Bionic lateral-line sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10766583-B2
Application number	US-201916386799-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2019
Priority date	Nov 30, 2018
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

The present invention discloses a new bionic lateral-line sensor. The new bionic lateral-line sensor includes a cilia cupule, a cilia base rod, IPMC film sheets, extraction electrodes, and a sensor housing. When external current acts on a free end of the cilia cupule, mechanical deformation is generated on the cilia cupule, and the mechanical deformation is transmitted to the cilia base rod, so as to cause deformation on the cilia base rod; the deformation on the cilia base rod leads to mechanical deformation on the IPMC film sheets, and the IPMC film sheets generate induced voltages by using an IPMC mechano-electric effect; and a flow rate of the external current is calculated according to the acquired induced voltages. The new bionic lateral-line sensor provided in the present invention is used for measurement of external current. The cilia cupule and the cilia base rod are integrated, and the IPMC film sheet is used to replace a strain gauge, and is installed on the cilia base rod directly, so as to implement an integrated design and feature simple structure and convenient installation. In addition, an induced voltage can be output accurately by using the new bionic lateral-line sensor, to obtain a flow rate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A new bionic lateral-line sensor, comprising
a cilia cupule, a cilia base rod, ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) film sheets, extraction electrodes, and a sensor housing, wherein
the cilia cupule is of a hollow structure, and the cilia base rod is disposed inside the cilia cupule;
the IPMC film sheet is disposed between the cilia base rod and the cilia cupule, wherein the IPMC film sheets comprise a first IPMC film sheet and a second IPMC film sheet;
the extraction electrode is disposed on each of two sides of a fixed end of each IPMC film sheet; and a connection relationship of the four extraction electrodes is a concatenated structure; and
a top end of the cilia cupule, a top end of the cilia base rod, and top ends of the IPMC film sheets are free ends;
a bottom portion of the cilia base rod and bottom portions of the IPMC film sheets that are fastened inside a groove of the sensor housing are fixed ends; and
the cilia cupule, the cilia base rod, and the IPMC film sheets form a cantilever beam structure; and
when external current acts on a free end of the cilia cupule, mechanical deformation is generated on the cilia cupule, and the mechanical deformation is transmitted to the cilia base rod, so as to cause deformation on the cilia base rod, thereby leading to mechanical deformation on the IPMC film sheets and generating induced voltages.

2. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a lead wire, wherein
the lead wire is disposed inside the sensor housing and the lead wire is connected to the extraction electrode; and
the lead wire is configured to transmit the induced voltage to a signal processing circuit.

3. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising an external pressing plate and a fastening screw, wherein
the cilia cupule is of a hollow cylinder structure, and a top part of the cilia cupule is of an upward convex structure whose fracture surface is hemispherical, wherein the upward convex structure is used for reducing resistance; and
a fixed end of the cilia cupule is fastened inside the sensor housing by using the external pressing plate, and the external pressing plate is fastened to the sensor housing by using the fastening screw.

4. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing is a cylindrical boss;
the groove is disposed in the cylindrical boss; a diameter of the groove is greater than that of the cilia base rod; and
a gap between the cilia base rod and the groove is filled by polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the cilia cupule is made of an organosilicone rubber material.

6. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the cilia base rod is made of an organosilicone rubber material.

7. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 2 , further comprising a sealing casing and a gland nut, wherein
a central part of the sensor housing is processed into a partial thread structure; the lead wire is disposed inside the partial thread structure; and
the gland nut is matched with the partial thread structure.

8. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the extraction electrode is adhered on the IPMC film sheet by using a conductive adhesive.

9. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first IPMC film sheet and the second IPMC film sheet are disposed symmetrically; and
the first IPMC film sheet and the second IPMC film sheet are connected by using a concatenated structure.

10. The new bionic lateral-line sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the IPMC film sheet is adhered on the cilia base rod.

Assignees

• Ocean Univ China

Inventors

• Tan Shizhe
• Tan Bowen
• Ding Wei
• Liu Hengyuan
• Tian Kaili

Classifications

• G01C13/002 Primary

  Measuring the movement of open water · CPC title

• G01C13/006 Primary

  horizontal movement · CPC title

• G01D5/14

  influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage · CPC title

• G01D11/245

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• B63C11/52 Primary

  Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for · CPC title