JP5773800B2 - Pressure measuring device and pressure measuring method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure measuring device and a pressure measuring method, and in particular, a fluid to be measured is caused to flow in a flexible tube, and the pressure of the fluid flowing in the tube by utilizing a change in gas pressure on the outer peripheral side of the tube. The present invention relates to a pressure measuring apparatus and a pressure measuring method for measuring the pressure.

  For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-203331, conventional pressure measurement of a fluid is performed by contacting a fluid (liquid and gas) that detects a pressure detection element such as a pressure gauge or a pressure sensor. I try to do it. It was thought that there was no other method for accurate pressure measurement. Therefore, the pressure of the fluid is calculated by introducing the fluid to be measured to the pressure detecting element by various methods and measuring the amount of displacement and strain proportional to the pressure. Such a conventional pressure measuring method has the following problems.

  (1) A conduit for guiding the fluid to be measured to the pressure detection element is required. Therefore, a portion where the fluid in the conduit stays is generated. When using a liquid such as a slurry that solidifies due to this stagnation, when it is necessary to completely replace a fluid such as paint, or when an extreme degree of cleanliness is required, there is a problem that restricts the use. It was.

  (2) The fluid to be detected is in direct contact with the detection element of the pressure sensor or pressure gauge. Depending on the type of fluid, the material of the detection element or the material of the diaphragm that relays the pressure to the detection element There was a need to choose.

  (3) In order to measure the pressure in the piping line, it was necessary to cut the piping, add components such as cheese and nipples to the piping, and attach a pressure sensor and pressure gauge.

  (4) When measuring a high-temperature fluid, some measures for preventing temperature drift, air cooling with water radiating fins, water cooling, and the like are required.

JP 2008-203031 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure measuring device and a pressure measuring method capable of overcoming the disadvantages and inconveniences caused in the conventional pressure measurement as described above.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure measuring device and a pressure measuring method in which there is no portion in which a fluid to be detected (liquid and gas, unless otherwise noted) stays.

  Still another subject of the present invention is a pressure measuring device and a pressure measuring method in which, in many cases, it is not necessary to select the material of a part to be used so that the detection fluid to be detected does not touch the detection element. Is to provide.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure measuring device and a pressure measuring method that do not require cutting of a pipe even when the pressure of the pipe line is measured.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure measuring device and a pressure measuring method that do not require special measures even when measuring a high-temperature fluid.

The main invention of the present application is a flexible tube through which a fluid to be measured flows,
A housing having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tube for introducing the tube and having a holding recess in which a gap with the tube is sealed at one end in the axial direction of the tube;
A throat portion comprising a ring-shaped protrusion that is provided at the other end of the tube in the axial direction of the holding recess of the housing and allows gas to escape through the outer diameter of the tube;
A supply port provided in the housing to apply the predetermined gas pressure in the holding recess;
An output port provided in the housing so as to take out the gas pressure on the outer peripheral side of the tube, which is the pressure in the holding recess;
The output that changes according to the change in the amount of gas that passes between the throat portion and the outer peripheral portion of the tube and escapes out of the housing according to the pressure of the fluid flowing in the tube The present invention relates to a pressure measuring device that measures the pressure of the fluid from the pressure in the concave portion taken out from a port.

  Here, the tube may be made of a polymer material. The inner diameter of the throat portion may be smaller than the outer diameter of the tube. An orifice may be formed between the supply port in the housing and the holding recess. The supply port and the output port may be provided so as to face each other in a passage extending in the radial direction of the holding recess perpendicular to the holding recess of the housing. The holding recess may be opened and the tube may be divided into a plurality so as to be introduced from the side in the radial direction.

The main invention related to the pressure measuring method is that a flexible tube through which a fluid to be measured flows has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tube of the housing, and a gap between the tube and the tube at one end in the axial direction of the tube. Is held in the sealed holding recess,
A predetermined gas pressure is applied to the holding recess of the housing through a supply port, and the gas in the holding recess is externally passed through a throat portion provided at the other end in the axial direction of the tube of the holding recess of the housing. Discharged into
The pressure in the holding recess changes in accordance with a change in the amount of gas that passes between the throat portion and the tube and escapes outside the housing in accordance with the pressure of the fluid flowing in the tube. It is related with the pressure measurement method taken out through the output port.

Here, the output pressure when the pressure of the fluid to be measured is 0 may be to produce a predetermined positive value by less than the outer diameter of the inner diameter of the throat portion and the tube.

