alignment device

Abstract

Alignment device (1) for a measuring device (2), in particular for determining a fill level or limit level of a medium in a container, which is attached to the container, wherein the alignment device (1) essentially comprises a disk (4) which is wedge-shaped at a first angle (α) in its height (y) and a disk (5) which is flat in its height (y), wherein the flat disk (5) comprises a first bore (6) and the first bore (6) has a second angle (α) to the normal of the disk surface (7) of the flat disk (5) which deviates from 0°, and wherein the wedge-shaped disk (4) and the flat disk (5) can be rotated relative to each other and fixed against unintentional rotation by means of a clamping device (9, 10, 17, 19, 20), wherein the clamping device (9, 10) is designed such that it has at least one guide (10),which is embedded in the wedge-shaped and / or flat disc and serves both to guide and to prevent the unintentional release of at least one clamping element (9), wherein one of the two end regions of the clamping element (9a) is inserted into the guide (10), and the other end region 9a is guided through a disc (4) that has at least one further bore / recess (11) in the flat disc (5) and / or wedge-shaped disc (4), or wherein the clamping device (9, 10) is designed such that it has at least one clamping element (9) that is firmly integrated with one of its end regions (9a) into the wedge-shaped disc (4) or flat disc (5) and that is guided with its other end region (9a) through a disc (4) that has at least one further bore / recess (11) in the corresponding flat disc (5) and wedge-shaped disc (4), or wherein the clamping device (9, 10) has at least one union nut (19) exhibitswhich is designed so that the flat disk (5) can be rotated relative to the wedge-shaped disk (4) and fixed to it.

Description

The invention relates to an alignment device for a measuring device for determining a fill level or limit level of a medium in a container.Measuring devices for determining a fill level or limit level of a medium in a container are known in a large number of different designs. For example, contactless fill level measuring devices are available which are based on the ultrasound principle and / or the radar principle and / or the microwave principle. In this case, the fill level measuring devices are mounted on, on or in the lid of the container and above the maximum fill level of the medium to be expected in the container. From above, these contactless fill level measuring devices send measurement signals in the interior of the container to the medium, at the surface of which the measurement signals are reflected and fed back to the measurement device. The distance between the medium surface and the measuring device can be determined from the reflected signals or their travel time, from which the sought fill level of the medium results taking into account the geometry of the container.Known limit level measuring devices are based on the oscillating fork principle and / or the laser measurement technique principle. In this case, they are usually mounted at a predetermined location or height in a side wall of the container in such a way that they project into the interior of the container and are used there as a so-called limit level switch. If they are used, for example, as an overfill protection device and are accordingly mounted at the position of the maximum admissible fill level in the container, they generate a switching signal when they are covered by the medium, with which a further inflow of the medium into the container is switched off or interrupted. If the limit level switches are used, for example, as a pump guard and are accordingly mounted at the position of the minimum fill level in the container which is not to be fallen below, they generate a switching signal if they are not covered by the medium, with which a further pumping out or outflow of the medium from the container is prevented.A large number of such fill and limit level measuring devices are developed, manufactured and sold by Endress+Hauser.A particular challenge arises with the aforementioned measuring devices for determining a fill level or limit level, which are mounted on the container from the outside and whose sensors or transducers protrude into the interior of the container. In order to achieve the desired accuracy of the measurement even in the case of an unfavorable container shape or an unfavorable mounting position, for example when mounting the measuring device on a connecting piece arranged obliquely or obliquely on the container, it is necessary to align the measuring device or the measuring probe with the aid of an alignment device. In this case, it is necessary, in particular in the case of liquid media, to align or position the measuring device or the measuring probe in such a way that the measurement signals strike the surface of the medium to be measured as perpendicularly as possible or perpendicularly.Deviating from this is the focus in the fill level measurement of non-liquid media, for example. Bulk material, less due to the extreme accuracy of the measurement, rather than due to the fact that the measurement signals illuminate the entire container, which