Compact ultrasonic flowmeter with adjustment for various flow diameters

Abstract

An ultrasonic flow meter is disclosed comprising adjustable rotating blocks and a piezoelectric wafer mounted in connection with each rotating block. The piezoelectric wafers or chips are used for transmitting and/or receiving upstream and downstream ultrasonic waves. The rotating blocks adjust the incident angle of the piezoelectric wafers to account for installation in connection with different pipe sizes. Bu adjusting angle in a linked and continuous manner, no translational sensor movement is required for an optimal ultrasonic wave reflection for the downstream transducer to receive a signal from the upstream transducer and the upstream transducer to receive a signal from the downstream transducer. As such, the devices and methods described enable measurement of liquid flowing in pipes across a range of different diameter pipes so as to greatly increase the convenience and the extent of application or technology adoption.

1 . An apparatus for measuring fluid flow, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor coupled to a memory, the memory holding program instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:
 determining a diameter of a pipe carrying a flow to be measured; 
 providing information for adjusting a counter-rotation mechanism linking a pair of transducers, based on the diameter; and 
 measuring a total flow rate in the pipe at least in part by sensing the transmission time of an ultrasonic signal passed between the pair of transducers through the flow and calculating a total flow rate based on the transmission time and an angular position of the counter-rotation mechanism during the sensing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for the determining the diameter at least in part by detecting an outer pipe diameter, looking up an inner pipe diameter using a data table, and providing the information for adjusting the counter-rotation mechanism accordingly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the pair of transducers coupled via a counter-rotation mechanism, each of the pair operatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the counter-rotation mechanism is configured to rotate each member of the pair a corresponding amount in opposite directions, enabling adjustment of an acoustic path between each transducer in the pair and an opposite internal wall of a pipe for a range of pipe diameters without lateral adjustment between the transducer bodies. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the counter-rotation mechanism comprises two motors, each motor configured for rotating one of the pair of transducers and is operably coupled to the at least one processor for motion control. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the counter-rotation mechanism comprises a mechanical component configured for providing counter-rotational outputs from a single rotational input. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of transducers comprises a piezoelectric wafer. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame supporting the pair of transducers in rotatable relation to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for controlling operation of the pair of transducers including emission and detection of ultrasonic signals. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory holds further instructions for storing a relationship between different pipeline diameters and an angle between the transducer bodies for setup. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication module coupled to the processor for transmitting a flow rate calculated by the processor to an output device. 
     
     
         12 . An ultrasonic flow meter comprising:
 a pair of transducers supported in rotatable relation to one another; and   a counter-rotation mechanism linked to the pair of transducers, configured to rotate each member of the pair a corresponding amount in opposite directions, enabling adjustment of an acoustic path between each transducer in the pair and an opposite internal wall of a pipe for a range of pipe diameters without lateral adjustment between the transducer bodies.   
     
     
         13 . The flow meter of  claim 12 , wherein the counter-rotation mechanism comprises gears arranged to provide counter-rotating outputs from a single rotational input. 
     
     
         14 . The flow meter of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one electronically controllable motor for driving the counter-rotation mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The flow meter of any of  claim 1 , wherein the counter-rotation mechanism comprises two motors, each for rotating one of the pair of transducers a controlled angle. 
     
     
         16 . The flow meter of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary angle indicator showing rotational position of the pair of transducers. 
     
     
         17 . The flow meter of  claim 16 , wherein the rotary angle indicator is selected from a group consisting of an angle identification plate, an angle display and a light emitting diode (LED) display. 
     
     
         18 . The flow meter of  claim 1 , configured for use with a range of pipe diameters between about 0.25 and about 12 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The flow meter of  claim 18 , configured for use with a range of pipe diameters between about 0.5 to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The flow meter of  claim 1 , configured for use with a range of pipe diameters between about 3 to about 8 inches.