Process window module and basic element for at least one process window module

Abstract

Process window module (1) for the spectroscopic investigation of process mixtures in pipelines or containers, comprising a process window (3) and a process window housing (2), wherein the process window (3) has a front (4) facing the process during operation, a back (5) and a circumferential surface (6) and is conically tapered from the back (5) to the front (4), and wherein the process window housing (2) has a front end (7) and a rear end (8) facing the process during operation and a free space (9) extending from the rear end (8) to the front end (7), which is at least partially conically shaped, for receiving the process window (3),wherein the free space (9) is designed as a radiation passage with a front end and a rear end and a circumferential inner surface (10) extending from the rear end to the front end and the length of the free space (9) is greater than the length of the process window (3), wherein the process window module (1) further comprises an annularly designed elastic sealing agent which is arranged in operation between the process window (3) and a pressure cylinder (12), characterized in that the rear side (5) of the process window (3) is provided at its edge regions with a circumferential contact surface (14) for the elastic sealing agent and the pressure cylinder (12) is provided at its front end with a circumferential contact surface (13) for the elastic sealing agent,wherein the elastic sealing agent is in contact during operation with both the contact surface (14) of the rear (5) of the process window (3) and the contact surface (13) of the front end of the pressure cylinder (12), and wherein the elastic sealing agent has a distance of approximately 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably approximately 0.2 mm, to the inner surface (10) of the free space (9) of the process window housing (2) during operation, wherein the pressure cylinder (12) and the process window housing (2) are connected to each other by means of a material-bonded joining element, and wherein the material-bonded joining element is designed as a circumferential weld (15) and thus also as a seal between the pressure cylinder (12) and the process window housing (2).