is generally conical, in order to be able to measure the fill level over the entire container content. In order to ensure this, alignment devices are likewise used, which align the measuring device accordingly.Alignment devices are known, for example from DE 10 2007 061 571 A1, which provide a ball which is pressed or clamped adjustably between two disks and with the aid of which a measuring probe, which is guided through the ball and fixed to it, can be aligned. These alignment devices have the problem that, in particular in the case of measuring probes with large diameters, they require a large ball for positioning and thus have a high own weight and thus a measuring probe or a measuring device can only be set or adjusted very difficultly, wherein the fine adjustment is particularly difficult.In the utility model specification DE 8608914 U1, an installation flange for the rigid and in particular oblique fastening of stirring mechanisms to containers is disclosed.Furthermore, the known aligning devices have a low pressure tightness due to their construction.The object of the invention is to propose an alignment device which has an increased user-friendliness.The object is achieved according to the invention by an alignment device for a measuring device, in particular for determining a fill level or limit level of a medium in a container according to claim 1, which is fastened to the container, wherein the alignment device substantially comprises a disc which is wedge-shaped in its height at a first angle and a disc which is planar in its height, wherein the planar disc comprises a first bore and the first bore has a second angle which differs from 0° with respect to the normal of the disc surface of the planar disc, and wherein the disc which is wedge-shaped and the planar disc can be fixed to one another both rotatably with respect to one another and also against unwanted rotation by means of a clamping device.Such an alignment device can be provided by means of a flange or in any other manner, for example. Because the two disks are simply rotated or rotated relative to one another and the positioning or orientation of the measuring device associated therewith, welding, screwing, is fastened to the container, the operator makes it possible to set the measuring device particularly easily, in particular fine adjustment. After the measuring device has been positioned completely, the two panes are fixed with the aid of the clamping device, in order to prevent unwanted adjustment in this way.Clamping devices or clamping elements are always used in this case where two components are to be detachably connected to one another, particular attention being paid as a rule to the possibility of being able to continuously adjust the arrangement of the components relative to one another.According to the invention, the increased user-friendliness is achieved, in particular by the possibility of fine adjustability or fine adjustment of the measuring device to be aligned, which is realized by the rotation or rotation of the wedge-shaped and the planar disc with respect to one another and thus can be adjusted to the desired alignment angle.In this context, the alignment angle is understood to be the angle by which the measuring probe must be adjusted so that the measurement signals of the measuring device strike or reflect the surface of the medium to be measured at an angle of 90° or the angle which is necessary in order to be able to measure or illuminate the entire container region.According to an advantageous embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention, provision is made whereby the first angle of the wedge-shaped disk and the second angle of the first bore of the planar disk preferably have 5° to 15°.A further advantageous embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the first bore is designed such that a measuring probe of a measuring device can be guided through the first bore, in particular for determining a fill level or limit level.A further embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the planar disk is arranged essentially centrally on the wedge-shaped disk by means of the clamping device.One of the embodiments of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the clamping device is designed in such a way that it has at least one guide which is let into the wedge-shaped and / or planar disc and serves both for guiding and for preventing the unwanted detachment of at least one clamping element, wherein one of the two end regions of the clamping element is introduced into the guide and the other end region is guided through one of the at least one further bore / recess of the planar disc and / or wedge-shaped disc.Furthermore, it is provided that the guide is embedded in a circular manner around the center of the corresponding disk and / or the guide is configured such that the clamping element can be introduced into the guide.An alternative embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the clamping device is designed in such a way that it has at least one clamping element which is firmly integrated with one of its end regions into the wedge-shaped and / or planar disk and which is guided with its other end region