The main invention of the present application is to seal a flexible tube through which a fluid to be measured flows with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tube of the housing, and a gap between the tube and the tube at one end in the axial direction of the tube. Held in the holding recess,
A predetermined gas pressure is applied to the holding recess of the housing through a supply port, and the gas in the holding recess is externally passed through a throat portion provided at the other end in the axial direction of the tube of the holding recess of the housing. Discharged into
The pressure in the holding recess changes in accordance with a change in the amount of gas that passes between the throat portion and the tube and escapes outside the housing in accordance with the pressure of the fluid flowing in the tube. Is taken out through the output port.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to take out the fluid to be measured from the tube to the outside, and there is no portion where the fluid to be measured stays. In addition, since the fluid to be measured flows in the tube and the fluid to be measured does not come into contact with the detection element, it is not necessary to select the material of the parts used for the detection element. Further, since the pressure of the fluid to be measured is measured by the gas pressure on the outer peripheral side, it is not necessary to cut the pipe even when measuring the pressure of the pipe line. Further, even when measuring a high-temperature fluid, a special measure is not necessary because a pressure change due to a temperature change works to cancel out a change in internal stress.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pressure measuring device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. They are the AA sectional view (A) and BB sectional drawing (B) in FIG. 1 of the same pressure measuring device. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a center line portion of a supply port and an output port of a housing. It is an external appearance perspective view of the whole pressure measuring device. It is a graph showing the relationship between the pressure P _x in the fluid to be measured and the output pressure (measuring pressure) P _o. It is the same longitudinal cross-sectional view as FIG. 2A which shows the structure of a modification.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show a pressure measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and this pressure measuring device includes a housing 10 formed of a rectangular metal block (see FIG. 4). Yes. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a holding recess 12 having a circular cross section is formed in the lower portion of the housing 10 so as to penetrate in the lateral direction. The tube 13 is inserted into the holding recess 12. An insertion portion 14 is connected to the other end side in the axial direction of the holding recess 12, and a concave groove 15 is formed near the end of the insertion portion 14, and an O link 16 is attached to the concave groove 15. The The O-ring 16 seals one end side in the axial direction of the holding recess 12. A discharge passage 17 is formed on the holding recess 12 on the opposite side of the insertion portion 14 in the axial direction.

A ring-shaped protrusion 20 is formed between the holding recess 12 of the housing 10 and the discharge passage 17 so as to protrude to the inner peripheral side, and the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped protrusion 20 becomes a throat portion 21. Yes. Here, the outer diameter d of the tube 13 is smaller than the inner diameter d _{1 of the} holding recess 12. The inner diameter d _s of the throat portion 21, on the other hand, is set to a value smaller than the outer diameter d of the tube 13, have a d _1>d> d _s, the tube 13 is a ring-shaped projection It is inserted so as to be pushed into 20. The tube 13 is made of a flexible material such as polyethylene, Teflon (registered trademark), nylon, or polyester.

  A gas passage 25 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the housing 10 so as to communicate with the holding recess 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The upper end portion of the gas passage 25 is sealed and closed by a seal member 26. A supply port 27 is provided on one side of the gas passage 25. A portion on the distal end side of the supply port 27 and a connection portion with the gas passage 25 is a small-diameter orifice 28. Further, an output port 29 is formed at a portion of the gas passage 25 facing the supply port 27.

  Such a pressure measuring device maintains the internal pressure of the tube 13 based on a force balance principle configured to minimize the amount of change based on the amount of change of the micro tube 13 generated by the change of the internal pressure of the tube 13. The pressure of the tube 13 is measured by converting the pressure into the gas pressure in the recess 12. Only the inner wall surface of the tube 13 is in contact with the fluid to be detected whose pressure is measured, and the sensor itself of this measuring device does not touch the fluid to be detected and there is no portion where it stays. Further, force balance control is performed so as to minimize the amount of change, and the amount of change caused by the temperature change of the fluid and the amount of deformation associated with long-term use are automatically corrected.

  The principle of measurement is that a fluid to be measured for pressure measurement is caused to flow in the tube 13. On the other hand, a predetermined gas pressure is applied from the supply port 27 as a supply pressure or an operating pressure. By such an operating pressure, the outer periphery of the tube 13 inside the holding recess 12 is maintained at a predetermined pressure.

  Here, when the pressure of the fluid to be measured flowing in the tube 13 is high, the gap between the outer peripheral portion of the tube 13 and the ring-shaped protrusion 20, that is, the gap of the throat portion 21 is reduced by the internal pressure, The amount of gas in the holding recess 12 that escapes from the discharge passage 17 to the outside of the housing 10 through the throat portion 21 is reduced. For this reason, the pressure taken out at the output port 29 increases. On the other hand, when the pressure of the fluid to be detected flowing in the tube 13 decreases, the internal pressure of the tube 13 decreases, so that the gap between the tube 13 and the ring-shaped protrusion 20, that is, the area of the throat portion 21. Increases, and more gas escapes to the discharge passage 17 through the throat portion 21. Thus, the pressure taken through output port 29 is reduced. That is, the pressure taken out through the output port 29 depends on the pressure of the fluid to be detected in the tube 13. Therefore, the pressure of the fluid to be detected in the tube 13 can be measured by the pressure taken out through the output port 29.

