Radar level gauge

Abstract

The radar level gauge disclosed in the present application comprises a watch case, a connecting piece, a waveguide body and a lens antenna, one end of the connecting piece is sleeved outside the lens antenna and fixedly connected with the lens antenna, the other end of the connecting piece is fixed with the watch case, and a mounting fastening surface is arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece; the lens antenna comprises a loading part, a waveguide channel is arranged in the waveguide body, and the waveguide body passes through the connecting piece and is sleeved outside the loading part. The mounting fastening surface in the radar level gauge is arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece, so that the deformation of the lens antenna under pressure can be avoided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to, but is not limited to, the field of level meters, and in particular to a radar level meter. BACKGROUND

[0002] A radar level meter is a measuring instrument based on the time travel principle. Radar waves travel at the speed of light, and when the radar waves encounter the surface of the material, they are reflected back and received by the instrument. The travel time of the radar waves can be converted into a material level signal by electronic components.

[0003] In some cases, a mounting fastening surface is arranged on the lens antenna of the radar level meter, which is used for clamping by an external clamping device so as to assemble the radar level meter. However, the structural strength of the lens antenna is not high, and the lens antenna is easily deformed under pressure during clamping, which affects the normal work of the radar level meter. SUMMARY

[0004] The following is a summary of the subject matter of the detailed description herein. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0005] The radar level meter provided by the embodiments of the present application has the mounting fastening surface arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece, so that the deformation of the lens antenna under pressure can be avoided.

[0006] A radar level meter comprises a watchcase, a connecting piece, a waveguide body and a lens antenna. One end of the connecting piece is sleeved outside the lens antenna and fixedly connected with the lens antenna. The other end of the connecting piece is fixed with the watchcase. A mounting fastening surface is arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece.

[0007] The lens antenna comprises a loading part. A waveguide channel is arranged in the waveguide body. The waveguide body passes through the connecting piece and is sleeved outside the loading part.

[0008] Compared with some technologies, the embodiments of the present application have the following beneficial effects:

[0009] The radar level meter provided by the embodiments of the present application has the mounting fastening surface arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece, so that the deformation of the lens antenna under pressure can be avoided.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present application will be described in the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a radar level meter according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0012] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a radar level meter according to another embodiment of the present application.Figure 1 Enlarged view of the middle B part structure;

[0013] Figure 3 For Figure 1 Enlarged view of the middle C part structure;

[0014] Figure 4 For Figure 1 Sectional view along the middle A-A direction;

[0015] Figure 5 Structure diagram of the rotation stopping protrusion and the rotation stopping groove according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 6 Exploded structure diagram of the radar level meter according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0017] The reference signs are:

[0018] 1 - watch case, 2 - connecting piece, 21 - first connecting piece, 22 - second connecting piece, 23 - mounting fastening surface, 24 - axial stop surface, 25 - rotation stopping protrusion, 3 - waveguide body, 31 - waveguide passage, 32 - axial stop part, 4 - lens antenna, 41 - antenna outer shell, 411 - external thread, 412 - sealing surface, 42 - antenna inner core, 421 - loading part, 43 - connecting sleeve, 44 - check ring, 45 - rotation stopping groove, 51 - first sealing piece, 52 - second sealing piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other arbitrarily without conflict.

[0020] The lens antenna is generally made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) or fluoroplastic material, and has good corrosion resistance but low strength. When the mounting fastening surface is arranged on the side surface of the lens antenna, the lens antenna is easily deformed when clamped, which affects the measurement accuracy and working reliability of the radar level meter.

[0021] As Figure 1 and Figure 6 shown, the present application provides a radar level meter, which comprises a watch case 1, a connecting piece 2, a waveguide body 3 and a lens antenna 4. One end of the connecting piece 2 is sleeved outside the lens antenna 4 and fixedly connected with the lens antenna 4, and the other end of the connecting piece 2 is fixed with the watch case 1. A mounting fastening surface 23 is arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece 2. The lens antenna 4 comprises a loading part 421, the waveguide body 3 is provided with a waveguide passage 31, and the waveguide body 3 passes through the connecting piece 2 and is sleeved outside the loading part 421.

