JP4991972B1 - Ultrasonic flow measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to easily attach and detach an elastic tube body and measure the flow rate of fluid in the tube body.
A first body, a left side plate, a second body, and a right side plate are rotatably connected via a connecting shaft, and a locking plate is connected to an end of the second body via the connecting shaft. The clamp mechanism which consists of 5 is provided, and the fixed board 6 is made to be able to rotate freely on the left side face plate 2. By folding the first body 1, the left side plate 2, the second body 3, and the right side plate 4, a square clamping hole 16 for clamping the tube P is formed, and the inner surfaces of the first body 1 and the second body 3 are formed. Ultrasonic transmitters / receivers are embedded in the sections at different positions in the length direction of the tube.
When the tubular body P is sandwiched by the sandwiching hole 16 and the sandwiching hole 16 is held using the locking plate 5 and the fixing plate 6, the tubular body P is deformed and is almost in close contact with the sandwiching hole 16. When an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from one ultrasonic transmitter / receiver into the fluid in the tube P during flow rate measurement, the ultrasonic beam is received by the other ultrasonic transmitter / receiver disposed on the other surface of the tube P.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a clamp-on type ultrasonic flow rate measuring apparatus for measuring a flow rate of a fluid by propagating an ultrasonic beam to a fluid in a tubular body.

  The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device is roughly classified into a so-called V method shown in FIG. 13A and a so-called Z method shown in FIG. 13B according to the propagation path of the ultrasonic beam. In the V system, a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers a and b are arranged on the same side of the tube P, and an ultrasonic beam B transmitted from one ultrasonic transmitter / receiver a or b is reflected in the tube P. The signal is received by the other ultrasonic transmitter / receiver b or a. In the Z system, ultrasonic transmitters / receivers a and b are arranged at opposing positions with the tube P interposed therebetween, and an ultrasonic beam B crossing the tube P is transmitted / received. In any method, the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers a and b are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the fluid F flowing through the tube P, and the ultrasonic beam B propagates across the flow of the fluid F.

  The propagation time of the ultrasonic beam B from the upstream ultrasonic transmitter / receiver a to the downstream ultrasonic transmitter / receiver b and the propagation time from the downstream ultrasonic transmitter / receiver b to the upstream ultrasonic transmitter / receiver a Makes a difference. The flow rate of the fluid F is calculated on the basis of the propagation time difference of these ultrasonic beams B, and the flow rate of the fluid F is obtained by multiplying the cross-sectional area of the tube P.

  Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a clamp-on type ultrasonic flow rate measuring device that is attached to an existing tube body from the outside and measures the flow rate in the tube body.

JP 2002-365106 A JP 2003-75219 A JP 2003-262545 A

  However, in these clamp-on type ultrasonic flow rate measuring devices, it is necessary to integrally attach a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers matched to the shape of the tubular body using a complicated mechanism. For this reason, it is difficult to easily attach and detach the ultrasonic flow rate measuring device to and from the tube body when measurement is required.

  In addition, since these ultrasonic flow rate measuring devices use a plurality of metal block bodies, there is a problem that if the diameter of the pipe body is increased, the weight is increased and handling is troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a Z-type clamp-on type ultrasonic flow rate measuring device that solves the above-described problems and is easily attached to and detached from a tube body by a clamp mechanism and is light in weight.

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic flow rate measuring device according to the present invention is an ultrasonic flow rate measuring device which allows a fluid to be measured to flow and is detachable from a tube made of a flexible material having elasticity. In order to clamp the body, it is connected with a hinge mechanism so as to be foldable, and includes four plate members having an inner surface portion. These plate members are used to assemble a rectangular clamp hole surrounding the tube body, and to provide a clamp mechanism. It is structured so as to be locked and hold the clamping hole, and the inner surface of the pair of plate members facing each other with respect to the clamping hole among the four plate members has a different position in the longitudinal direction of the tube body. Each ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is disposed, and the tube is deformed and adhered to each inner surface portion of the clamping hole, and the ultrasonic beam from the one ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is transmitted into the tube. And the other of the opposite positions The sonic transceiver characterized by being adapted to receive the ultrasonic beam.

