Ultrasonic flow meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689727-B2
Application number	US-201414895391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	Jun 7, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An ultrasonic flow meter comprising: a measurement pipe, which has a measurement pipe wall, at least in some parts a basic shape having a rotationally symmetric or polygonal cross-section, and a straight measurement pipe axis; a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal on a first signal path; and a receiver for receiving the acoustic signal on the first signal path. The measurement pipe has a plurality of reflection surfaces, by which the acoustic signal on the first signal path is reflected multiple times, and wherein the reflection surfaces are integrally formed from the measurement pipe wall, the reflection surfaces for reflecting the acoustic signal being designed in such a way that one or more of the reflection surfaces at least partially protrude into the basic shape of the measurement pipe and one or more of the reflection surfaces project outward at least from the basic shape of the measurement pipe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic flow meter, comprising:
a measurement pipe, said measurement pipe comprising a measurement pipe wall, at least locally, with a basic shape with rotationally symmetrical or polygonal cross-section and a linear measurement pipe axis;
a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal to a first signal path; and
a receiver for receiving said acoustic signal on said first signal path, wherein:
said measurement pipe comprises a plurality of reflection surfaces at which said acoustic signal on said first signal path is reflected several times;
said reflection surfaces form an integral part of said measurement pipe wall;
said reflection surfaces are aligned wherein for reflection of the acoustic signal that one or more of said reflection surfaces protrude at least partially into the basic shape of said measurement pipe and one or more of said reflection surfaces protrude outwards at least from the basic shape of said measurement pipe; and
said reflection surface is formed from the measurement pipe by an internal high-pressure process.

2. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said measurement pipe comprises at least one connector and/or at least one planar functional surface, for arrangement and, if necessary, for determination of said transmitter respectively said receiver on or in said measurement pipe, said at least one connector(s) respectively said planar functional surface(s) form an integral part of said measurement pipe wall.

3. An ultrasonic flow meter, comprising:
a measurement pipe, said measurement pipe comprises a measurement pipe wall and a linear measurement pipe axis;
a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal to a first signal path; and
a receiver for receiving said acoustic signal on said first signal path, wherein:
said measurement pipe comprises a plurality of reflection surfaces at which said acoustic signal on said first signal path is reflected several times, and at least one connector and/or at least one planar functional surface, for arrangement and, if necessary, for determination of said transmitter respectively said receiver on or in said measurement pipe;
said reflection surfaces and said at least one connector respectively said planar functional surface(s) form an integral part of said measurement pipe wall; and
said reflection surface respectively connector respectively planar functional surface is formed from the measurement pipe by an internal high-pressure forming process.

4. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 3 , wherein:
said reflection surfaces are aligned wherein for reflection of said acoustic signal that a plurality of said reflection surfaces protrude at least partially into the basic shape of said measurement pipe and a plurality of said reflection surfaces protrude outwards at least from the basic shape of said measurement pipe.

5. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 3 , wherein:
said reflection surfaces are formed in said measurement pipe wall wherein multiple reflection occurs in said measurement pipe; and
said signal path is reflected at least at three axially successively arranged reflection surfaces.

6. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said reflection surface or said reflection surfaces is/are planar or convexly formed with a curvature of said reflection surface;
the contour of the curvature of said reflection surface differs from a curvature of said measurement pipe wall.

7. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 2 , wherein:
said planar functional surface(s) is/are formed from said measurement pipe by an internal high-pressure forming process.

8. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 5 , wherein:
said planar functional surface is provided for coupling a clamp-on ultrasonic transducer.

9. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 3 , wherein:
said at least one connector is formed from said planar functional surface by means of a flow-drilling process.

10. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said measurement pipe comprises a first subregion and additional subregions, which have a larger measurement pipe cross-section than said first subregion; and
the magnification of said measurement pipe cross-section of said subregions takes place by means of an internal high-pressure forming process of said measurement pipe.

11. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said measurement pipe comprises a first subsection, in which said reflection surfaces are arranged, said first subsection has a basic shape with rotationally symmetrical or polygonal cross-section, in particular, a cylindrical basic shape,
said basic shape extends along the entire course of said first subsection; and
said measurement pipe wall deviates from its basic shape in the region of said reflection surfaces.

12. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said measurement pipe wall is made of sheet metal, preferably with a sheet thickness of 1-5 mm.

13. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said reflection surfaces are formed in said measurement pipe wherein a deflection of said signal path is performed wherein each of the at least three successive sub-paths of said first signal path does not intersect said measurement pipe axis.

14. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said first signal path is composed of linear subsections,
a) each of the minimum distances of at least three subsections has a distance of 0.4-0.6 r to said measurement pipe axis, where r is the inner radius of the measurement pipe;
b) a first subsection which defines a first plane parallel to the axis, comprises a directly corresponding second subsection, which defines a second plane that is parallel to the axis, both planes pass through a first reflection surface and the normal vectors include an angle of less than 10°; and
c) a third subsection, which defines a third plane parallel to the axis, comprises a directly corresponding fourth subsection, which defines a fourth plane parallel to the axis, both planes pass through a second reflection surface and the normal vectors include an angle of less than 10°.

15. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the course of said signal path, in the axial plan view, describes a polygon, whose lateral intersections lie within, on or outside said measurement pipe.

16. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 14 , wherein:
said third and a fourth reflection surfaces are arranged successively on or in said measurement pipe, parallel to said measurement pipe axis and a fifth reflection surface, and either:
i said transmitter or
ii said receiver or
iii a sixth reflection surface are successively arranged on or in said measurement pipe, parallel to said measurement pipe axis; and
said signal path consists of six or fewer linear sub-paths.

17. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the ultrasonic flow meter takes into account rotational balancing of circulating flows.

18. The ultrasonic flow meter according to claim 1 , wherein:
said reflection surface or said reflection surfaces is/are planar or convexly formed with a curvature of said reflection surface; and
the contour of the curvature of said reflection surface differs from a curvature of said measurement pipe wall by a different arc length at constant arc angle or by a central angle, having an apex that is not on the measurement pipe axis.

Assignees

• Endress & Hauser Flowtec Ag

Inventors

• Kissling Beat
• Muller Quirin
• Grunwald Sascha
• Steiner Fabian
• Brobeil Wolfgang

Classifications

• G01F1/667

  Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters · CPC title

• G01F1/662 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• G01F1/66 Primary

  by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters · CPC title