The present invention relates generally to sensors for measuring fluids, more particularly, to insertion sensor assemblies for flow measurement.
Insertion sensor assemblies typically comprise a sensor body inserted through a hole in a pipe, positioning a measuring component within the fluid therein, to determine parameters of the fluid, such as fluid flow.
Various measurement approaches have been used in insertion sensors to measure fluid flow. Such examples include paddlewheel and electromagnetic insertions flow sensors. Although such devices are generally effective, shortfalls exist. For examples, such sensor assemblies can suffer from insufficient linearity and dynamic range of measurements therefrom.
It should, therefore, be appreciated there remains a need for an insertion sensor assembly that addresses these concerns. The present invention fulfills these needs and others.
Briefly, and in general terms, an insertion ultrasonic sensor assembly 10 is provided having an elongated sensor body. The body includes two projections 16 projecting from the distal end having a pair of ultrasonic transceivers. Each transceiver of the pair is mounted to a corresponding projection. The assembly is mounted so that the sensor body projects into the container or pipe, having the distal end exposed to the flowing fluid, in manner that the measurement axis of the sensor body is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the flow of the fluid within the container.
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly
With reference to
The sensor body 12 is generally cylindrical, defining a longitudinal axis (A1), and the projections 16 extend in alignment with the longitudinal axis at the distal end 14 of the sensor body. The projections 16 sufficiently extend beyond the portion of the distal end 14 therebetween, so that the ultrasonic transceivers 18 have unobstructed communication. As best seen in
The ultrasonic transceivers are connected to electronics in housing 24 to establish a transit time flow measurement system using a commercially available ASIC chip to drive the transceivers for sending ultrasonic pulses in both directions and to measure the time of flight of the pulses in the fluid. According to standard techniques for such flow meters, the velocity of the fluid can be calculated from the difference of the upstream and downstream transit time. Further calculations in the electronics will accommodate calibration and correction of geometry, temperature and viscosity influences and imperfections of the timing electronics. The resulting fluid velocity will be a measure of the desired flow rate, given the cross-section of the pipe. The transceivers are piezoelectric discs in thickness resonance mode, commercially available and typically made from lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic. The chosen resonant frequency for the exemplary embodiment is high at 4 MHz to allow for small and compact discs that can be installed in the limited space of the protrusions 16. To allow for good acoustic coupling, the transceiver discs are bonded with epoxy, silicone or polyurethane resin to the wall material of the protrusions 16.
With reference to
With reference to
It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides an insertion ultrasonic sensor assembly having an elongated sensor body. The body includes two projections projecting from the distal end having a pair of ultrasonic transceivers. Each transceiver of the pair mounted to a corresponding projection. The assembly is mounted so that the sensor body projects into the container, having the distal end exposed to the flowing fluid, in manner that the measurement axis of the sensor body is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the flow of the fluid within the container.
The present invention has been described above in terms of presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. However, there are other embodiments not specifically described herein for which the present invention is applicable. Therefore, the present invention should not to be seen as limited to the forms shown, which is to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
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