through one of the at least one further bore / recess of the corresponding planar disk and / or wedge-shaped disk.A further alternative embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the clamping device has at least one union nut which is provided for the flat disc to be rotatable with respect to the disc of wedge-shaped configuration and also fixable thereon.A further embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the disc, which is wedge-shaped in its height, and / or the flat disc has an annular groove which accommodates a sealing element for sealing the two discs against one another.A further embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention provides that the outer wall of the measuring probe, of the measuring device guided through the first bore, and the inner wall of the bore of the planar disc are sealed with respect to one another.The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings. It shows: FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention, FIG. 2 : two perspective views of a first and second embodiment of the wedge-shaped disk, as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the wedge-shaped disk as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the planar disc according to the invention, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the planar disc, FIG. 6 : three longitudinal sections of three alternative embodiments of the clamping device of the alignment device according to the invention, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a particularly advantageous embodiment of the alignment device according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the alignment device 1 according to the invention, as it is mounted on a container in which a medium, for example a liquid, is located, the fill level of which is to be measured with the aid of a measuring device 2.The measuring device 2 in FIG. 1 is exemplarily shown as a free-radiating measuring device 2 which is intended to measure, for example, the fill level and / or limit level of the medium which is located in the container. For this purpose, the measuring device 2 emits measurement signals which reflect on the surface of the medium to be measured and are subsequently received again by the measuring device 2. On the basis of the known geometric dimensions of the container and the transit time determined by the measuring device 2, the fill level can be determined.In order to achieve the desired accuracy of the measurement, it is necessary, in particular in the case of liquid media, to align or position the measuring device 2 or the measuring probe 8 in such a way that the measurement signals strike the surface of the medium to be measured as perpendicularly or perpendicularly as possible. In order to ensure this, the measuring probe 8 of the measuring device 2 can be positioned or aligned as desired with the aid of the alignment device 1 according to the invention.For this purpose, the alignment device 1 is fastened directly, for example by a screw connection (not shown in FIG. 1 ) or with the aid of a flange 3 on, in or on the container. According to the invention, the alignment device 1 essentially consists of a disk, which is wedge-shaped in its height, or an obliquely cut cylinder 4, and a planar, typically flat disk 5, which can be rotated with respect to one another and also fixed against unwanted rotation by means of a clamping device 9, 10.The measuring probe, which is guided through the first bore into the interior of the container, is tightly connected, for example welded, to the flat disk in the region of the feedthrough and can be aligned with one another via a rotation or rotation of the two disks.A clamping device 9, 10, which is designed such that it essentially has a guide 10 and at least one clamping element 9, serves to connect the two disks to one another in a detachable manner and also to enable a desired continuously variable rotation relative to one another.The already mentioned clamping device 9, 10 will not be discussed in more detail at this point, but rather will be referred to the description of FIG. 6, in which the different embodiments of the clamping device 9, 10 are discussed.In order to reduce the overall height or the overall height and thus ultimately also the overall weight, the height of the two panes 4, 5 is kept as low as possible. Typically, the plane disc 5 is designed to be just as high that it still carries a measuring device 2 to be aligned welded to it and / or maintains the pressure of the container.When selecting the material or the material from which the two disks 4, 5 are manufactured, metal, in particular stainless steel, has proven to be particularly advantageous material or material. Since in a large number of cases the measuring probe or the measuring device 2 is also made of this material and thus the desired sealing between the planar pane 5 and the measuring probe 2, which is guided through the first bore 6, by means of a materially bonded connection, for example. Welding can be implemented. In addition, high mechanical stability of the alignment device is provided when metal is selected as the production material.In principle, however, other materials are also