WO2010141979A1 - Débitmètre - Google Patents

Débitmètre Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010141979A1
WO2010141979A1 PCT/AU2010/000699 AU2010000699W WO2010141979A1 WO 2010141979 A1 WO2010141979 A1 WO 2010141979A1 AU 2010000699 W AU2010000699 W AU 2010000699W WO 2010141979 A1 WO2010141979 A1 WO 2010141979A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
flowmeter
fluid
flow
flow rate
carrying member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/AU2010/000699
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Matthew Samuel Whitnall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2009902667A external-priority patent/AU2009902667A0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2010141979A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010141979A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/05—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects
    • G01F1/06—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with tangential admission
    • G01F1/075—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with tangential admission with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/05—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects
    • G01F1/10—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with axial admission
    • G01F1/115—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with axial admission with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a flowmeter, and relates particularly to a flowmeter with inlet or outlet coupling means.
  • Water is a scarce resource. While there have been attempts to raise the public's awareness about minimising domestic water usage, it may be difficult for one to ascertain whether too much water has been flowing out of a water tap without quantifying or monitoring water usage.
  • a monthly or quarterly water bill may provide an indication of water usage during the past month or past quarter, but it does not provide an instant indication of water usage or the usage at a particular garden hose, kitchen tap or bathtub tap.
  • a flowmeter comprising: a body having an inlet for fluid inflow and an outlet for fluid outflow, the inlet including inlet coupling means for removably coupling the inlet to a first fluid carrying member; a movable member being housed inside the body and designed to move in response to flow of the fluid from the inlet to the outlet; sensing means for sensing movement of the movable member, the movement being indicative of flow rate or flow quantity of the fluid; an indicator, operatively coupled to the sensing means, for indicating the flow rate or the flow quantity; and energy conversion means for converting light energy to electrical energy provided to the flowmeter.
  • the inlet coupling means includes a first connector for forcibly lockable and unlockable engagement with the first fluid carrying member. More preferably the first connector includes a first retaining part for engaging a first retractable part of the first fluid carrying member. Alternatively the first connector includes a first retractable part for engaging a first retaining part of the first fluid carrying member. Even more preferably the first connector includes a clip-on or snap-on mechanism.
  • the outlet includes outlet coupling means for removably coupling the outlet to a second fluid carrying member. More preferably the outlet coupling means includes a second connector for forcibly lockable and unlockable engagement with the second fluid carrying member. Even more preferably the second connector includes a second retaining part for engaging a second retractable part of the second fluid carrying member. Alternatively the second connector includes a second retractable part for engaging a second retaining part of the second fluid carrying member. Still more preferably the second connector includes a clip-on or snap-on mechanism.
  • the first fluid carrying member includes a water hose, a garden hose, a water tap, a shower head, a water tank, a sprinkler or a fluid reticulation system for gardening or other purposes.
  • the second fluid carrying member includes a water hose, a garden hose, a water tap, a shower head, a water tank, a sprinkler or a fluid reticulation system for gardening or other purposes.
  • the sensing means includes electromagnetic sensing means. More preferably the electromagnetic sensing means includes a detector for detecting changes in magnetic flux. Even more preferably the electromagnetic sensing means includes a magnetic element for inducing an electric current or voltage in the detector in response to the movement of the movable member. Still more preferably the magnetic element includes one or more magnets adapted to be carried on the movable member.
  • the flowmeter further comprises determining means, operatively coupled to the sensing means, for determining the flow rate or the flow quantity. More preferably the determining means includes a microcontroller for computing the flow rate or the flow quantity based on the induced electric current or voltage. Even more preferably the microcontroller is adapted to compute the flow rate or the flow quantity based on the periodicity of the induced electric current or voltage.
  • the determining means includes a memory for storing the flow rate or flow quantity.
  • the energy conversion means includes photovoltaic means. More preferably the photovoltaic means is adapted to provide the electrical energy to any one or more of the indicator, the sensing means and the determining means.
  • the energy conversion means includes an electrical energy storage element for storing the converted electrical energy. More preferably the electrical energy storage element includes a rechargeable battery. Alternatively the electrical energy storage element includes a capacitor.
  • the photovoltaic means includes one or more photovoltaic cells.
  • the flowmeter further comprises a flow control member for controlling the flow rate of the fluid.
  • the flow control member includes fluid releasing means for, in an unbiased position, blocking the flow of the fluid and for, in a biased position, allowing the flow of the fluid.
  • the releasing means includes adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid.
  • the movable member includes a rotatably movable member. More preferably the rotatably movable member includes an impeller. Even more preferably the impeller is adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the flow of the fluid. Alternatively the impeller is adapted to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the flow of the fluid.
