KR101821052B1 - Self-cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-cleaning underwater sensor using ultrasonic waves. The self-cleaning underwater sensor using ultrasonic waves comprises: a sensor receiving pipe which has an upper surface part for having an internal space, a lower surface part which is spaced apart from the upper surface part at a predetermined distance and faces the upper surface part, and a lateral surface part which is vertically connected to the upper surface part and the lower surface part, wherein the sensor receiving pipe has a plurality of liquid inflow holes on the lateral surface part to introduce a liquid into the internal space; an underwater sensor which is combined with the upper surface part of the sensor receiving pipe, has a pillar-shaped sensing part passing through the upper surface part to be positioned in the internal space, and measures the state of the liquid introduced into the sensor receiving pipe through the plurality of the liquid inflow holes; an ultrasonic wave oscillator which is installed in the internal space of a case to be adjacent to the lower surface part and under the underwater sensor, and oscillates ultrasonic waves to the liquid introduced around the underwater sensor; and a control part which is electrically connected to the underwater sensor and the ultrasonic wave oscillator, controls the operation of the ultrasonic wave oscillator, and receives status information of the liquid measured by the underwater sensor from the underwater sensor. According to the present invention, it is possible to clean the sensor using ultrasonic waves.

Description

[0001] SELF-CLEANING WATER SENSOR USING ULTRASONIC [0002]

The present invention relates to an underwater sensor, and more particularly, to an automatic underwater sensor using ultrasonic waves.

The water quality sensor is used to monitor the water quality in real time.

For example, when a water quality sensor is used to measure the concentration of a pollutant in real time in a farm field in a field, water moss, microorganisms and the like propagate on the surface of the water quality sensor after a certain period of time, There is a problem of accumulation.

In addition, since the water quality sensor is directly exposed to the liquid in the water, there is a problem that the degree of attachment of various pollutants is extremely high.

To prevent this problem, it is necessary to clean the water quality sensor. In order to clean the water quality sensor, the manager visits the site where the water quality sensor is installed, and the water quality sensor is taken out from the water and cleaned. .

Therefore, although various sensor cleaning apparatuses have been developed recently, the structure of the sensor cleaning apparatus has been complicated, and the sensor has been exposed to the liquid in the state that the sensor is put into the water.

On the other hand, in order to check the measured values measured by the water quality sensor, it is troublesome for a manager to visit and check the site where the water quality sensor is installed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of cleaning a sensor using ultrasonic waves, protecting the sensor from the external environment in the water, wirelessly controlling the sensor, and receiving ultrasonic waves remotely from a remote place And to provide a self-cleaning underwater sensor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic cleaning submersible sensor using an ultrasonic wave, the submerged sensor having an upper surface, an upper surface, a lower surface facing the upper surface, And a side surface portion vertically connected to the lower surface portion, wherein a plurality of liquid inlet holes are formed in the side surface portion to introduce the liquid into the internal space; Wherein the sensor unit is coupled to an upper surface portion of the sensor receiving tube and has a columnar sensing portion that penetrates the upper surface portion to be positioned in the internal space and is configured to detect a state of the liquid flowing into the sensor receiving tube through the plurality of liquid inlet holes Underwater sensor to measure; An ultrasonic oscillator installed in an inner space of the case so as to be positioned below the underwater sensor, the ultrasonic oscillator oscillating ultrasonic waves in the liquid introduced into the vicinity of the underwater sensor; And a controller which is electrically connected to the underwater sensor and the ultrasonic oscillator and controls the operation of the ultrasonic oscillator and receives status information of the liquid measured by the underwater sensor from the underwater sensor.

In one embodiment, the control unit may be configured to wirelessly communicate with an administrator terminal through a wireless communication network, and a period for operating the ultrasonic oscillator is set in advance.

In one embodiment, the controller may receive a radio control signal from the manager terminal, change a period of operating the ultrasonic oscillator, and forcibly operate the ultrasonic oscillator.

The automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to the present invention has the following advantages.

First, since the underwater sensor for measuring the liquid state is provided inside the sensor receiving tube, it has a magnetic space protected from the outside, and therefore, the influence of the foreign matter adhering to the surface of the underwater sensor can be minimized.