  The ultrasonic flow rate measuring apparatus according to the present invention can be easily attached to and detached from the tube body in a clamp-on manner, and can easily measure the flow rate of the fluid in the existing tube body.

It is a perspective view before use of the ultrasonic flow measuring device of Example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of a 1st main body. It is sectional drawing of a 2nd main body. It is a perspective view of the state which raised the left side board and the right side board. It is a side view of the process of forming a clamping hole. It is a side view of an assembly state. It is a side view of the state which begins to clamp a tubular body. It is a perspective view of the state which pinched the pipe. It is a principle explanatory drawing of an ultrasonic flow measuring device. It is a principle explanatory drawing of the ultrasonic flow measuring device of a modification. It is a perspective view before use of the ultrasonic flow measuring device of Example 2. It is a side view of the assembly state of Example 2. It is explanatory drawing of the measuring system of an ultrasonic flow measuring device.

  The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view before use of an ultrasonic flow rate measuring device that is detachably attached to the outside of an elastic tube. The first main body 1, the left side plate 2, the second main body 3, the right side plate 4, the locking plate 5, and the fixing plate 6 as four plate members are connected by a hinge mechanism so as to be foldable. That is, the left side plate 2 and the fixed plate 6 are connected to the end 1a of the first main body 1 with the left side plate 2 being overlapped via a common connecting shaft 7 and further connected to the other end of the left side plate 2. The second body 3 is sequentially connected via the shaft 8, and the locking plate 5 is connected to the other end of the second body 3 via the connecting shaft 9. A right side plate 4 is connected to the other end 1 b of the first main body 1 via a connecting shaft 10.

  The first main body 1 and the second main body 3 are formed by, for example, injection molding of a synthetic resin material, and the left side plate 2, the right side plate 4, the lock plate 5 and the fixing plate 6 are formed by punching a metal plate with a press, It is bent to have both sides. These members are connected by inserting the connecting shafts 7, 8, 9, and 10 through holes provided on both sides. The inner surfaces of the first main body 1, the left side plate 2, the second main body 3, and the right side plate 4 are flat surfaces. For example, Teflon (registered) is provided on these inner surface portions in order to improve the sliding of the tube as necessary. Trademark) resin is coated or plated.

  Claw portions 5 a are formed on both sides of the locking plate 5 on the connecting shaft 9 side, and a locking shaft 11 for engaging with these claw portions 5 a is provided at the end of the right side plate 4. A slit groove 5b is formed at the free end of the locking plate 5 in parallel with the side portion. Further, a rotary shaft 12 is rotatably supported at the free ends of both sides of the fixed plate 6 in parallel with the side 6a of the surface portion of the fixed plate 6, and the central portion of the rotary shaft 12 is often large in diameter. A fitting portion 12 a is provided, and a part of the fitting portion 12 a is fitted into the slit groove 5 b of the locking plate 5 at the time of locking.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13a and 13b are respectively embedded in the first main body 1 and the second main body 3, and these ultrasonic transmitter / receivers 13a and 13b are connected to lead wires 14a, It is connected to a measurement circuit section to be described later via 14b. The ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 13 a and the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 13 b are arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the first main body 1 and the second main body 3. The ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13a and 13b face the inner surface portions of the first main body 1 and the second main body 3 through beam transmission bodies 15a and 15b made of a synthetic resin material.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the left side plate 2 and the right side plate 4 raised. The left side plate 2 can be rotated with respect to the end portion 1 a of the first main body 1 through the connecting shaft 7 together with the fixed plate 6, but the side 2 a of the surface portion of the left side plate 2 is the inner surface portion of the first main body 1. The left side plate 2 is prevented from rotating inward with respect to the first main body 1 by more than about 90 degrees. Further, the right side plate 4 having a height higher than that of the left side plate 2 is also turnable with respect to the end 1b of the first main body 1 via the connecting shaft 10 in the same manner. When the side 4 a contacts the inner surface of the first main body 1, the right side surface plate 4 is prevented from rotating inward with respect to the first main body 1 by about 90 degrees.