possible, such as, for example. Plastic is conceivable. The choice of the production material depends on the particular application and the associated requirements (for example chemical inertness, mechanical stability, etc.) for the alignment device.FIG. 2 shows two perspective views of a first and second configuration of the wedge-shaped disk 4, as is shown in the configuration of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 a) shows a recess 12 and FIG. 2 b) an opening 13 towards the side wall. Here, a combination is also provided, i.e. a wedge-shaped disc 4, which has a recess 12 and an opening 13 toward the side wall. The at least one clamping element 9 is let into the guide 10 through the recess 12 and / or opening 13. It is immaterial for the invention whether for the introduction of the clamping element 9, the wedge-shaped disc 4 has a recess 12 or an opening 13 towards the side wall or else a combination of the two. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a guide 10 and a groove 15 are shown.As shown in FIG. 2, the guide 10 is inserted into the wedge-shaped disk 4 in order to protect the clamping element 9 inserted in its end region 9a from undesired detachment. By a circular arrangement of the guide 10 around the center of the wedge-shaped disk 4, the at least one inserted clamping element 9 can be guided in a circle.The annular groove 15, which is likewise formed around the center, is provided for receiving a sealing element 16, which serves for sealing the wedge-shaped disk 4 with respect to the planar disk 5. The typical sealing element 16 here is an elastomer seal, such as an O-ring, a round cord ring, a quad ring, a molded seal or a edged seal ring.FIG. 3 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the wedge-shaped disk 4, as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. For ease of illustration, a coordinate system consisting of an x- and y-axis is also shown.The height of the wedge-shaped disk 4 increases steadily at the first angle α, the wedge angle in the y-direction. Depending on the region in which a measuring device 2 is to be positioned with the aid of the alignment device 1, this first angle or the wedge angle α varies in the range from 1° to 30°. However, in order to achieve a low overall height of the alignment device 1, this angle α is typically not greater than 15°.On the basis of the first angle α of the wedge-shaped disk 4 in combination with the second angle β of the planar disk 5, the region is obtained in which a measuring device 2 or a measuring probe can be positioned or aligned. The maximum adjustable alignment angle is thereby obtained from the sum of the first and the second angle α, β, whereas the minimum adjustable alignment angle is derived from the difference between the two angles.In order to achieve the lowest possible overall height of the alignment device 1, it is possible to design the first angle α smaller than the second angle β, so the height of the wedge-shaped disk 4 is kept low over the first smaller angle α and a large range for aligning the measuring probe or the measuring device 2 is nevertheless realized over the larger second angle β.FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the planar disc 5 according to the invention, which has a total of four further bores 11. The additional bores 11 serve for the passage of the corresponding clamping elements 9, which are let into the guide 10 with their end regions 9a. In principle, the number of further bores 11 is not restricted. Three or four further bores 11 have proven to be particularly advantageous since an optimum pressure distribution to the sealing element 16 guided in the groove 15 can thus be achieved. It goes without saying that more than four further bores 11 are likewise conceivable.FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the planar disc 5 for illustrating the second angle β, which is different from 0° and at which the first bore 6 is formed with respect to the normal 7 of the disc surface.It is obvious that by this measure, i.e. to make the second angle β larger than the first angle α, the wedge-shaped disk 4 can be reduced in height thanks to the smaller first angle α and, along with this, also the overall height of the alignment device 1.FIG. 6 shows three longitudinal sections of three alternative configurations of the clamping device 9, 10, 17 of the alignment device 1 according to the invention. In principle, any desired clamping device 9 is conceivable which connects or compresses the two disks 4, 5 both detachably to one another and also permits continuously variable rotation or rotation relative to one another in order thus to align a measuring probe or a measuring device 2.By pressing the two disks 4, 5 by means of the clamping device 9, the two disks 4, 5 are not only fixed relative to one another, but also sealed relative to one another with the aid of the sealing element 16, which ideally lies in a groove 15.FIG. 6 a) shows a favorable embodiment in which the clamping device 17 is designed in such a way that it essentially has a union nut 17 which is placed over the flat disc 5 and is tightened by means of a thread 18 on the disc 4 formed in a wedge shape for fixing or pressing the