Ultrasonic flow sensor

Inventors: Hiroto Nakajima (Tsukubamirai, JP); Junya Okada (Tsukubamirai, JP)

Assignee: SMC CORPORATION

G01F1/662 G01F1/667 G01F15/14 G01F15/18

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12674696
App. No.: 18/543,918
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An ultrasonic flow sensor is constituted by a body assembly and clamp assemblies positioned at opposite ends of the body assembly. The body assembly includes a housing that houses an ultrasonic element and the clamp assemblies include clamp bands. The clamp assemblies are supported on the housing in a manner so that the clamp assemblies are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to a bottom surface of the housing that comes in contact with the tube.

Claims (30)

1 . An ultrasonic flow sensor attached to an outside of a tube, comprising:

a body assembly; and

clamp assemblies positioned at opposite ends of the body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a housing that houses an ultrasonic element, the clamp assemblies include clamp bands, and

the clamp assemblies are supported on the housing in a manner so that the clamp assemblies are displaceable in a radial direction of the tube, wherein

each of the clamp assemblies includes a clamp body, the clamp band includes a flexible band portion, a first securing portion connected to one end of the band portion, and a second securing portion connected to another end of the band portion, the tube is clamped by the clamp body and the band portion, the first securing portion is secured to the clamp body, and the second securing portion is attached to the clamp body in a manner so that a position of the second securing portion is able to be changed.

2 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the clamp body includes a recess for receiving the tube and abuts against the tube on two inclined planes that constitute the recess.

3 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the clamp assemblies includes a clamp plate, and the position of the second securing portion with respect to the clamp body is changed by screwing a clamping screw into the second securing portion of the clamp band with a head portion of the clamping screw in contact with the clamp plate.

4 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 3 , wherein

the housing is provided with an engagement pin, and the clamp plate includes an engagement hole into which the engagement pin is inserted.

5 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 3 , wherein

one surface of the clamp plate is a uniform plane and constitutes a first abutment surface that is able to make contact with the housing, and another surface of the clamp plate includes a second abutment surface that is able to contact with the housing by increasing a thickness in a predetermined region.

6 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 3 , wherein both surfaces of the clamp plate are each a uniform plane.

7 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

a first wall portion of the clamp body abuts against the housing, and the position of the second securing portion with respect to the clamp body is changed by screwing a clamping screw into the second securing portion of the clamp band with a head portion of the clamping screw in contact with the first wall portion.

8 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 7 , wherein

a path member to which the ultrasonic element is attached is in contact with the tube via a couplant, the couplant is attached to the housing by a couplant holder, a second wall portion of the clamp body is inserted between an engagement piece of the couplant holder and the housing, and a third wall portion of the clamp body abuts against the housing.

9 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 8 , wherein

an extended portion extending from an end of the couplant holder includes a protrusion facing the tube.

10 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 3 , wherein a cushion material that abuts the clamp plate is attached to the housing.

11 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 3 , wherein

the clamping screw includes a small-diameter shaft portion that is continuous with the head and a large-diameter shaft portion that is continuous with the small-diameter shaft portion, an external thread is formed on the large-diameter shaft portion, the clamp plate includes a slit into which the small-diameter shaft portion is insertable, and outer diameters of the head and the large-diameter shaft portion are larger than a width of the slit.

12 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 3 , wherein

the clamping screw includes a small-diameter shaft portion that is continuous with the head, and a large-diameter shaft portion that is continuous with the small-diameter shaft portion, an external thread is formed on the large-diameter shaft portion, and the clamp plate includes a screw hole into which the large-diameter shaft portion is able to be screwed.

13 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the second securing portion includes a groove portion into which a tip of a tool is insertable.

14 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

a path member to which the ultrasonic element is attached is in contact with the tube via a couplant.

15 . The ultrasonic flow sensor according to claim 14 , wherein

the clamp assembly includes a clamp body, the couplant is attached to the housing by a couplant holder, the couplant holder includes an engagement claw, and the clamp body includes an engagement groove into which the engagement claw is inserted.