Ultrasonic flow meter including turbulators

US7380470B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Konzelmann · Asperg, DE
• Tobias Lang · Stuttgart, DE
• Christoph Gmelin · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 14, 2005
• Grant date: Jun 3, 2008
• Expiry date: Dec 14, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F15/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Measuring volume flows or mass flows in the intake system of motor vehicle internal combustion engines plays an important role in reducing harmful emissions. Therefore, an ultrasonic flow meter for measuring a flow velocity of a fluid flowing in an essentially laminar flow in the main flow direction is described. The ultrasonic flow meter has at least two ultrasonic transducers, the ultrasonic transducers being able to emit and/or receive ultrasonic waves at an angle α to the main flow direction which is different from 90°. Furthermore, the ultrasonic flow meter has at least one turbulator situated upstream from at least one ultrasonic transducer in the main flow direction of the fluid, which generates longitudinal eddies in at least one zone adjacent to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, in particular in a protrusion in a wall of a flow pipe and thus improves the flow of the fluid in this zone in the flow pipe. Wedge-shaped turbulators protruding into the flow of the fluid or flow grooves are provided in particular as turbulators. The ultrasonic flow meter is distinguished, in comparison with devices known from the related art, by improved signal-to-noise ratio and thus by hi…