A HOLDING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ACOUSTIC TRANSMITTER IN AN ACOUSTIC SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEM

Abstract

A holding arrangement for holding an acoustic transmitter in place in relation to a container. The arrangement comprises: a body comprising a cavity for holding an acoustic transmitter, the cavity comprising an opening arranged to face said container when said arrangement is attached to a container, wherein the body comprises acoustic damping material, and wherein the cavity is configured to permit movement of an acoustic transmitter in a direction perpendicular to a container surface and to restrict movement of the acoustic transmitter in directions not perpendicular to the container surface when an acoustic transmitter is arranged in said cavity and when said arrangement is attached to a container. There is also provided a measurement arrangement comprising such a holding arrangement.

Claims

1. A holding arrangement for holding an acoustic transmitter in place in relation to a container, the arrangement comprising: a body comprising a cavity for holding an acoustic transmitter, the cavity comprising an opening arranged and configured to face said container when said arrangement is attached to a container, wherein the body is made from an acoustic damping material, and wherein the cavity is configured to permit movement of an acoustic transmitter in a direction perpendicular to a container surface and to restrict movement of the acoustic transmitter in directions not perpendicular to the container surface when an acoustic transmitter is arranged in said cavity and when said arrangement is attached to a container.

2. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises portions filled with an acoustic damping material different from a material of said body.

3. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a damping element comprising acoustic damping material attached to an outside of said body.

4. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the body is made from a material selected from the group comprising, fiber-reinforced polymers, metal powder infused polymers and epoxy infused high porosity metal matrices.

5. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising fastening means configured to secure an acoustic transmitter in said cavity.

6. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a sidewall of said cavity comprises vibration damping material such that vibration damping material is located between an acoustic transmitter and said sidewall wall when an acoustic transmitter is arranged in said cavity.

7. The holding arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the vibration damping material is an elastomer.

8. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a trench arranged adjacent to said cavity and reaching a sidewall of said cavity on at least one side of said cavity such that said cavity is connected to said trench.

9. The holding arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said trench is filled with an acoustic damping material.

10. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one connecting portion attached to said body and configured to be in contact with said container.

11. The holding arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said connecting portion is a connection element releasably attached to said body.

12. The holding arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said connecting portion is curved having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of a container to which said arrangement is to be connected.

13. The holding arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said connecting portion comprises an acoustic damping element located on a side of said connecting portion configured to be connected to a container.

14. The holding arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising an acoustic transmitter arranged in said cavity, said acoustic transmitter being configured to transmit an acoustic signal along an axial direction of said cavity.

15. An acoustic measurement arrangement comprising: a container; a holding arrangement for holding an acoustic transmitter according to claim 1; and an acoustic transmitter arranged in said cavity of said holding arrangement, wherein said holding arrangement is attached to said container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing an example embodiment of the invention, wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a holding arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIGS. 2A-B schematically illustrate a holding arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an element of a holding arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0034] FIGS. 4A-B schematically illustrate elements of a holding arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0035] FIGS. 5A-B schematically illustrate a measurement arrangement comprising a holding arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] In the present detailed description, various embodiments of the holding arrangement according to the present invention are mainly described with reference to a holding arrangement configured to be mounted onto a pipe.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a holding arrangement 100 for holding an acoustic transmitter 101 in place in relation to a container. The holding arrangement comprises a body 102 which in turn comprising a cavity 104 for holding an acoustic transmitter 101. The cavity comprises an opening 106 arranged and configured to face the container when the arrangement is attached to a container. Moreover, the connection portions 108 of the holding arrangement are arranged to be in contact with the container. The illustrated the connection portions 108 may also be referred to as legs or feet, and the shape and configuration of the connecting portions can be adapted to fit the container to which the holding arrangement 100 is to be attached.

[0038] The body 102 of the holding arrangement 100 is made from an acoustic damping material. Other desirable properties of the body of the holding arrangement are high stiffness, a high loss factor/damping, and a wide operating temperature range.

[0039] The cavity 104 adapted to house the acoustic transmitter 101 is further configured to permit movement of an acoustic transmitter in a direction perpendicular to a container surface and to restrict movement of the acoustic transmitter in directions not perpendicular to the container surface when an acoustic transmitter is arranged in cavity and when the arrangement is attached to a container. For a cylindrical transducer, this means that the diameter of the cavity 104 is only slightly larger than the diameter of the transducer, such that the transducer can be inserted into the cavity 104 but without it being able to mode laterally once inserted.

[0040] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a holding arrangement 200 according to another embodiment of the invention. The holding arrangement 200 comprises cutouts 202 in the body which may be filled with an acoustic damping material different form the material of the body 102. The acoustic damping material used in the cutouts may for example be a material which has advantageous damping properties but which is not mechanically rigid, such as rubber or silicone based materials.

