Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present embodiment relates to an apparatus for measuring liquid flow, and more particularly relates to a single mold ultrasonic water meter without reflectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ultrasonic water meters use ultrasonic waves to measure the flow of water. The ultrasonic water meters transmit sound waves from one end to another end, which are then collected and help in determining the water flow. The ultrasonic water meters may be arranged inside the pipeline or over the pipeline or may be connected in line with the pipeline.
Currently, ultrasonic water meters use reflectors to reflect the sound waves, so that the ultrasonic signal is directed along the flow passage to be received at a receiving ultrasonic transducer. There are a few disadvantages associated with the ultrasonic water meters that use reflectors. The disadvantages include that the assembly is a bit complicated and path of water is blocked partially, thereby resulting in a pressure drop.
In cases when no reflector is used, the ultrasonic water meters may be mounted in a slanting position to direct the passage of sound waves. However, the disadvantage associated with this type of assembly is that it offers a very small separation between the transducers resulting in a reduced accuracy.
Therefore, there is a need of a water flow meter that allows convenient mounting of transducers in a reflector-less design. There is also a need of a water flow meter that helps in increasing the accuracy for determining the water flow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an aspect, an ultrasonic meter for measuring liquid flow is provided. The ultrasonic meter includes a horizontal assembly that in turn includes two transducers, an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are protrusions protruding out from the horizontal assembly. The inlet allows the passage of liquid inside the horizontal assembly whereas the outlet allows the liquid to flow out from the horizontal assembly. The inlet and the outlet are arranged at an angle of 45°. The two transducers are mounted facing each other, at each end of the horizontal assembly and are capable of generating ultrasonic waves that reaches from one end to the other end.
The two transducers generate the ultrasonic signal in the opposite direction. The two transducers in turn receive the signal from the other and measure the time difference of the ultrasonic waves at each end. The time difference is further used to calculate the velocity and the volume of liquid.
The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some aspects of embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates an ultrasonic meter (100), according to an embodiment herein;
Figure 2 illustrates a detailed view of the ultrasonic meter (100), according to an embodiment herein; and
Figure 3 illustrates the ultrasonic meter (100) in a box assembly (302), according to an embodiment herein.
To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRPTION
As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to.
The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.
The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.
As previously mentioned, there is a need of the ultrasonic meter (100) that allows convenient mounting of transducers in a reflector-less design. Accordingly, Figure 1 illustrates the ultrasonic meter (100) without any reflectors. The ultrasonic meter (100) helps in measuring the flow of liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid is water.
The ultrasonic meter (100) includes a horizontal assembly (102) that further includes a plurality of protrusions (104, 106) and two transducers (108a, 108b). In an embodiment, the horizontal assembly (102) may be made up of materials such as, but not limited to, plastic and fiberglass. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal assembly (102) may be made up of plastic. In an embodiment, the horizontal assembly (102) may be made up of Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) or Polyphthalamide (PPA) or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC). In an embodiment, the horizontal assembly (102) may be made from a single molded plastic material.
The horizontal assembly (102) resembles English alphabet ‘K’ in shape. The horizontal assembly (102) is a slender pipe-like structure. The horizontal assembly (102) is installed in line with the pipeline. In an embodiment, the horizontal assembly (102) may be installed in a pre-existing water pipeline.
The plurality of protrusions (104, 106) is basically an opening that protrudes out from the horizontal assembly (102). In an embodiment, the plurality of protrusions (104, 106) is two in number. In an embodiment, the plurality of protrusions (104, 106) includes an inlet (104) and an outlet (106).
The inlet (104) is the opening that is connected with the pipeline to allow the passage of water inside the horizontal assembly (102). The outlet (106) is the opening that is connected with the pipeline that allows the passage of water back into the water pipeline. The inlet (104) and the outlet (106) are connected with the pipeline in such a way that there is continuous flow of the liquid. In an embodiment, the inlet (104) and the outlet (106) are at an angle of 45° with respect to the horizontal assembly (102).
The two transducers (108a, 108b) are placed/mounted at each end of the horizontal assembly (102). In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are placed in such a way so as to face each other. In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are arranged in a space in contact with the liquid, preventing leak using washers (O-rings). In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are mounted on the horizontal assembly (102) through a fastening means. In an embodiment, the fastening means may include a screw, a nut, a bolt and a nail.
In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are transceivers. In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are capable of generating as well as receiving an ultrasonic signal.
The two transducers (108a, 108b) generate the ultrasonic signal (sound wave) that travels in the opposite direction. In an embodiment, the first transducer (108a) may generate the signal in an upstream direction. In another embodiment, the second transducer (108b) may generate the signal in the downstream direction.
In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are capable of receiving the ultrasonic signal. In an embodiment, the first transducer (108a) may receive the ultrasonic signal emitted by the second transducer (108b). In another embodiment, the second transducer (108b) may receive the ultrasonic signal emitted by the first transducer (108a).
The two transducers (108a, 108b) determine the amount of time taken by the ultrasonic signal to move through the liquid that flows through the ultrasonic meter (100). The difference in time is calculated by determining the time taken by the upstream signal and the downstream signal. In an embodiment, the difference in time of the upstream signal and the downstream signal may be referred as ‘transient time’.
The velocity of the liquid flowing through the ultrasonic meter (100) may be calculated by dividing the measured distance by the transient time between the upstream signal and the downstream signal. The flow rate of the liquid may be determined by the velocity.
In an embodiment, the two transducers (108a, 108b) are connected to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (204) through a wire (202) (shown in Figure 2). In an embodiment, the PCB (204) triggers/commands the two transducers (108a, 108b) to either generate or receive the ultrasonic signal. In an embodiment, the PCB (204) helps in determining the velocity and the flow rate of the liquid.
In an embodiment the ultrasonic meter (100) may be installed in a box assembly (302) (shown in Figure 3). In an embodiment, the ultrasonic meter (100) may include an antenna (304) for transferring the data.
The ultrasonic meter (100) helps in measuring the flow of liquid by determining the transient time and the velocity. The present ultrasonic meter (100) does not involve any reflectors and thereby, provides increased accuracy in measuring the liquid flow with minimal pressure drop.
The foregoing discussion of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the present invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present invention.
Moreover, though the description of the present invention has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
 
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An ultrasonic meter (100) for measuring liquid flow, the ultrasonic meter (100) comprising:
- a horizontal assembly (102) having a plurality of protrusions (104, 106) and two transducers (108a, 108b);
- an inlet (104) is a protrusion protruding out from the horizontal assembly (102), wherein the inlet (104) allows the passage of liquid inside the horizontal assembly (102);
- an outlet (106) is a protrusion protruding out from the horizontal assembly (102), wherein the outlet (106) allows the liquid to flow out from the horizontal assembly (102);
o wherein the inlet (104) and the outlet (106) are arranged at an angle of 45°; and
- the two transducers (108a, 108b) are transceivers, wherein the two transducers (108a, 108b) are capable of generating and receiving ultrasonic waves.
2. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.
3. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprises an antenna (304) to transmit data from the ultrasonic meter (100).
4. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two transducers (108a, 108bh) are mounted at each end of the horizontal assembly (102).
5. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each transducer (108a, 108b) is connected with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (204) through a wire (202).
6. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1 and claim 4, wherein the two transducers (108a, 108b) generates a signal in an opposite direction.
7. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two transducers (108a, 108b) receives the signal from the opposite end and measures time difference between the ultrasonic signals.
8. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1 measures velocity and volume of liquid from the time difference between the signals in the opposite directions.
9. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1 is installed in line with pipeline.
10. The ultrasonic meter (100) as claimed in claim 1 is made up of a plastic material.