EP 3 677 877 A1 and EP 3 172 539 B1 Each reveals flow meters in which a measuring channel is formed by an approximately cylindrical insert that is axially inserted into the pipe section of the housing. Such flow meters have the disadvantage that the geometry of their measuring inserts is very limited, since axial insertion requires that the measuring insert and the measuring channel be designed without undercuts. Furthermore, conical shapes in the inlet and outlet areas are difficult to achieve, or at best require a significantly thicker measuring insert. In the EP 2 888 560 A1 A flow meter is described in which the two ultrasonic sensors are also arranged in a closed housing that extends into a measuring channel through a radial recess. These recessed sections disrupt the flow through the measuring channel. Furthermore, these recessed sections of the housing serve to position a measuring insert within the channel. This insert carries reflectors for deflecting the measuring beams. Similar to the solutions described above, the measuring channel and the measuring insert must be aligned to allow axial, end-face insertion of the measuring insert. In the application originating from the applicant WO 2018/011 371 A1 A flow meter is described in which the input and output of measurement signals from two spaced-apart measuring sensors is achieved via a common coupling piece or a coupling piece for each sensor, which carries the sensor(s)/transducer(s). In the parallel patent application WO 2018/011 372 A1 A flow meter with an oval or trapezoidal measuring channel is described. Both flow meter concepts ensure improved flow through the flow meter compared to the aforementioned state of the art, with increased measurement accuracy. In the printed publication WO 2022/079 213 A1 The applicant has disclosed a further development of the aforementioned concept, in which inlet- and outlet-side inserts are first inserted radially through a recess in the flow channel and then moved axially to their predetermined end position. Subsequently, a multi-part measuring channel insert is also inserted radially through a recess in a flow channel body, so that it is positioned in the area between the inserts. The reflectors required to form the signal path are integrated into the measuring channel insert by injection molding (overmolding). This type of concept is advantageous for use with relatively small nominal diameters. With larger nominal diameters, a problem can arise in that a comparatively large volume must be provided in the flow channel to accommodate the radially inserted inserts and the multi-part measuring channel housing. According to a subsequently published patent application by the applicant, this disadvantage can be avoided by inserting a measuring channel insert – as in the solutions described above – which at least partially limits a measuring channel section, radially through a recess in the flow channel body, whereby an inlet and an outlet insert are first inserted axially into the flow channel and then fixed in position by means of the measuring channel insert, so that the flow meter, in particular the base body forming the flow channel, can be designed to be very compact with a small installation volume. However, a disadvantage of this concept is that the construction of the measuring channel insert and the positioning of the control housing on the stream The duct body requires a high level of manufacturing and assembly effort. In contrast, the invention is based on the objective of optimizing the flow meter with a view to further reducing the assembly and device-related effort. This problem is solved by a flow meter having the features of claim 1. Further independent aspects of the invention are defined by dependent claims 5, 6, 13 and 14. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The concept defined in claim 1 provides a f