Secondly, the cleaning of the underwater sensor using the ultrasonic oscillator can be performed according to a preset ultrasonic oscillation operation period in the controller, and a signal for changing the operation period is transmitted to the controller through the manager terminal in a wireless manner to input a new ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle It is possible to change the cycle of washing the underwater sensor from several tens to several hundred times a day as needed.

Thirdly, the controller communicates wirelessly with the administrator terminal and transmits the sensing result, which is the liquid state information measured by the water sensor, so that the manager can check the information of the liquid state at a remote place in real time.

Fourthly, according to the periodical cleaning of an underwater sensor using an ultrasonic oscillator, foreign substances adhered to the underwater sensor can be removed, so that the cleanliness of the underwater sensor can be maintained and thus accurate sensing results can be always obtained from the underwater sensor.

Fifth, since the underwater sensor includes the ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface formed with a flat surface, the ultrasonic vibration is widely contacted with the ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface, so that the surface of the plurality of the contact electrodes exposed on the ultrasonic vibration expansion surface can be effectively cleaned Since the liquid inflow hole is inclined upward from the outer surface of the first chamber portion constituting the sensor receiving tube toward the submerged sensor located in the first chamber portion, the cleaning force of the plurality of the contact electrodes is doubled.

Sixth, since the control unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with the administrator terminal, when the underwater sensor of the present invention is installed in a plurality of areas, it is possible to remotely receive sensing results measured from dozens of underwater sensors. Therefore, there is no need for a large number of administrators, which leads to a reduction in labor costs, which is economically advantageous.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3A shows an underwater sensor in a state in which the ultrasonic wave is not automatically cleaned in water for a certain period of time.
FIG. 3B shows an underwater sensor in a state in which ultrasonic waves are automatically cleaned in a predetermined period in water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is capable of various modifications and various forms, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the structures are enlarged to illustrate the present invention in order to clarify the present invention.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprises", "having", and the like are used to specify that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a part or a combination thereof is described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the related art and are to be interpreted as either ideal or overly formal in the sense of the present application Do not.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the construction of an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor receiving tube 100, an underwater sensor 200, an ultrasonic oscillator 300, and a controller 400 do.

The sensor receiving tube 100 includes an upper surface portion having an inner space, a lower surface portion spaced apart from the upper surface portion by a predetermined distance, a lower surface portion facing the upper surface portion, and a side portion vertically connected to the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion. And a plurality of liquid inflow holes 113 may be formed in the side surface portion. For example, the sensor receiving tube 100 may include a first chamber portion 110 for receiving the underwater sensor 200 and a second chamber portion 120 for receiving the ultrasonic oscillator 300.

The first chamber part 110 may have a cylindrical shape. The first chamber portion 110 may have a first screw hole 111 formed at the center of the upper surface 110a and the lower end portion 110b opposed to the upper surface 110a may be opened. A female screw portion 112 may be formed on the inner surface of the opened lower end portion 110b. The plurality of liquid inflow holes 113 may be formed in the side surface 110c of the first chamber part 110. [ A plurality of liquid inflow holes 113 may be formed along the circumferential direction of the side surface 110c of the first chamber portion 110 and may be formed upward from the outer surface of the first chamber portion 110 toward the underwater sensor 200 .

The second chamber part 120 may have a cylindrical shape. The lower surface 120a of the second chamber part 120 may be closed and the upper end part 120b facing the lower surface 120a may be opened. The first threaded portion 121 may be formed on the outer surface of the opened upper end portion 120b. The first threaded portion 121 is screwed into the female threaded portion 112 of the first chamber portion 110 to couple the second chamber portion 120 to the first chamber portion 110.

The underwater sensor 200 measures the state of the liquid flowing into the sensor receiving pipe 100. For example, the underwater sensor 200 may include a coupling body 210 and a columnar sensing portion 220 extending from the lower end of the coupling body 210.

The coupling body 210 may be cylindrical. A second threaded portion 211 may be formed on the outer surface of the cylinder of the coupling body 210. The second screw portion 211 may be screwed into the first screw hole 111 of the first chamber portion 110. At this time, the columnar sensing part 220 is inserted into the first chamber part 110 through the first screw hole 111 and is received therein.