  Further, the second main body 3 can be rotated with respect to the left side plate 2 via the connecting shaft 8, but when the side portion of the second main body 3 comes into contact with the side 2 b of the surface portion of the left side plate 2, The second main body 3 is prevented from turning inward with respect to the left side plate 2 by more than about 90 degrees.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the left side plate 2 and the right side plate 4 are raised and the second main body 3 is rotated approximately 90 degrees inward, the claw portion 5 a of the locking plate 5 is placed at the end of the right side plate 4. Engage with the provided locking shaft 11 and fold the locking plate 5 around the connecting shaft 9 as shown by the arrow. As a result, the claw portion 5a is engaged with the locking shaft 11, and the front end surface of the surface portion of the second main body 3 is brought into contact with the upper end of the surface portion of the right side plate 4 by the crank mechanism in which the claw portion 5a draws the locking shaft 11. (2) The main body 3 and the right side plate 4 are maintained in a relationship of approximately 90 degrees.

  In this manner, by folding the first main body 1, the left side plate 2, the second main body 3, and the right side plate 4, a quadrangular, for example, square sandwiching hole 16 for the tubular body is formed by these members. In order to maintain the shape of the sandwiching hole 16, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixed plate 6 is turned up so as to overlap the back surface of the left side plate 2, and the rotary shaft 12 provided at the end is rotated. Then, the surface portion of the fitting portion 12 a of the rotating shaft 12 is fitted into the slit groove 5 b of the locking plate 5.

  When using the ultrasonic flow rate measuring apparatus of the present embodiment, it is attached to a frame to be fixed by screwing bolts into a plurality of screw holes (not shown) provided on the back side of the first main body 1 as necessary. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, on the first main body 1, a tube P made of a flexible material made of a synthetic resin such as Teflon (registered trademark) for flowing fluid is placed on the left side. The face plate 2, the second main body 3, and the right side face plate 4 are folded to surround the tube P. Next, the claw portion 5a of the locking plate 5 is applied to the locking shaft 11, the locking plate 5 is rotated around the connecting shaft 9, the locking shaft 11 is pulled, and locking is performed by the clamp mechanism.

  When the locking plate 5 is tightened, the tubular body P is deformed against the elasticity of the tubular body P. Therefore, a slight resistance is generated in the rotation of the locking plate 5, but the claw portion 5a Locking is ensured.

  Following locking by the locking shaft 11, the locking plate 5 is fixed by raising the fixing plate 6 and fitting the fitting portion 12a of the rotating shaft 12 into the slit groove 5b as shown in FIG. . Since the rotation shaft 12 is rotatable in this fitting, the fitting portion 12a can be moved while rotating on the locking plate 5, and therefore can be fitted relatively easily.

  In this way, the tubular body P is sandwiched in the sandwiching hole 16 having a square cross section, for example, by the facing first body 1 and second body 3 and the two facing face plates, that is, the left side face plate 2 and the right side face plate 4. To do. The elastic tubular body P is deformed by being pressed from the periphery by the inner surface portion of the sandwiching hole 16, and the tubular body P partially adheres to the inner surface portion, and becomes substantially square according to the shape of the sandwiching hole 16. . At this time, the pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13 a and 13 b provided in the first main body 1 and the second main body 3 are arranged at different positions along the longitudinal direction of the tube body P.

  If the inner surfaces of the first main body 1, the left side plate 2, the second main body 3, and the right side plate 4 are treated so as to be slippery with synthetic resin or plating, the tube body P and the pinching hole 16 may be connected during the pinching. Friction is reduced, the tube P can be brought into close contact with the inner surface portion quickly, and a stable form suitable for measurement can be transferred. It is also effective to apply grease or the like to the inner surface portion, and the deformation of the tube body P can be facilitated.

