FLOW METER WITH PROTRUDING TRANSDUCERS
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic flow meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a liquid, the flow meter comprises:
- a through-going flow tube arranged for passage of a liquid between an inlet and an outlet, the flow tube defines a centre axis between the inlet and the outlet, the flow tube defines a flow passage either by an inner wall of the flow tube itself, by an inner wall of a measurement insert inserted into the flow tube or by a combination of the inner wall of the flow tube and a measurement insert;
a housing for liquid tight mounting on the flow tube, the housing comprises two or more ultrasonic transducers and a control circuit arranged for operating the transducers and for generating a signal or value indicative of the flow rate of the liquid;
each transducer comprises a surface for emission and receipt of ultrasonic signals, the surface defines a surface normal, and wherein the transducer is arranged so that the surface normal is perpendicular to the centre axis;
wherein the housing further comprises two or more separate transducer inserts formed monolithically with the housing as a part of the bottom of the housing, the two or more transducers being arranged in the transducer inserts, and wherein each transducer insert comprises a coupling surface formed monolithically with the transducer insert arranged in a plane parallel manner to cover the surface of the transducer; and
wherein the housing is mounted on the flow tube so that the transducer inserts are inserted through separate matching openings in the flow tube to extend into the flow passage in a manner so that a distance between the centre axis and the coupling surface is smaller than a distance between the centre axis and a corresponding point on the inside cross-section of the inner wall so that gas bubbles in a liquid in the flow tube will not rest at the coupling surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an ultrasonic flow meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a liquid, the flow meter comprises a flow tube 2, optionally a measurement insert, and two or more ultrasonic transducers 8 which are arranged in transducer inserts 20 to be inserted into the flow tube through openings in the flow tube. The transducer inserts are formed monolithically with the housing as a part of the bottom of the housing. The transducer inserts are in a mount position inserted through the openings in the flow tube to extend into the flow passage so that the surface 15 of the transducer inserts protrude into the flow passage. In this manner, gas bubbles, such as air bubbles, released from the flowing liquid will not rest in front of the transducer insert irrespectively of the orientation of the flow meter in the pipe installation.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic flow meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a liquid, the flow meter comprises:
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a through-going flow tube arranged for passage of a liquid between an inlet and an outlet, the flow tube defines a centre axis between the inlet and the outlet, the flow tube defines a flow passage either by an inner wall of the flow tube itself, by an inner wall of a measurement insert inserted into the flow tube or by a combination of the inner wall of the flow tube and a measurement insert; a housing for liquid tight mounting on the flow tube, the housing comprises two or more ultrasonic transducers and a control circuit arranged for operating the transducers and for generating a signal or value indicative of the flow rate of the liquid; each transducer comprises a surface for emission and receipt of ultrasonic signals, the surface defines a surface normal, and wherein the transducer is arranged so that the surface normal is perpendicular to the centre axis; wherein the housing further comprises two or more separate transducer inserts formed monolithically with the housing as a part of the bottom of the housing, the two or more transducers being arranged in the transducer inserts, and wherein each transducer insert comprises a coupling surface formed monolithically with the transducer insert arranged in a plane parallel manner to cover the surface of the transducer; and wherein the housing is mounted on the flow tube so that the transducer inserts are inserted through separate matching openings in the flow tube to extend into the flow passage in a manner so that a distance between the centre axis and the coupling surface is smaller than a distance between the centre axis and a corresponding point on the inside cross-section of the inner wall so that gas bubbles in a liquid in the flow tube will not rest at the coupling surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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2-12. -12. (canceled)
Specification