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US 5,264,831 AGranted
Device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined contents level in a container
AssigneeEndress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
InventorHelmut Pfeiffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeEndress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
InventorHelmut Pfeiffer
Estimating the term…
To determine and/or monitor a predetermined contents level in a container, at the height of the level to be monitored a region of the container wall is defined by a ring or frame which is attached to the outer side of the container wall in such a manner that it is in oscillatory mechanical connection with said container wall. The region of the container wall enclosed by the ring or frame forms the diaphragm of a sensor which also comprises an electromechanical excitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the defined diaphragm region into oscillations, and an electromechanical receiving transducer which converts the oscillations of the defined diaphragm region to an electrical AC voltage. An evaluating circuit connected to the receiving transducer serves to initiate display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer.
A device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined contents level in a container comprising a sensor which is mounted at the height of the predetermined level and comprises a diaphragm which comes into contact with the filling material when the latter reaches or exceeds the predetermined level in the container, and an electromechanical excitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the diaphragm in oscillations, and an electromechanical receiving transducer which converts the oscillations of the diaphragm into an electrical AC voltage, and an evaluating circuit for initiating display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer, the diaphragm being formed by a region of the container wall which is defined by a ring which is attached to the outer side of the container and is in oscillatory mechanical connection with the container wall, the ring being divided into segments which are held together by tension springs which extend through bores in the segments and are anchored at both ends to frame members.
A device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined contents level in a container comprising a sensor which is mounted at the height of the predetermined level and comprises a diaphragm which comes into contact with the filling material when the latter reaches or exceeds the predetermined level in the container, the diaphragm being formed by a region of a wall of the container which is defined by a ring or frame which is attached to the outer side of the container and is in oscillatory mechanical connection with the container wall, and an electromechanical excitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the diaphragm in oscillations, the excitation transducer being formed by a stack of piezoelectric elements which is clamped between the container wall and a support member fixedly connected to the ring or frame, and an electromechanical receiving transducer which converts the oscillations of the diaphragm into an electrical AC voltage, and an evaluating circuit for initiating display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer.
A device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined contents level in a container comprising a sensor which is mounted at the height of the predetermined level and comprises a diaphragm which comes into contact with the filling material when the latter reaches or exceeds the predetermined level in the container, the diaphragm being formed by a region of a wall of the container which is defined by a ring or frame which is attached to the outer side of the container and is in oscillatory mechanical connection with the container wall, and an electromechanical excitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the diaphragm in oscillations, and an electromechanical receiving transducer which converts the oscillations of the diaphragm into an electrical AC voltage, the receiving transducer being formed by at least one piezoelectric element which is clamped between the container wall and a support member fixedly connected to the ring or frame, and an evaluating circuit for initiating display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer.
A device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined contents level in a container comprising a sensor which is mounted at the height of the predetermined level and comprises a diaphragm which comes into contact with the filling material when the latter reaches or exceeds the predetermined level in the container, and an electromechanicl exitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the diaphragm in oscillations, and an electromechanical receiving tranducer which converts the oscillations of the diaphragm into an electrical AC voltage, and an evaluating circuit for initiating display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer, the diaphragm being formed by a region of the container wall which is defined by a frame which is attached to the outer side of the container and is in oscillatory mechanical connection with the container wall, the frame including an end face having an inner edge, the mass of the frame being greater than the mass of the defined region of the container wall, and the end face of the frame facing the container wall being outwardly bevelled so that the frame bears on the container wall only with the inner edge, the electromechanical exitation transducer being formed by a stack of piezoelectric elements clamped between the container wall and a support member coupled to the frame.
A device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined contents level in a container comprising a sensor which is mounted at the height of the predetermined level and comprises a diaphragm which comes into contact with the filling material when the latter reaches or exceeds the predetermined level in the container, and an electromechanical excitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the diaphragm in oscillations, and an electromechanical receiving transducer which converts the oscillations of the diaphragm into an electrical AC voltage, and an evaluating circuit for initiating display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer, the diaphragm being formed by a region of the container wall which is defined by a frame which is attached to the outer side of the container and is in oscillatory mechanical connection with the container wall, the mass of the frame being greater than the mass of the defined region of the container wall, wherein the frame is divided into segments provided along the edges with foot strips which bear on the container wall whilst the portion of each segment lying between the foot strips is spaced from the container wall, the segments being held together by tension springs which extend through bores in the segments and which are anchored at both ends to frame members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.