Description

The invention relates to a process window module for spectroscopic examination of process mixtures in pipelines or containers, having a process window and a process window holder, wherein the process window has a front side, a rear side and a circumferential circumferential surface facing the process during operation and is formed tapering from the rear side toward the front side, and wherein the process window holder has a front end facing the process during operation and a rear end and an at least partially conically formed free space extending from the rear end toward the front end for receiving the process window, wherein the free space is formed as a radiation passage having a front end and a rear end and a circumferential inner surface extending from the rear end toward the front end, and the length of the free space is greater than the length of the process window, wherein the process window module further comprises an annularly circumferential elastic sealing means which is arranged between the process window and a pressure cylinder during operation. The length of the process window is thus viewed in the axial direction, which also corresponds to the radiation direction of the radiation passing through the process window.In practice, such process windows are known which are used, for example, for the optical spectroscopic examination of pipelines or apparatus through which product flows.In previously known process window modules, the elastic sealing means, which is configured annularly in a circumferential manner, is provided in such a way that it is arranged between the process window and the printing cylinder during operation. In this case, the elastic sealing means also lies against the inner surface of the radiation passage of the process window mount during operation. A disadvantage here is that the elastic sealing means cannot expand in the event of temperature fluctuations, since it already has contact in all directions.It is an object of the invention to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages and to specify an improved process window module.This object is achieved in a process window module of the generic type in that the rear side of the process window is provided at the edge regions of its rear side with a circumferential contact surface for the elastic sealing means and the printing cylinder is provided at its front end with a circumferential contact surface for the elastic sealing means, wherein the elastic sealing means is in contact during operation both with the contact surface of the rear side of the process window and with the contact surface of the front end of the printing cylinder and wherein the elastic sealing means is at a distance of about 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably of about 0.2 mm, from the inner surface of the free space of the process window holder during operation.This distance is provided everywhere on the annularly encircling elastic sealing means and is thus provided encirclingly. The elastic sealing means can thus expand in the event of temperature fluctuations. Additional force effects on the process window, which can lead to adverse effects as far as damage, are thus avoided.The contact surface of the rear side of the process window can preferably be designed as a bevel in the form of a straight-surface circumferential bevel or in the form of a concavely or convexly curved circumferential surface, with the result that an acute-angled sharp edge which brings about an increased risk of fracture is avoided.According to the invention, the front side of the process window can project at least 0.2 mm, preferably by 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm, in relation to the front end of the process window holder. This ensures that the front side of the process window is not at least somewhat behind the front end of the process window holder, as a result of which fluidic dead regions can then form in the flow course of the process mixture, in which dead regions residues of the process mixture can accumulate. Such residues can lead to great problems in the food industry, for example, and can also lead to adverse effects on the measurement accuracy, regardless of the intended use.Advantageously, the printing cylinder and the process window holder can be connected to one another by means of a preferably materially bonded connecting means, so that this results in a connection which cannot be accidentally released and thus also does not require any checking or additional release protection.The material-bonded connection means can be configured as a circumferential weld and thus also as a seal between the pressure cylinder and the process window holder, so that the connection means also provides a seal which is additionally not adversely affected by temperature fluctuations. Thus, no additional sealing between the pressure cylinder and the process window holder is required.According to the invention, the process window module can be pressure-resistant and tight from 0 bar to at least 24 bar, preferably to at least 150 bar and very preferably to at least 270 bar, and / or that the process window module is pressure-resistant and temperature-resistant and tight to at least 150° C., preferably to at least 250° C. or to at least 300° C. Thus, the process window module is then suitable for use in most customary processes.Advantageously, the elastic sealing means can be designed as a ring, which has an annular spring core and a metal jacket arranged around the latter. The outer surface of the elastic sealing means can thus be matched to the requirements of use in the specific case of use and adapted to the materials with which it is in contact, wherein the annular spring core provides an elasticity that is sufficient for the intended use. For the contact with the process window, the material of the outer surface of the elastic sealing means can be designed somewhat softer, for example.In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the process window can be designed to be rotationally symmetrical along its longitudinal axis running from the front side to the rear side, and the diameter of the front side can be 4 mm to 25 mm, preferably 7 mm to 15 mm. The process window is thus designed as small as possible for various purposes of use, including in narrow lines, etc., but is still dimensioned sufficiently large for good detection of the flowing medium.The invention further relates to a base element for at least one process window module. Such base elements are used to arrange and hold at least one process window module for the intended use. The base element has at least one free space for receiving a process window module.It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved base member. This object is achieved in that a process window module according to the invention is provided in the free space of the base element.Preferably, the base element can have two free spaces, which are each configured to receive a process window module, wherein a process window module according to the invention is provided in each free space of the base element, and wherein the two free spaces of the base element are provided and aligned in such a way that the two process window modules provided therein and the front sides of the respective process windows arranged therein are aligned parallel to one another and face one another with a distance between them.According to the invention, the distance between the front sides of the process windows can be 1-10 mm with an accuracy (tolerance) of 0.03 mm.In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the base element and the respective process window module can each be connected to one another by means of a preferably materially bonded connecting means.In this case, the materially integral connecting means can be configured in each case as a circumferential weld and thus also as a seal between the base element and the respective process window module, with the result that the connecting means also carries out a seal which is additionally also not impaired by temperature fluctuations. Thus, no additional sealing is required between the base element and the corresponding process window module.Advantageously, the base element and / or the process window modules and / or the materially bonded connecting means can each consist of a metallic weldable material, such as e.g. stainless steel or highly alloyed steels, tantalum, zirconium or titanium. According to the invention, at least the base element and / or the process window modules, preferably also the materially bonded connection means, can / can each consist of an identical material.According to the invention, the base module can be designed to be rotationally symmetrical along its longitudinal axis and the diameter can be 8.5 mm to 30 mm, preferably 10 mm to 25 mm. Thus, although the base module is designed as small as possible for various purposes of use, also in narrow lines etc., it is still dimensioned sufficiently large for good detection of the flowing medium.Exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings are explained below. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a process window module according to the invention in a partially cut-away illustration, and FIG. 2 shows a partially cut-away illustration of a base module according to the invention with two process window modules.In all figures, the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components.FIG. 1 shows a process window module 1 according to the invention having a process window mount 2 and a process window 3.The process window 3 has a front side 4 facing the process during operation, a rear side 5 and a circumferential circumferential surface 6.The process window mount 2 has a front end 7 facing the process during operation and a rear end 8, and an at least partially conical free space 9 which extends from the rear end 8 to the front end 7 and is formed as a radiation passage having a front end and a rear end and has a circumferential inner surface 10 extending from the rear end to the front end. The length of the free space 9 is greater than the length of the process window 3.The process window module 1 further comprises an elastic sealing means, which is designed as a ring 11, and a pressure cylinder 12, which is provided at its front end with a circumferential contact surface 13. The ring 11 is arranged between the process window 3 and the contact surface 13 of the printing cylinder 12.The rear side 5 of the process window 3 is provided at its edge regions with a circumferential contact surface 14 for the elastic sealing means embodied as a ring 11. The contact surface 14 is formed as a chamfer in the form of a circumferential chamfer having a straight surface.The elastic sealing means, which is configured as a ring 11, is in contact during operation both with the contact surface 13 and with the rear side 5 of the process window 3, but is at a distance of approximately 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm from the inner surface 10 of the free space 9 of the process window holder 2. This distance is provided circumferentially, so that the ring 11 can expand in the event of temperature fluctuations.The front side 4 of the process window 3 protrudes at least 0.2 mm with respect to the front end 7 of the process window holder 2.The printing cylinder 12 and the process window holder 2 are connected to one another by means of a material-bonded connecting means embodied as a circumferential weld 15. This provides a connection which cannot be accidentally released and thus also does not require checking or additional release protection. In addition, a seal of the pressure cylinder 12 and the process window holder 2 with respect to one another is also simultaneously effected, which is also not impaired by temperature fluctuations.The process window 3 is designed to be rotationally symmetrical along its longitudinal axis running from the front side 4 to the rear side 5. The process window holder 2 and the printing cylinder 12 are also each designed to be rotationally symmetrical along their respective longitudinal axis.FIG. 2 shows a base element 16 with two free spaces, which are each designed to accommodate a respective process window module 1. In each free space of the base element 16, a process window module 1 according to the invention is provided. The two free spaces of the base element 16 are provided and aligned in such a way that the two process window modules 1 provided therein and the front sides 4 of the respective process windows 3 respectively arranged therein are aligned parallel to one another and face one another with a distance 18 between them. The process window modules 1 are in each case somewhat longer than the free spaces of the base element 16, in which they are each arranged. The process window modules 1 are each arranged slightly protruding in the free spaces of the base element 16.The base element 16 is connected to the two process window modules 1 in each case by means of materially bonded connecting means. These are each formed as two circumferential welds 17 which are arranged at the respective ends of the two free spaces.The welds 17 are also designed as a seal between the base element 16 and the respective process window module 1, so that no additional sealing is required between the base element 16 and the respective corresponding process window module 1.