The sensing unit 220 may include an electrode mounting unit 221, a plurality of sensing electrodes 222, and a temperature sensor 223.

The electrode mounting portion 221 is formed in a columnar shape that is smaller than the diameter of the coupling body 210 and extends to a predetermined length and extends integrally from the lower end of the coupling body 210. The electrode mounting portion 221 is formed with an ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface 221a. The ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface 221a is a surface where a part of the columnar shape is cut along the columnar longitudinal wall to be formed flat. The ultrasonic vibration contact extended surface 221a expands the extent to which the ultrasonic vibration oscillated in the liquid introduced into the first chamber part 110 by the ultrasonic oscillator 300 contacts the sensing part 220. [ That is, the ultrasonic vibration is made to come into wide contact with the sensing unit 220.

The plurality of contact electrodes 222 is a sensor for measuring the state of the liquid. The plurality of the contact electrodes 222 are mounted on the electrode mounting portion 221 so as to be exposed to the ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface 221a. The plurality of the electrode 222 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the columnar shape of the electrode mounting part 221 and the signal cable (not shown) may penetrate the electrode mounting part 221 and the coupling body 210 So that the measurement signal can be output to the outside. The plurality of sensing electrodes 222 can measure the salinity of the liquid, for example.

The temperature sensor 223 measures the temperature of the water introduced into the first chamber part 110. The temperature sensor 223 may be in the form of a rod and the rod-shaped temperature sensor 223 may vertically penetrate the coupling body 210 and a part of the electrode mounting portion 221 so that the rod- 221a of the body 210 and the electrode mounting portion 221. [

The underwater sensor 200 may be various sensors for measuring the liquid state, and may be, for example, a conductivity sensor for measuring salinity.

The ultrasonic oscillator 300 is accommodated in the second chamber part 120. The ultrasonic oscillator 300 may include an ultrasonic oscillator 310 and an ultrasonic diaphragm 320. The ultrasonic diaphragm 320 has an edge interposed between the lower end 110b of the first chamber part 110 and the upper end 120b of the second chamber part 120 to form the first chamber part 110 and the second chamber part 120. [ May be fixed at a boundary where the first electrode 120 is coupled. The ultrasonic vibrator 310 is connected to the ultrasonic diaphragm 320 and is located behind the ultrasonic vibration plate 320. The ultrasonic vibrator 310 generates ultrasonic waves to vibrate the ultrasonic vibration plate 320 so that ultrasonic waves are generated inside the first chamber part 110, So that ultrasonic waves are generated in the liquid introduced into the chamber part 110. The ultrasonic vibrator 310 is accommodated in the second chamber part 120. At this time, the inside of the second chamber part 120 is waterproofed so that water does not flow from the outside.

The control unit 400 is electrically connected to the underwater sensor 200 and the ultrasonic oscillator 300 to control the operation of the ultrasonic oscillator 300 and to transmit the state information of the liquid measured by the underwater sensor 200 to the underwater sensor 200 . In the control unit 400, an ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle for operating the ultrasonic oscillator 300 is preset.

In addition, the control unit 400 is configured to wirelessly communicate with an administrator terminal (not shown) through a wireless communication network. Accordingly, the control unit 400 can receive the wireless control signal from the administrator terminal. Here, the radio control signal is a signal for changing the operation cycle of the ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle, which is preset in the controller 400, to operate the ultrasonic oscillator 300, and a forced operation signal for forcibly operating the ultrasonic oscillator 300 have. The control unit 400 newly changes the ultrasonic oscillation operation period for operating the ultrasonic oscillator 300 when the operation period change signal is received, and when the forced operation signal is received, the control unit 400 immediately ignores the ultrasonic oscillation operation period, 300 can be operated.

In addition, the control unit 400 may include an operation unit 410 and a wireless communication unit 420. The calculating unit 410 calculates a temperature value of the liquid flowing into the first chamber unit 110 through the temperature sensor 223 and a measurement value of the liquid state information through the plurality of the electrode electrodes 222, A sensing result value can be generated. The wireless communication unit 420 may wirelessly communicate with the administrator terminal and transmit the sensing result value generated by the operation unit 410 from the controller 400 to the administrator terminal.