  The reason why the tubular body P having a circular cross section is deformed into a quadrangular shape is that a part of the tubular body P is formed on the inner surfaces of the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13a and 13b and the beam transmission bodies 15a and 15b provided in the first body 1 and the second body 3. This is because the ultrasonic beams are transmitted and received efficiently and reliably. However, it is necessary to bring the tube P into close contact with the left side plate 2 and the right side plate 4 as well. That is, unless the shape of the tube P is regulated and the cross-sectional area of the tube P is set to a predetermined size, the flow rate value calculated by multiplying the flow velocity and the cross-sectional area of the tube P cannot be obtained accurately. It is.

  The inner periphery of the sandwiching hole 16 by the first main body 1, the left side plate 2, the second main body 3, and the right side plate 4 is made larger than the outer periphery of the tube body P, and the tube body P is at the corner of the sandwich hole 16. It becomes an arc shape. If this relationship is reversed and the inner circumference of the clamping hole 16 is smaller than the outer circumference of the tubular body P, when the tubular body P is sandwiched and pressed, the tubular body P is wrinkled or the tubular body P is A gap is formed between the inner surface and the inner surface. However, if the inner periphery of the sandwiching hole 16 is too large compared to the outer periphery of the tube P, the tube P cannot be pressed and brought into close contact with the inner surface of the sandwiching hole 16.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram during flow rate measurement. The ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13a and 13b are connected to the calculation control means 21 via the lead wires 14a and 14b, and the output of the calculation control means 21 is connected to the display means 22. Has been.

  When the flow rate is measured, the fluid F to be measured is caused to flow through the tube P, and the measurement in the tube P is performed from one of the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13a and 13b via the beam transmitters 15a and 15b by the signal of the calculation control means 21. The ultrasonic beam B is transmitted in an oblique direction into the fluid F to be processed. This ultrasonic beam B propagates through the fluid F and is received by the other ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 13b, 13a as the Z method on the opposite surface of the tube P.

  In this manner, transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam B are alternately repeated by the ultrasonic transceivers 13a and 13b. The calculation control means 21 obtains the average propagation time difference between the forward propagation time when the ultrasonic beam B reaches the downstream side from the upstream side of the fluid F and the return propagation time when the ultrasonic beam B reaches the upstream side from the downstream side. Based on this propagation time difference, the calculation control means 21 calculates the flow velocity of the fluid F by a known method.

  The arithmetic control means 21 calculates the flow rate of the fluid F and multiplies this flow rate by the internal cross-sectional area of the tube P to determine the flow rate value. Since the tubular body P is deformed from a circular shape to a rectangular shape by the sandwiching holes 16, the size of the internal cross-sectional area is often unknown. In this state, a predetermined flow rate is applied to the tubular body P in advance. If the flow rate is calibrated, the internal cross-sectional area can be estimated, and the flow rate may be obtained using this calibration value. The obtained flow rate value is displayed on the display means 22.

  Actually, when the fluid F starts to flow, the pipe P is further deformed so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the sandwiching hole 16 due to the pressure of the fluid F, and the cross-sectional area tends to increase. Obtained after some time has elapsed since the start of F flow.

  When the measurement is finished and the ultrasonic flow rate measuring device is removed from the tube P, the fixing plate 6 is removed from the locking plate 5 in the state shown in FIG. The clamp mechanism is released by removing the claw portion 5a from the head. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the folding of the first main body 1, the left side plate 2, the second main body 3, and the right side plate 4 is separated.

  FIG. 10 shows a modified example of the Z system, where the incident / exit angles of the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 13a and 13b are changed, and the ultrasonic beam B is reflected by the tubular body P twice, so that the counterpart ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 13a and 13b are reached.

  In this modification, since the propagation path length of the ultrasonic beam B can be increased, the measurement sensitivity can be increased. In this case, since the reflection of the ultrasonic beam B is obtained in a portion where the tube P is deformed flat, a reflected wave having a higher reflection efficiency than that of a conventional circular tube can be obtained.

  11 is a perspective view of the second embodiment before use, FIG. 12 is a side view of the assembled state, and the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment denote the same members.