  • Fig. 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of the flowmeter according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 A side view of the embodiment of the flowmeter as shown in Fig. 1 , shown together with a connectorised hose.
  • FIG. 3 A side view of the embodiment of the flowmeter as shown in Fig. 1 connected to the connectorised hose.
  • FIG. 4 A cut-away view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 1 with parts of the body removed for illustration purposes.
  • Fig. 5a A front perspective view of another embodiment of the flowmeter.
  • FIG. 5b Another front perspective view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • FIG. 5c A rear perspective view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • FIG. 5d A top plan view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • FIG. 5e An end view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • FIG. 5f A front plan view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • FIG. 5g Another end view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • FIG. 5h A bottom plan view of the embodiment of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 5a.
  • the flowmeter generally comprises a body having an inlet for fluid inflow and an outlet for fluid outflow, a movable member being housed inside the body and designed to move in response to flow of the fluid from the inlet to the outlet, sensing means for sensing movement (indicative of flow rate or flow quantity of the fluid) of the movable member, and an indicator for indicating flow rate or flow quantity of fluid.
  • the inlet includes inlet coupling means for removably coupling the inlet to, for example, a garden hose or other fluid carrying members.
  • the inlet coupling means improves the portability of the flowmeter so that it can be used to indicate the flow rate or flow quantity in, for example, any selected one of a plurality of garden hoses in a residential premise.
  • the body 2 is of a generally tubular shape.
  • the inlet 4 and the outlet 6 are at the opposed ends of the tubular body 2.
  • the inlet 4 includes coupling means, which in this embodiment is in the form of a male connector 5, for removably coupling to a corresponding female connector 9 of a connectorised water hose 7.
  • the coupling means may be adapted to removably couple to other water carrying media such as a water tap, shower head, garden hose, water tank, a sprinkler or a fluid reticulation system for gardening or other purposes.
  • water carrying media may be connectorised with standard connectors and the coupling means may be connectable to these standard connectors.
  • the female connector 9 of the connectorised hose 7 is removably coupled to the corresponding male connector 5 of the inlet 4 with a clip-on or snap-on mechanism.
  • the male connector 5 and the female connector 9 of the hose 7 are adapted to be engaged in a forcibly lockable and unlockable manner.
  • the outer surface of the male connector 5 includes a retaining part (such as an annular ring 8) for engaging a retractable part (such as a bendable or resilient finger (not shown)) protruding out from the inner surface of the female connector 9.
  • the retractable part of the female connector 9 may be displaced or bent so as to pass over the male connector to engage and become locked to the retaining part of the male connector 5.
  • the retractable part of the male connector 5 may be displaced or bent so as to pass over the male connector 5 to disengage and become unlocked from the retaining part of the female connector 9.
  • the inlet coupling means may be in the form of a female connector with a retractable part (instead of a male connector with a retaining part) for engaging the connecterised water hose 7 via a male connector with a retaining part (instead of a female connector with a retractable part).
  • the outlet 6 may also include outlet coupling means in the form of a connector for removably coupling to, for example, another water hose or other fluid carrying media. Similar to the inlet coupling means, the outlet coupling means may be in the form of a male connector with a retaining part for engaging a water carrying medium via a female connector with a retractable part. Alternatively the outlet coupling means may be in the form of a female connector with a retractable part for engaging a water carrying medium via a male connector with a retaining part.
  • a rotatably movable element in the form of an impeller 1 1 which has a magnet 10 near the blade region and away from the axis of rotation.
  • the impeller 1 1 rotates and the magnet 10 revolves around the axis of rotation of the impeller.
  • a metal coil 12 is in the vicinity of the impeller 1 1 .
  • the combination of the metal coil 12 and the magnet 10 forms the electromagnetic sensing means for sensing rotation of the impeller 1 1 .
  • the magnet 10 may induce a periodic voltage across the metal coil 12 via electromagnetic induction, thereby inducing a periodic electrical current to flow in the metal coil 12.
  • the leads terminating at the two ends of the coil 12 are shown in Fig. 4 as hanging about freely and not connected to other components.
  • the metal coil 12 is part of a Hall Effect switch which electromagnetically detects the induced current or voltage in the metal coil 12 in response to the rotation of the impeller 1 1 .
  • the flowmeter may further comprise determining means, such as a microcontroller, operatively coupled to the electromagnetic sensing means, for determining or computing the flow rate or flow quantity.
  • the microcontroller may receive from the Hall Effect switch a periodic electrical signal, which corresponds to the periodic induced current or voltage due to the rotation of the impeller.
  • the microcontroller may be programmed to determine the frequency or count the number of cycles in the periodic electrical signal within any given time slot (eg. 100 milliseconds) to compute the flow rate.
  • the microcontroller may also be programmed to determine the flow quantity (with that time slot) by multiplying the flow rate by the duration of the time slot.
  • the controller may be programmed to accumulate the flow quantity within consecutive time slots to compute the accumulated flow quantity over a period of time. The accumulated flow quantity may be reset by a reset button on the flowmeter to zero.