flat disc 5 intentionally onto the disc 4 formed in a wedge shape, wherein the thread 18 of the union nut 17 engages in a thread 18 of the disc 4 formed in a wedge shape corresponding thereto. In order to bring about an alignment or positioning of the measuring probe or of the measuring device 2, the union nut 17 is accordingly released and the two disks 4, 5 are rotated or rotated continuously with respect to one another.FIG. 6 b) shows the preferred embodiment in which the clamping device 9, 10, 20, 21 is realized in such a way that it has a guide 10 and at least one clamping element 9. For example, a grooved bolt 9 with head 21 and nut 20 is used as clamping element 9, one end region 9a of which, for example, head 21 is inserted into guide 10 and the other end region 9a of which is guided through bore / recess 11 of planar disk 5, this end region guided through bore / recess 11 of planar disk 5 being provided with a nut 20, with the aid of which the two disks 4, 5 can be fixed. In this way, the two disks 4, 5 can be rotated or rotated with respect to one another for the alignment of the measuring device 2 or the measuring probe 8, and can be fixed after the alignment process has ended.In principle, it is immaterial for the implementation of the clamping device 9, 10, 20, 21 in which washer 4, 5 the guide 10 is located and in which the bore / recess 11 is located, and it is equally immaterial whether the end region of the clamping element 9 awith the head 21 is let into the guide 10 or the end region 9 awith the nut 20.However, it has proved to be advantageous to let the guide 10 into the wedge-shaped disc 4 and to realize the bore / recess 11 in the flat disc 5, just as to let the head of the clamping element 21 into the guide and not the other end region, i.e. the nut 20.FIG. 6 c) shows a particularly favorable embodiment in which the clamping device 9, 19 is realized in such a way that the at least one clamping element 9 is firmly fixed to one of the two disks 4, 5 and the correspondingly other disk 5, 4 has at least one further cutout or recess 11 which corresponds to the arrangement of the clamping element 9. It is immaterial here whether the clamping element 9 is fixed firmly to or in the wedge-shaped disc 4 and the recess 11 is located in the planar disc 5 or vice versa, that is to say the clamping element 9 is fixed to or in the planar disc 5 and the recess 11 is realized in the wedge-shaped disc 4. With the aid of the at least one clamping element 9, which has a nut 20 in its end region 9 aand a corresponding clamping disk 19, the two disks 4, 5 can be pressed onto one another and thus fixed. In this way, the two disks 4, 5 can be rotated continuously with respect to one another and the measuring device can thus be positioned and fixed after the desired alignment of the measuring probe 8 or the measuring device 2.FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a particularly advantageous embodiment of the alignment device 1 according to the invention, in which the flat disk 5 is locked or arranged centrally on the disk 4 formed in the shape of a wedge by means of the clamping device 9, 10 and can be rotated or rotated with respect to one another and can also be fixed against undesired rotation. In this case, the clamping device 9, 10 is configured in such a way that it has (cf. FIG. 6 b ) a guide 10 and four clamping elements 9 and four further bores 11 corresponding to the guide. The guide 10 is embedded in a circular manner around the center of the wedge-shaped disk 4 and serves for guiding the four clamping elements 9. For this purpose, the clamping element 9, for example a nut and head bolt, is embedded in the guide 10 with its first end region 9a, the head of the nut bolt, and is guided with its other end region 9a through the further bore 11 of the planar disk 5 corresponding to the guide 10 and is surrounded by the releasable nut in the region passed through. In this way, the two disks 4, 5 are arranged substantially centrally with respect to one another and can be rotated with respect to one another.A measuring device 2 or a measuring probe, which is(s) guided through the first bore 6 of the planar disk 5, is positioned by the rotation or rotation of the planar disk 5 with respect to the disk 4 formed in a wedge shape corresponding to the desired alignment angle.It goes without saying that the clamping elements 9, which are typically designed as slot bolts 9 with head and nut, must be released for the rotation or rotation of the two disks 4, 5 and are fixed or tightened again after the desired alignment of the measuring device 2 or the measuring probe. In this case, by tightening the grooved bolts 9, not only are the two disks fixed relative to one another, but also sealed. The sealing element 16, which is arranged in the annularly or circularly formed groove 15 and is placed under pressure by the tightening of the grooved bolts 9 by the two disks 4, 5, seals the two disks 4, 5 against one another. In this case, the number of clamping elements 9 also determines the distribution of the pressure to the sealing element 16. When using the alignment device for nominal widths of up to 100 mm, it has proven particularly advantageous to use four clamping