  A mechanical pressure gauge and various pressure sensors are used for the output port 29 for taking out the output pressure. In the case of taking out as an electrical signal, the output pressure can be taken out as a numerical value by connecting a semiconductor strain gauge to the output port 29 and connecting a digital panel meter downstream of the semiconductor strain gauge.

  The theoretical formula of the basic force balance of such a pressure measuring device is as follows.

Now, let the output pressure of this measuring device generated in the supply port 29 be P _o, and let the pressure of the fluid to be detected flowing in the tube 13 be P _x . The effective area for generating the force acting on the measurement surface by the fluid to be detected is S _1, and the force opposite to the force generated by the force of the fluid to be detected is generated by the output pressure _Po of this measuring device. the effective area for the S _2. The stress of the tube 13 due to deformation of the tube 13 caused by the change or the temperature change of the medium pressure and F _x. Then, the force F ₁ acting from the inside to the outside of the tube 13 is
F ₁ = P _x · S ₁ + F _x
On the other hand, the force F ₂ acting from the outside to the inside of the tube 13 is
F ₂ = P _o · S ₂
F _x varies depending on the tube internal pressure P _x , and within the elastic limit of displacement of several μm, if k is a proportionality constant and F _x when P _x = 0 is C ₀ ,
F _x = k · P _x + C ₀
C ₀ is called a zero point force and is a term in which minute drift occurs.

Since it is configured so that force balance works between the inside and outside of the tube 13, F ₁ = F ₂ . Therefore,
P _o · S ₂ = P _x · S ₁ + F _x = P _x · S ₁ + k · P _x + C ₀
Therefore, P _o · S ₂ = (S ₁ + k) · P _x + C ₀
Solving this equation for P _x
P _x = P _o · S ₂ / (S ₁ + k) −C ₀ / (S ₁ + k)
Further, since the effective areas S ₁ and S ₂ are constants determined by the position of the throat portion 21, k is a proportional constant, and C ₀ is a constant at 0 point force, S ₂ / (S ₁ + k) = G ₁ (sensor gain), C ₀ / (S ₁ + k) = P _c0 = 0 point pressure,
P _x = P _o · G−P _c0
That is, the zero point pressure P _c0 (obtained from the output pressure P _c0 / G when P _x = 0) and the sensor gain G ₁ (determined by the tube outer diameter, the tube inner diameter, and the material. ) if it Kimare, by the output pressure P ₀ of the sensor, the tube internal pressure P _x can be accurately measured.

If the internal stress F _x of the tube 13 approaches zero as much as possible, high-precision measurement without drift can be performed, but in practice there is a change in the stress F _x corresponding to a displacement of several μm, and as the F _x increases. As the hysteresis increases, the measurement accuracy decreases. When a standard tube 13 such as Teflon (registered trademark) or hard nylon having an outer diameter of 6 mmφ or more is used, an accuracy of 1% or less is obtained for measurement of a 600 kPa span. By reducing the thickness of the tube 13 in the measurement portion, an accuracy one digit higher can be obtained.

Further, when the inner diameter d _s of the throat portion 21 is set to a value smaller than the outer diameter d of the tube 13, a zero point pressure P _c0 is generated due to the exhaust resistance caused by the internal stress F _x of the tube 13 (see FIG. 5). ). This zero point pressure is an amount generated when P _x is zero, and is necessary to increase the linearity of the measuring device in the low pressure region. This linear output pressure P _o is to change the deformation amount of the low pressure P _x during a submicron meter below the tube 13 because of. This state is shown in FIG.

When the internal stress F _x0 of the tube 13 when P _x = 0 changes to F ′ _x0 due to a temperature change or the like, the zero point pressure P _c0 changes to P ′ _c0 . This pressure change is a change of the internal stress. Therefore, the offset amount (drift amount) P ′ _c0 −P _c0 of the output pressure due to a temperature change or the like becomes very small.

  The specific process of such drift is as follows.

The internal stress changes due to temperature change or secular change, and the outer diameter of the tube 13 increases, for example, by _Δgx along with this change. With an increase in the delta _gx, the cross-sectional area for the passage of the gas of the throat portion 21 is reduced, the output pressure P _o of the measuring device is increased by [Delta] P _o. The output pressure P _o of the measuring device is a pressure retaining recess 12 an outer tube 13, an increase in the pressure change [Delta] P _o is to cancel the increase of the change delta _gx the outer diameter of the tube 13 work. Finally, the change in Δ _gx due to the change in internal stress becomes minute, and the offset amount (drift amount) P ′ _c0 -P _{c0 of} the zero point pressure also becomes minute.