Claims

Process window module (1) for spectroscopic examination of process mixtures in pipelines or containers, having a process window (3) and a process window holder (2), wherein the process window (3) has a front side (4) facing the process during operation, a rear side (5) and a circumferential circumferential surface (6) and is designed to taper from the rear side (5) to the front side (4), and wherein the process window holder (2) has a front end (7) facing the process during operation and a rear end (8) and an at least partially tapered free space (9) extending from the rear end (8) to the front end (7) for receiving the process window (3), wherein the free space (9) is formed as a radiation passage having a front end and a rear end and a circumferential inner surface (10) extending from the rear end to the front end and the length of the free space (9) is greater than the length of the process window (3), wherein the process window module (1) further comprises an annularly circumferential elastic sealing means which is arranged between the process window (3) and a pressure cylinder (12) during operation, characterized in that the rear side (5) of the process window (3) is provided at its edge regions with a circumferential contact surface (14) for the elastic sealing means and the pressure cylinder (12) is provided at its front end with a circumferential contact surface (13) for the elastic sealing means, wherein the elastic sealing means is in contact during operation with both the contact surface (14) of the rear side (5) of the process window (3) and the contact surface (13) of the front end of the printing cylinder (12), and wherein the elastic sealing means is at a distance of about 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably of about 0.2 mm, from the inner surface (10) of the free space (9) of the process window holder (2) during operation.Process window module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact surface (14) of the rear side (5) of the process window (3) is formed as a bevel in the form of a circumferential bevel of a straight surface or in the form of a circumferential surface which is concavely or convexly curved.Process window module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front side (4) of the process window (3) protrudes at least 0.2 mm, preferably by 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm, in relation to the front end (7) of the process window holder (2).Process window module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing cylinder (12) and the process window holder (2) are connected to one another by means of a preferably materially bonded connecting means.Process window module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cohesive connecting means is formed as a circumferential weld (15) and thus also as a seal between the printing cylinder (12) and the process window holder (2).Process window module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the process window module (1) is pressure-resistant and tight from 0 bar to at least 24 bar, preferably to at least 150 bar and very preferably to at least 270 bar, and / or in that the process window module (1) is pressure-resistant and temperature-resistant and tight to at least 150°C, preferably to at least 250°C or to at least 300°C.Process window module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic sealing means is designed as a ring (11), which has an annular spring core and a metal jacket arranged around the latter.Process window module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the process window (3) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical along its longitudinal axis running from the front side (4) to the rear side (5) and the diameter of the front side (4) is 4 mm to 25 mm, preferably 7 mm to 15 mm.Base element (16) for at least one process window module (1), wherein the base element (16) has at least one free space for receiving a process window module (1), characterized in that a process window module (1) according to one of the preceding claims is provided in the free space of the base element (16).Base element (16) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the base element (16) has two free spaces which are each designed for receiving a process window module (1), wherein in each free space of the base element (16) a process window module (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8 is provided in each case, and wherein the two free spaces of the base element (16) are provided and aligned in such a way that the two process window modules (1) provided therein and the front sides (4) of the respective process windows (3) arranged therein are aligned parallel to one another and face one another with a distance (18) between them.Base element (16) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the distance (18) between the front sides (4) of the process windows (3) is 1-10 mm with an accuracy of 0.03 mm.Base element (16) according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the base element (16) and the respective process window module (1) are each connected to one another by means of a preferably materially bonded connecting means.Base element (16) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cohesive connecting means is in each case designed as a circumferential weld (17) and therefore also as a seal between the base element (16) and the respective process window module (1).Base element (16) according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the base element (16) and / or the process window modules (1) and / or the cohesive connection means consist of a metallic weldable material, such as, for example, stainless steel or highly alloyed steels, tantalum, zirconium or titanium.Base element (16) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the base module (16) is designed to be rotationally symmetrical along its longitudinal axis and the diameter is 8.5 mm to 30 mm, preferably 10 mm to 25 mm.

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