elements 9 and, for nominal widths of greater than 100 mm, correspondingly more than four clamping elements.As already described, an elastomer seal, such as an O-ring, a round cord ring, a quad ring, a molded seal or a edged seal ring, is preferably used as the sealing element 16.In order to achieve a complete seal of the interior of the container with respect to the atmosphere, in addition to the seal between the planar and the wedge-shaped disk 5, 4, a seal of the measuring probe or the measuring device 2 which is guided through the first bore 6 of the planar disk 5 is also necessary. For this purpose, it is expedient to seal the outer wall of the measuring probe, the measuring device 2 guided through the first bore 6 and the inner wall of the first bore 6 of the planar pane 5 relative to one another.It is particularly advantageous to seal the outer wall of the measuring probe with the aid of a cohesive connection, for example a weld, toward the inner wall of the first bore 6.It is self-evident that these forms of sealing need only be realized if the specific application requires.List of reference characters1 Alignment device 2 Measuring device 3 Flange 4 Wedge-shaped disk 5 Plane disk 6 First bore 7 Normal of the disk surface 8 Measuring probe of the measuring device 9 Clamping element 9 aEnd regions of the clamping element 10 Guide 11 Further bore / recess 12 Recess 13 Opening of the guide 14 Side wall of the wedge-shaped disk 15 Groove 16 Sealing element 17 Union nut 18 Thread 19 Clamping disk 20 Nut of the clamping element / nut 21 Head of the clamping element / nut bolt α First angle / wedge angle β Second angle y-axis

Claims

Alignment device (1) for a measuring device (2), in particular for determining a fill level or limit level of a medium in a container, which is fastened to the container, wherein the alignment device (1) substantially has a disc (4) which is wedge-shaped at a first angle (α) in its height (y) and a disc (5) which is planar in its height (y), wherein the planar disc (5) comprises a first bore (6) and the first bore (6) has a second angle (β) which differs from 0° to the normal of the disc surface (7) of the planar disc (5), and wherein the disc (4) which is wedge-shaped and the planar disc (5) can be fixed to one another by means of a clamping device (9, 10, 17, 19, 20) both rotatably with respect to one another and counter to unwanted rotation, wherein the clamping device (9, 10) is configured in such a way that it has at least one guide (10), which is let into the wedge-shaped and / or planar disc and serves both for guiding and for preventing the unwanted release of at least one clamping element (9), wherein one of the two end regions of the clamping element (9a) is introduced into the guide (10), and the other end region 9a is guided through one of the at least one further bore / recess (11) of the planar disc (5) and / or wedge-shaped disc (4), or wherein the clamping device (9, 10) is designed in such a way that it has at least one clamping element (9) such that one of its end regions (9a) is firmly integrated into the wedge-shaped (4) or planar disc (5) and that its other end region (9a) is guided through one of the at least one further bore / recess (11) of the corresponding planar disc (5) and wedge-shaped disc (4), or wherein the clamping device (9, 9, 10) is designed in such a way that it has at least one clamping element (9) is firmly integrated into the wedge-shaped (4) or planar disc (5) with its other end region (9a), 19) has at least one union nut (19), which is provided for the purpose that the planar disc (5) can be rotated with respect to the disc (4) of wedge-shaped design and can also be fixed thereon.The alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the first angle (α) of the wedge-shaped disk (4) and the second angle (β) of the first bore (6) of the planar disk (5) have 5° to 15°.Alignment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first bore (6) is configured such that a measuring probe (8) of a measuring device (2) can be guided through the first bore (6), in particular for determining a fill level or limit level.Alignment device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein by means of the clamping device the planar disc is arranged substantially centrally on the disc formed in a wedge shape.The alignment device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the guide (10) is embedded in a circle around the center of the corresponding disc.Alignment device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the guide (10) is configured such that the clamping element (9) can be introduced into the guide (10).Alignment device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the disc (4) of wedge-shaped height and / or the flat disc (5) has an annular groove (15) which accommodates a sealing element (16) for sealing the two discs (4, 5) against one another.Alignment device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the outer wall of the measuring probe (8), of the measuring device guided through the first bore (6) and the inner wall of the bore (11) of the planar disc (5) are sealed with respect to one another.

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