Hereinafter, a process in which an automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention is injected into water and is driven will be described.

When the automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to the embodiment of the present invention is put into water, the liquid is introduced into the first chamber part 110 through the plurality of liquid inflow holes 113 formed in the first chamber part 110 Liquid flows in and is filled. At this time, since the liquid inlet hole 113 is inclined upward from the outer surface of the first chamber part 110 in the direction of the water sensor 200, when the water sensor of the present invention is put into water, the liquid inlet hole 113 is filled with water So that the liquid can easily flow into the first chamber part 110. The liquid can be introduced into the first chamber part 110 easily.

The underwater sensor 200 housed in the first chamber part 110 measures the temperature of the liquid and the state of the liquid which have flowed into the first chamber part 110. For example, the salinity of a liquid is measured. At this time, the temperature sensor 223 measures the temperature of the liquid, and the sensing electrodes 222 measure the salinity of the liquid.

The temperature value measured through the temperature sensor 223 and the measured value measured through the plurality of the sensing electrodes 222, i.e., the salinity of the liquid, are input to the controller 400. The control unit 400 calculates the temperature value and the salinity by the arithmetic unit 410 to generate a sensing result and wirelessly transmits the sensing result to the administrator terminal through the wireless communication unit 420. Thereby, the manager can confirm the measured value transmitted to the administrator terminal in real time.

Meanwhile, during the measurement of the liquid state in the water, the controller 400 operates the ultrasonic oscillator 300 according to the ultrasonic oscillation operation period in which the ultrasonic oscillator 300 set in advance is operated.

When the ultrasonic oscillator 300 is operated, the ultrasonic oscillator 300 enters the first chamber 110 and oscillates ultrasonic waves in the liquid. When ultrasonic waves are generated in the liquid, vibration is generated in the liquid, and the generated ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the underwater sensor 200. At this time, the ultrasonic vibration is widely brought into contact with the ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface 221a formed in the electrode mounting portion 221 of the underwater sensor 200, and thereby the plurality of the contact electrodes 221a exposed to the ultrasonic vibration contact extension surface 221a 222 are effectively cleaned.

When the ultrasonic wave is generated in the liquid flowing into the first chamber part 110, the liquid inflow hole 113 inclined upward from the outer surface of the first chamber part 110 toward the underwater sensor 200, The liquid inflow hole 113 is inclined upward toward the underwater sensor 200 after the liquid vibrating by the ultrasonic waves hits the inner surface of the electrode mounting portion 221, The cleaning force of the plurality of the contact electrodes 222 by the liquid is doubled.

As described above, various contaminants attached to the surface of the underwater sensor 200 can be removed by the ultrasonic vibration of the liquid. For example, biological substances such as moss can be removed. Thus, chemical corrosion of the sensor can be minimized.

FIG. 3A shows an underwater sensor in a state in which the ultrasonic wave is not automatically cleaned in water for a predetermined period of time, and FIG. 3B shows an underwater sensor in which the ultrasonic wave is automatically cleaned according to a predetermined period in water.

In FIG. 3A, it can be seen that foreign matter accumulated in an underwater sensor in a state where the ultrasonic wave is not automatically cleaned in water for a predetermined period is accumulated. In FIG. 3B, The sensor can be seen in a clean underwater sensor with no foreign matter attached. Therefore, if the ultrasonic oscillator 300 is operated in accordance with the predetermined ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle to clean the water sensor 200, the clean state of the water sensor can be maintained even in a state where the water sensor 200 is located for a long period of time.

Meanwhile, when the forced operation signal for forcibly operating the ultrasonic oscillator 300 is received from the administrator terminal while the ultrasonic oscillator 300 is operated according to the predetermined ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle and the underwater sensor 200 is being cleaned, An ultrasonic oscillation operation for operating the ultrasonic oscillator 300 when the operation period change signal is received from the manager terminal can be performed by ignoring the predetermined ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle and operating the ultrasonic oscillator 300 immediately to clean the underwater sensor 200 The cycle can be changed to a new one.