[0022] The mounting fastening surface 23 is used for clamping fixation with an external clamping device. The mounting fastening surface 23 is arranged on the outer side wall surface of the connecting piece 2, and the mounting fastening surface 23 does not need to be arranged on the lens antenna 4, so that the external clamping device can avoid pressing the lens antenna 4 to cause damage to the lens antenna 4 when clamping the radar level meter, and the working reliability of the radar level meter is improved.

[0023] In an example embodiment, the mounting fastening surface 23 is a rotation-stopping surface for facilitating clamping.

[0024] The mounting fastening surface 23 is arranged in a form for facilitating clamping, for example, as shown in Figure 6 The cross section of the mounting fastening surface 23 can be a regular hexagon (with rounded corners). Of course, the mounting fastening surface can also be other non-circular surfaces that facilitate clamping and can stop rotation.

[0025] In an example embodiment, a circumferential fixing structure is arranged between the connecting piece 2 and the lens antenna 4, an axial fixing structure is arranged between the connecting piece 2 and the waveguide body 3, and the waveguide body 3 is axially fixed with the lens antenna 4.

[0026] The circumferential fixing structure arranged between the connecting piece 2 and the lens antenna 4 can avoid circumferential rotation of the lens antenna 4 during operation. The axial fixing structure arranged between the connecting piece 2 and the waveguide body 3 axially fixes the waveguide body 3 with the lens antenna 4, so that the lens antenna 4 is axially fixed, and axial movement of the lens antenna 4 during operation can be avoided. The circumferential positioning structure and the axial positioning structure can fix and limit the position of the lens antenna 4, avoid loosening during operation, and affect the measurement result, and improve the measurement accuracy and working reliability of the radar level meter.

[0027] In an example embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 The axial fixing structure includes an axial stop portion 32 arranged on the waveguide body 3 and an axial stop surface 24 arranged on the connecting piece 2, and the axial stop portion 32 abuts against the axial stop surface 24.

[0028] The other end of the connecting piece 2 is fixed with the watch case 1, that is, the position of the connecting piece 2 is fixed. The waveguide body 3 is provided with an axial stop portion 32 (for example, an annular protruding rib), and the connecting piece 2 can be provided with an axial stop surface 24, which abuts against the axial stop portion 32 to axially limit the waveguide body 3.

[0029] It should be understood that, in addition to the above-mentioned axial fixing mode of the “axial stop portion 32 and the axial stop surface 24”, the waveguide body 3 and the connecting piece 2 can also adopt other axial fixing structures, for example, a positioning hole is arranged on the connecting piece 2, a positioning groove is arranged at a corresponding position of the waveguide body 3, and a positioning pin is inserted into the positioning groove through the positioning hole to axially fix the waveguide body 3; or the waveguide body 3 and the connecting piece 2 are axially fixed through a retaining ring.

[0030] In an example embodiment, as shown in Figures 3-5 The circumferential fixing structure includes a rotation-stopping protrusion 25 arranged on one of the lens antenna 4 and the connecting piece 2, and a rotation-stopping groove 45 arranged on the other of the lens antenna 4 and the connecting piece 2, the rotation-stopping groove 45 being matched with the rotation-stopping protrusion 25.

[0031] The rotation-stopping protrusion 25 can be arranged on the connecting piece 2, and the rotation-stopping groove 45 can be arranged at a corresponding position of the lens antenna 4, the rotation-stopping protrusion 25 being clamped into the rotation-stopping groove 45 to fix the lens antenna 4 circumferentially and avoid rotation of the lens antenna 4. The rotation-stopping protrusion 25 and the rotation-stopping groove 45 can be arranged in multiple numbers and uniformly along the circumferences of the connecting piece 2 and the lens antenna 4.

[0032] It should be understood that, in addition to the above-mentioned circumferential fixing mode of the “rotation-stopping protrusion 25 and the rotation-stopping groove 45”, the lens antenna 4 and the connecting piece 2 can also adopt other circumferential fixing structures, for example, a positioning hole can be arranged on the connecting piece 2, a positioning groove can be arranged at a corresponding position of the lens antenna 4, and a positioning pin can be inserted through the positioning hole into the positioning groove to fix the lens antenna 4 circumferentially.

