Ultrasonic flow meter having a tubular elastic transducer holding unit

• US 6,644,130 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Imai, Hiroshi, Takada, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mack, Carey D.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 738/612.7, 738/612.8, 738/612.9, 24/22, 24/16.PB, 285/21.1, 285/21.2, 285/93, 285/369, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/74.3
• US Class Current: 73/861.27
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters

Abstract

The ultrasonic flow meter of the present invention comprising a measuring pipe through which liquid flows, and two measuring units provided at an interval in the lengthwise direction on measuring pipe. A tightly adhered tube having elasticity is attached to an attaching indentation formed in the measuring pipe over the peripheral direction, and its inner peripheral surface is tightly adhered to the outer peripheral surface of measuring pipe. A transducer is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of tightly adhered tube in the state in which it is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the tightly adhered tube. In this ultrasonic flow meter, the transmission of vibrations between the transducer and fluid inside the measuring pipe can be carried out uniformly.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic flow meter comprising:

a measuring pipe through which liquid flows; and

two measuring units provided on said measuring pipe at an interval in its lengthwise direction, and which measures flow volume by measuring the flow rate of said liquid from the difference in propagation times of ultrasonic waves in both directions between these measuring units;

wherein,

said measuring units respectively have a tubular tightly adhered tube of a prescribed thickness having an inner diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of said measuring pipe;

the tubular tightly adhered tube is unitedly made of material having elasticity attached in the state in which it is tightly adhered to an outer peripheral surface of said measuring pipe, and a transducer maintained in the state in which it is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of said tightly adhered tube.

2. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein an attachment indentation is formed in said measuring pipe over the peripheral direction, and said tightly adhered tube fits into said attachment indentation.

3. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein an engaging indentation is formed in said measuring pipe over the peripheral direction, and an engaging protrusion is formed on the inner periphery of said tightly adhered tube over the peripheral direction that engages with said engaging indentation,

said tightly adhered tube being attached to said measuring pipe by engaging said engaging indentation and said engaging protrusion.

4. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein an engaging protrusion is formed on said measuring pipe over the peripheral direction, and an engaging indentation is formed in the inner periphery of said tightly adhered tube over the peripheral direction that is engaged with said engaging protrusion, said tightly adhered tube being attached to said measuring pipe by engaging said engaging protrusion and said engaging indentation.

5. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is formed in a shape of a circular arc.

6. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is formed in a shape of a ring.

7. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein a retaining tube is covered over the outer periphery of said measuring unit that tightly adheres said transducer by pressing against said tightly adhered tube.

8. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein a stepped portion for fitting said transducer is formed on said tightly adhered tube.

9. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1, wherein protruding walls that surround said transducer and lie between said transducer and the outside are formed on both sides of said tightly adhered tube;

and

said transducer is attached between said protruding walls.

10. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 9, wherein a transducer locking member that presses said transducer against said measuring pipe is attached to said protruding walls.

11. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 10, wherein said transducer locking member is formed equipped with a contacting portion that makes point or linear contact with the back surface of said transducer.

12. An ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 9, wherein a notch or through hole for suspending a lead wire which is connected to said transducer is formed in the wall surface of said protruding walls.