  In the second embodiment, the first main body 31 made of a synthetic resin material provided with the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 13a and the beam transmission body 15a is disposed at the position of the left side plate 2 shown in FIG. The same 2nd main body 32 provided with the transmitter / receiver 13b and the beam transmission body 15b is arrange | positioned. Further, a metal lower surface plate 33 is disposed at the position of the first main body 1 shown in FIG. 1, and a similar upper surface plate 34 is disposed at the position of the second main body 3, from the first main body 31 and the second main body 32. Lead wires 14a and 14b are drawn out, respectively.

  These coupling mechanisms are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, but the first main body 31 and the second main body 32 are made of synthetic resin, and are held by holding members 35 and 36 formed of metal plates, respectively. The connecting shaft and the like are attached by both side portions provided on the holding members 35 and 36. Then, a rectangular sandwiching hole 16 is formed by the first main body 31, the second main body 32, the lower surface plate 33, and the upper surface plate 34 as in the first embodiment.

  Also in the second embodiment, the flow rate measurement is the same as that of the first embodiment in principle, and the operation and effects thereof are almost the same.

  In the first and second embodiments, the fixing plate 6 is used for holding the clamp mechanism. However, without using the fixing plate 6, for example, the position and shape of the claw portion 5a, the shape of the pipe P It is good also as a clamp mechanism by which the locking plate 5 itself is fixed simultaneously with the clamping | tightening by the locking plate 5 by utilizing elasticity. Alternatively, another clamp fixing mechanism in place of the fixing plate 6 can be applied.

  In addition, when not in use, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which all members are not connected in advance but are appropriately connected and assembled by a hinge mechanism in use. Furthermore, instead of connecting all the members by a hinge mechanism, it may be possible to fix some members in a perpendicular direction in advance.

  Further, the first main body 1, 31 and the second main body 3, 32 may be made of metal, and the left side plate 2, right side plate 4, lower plate 33, and upper plate 34 are made of metal in the first and second embodiments. However, it can also be made of a synthetic resin or a synthetic resin using a metal in the main part.

  In the first and second embodiments, the members having the inner surface plate have been described as the left side plate 2, the right side plate 4, the lower surface plate 33, and the upper surface plate 34. Of course, the upper and lower sides are opposite, or the left and right sides may be up and down, and the upper and lower sides may be left and right.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 31 1st main body 2 Left side plate 3, 32 2nd main body 4 Right side plate 5 Locking plate 6 Fixing plate 13a, 13b Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 14a, 14b Lead wire 15a, 15b Beam transmission body 16 Clamping hole 21 Computation control Means 22 Display means 33 Lower surface plate 34 Upper surface plate 35, 36 Holding member B Ultrasonic beam P Tubular F Fluid

Claims (7)

In an ultrasonic flow rate measuring apparatus for allowing a fluid to be measured to flow and detachable from a tube made of a flexible material having elasticity, the inner surface portion is connected to be foldable by a hinge mechanism in order to sandwich the tube. 4 plate members having a rectangular shape, and assembling a rectangular sandwiching hole surrounding the tubular body by these plate members, and holding the sandwiching hole by locking with a clamp mechanism, An ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is disposed on the inner surface of a pair of plate members facing each other with respect to the sandwiching hole among the plate members, with the longitudinal positions of the tubes being different from each other, and the tube is deformed to sandwich the tube. The ultrasonic beam from the one ultrasonic transmitter / receiver is transmitted to the inside of the tube, and the ultrasonic beam is transmitted by the other ultrasonic transmitter / receiver at the opposite position. To receive Ultrasonic flow measuring device according to symptoms.   The ultrasonic flow measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism is a connecting shaft.   The ultrasonic flow rate measurement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping mechanism has a claw portion and uses a locking plate that rotates about an axis to lock the clamping hole. apparatus.   The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the lock by the lock plate is fixed by using a fixing plate for holding the lock.   The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sandwiching hole has a square shape.   The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an inner periphery of the pinching hole is larger than an outer periphery of the tubular body. The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner surface portion of the plate member is subjected to a process for making the tube body slippery.

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