The automatic cleaning water sensor using ultrasonic waves according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, since the underwater sensor 200 for measuring the liquid state is provided inside the sensor receiving tube 100, it has a magnetic space protected from the outside, and therefore, the influence of the foreign matter adhering to the surface of the underwater sensor 200 Can be minimized.

Secondly, the cleaning of the underwater sensor 200 using the ultrasonic oscillator 300 can be performed according to a preset ultrasonic oscillation operation period in the controller 400, and in addition, A new ultrasonic oscillation operation cycle can be input by transmitting a change signal, so that it is possible to change the cycle of washing the water sensor 200 from several tens to several hundred times a day as needed.

Thirdly, the controller 400 wirelessly communicates with the administrator terminal and transmits the sensing result, which is the liquid state information measured by the water sensor 200, so that the manager can check the information on the liquid state at a long distance in real time.

Fourthly, according to the periodic cleaning of the underwater sensor 200 using the ultrasonic oscillator 300, foreign matter adhered to the underwater sensor 200 is removed, so that the cleanliness of the underwater sensor 200 can be maintained, It is possible to always obtain an accurate sensing result value.

Fifth, since the underwater sensor 200 includes the ultrasonic vibration contact expanding surface 221a formed of a flat surface, the ultrasonic vibration comes into contact with the ultrasonic vibration contact expanding surface 221a in a wide range, It is possible to effectively clean the surface of the sensing electrode 222 and to prevent the liquid inlet hole 113 from being separated from the outer surface of the first chamber portion 110 constituting the sensor receiving tube 100 into the first chamber portion 110 And the cleaning force of the plurality of the contact electrodes 222 is doubled.

Sixth, since the controller 400 is configured to wirelessly communicate with the administrator terminal, when the underwater sensor of the present invention is installed in a plurality of areas, it is possible to remotely receive sensing results measured from dozens of underwater sensors 200. Therefore, there is no need for a large number of administrators, which leads to a reduction in labor costs, which is economically advantageous.

The description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein.

Claims (5)

A first chamber portion having a cylindrical shape and having a first screw hole formed at the center of its upper surface and a lower end portion opposed to the upper surface opened and having an internal thread portion formed on an inner surface of an opened lower end portion; A second chamber portion having a first threaded portion formed on an outer surface of an upper portion opened and opened and a plurality of liquid inlet holes formed in a side surface portion of the first chamber portion to introduce liquid into the inner space of the first chamber portion, Receiving vessel;
And a second threaded portion is formed on an outer surface of the cylindrical shape and the second threaded portion is engaged with the first screw hole of the first chamber portion, a columnar shape having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the coupling body, And a sensing part which is inserted into the first chamber part through the first screw hole when the first chamber part is coupled to the first chamber part and is received in the first chamber part, An underwater sensor for measuring a state of the liquid introduced into the first chamber portion;
An ultrasonic oscillator accommodated in an inner space of the second chamber part and disposed under the water sensor, the ultrasonic oscillator oscillating ultrasonic waves in the liquid introduced into the vicinity of the water sensor; And
And a controller which is electrically connected to the underwater sensor and the ultrasonic oscillator and controls operation of the ultrasonic oscillator and receives status information of the liquid measured by the underwater sensor from the underwater sensor,
The liquid inlet hole is inclined upward from an outer surface of the first chamber portion toward a water sensor accommodated in the first chamber portion,
The sensing unit includes:
An electrode mounting part having a columnar shape extending integrally from a lower end of the coupling body to a predetermined length and having a part of the columnar shape cut along the longitudinal direction of the columnar shape to form a flat surface;
A plurality of sensing electrodes mounted on the electrode mounting unit to measure a state of the liquid introduced into the first chamber unit and to be exposed to the ultrasonic vibration contact expansion surface; And
And a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the liquid introduced into the first chamber part and having a rod shape and vertically penetrating a part of the coupling body and the electrode mounting part, ≪ / RTI >
Automatic cleaning underwater sensor using ultrasonic wave. delete delete delete delete

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