[0033] In an example embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 The lens antenna 4 includes an antenna outer shell 41 and an antenna inner core 42 arranged in the antenna outer shell 41, a loading part 421 being arranged on the antenna inner core 42, and an installation cavity being formed between the antenna inner core 42 and the antenna outer shell 41; a connecting sleeve 43 is arranged in the installation cavity, the connecting sleeve 43 being arranged outside the antenna inner core 42 and being axially fixed with the antenna outer shell 41; the waveguide body 3 extends into the connecting sleeve 43 and is axially fixed with the connecting sleeve 43. The connecting sleeve 43 and the antenna outer shell 41 can be axially fixed through a stop ring 44; the connecting sleeve 43 and the waveguide body 3 can be connected through threads.

[0034] The lens antenna 4 includes an antenna outer shell 41 and an antenna inner core 42 arranged in the antenna outer shell 41, the antenna outer shell 41 being fixedly connected with one end of the connecting piece 2; a connecting sleeve 43 is arranged outside the antenna inner core 42, and the connecting sleeve 43 is axially fixed in the antenna outer shell 41 through a stop ring 44 (for example, a spring stop ring), so that the antenna outer shell 41, the antenna inner core 42 and the connecting sleeve 43 form an integral whole, which is convenient for being directly installed at the lower end of the waveguide body 3. The waveguide body is provided with external threads, the connecting sleeve 43 is provided with internal threads, and the connecting sleeve 43 and the waveguide body 3 are connected through threads, so that the lens antenna 4 is connected with the waveguide body 3 through the connecting sleeve 43.

[0035] In an example embodiment, the connecting sleeve 43 is a plastic connecting sleeve, or the connecting sleeve 43 is a metal connecting sleeve with an excitation compensation effect.

[0036] The connecting sleeve 43 can be made of plastic material, which is convenient for processing and forming, has low cost, is conducive to reducing the overall cost of the radar level gauge, and can reduce the reflection of electromagnetic waves. Of course, the connecting sleeve 43 can also be made of metal material to play a compensation role and reduce or avoid the influence of electromagnetic wave leakage.

[0037] It should be understood that, in addition to the above-mentioned materials, the connecting sleeve 43 can also be made of other materials, such as rubber, etc.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 The loading part 421 is arranged on the antenna inner core 42 of the lens antenna 4, and the rotation-stopping groove 45 (or the rotation-stopping protrusion) of the circumferential fixing structure is arranged on the antenna shell 41 of the lens antenna 4.

[0039] The waveguide channel 31 is provided with a variable-diameter part with gradually increasing diameter at the lower end, and the loading part 421 on the antenna inner core 42 is a tapered loading end that can be inserted into the variable-diameter part; the rotation-stopping groove 45 (or the rotation-stopping protrusion) is arranged on the antenna shell 41, and the rotation-stopping protrusion 25 (or the rotation-stopping groove) is arranged on the connecting piece 2, the rotation-stopping protrusion 25 is clamped into the rotation-stopping groove 45, so that the antenna shell 41 is circumferentially fixed, and circumferential rotation of the antenna shell 41 under the influence of the external environment is avoided.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting piece 2 is a one-piece structure; or, as shown in Figure 1 The connecting piece 2 includes a first connecting piece 21 and a second connecting piece 22 that are sleeved and connected, the first connecting piece 21 is sleeved outside the lens antenna 4, and the circumferential fixing structure is arranged between the second connecting piece 22 and the lens antenna 4, the axial fixing structure is arranged between the second connecting piece 22 and the waveguide body 3, and the mounting and fastening surface 23 is arranged on the first connecting piece 21 or the second connecting piece 22.

[0041] The connecting piece 2 can be a one-piece structure, which is convenient for processing and has high strength. Of course, the connecting piece 2 can also be arranged in the form of the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22, the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22 are fixedly connected through threads, clamping or the like, and the first connecting piece 21 is located below the second connecting piece 22.

[0042] The axial fixing structure is arranged between the waveguide body 3 and the second connecting piece 22, and the first sealing member 51 can also be arranged between the waveguide body 3 and the second connecting piece 22; the antenna shell 41 is fixedly connected with the first connecting piece 21, and the second sealing member 52 can also be arranged between the antenna shell 41 and the first connecting piece 21.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the first connecting piece 21 is a plastic piece, the second connecting piece 22 is a metal piece, and the watch case 1 is a metal piece.