[0041] The holding arrangement 200 of FIG. 2A further comprises a trench 201 arranged in the body 102 adjacent to the cavity 104 such that the cavity 104 is connected to the trench 201. The trench 201 extends on both sides of the cavity 104, although it should be understood that the trench 201 can be arranged in various ways. The trench 201 can be filled with a damping material to further reduce vibrations.

[0042] The holding arrangement 200 of FIG. 2A further comprises fastening means in the form of bolts 204 configured to secure the acoustic transmitter 101 in the cavity 104. The bolts 204 are inserted into openings 206 of the body 102 and secured by using corresponding nuts (not shown) on the opposing side of the body 102. By means of the trench 104, a degree of flexibility is introduced in the sidewalls of the body 102, facilitating compression of the body to secure the transmitter 101 in the cavity 104 once the nuts and bolts are tightened. The skilled person realizes that many different types of fastening means are possible, such as tensioners, clamps and the like. It is also possible to secure the transmitter 101 in the cavity 104 using an adhesive material.

[0043] FIG. 2A further illustrates a connection element 210 which can be releasably attached to the body 102. The connection element 210 is attached to the body 102 by inserting a connecting portion 211 of the connection element 210 into a corresponding opening 212 of the body 102 where it can be secured e.g. by a bolt 214. It should be noted that many different types of securing means are feasible other than the described bolt, and that the illustrated embodiment merely describes an example configuration.

[0044] FIG. 2B is a cross section of the holding arrangement 200 illustrated in FIG. 2A. Here, it can more clearly be seen that the cylindrical cavity 104 extends into the body 102 of the holding arrangement 200. It can also be seen that the trench 201 extends to the same extent as the cavity for holding the transmitter such that a damping material may be arranged along the entire length of the transmitter 101 if desirable.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates an alterative configuration of a connection element 302 which is adapted to be connected to a pipe, where the curvature of the connection element 302 is configured to match the curvature of the pipe. The curved portions of the connection element 302 may also be flexible to allow attaching the same connection element 302 to pipes of different diameter. Thereby, only the connection element 302 needs to be changed or adapted to facilitate connection of the holding arrangement 200 to practically any type of container. There may also be additional damping material located between the connection element 302 and the container.

[0046] FIGS. 4A-B illustrate an acoustic damping element 402 to be attached to the body 102 of the holding arrangement 200. The damping element 402 may further comprise a sheet 406 of acoustic and/or vibration damping material as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The damping element 402 further comprises pins 404 used to attach the sheet of damping material 406 illustrated in FIG. 4B. It is also possible to attach the sheet 406, or a similarly shaped piece of material, using an adhesive. The pins 404 may also be used to attach the damping element 402 to the body 102 by insertion in corresponding openings 202. Accordingly, the damping element 402 may be connected using openings 202 which may also comprise a damping material. However, the damping element 402 may be attached to the body 102 of the holding arrangement in any suitable manner, e.g. using screws, tensioners adhesives etc.

[0047] The damping element 402 may for example be made from the same material as the body 102 such that it is sufficiently rigid to mechanically protect the body 102 and a transmitter 101 arranged in the body 102. The sheet 404 of damping material, and the damping material used in cutouts of the body, may comprise an elastomer (e.g. silicone), which fulfils the mechanical and acoustical requirements such as damping in frequency range of interest, durability in the relevant temperature range, long-term stability, etc. The additional damping material may advantageously have higher damping factor. Moreover, several layers, or sheets 404, of damping material can be used between the damping element and the body 102.

[0048] FIG. 5A schematically illustrates an acoustic measurement arrangement 500 comprising a container 502 in the form of a pipe 502, a holding arrangement 200 with an acoustic transmitter 101 arranged in the cavity 104 of the holding arrangement 200. The holding arrangement is attached to the container 502 by means of the connection elements 210. The connection element may for example be connected to corresponding receiving elements which may be glued or otherwise attached to the container 502. It is also possible to use hose clamps in combination with the connection elements 210 for attaching the holding arrangement 200 to the container 502. The acoustic transmitter 101 is configured to transmit an acoustic signal along an axial direction of the cavity 104 and into the container 502 through the container wall.

[0049] FIG. 5B illustrates a similar acoustic measurement arrangement but with the external damping element 104 attached to the holding arrangement 200.

[0050] An acoustic receiver for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter 101 can be located in any location, depending on the setup, obstructions etc., as long as it can be properly and securely mounted. The receiver should be sufficiently close to the transmitter 101 to achieve a good SNR (signal-to-ratio), but far enough from the excitation point (i.e. the transmitter) to be distinguishable.

[0051] By means of the described holding arrangement and a resulting measurement arrangement, the signal to noise ratio of an acoustic gas/fluid/solid analysis can be significantly increased by constraining unwanted movement of the acoustic transmitter in all other directions than towards the test object.

[0052] Even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Also, it should be noted that parts of the holding arrangement may be omitted, interchanged or arranged in various ways, the holding arrangement yet being able to perform the functionality of the present invention.

[0053] Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.