  • the microcontroller may have a memory to store the accumulated flow quantity.
  • the flowmeter may further comprise energy conversion means, such as a solar panel with one or more photovoltaic cells or photovoltaic means, for converting light energy to electrical energy provided to the indicator, the Hall effect switch, the controller, or other parts of the flowmeter as required.
  • the energy conversion means may include an electrical energy storage element, such as a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeable battery or a capacitor, for storing the converted electrical energy.
  • Ni-MH nickel metal hydride
  • the flowmeter may be formed integrally with a trigger gun.
  • the flowmeter may further comprise a flow control member for controlling the flow rate of the fluid.
  • the flow control member may include a fluid releasing means, in the form of a trigger, which blocks the flow of the fluid when not biased or triggered. In a biased or triggered position, the trigger allows the flow of the fluid.
  • the trigger may be continuously or discretely adjustable such that the flow rate of the fluid may be adjusted accordingly by a user, for example, in response to the flow rate or flow quantity indicated on the indicator 16.
  • the impeller 1 1 may be adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the flow of the fluid.
  • the axle (not shown) of the impeller 1 1 may be securely affixed to the body 2.
  • a voltage is induced across the coil 12 if there is a changing magnetic flux through the surface bound by the coil 12.
  • the metal coil 12 may be disposed depending on the axis of rotation to maximise the magnetic flux through the surface bound by the coil 12.
  • the impeller 1 1 may be adapted to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the flow of the fluid, as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5a-5h.
  • Components in Figs. 5a-5h that have a corresponding component in Figs. 1 -4 are labelled with the same numeral references but suffixed with a prime (').
  • the impeller (not shown) in this embodiment is partly housed inside a semi-circular section 18 of the body 2'.
  • the impeller When water or fluid flows from the inlet 4' to outlet 6', the impeller (not shown) may rotate about an axis perpendicular to a straight line drawn between the inlet 4' and outlet 6', the tip of the impeller may follow a path near the curved portion of the semicircular section 18.
  • the metal coil 12 or the Hall Effect switch may be inside or outside the tubular body 2 for the electromagnetic induction to occur. Generally the induced voltage and electrical current have larger peak values if the magnet 10 is placed closer to the metal coil 12.
  • the locations of the metal coil 12 (or the Hall Effect switch) and the magnet 10 may be switched. That is, the metal coil may be installed on the rotatable member and therefore rotates with the rotatable member, whereas the magnet 10 may be inside or outside the tubular body 2.
  • the electromagnetic means is coupled to the rotatable member via the coil instead of the magnet. Again, a voltage is induced across the coil if there is a changing magnetic flux through the surface bound by the coil.
  • the movable member may be a revolving magnet, rather than an impeller, that revolves along the circumference of the tubular body in response to the flow of the fluid.
  • the movable member may move randomly in response to the flow of the fluid.
  • the flowmeter may include a source of illumination 14 such as a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) being disposed along the circumference of the body 2.
  • the source of illumination 14 may illuminate substantially towards the direction of the fluid outflow.
  • the source of illumination may include light bulbs. This illumination may be useful, for example, for watering the garden at night time or for washing hands without turning on the bathroom lights.
  • the source of illumination may be operatively coupled to the microcontroller, which activates the illumination upon receipt of a periodic electrical signal, an indication that fluid is flowing in the flowmeter.
  • the source of illumination 14 may be operatively coupled to the flow control member or the trigger (not shown) which, when biased or actuated, activates the illumination.
  • the induced voltage or current may be in the form of AC (alternating current) power.
  • a rectifier circuit such as a capacitor, may be used to smooth the electrical current supplied to the source of illumination 14 for producing illumination with relatively constant brightness.
  • the induced voltage or current may also be used to recharge the rechargeable battery.
  • the indicator 16 is a liquid crystal display backlit by a backlight.
  • the indicator 16 is designed to indicate the flow quantity of the fluid, such as domestic water usage.
  • the indicator 16 may be adapted to refresh its display, for example, every half a second to indicate both the flow rate and (accumulated) flow quantity.
  • the flowmeter may be installed and removed repeatedly at different water carrying media.
  • the metal coil may include a single turn or multiple turns.
  • the electronic display may comprise LED indicators or a LED matrix.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne de façon générale un débitmètre. Dans un mode de réalisation, le débitmètre comporte un corps doté d'une entrée pour l'admission du fluide et d'une sortie pour l'évacuation du fluide, un organe mobile logé à l'intérieur du corps et conçu pour se déplacer en réponse à l'écoulement du fluide de l'entrée vers la sortie, un moyen de détection servant à détecter un mouvement (indicatif d'un débit ou d'une quantité écoulée du fluide) de l'organe mobile, un indicateur servant à indiquer le débit ou la quantité écoulée de fluide, et un moyen de conversion d'énergie servant à convertir une énergie lumineuse en énergie électrique transmise au débitmètre.
PCT/AU2010/000699 2009-06-11 2010-06-07 Débitmètre Ceased WO2010141979A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009902667 2009-06-11
AU2009902667A AU2009902667A0 (en) 2009-06-11 A flowmeter
AU2010900649A AU2010900649A0 (en) 2010-02-17 A flowmeter
AU2010900649 2010-02-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010141979A1 true WO2010141979A1 (fr) 2010-12-16

