Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Signal transducers
Patent
1991-05-28
1994-11-08
Eldred, J. Woodrow
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Signal transducers
367173, 367908, 73290V, 181123, 181124, 310348, H04R 1700
Patent
active
053633415
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a sonic or ultrasonic transducer for measuring the contents level in a container or above a drain. A distinction must be made in the measurement of the contents level using such a sonic or ultrasonic transducer as regards the medium to be measured. If the level of a medium is measured which causes normal environmental conditions the level sensor can be of simple construction and made in economic manner. If, however, a measurement of an explosive or aggressive medium is to be made stricter demands are made on the sonic or ultrasonic sensor due to the fact that when used in explosive media maximum safety is required for avoiding any danger of explosion and when used in aggressive media resistance to the destructive force of said media is necessary.
It is known from German utility model 8,332,045, for measuring the level in an explosion-endangered inner zone of a container to enclose the ultrasonic sensor of a contents level measuring device in an additional metal housing to ensure that the plastic housing, which is not impact-proof and flameproof, does not undergo any electrostatic charging and does not come into contact with the potentially explosive medium.
From German utility model 8,630,763 another sonic or ultrasonic sensor is known which was proposed for use in aggressive media. The solution described therein resides in that an integral transducer housing is provided which surrounds the transducer element on the container side and has a ring extension which radially overlaps a partial area of the annular sealing strip of the sensor flange with which the sensor is connected to a wall. The transducer housing is made from a plastic resistant to aggressive media, in particular from a polyvinylidene fluoride.
German patent 3,633,047 discloses another level measuring device for measuring the contents level in a container having an explosion-endangered inner zone which is so designed that the sonic or ultrasonic transducer is arranged substantially in the interior of a metal flange which forms at the same time the securing element for attaching the sonic or ultrasonic transducer to the wall surrounding the medium to be measured. In this device the surface of the flange facing the interior of the container forms a homogeneous continuous smooth surface which incorporates the diaphragm of the sonic or ultrasonic sensor and thereby prevents any materials other than the metallic flange material from being able to come into contact with the explosive media. Depending on the selected metallic flange material this device is also suited to be used in aggressive media.
All these devices have the disadvantage that a complete level measuring device must be made to suit the particular intended use.
In contrast, the present invention is based on the problem of configuring a level measuring device of the aforementioned type so that it consists of individual components which can be selectively assembled depending on the intended use in explosive or aggressive or normal ambient conditions.
This problem is solved by the features described in the claims.
The device according to the invention has the further advantage that the individual self-contained functional parts are surrounded as hitherto known by economically produceable plastic housings but nevertheless fulfill the conditions involved in use in explosive and/or aggressive media.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in the subsidiary claims.
Further features and advantages are set forth in an example of embodiment of the invention and in the drawings. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a section through the subject of the invention in side view;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the transducer housing of the subject of the invention according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration from which it can be seen how the subject of the invention can be assembled from the individual components depending on the use conditions thereof.
In FIG. 1 a level measuring device 1 is shown which consists of individual components and can be assembled i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3910116 (1975-10-01), Smith
patent: 4912686 (1990-03-01), Craster
Schwald Rolf
Steinebrunner Edwin
Eldred J. Woodrow
Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
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