This relationship is the same when the tube outer diameter _Δgx decreases, and the offset amount (drift amount) P ′ _c0 −P _c0 also becomes minute.

Based on the principle of a force equilibrium described above, the internal pressure P _x of the tube 13 is increased, because its outer diameter increases, the amount of gas area of the throat portion 21 is reduced, thereby discharging through the throat section 21 Decreases and the output pressure P _o rises to a pressure at which the above formula P _x = P _o · G−P _c0 is established, and is stabilized. In the case where the internal pressure of the tube 13 is lowered, the area of the throat portion 21 is increased by reducing the outer diameter of the tube 13, the output pressure P _o is stabilized been reduced to a pressure which again above equation holds. That is, since the internal pressure P _{x of the} tube 13 is converted into the output pressure P ₀ of this measuring device by the above-described force balance equation, the accurate value of P _x is known by measuring the output pressure P _0. be able to.

  Next, a modification will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, a lower half portion of the holding recess 12 that holds the tube 13 is separated, and the lower divided portion 34 is detachably coupled to the upper housing 10. A holding recess 35 having a semicircular cross section is formed on the upper surface of the lower divided portion 34, and this holding recess 35 is aligned with the upper holding recess 12 to form a circumferential holding recess around the tube 13. It will be.

  Note that the tube 13 is not cut either when the housing 10 is integrated as shown in FIG. 2 or when the housing 10 has a structure in which the lower half is divided as shown in FIG. Can be inserted. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the housing 10 is not divided, it is inserted so as to be pushed in from the axial direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, in the case of including the lower divided portion 34 in which the lower portion is divided, it is only necessary to open the lower divided portion 34 and attach the tube 13 in the radial direction from below. . Also, in the case of measuring the pressure of the piping line, it is not always necessary to cut one portion of the piping, and when the measurement is performed handy like a tester, the tube 13 may be sandwiched. Moreover, when inserting, the clearance on the circumference of the tube 13 becomes resistance.

  While the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the material, thickness, and the like of the tube 13 in the above embodiment can be variously changed according to the pressure, flow rate, and the like of the fluid to be measured that flows in the tube 13.

  The present invention can be widely used for measuring pressures of various liquids and gases.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing 12 Holding recessed part 13 Tube 14 Insertion part 15 Recessed groove 16 O-ring 17 Discharge passage 20 Ring-shaped protrusion 21 Throat part 25 Gas passage 26 Seal member 27 Supply port 28 Orifice 29 Output port 34 Lower side division part 35 Holding recessed part

Claims (8)

A flexible tube through which the fluid to be measured flows;
A housing having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tube for introducing the tube and having a holding recess in which a gap with the tube is sealed at one end in the axial direction of the tube;
A throat portion comprising a ring-shaped protrusion that is provided at the other end of the tube in the axial direction of the holding recess of the housing and allows gas to escape through the outer diameter of the tube;
A supply port provided in the housing to apply the predetermined gas pressure in the holding recess;
An output port provided in the housing so as to take out the gas pressure on the outer peripheral side of the tube, which is the pressure in the holding recess;
The output that changes according to the change in the amount of gas that passes between the throat portion and the outer peripheral portion of the tube and escapes out of the housing according to the pressure of the fluid flowing in the tube A pressure measuring device that measures the pressure of the fluid from the pressure in the concave portion taken out from the port.   The pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is made of a polymer material.   The pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the throat portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the tube.   The pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein an orifice is formed between the supply port in the housing and the holding recess.   The pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the supply port and the output port are provided so as to face each other in a passage extending in the radial direction of the holding recess perpendicular to the holding recess of the housing.   The pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure measuring device is divided into a plurality of pieces so that the holding recess is opened and the tube is introduced from a radial side. A flexible tube through which a fluid to be measured flows is held in a holding recess having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tube of the housing and sealed at the one end in the axial direction of the tube with the tube. And
A predetermined gas pressure is applied to the holding recess of the housing through a supply port, and the gas in the holding recess is externally passed through a throat portion provided at the other end in the axial direction of the tube of the holding recess of the housing. Discharged into
The pressure in the holding recess changes in accordance with a change in the amount of gas that passes between the throat portion and the tube and escapes outside the housing in accordance with the pressure of the fluid flowing in the tube. Pressure measurement method taken out through the output port. Pressure measuring method according to claim 7 in which the output pressure when the pressure of the fluid to be measured is zero occurs a predetermined positive value by less than the outer diameter of the inner diameter of the throat portion and the tube.

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