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ID=43308304

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2010/000699 Ceased WO2010141979A1 (fr) 2009-06-11 2010-06-07 Débitmètre

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010141979A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012126518A1 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-09-27 Gardena Manufacturing Gmbh Appareil pour mesurer un courant d'eau
WO2012126519A1 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-09-27 Gardena Manufacturing Gmbh Appareil pour la mesure d'un débit d'eau avec un ensemble de turbine qui contient un carter de turbine composé de deux parties de carter identiques
WO2019071973A1 (fr) * 2017-10-09 2019-04-18 南京福碧源环境技术有限公司 Débitmètre bidirectionnel conçu pour être utilisé dans un orifice d'aspiration de sel d'un appareil d'adoucissement d'eau
US12297837B2 (en) 2021-09-09 2025-05-13 Techtronic Cordless Gp Submersible pump

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB719741A (en) * 1952-08-05 1954-12-08 David Magie Potter Rotary flow meter
EP0212000B1 (fr) * 1985-08-13 1990-05-23 Kimmon Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Compteur de fluide
US4996888A (en) * 1989-08-09 1991-03-05 Flowdata, Inc. Fluid flowmeter
CN2539959Y (zh) * 2002-04-15 2003-03-12 梁正雄 液体流量检测装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB719741A (en) * 1952-08-05 1954-12-08 David Magie Potter Rotary flow meter
EP0212000B1 (fr) * 1985-08-13 1990-05-23 Kimmon Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Compteur de fluide
US4996888A (en) * 1989-08-09 1991-03-05 Flowdata, Inc. Fluid flowmeter
CN2539959Y (zh) * 2002-04-15 2003-03-12 梁正雄 液体流量检测装置

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012126518A1 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-09-27 Gardena Manufacturing Gmbh Appareil pour mesurer un courant d'eau
WO2012126519A1 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-09-27 Gardena Manufacturing Gmbh Appareil pour la mesure d'un débit d'eau avec un ensemble de turbine qui contient un carter de turbine composé de deux parties de carter identiques
WO2019071973A1 (fr) * 2017-10-09 2019-04-18 南京福碧源环境技术有限公司 Débitmètre bidirectionnel conçu pour être utilisé dans un orifice d'aspiration de sel d'un appareil d'adoucissement d'eau
US12297837B2 (en) 2021-09-09 2025-05-13 Techtronic Cordless Gp Submersible pump

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