[0044] The first connecting piece 21 can be a plastic piece, which improves the corrosion resistance and processing performance of the first connecting piece 21, and is reliable in work and convenient for processing the rotation-stopping protrusion 25 at the lower part of the first connecting piece 21; the second connecting piece 22 can be a metal piece, which is connected with the watchcase 1 made of metal, and can shield the influence of external low-frequency electromagnetic waves (less than 70 GHz). The radar level meter of the embodiment of the present application adopts electromagnetic waves with a frequency of not less than 70 GHz.

[0045] Of course, the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22 can be made of other materials, for example, the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22 can both be metal pieces or plastic pieces.

[0046] It should be understood that the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22 can also be made of other materials, for example, rubber or high-molecular organic material, etc.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna shell 41 and the antenna inner core 42 of the lens antenna 4 can be made of fluoroplastic, PTFE or PFA, and the materials of the antenna shell 41 and the antenna inner core 42 can be the same or different.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, one of the antenna shell 41 and the antenna inner core 42 is provided with an annular groove, and the other is provided with an annular protrusion, so that the antenna inner core 42 is clamped and fixed with the antenna shell 41. The antenna shell 41 can be provided with an external thread 411 matched with the to-be-measured tank body; and the antenna shell 41 can also be provided with a sealing surface 412, which is sealingly attached to the to-be-measured tank body, and a sealing ring is arranged at the sealing surface 412, so as to improve the sealing property between the antenna shell 41 and the to-be-measured tank body.

[0049] The above embodiments only express the exemplary embodiments of the present application, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but the content is only the implementation mode adopted for the purpose of understanding the present application, and is not used to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application can make any modification and change in the implementation form and details, but the patent protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A radar level gauge, characterized in that, The device includes a watch case, a connector, a waveguide, and a lens antenna. One end of the connector is sleeved over the lens antenna and fixedly connected to it. The other end of the connector is fixed to the watch case. The outer wall of the connector is provided with a mounting fastening surface. The lens antenna includes a loading part, and a waveguide path is provided inside the waveguide. The waveguide passes through the connector and is sleeved outside the loading part. A circumferential fixing structure is provided between the connector and the lens antenna, and an axial fixing structure is provided between the connector and the waveguide. The connector axially limits the waveguide; the waveguide and the lens antenna are axially fixed. The lens antenna includes an antenna housing and an antenna core disposed within the antenna housing. The loading portion is disposed on the antenna core, and a mounting cavity is formed between the antenna core and the antenna housing. The mounting cavity is provided with a connecting sleeve, which is sleeved on the outside of the antenna inner core and is axially fixedly connected to the antenna outer shell. The waveguide extends into the connecting sleeve and is axially fixedly connected to the connecting sleeve, so that the antenna shell, the antenna core and the connecting sleeve form a whole and are installed at the lower end of the waveguide.

2. The radar level gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial fixing structure includes an axial stop portion disposed on the waveguide and an axial stop surface disposed on the connector, wherein the axial stop portion abuts against the axial stop surface.

3. The radar level gauge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting sleeve is axially fixed to the antenna housing by a retaining ring; The connecting sleeve is connected to the wave conductor by a thread.

4. The radar level gauge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting sleeve is a plastic connecting sleeve, or the connecting sleeve is a metal connecting sleeve with excitation compensation function.

5. The radar level gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circumferential fixing structure includes an anti-rotation protrusion disposed on one of the lens antenna and the connector, and an anti-rotation groove disposed on the other of the lens antenna and the connector, wherein the anti-rotation groove cooperates with the anti-rotation protrusion.

6. The radar level gauge according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lens antenna includes an antenna housing and an antenna core disposed within the antenna housing. The loading portion is disposed on the antenna core, and the anti-rotation protrusion or the anti-rotation groove is disposed on the antenna housing.

7. The radar level gauge according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The connector is an integral structure; Alternatively, the connector may include a first connector and a second connector that are sleeved together, the first connector being sleeved outside the lens antenna, and the circumferential fixing structure being disposed between the second connector and the lens antenna, the axial fixing structure being disposed between the second connector and the waveguide, and the mounting fastening surface being disposed on the first connector or the second connector.

8. The radar level gauge according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first connector is a plastic part, and the second connector is a metal part; or, both the first connector and the second connector are metal or plastic parts. The watch case is made of metal. The mounting and fastening surface is an anti-rotation surface that facilitates clamping.

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