bottle scale

Abstract

Bottle scale, in particular for refrigerant bottles (22), characterized in that the bottle scale (1) has three separate sensor units (16) which can be arranged individually on a bottle, each sensor unit (16) having a weighing sensor (3), and in that the bottle scale (1) has an evaluation unit (5) which is designed to receive signals from the sensor units (16) and to calculate a mass.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bottle scale, in particular for refrigerant bottles.

[0002] When commissioning or servicing heat pumps or refrigeration systems, these systems are charged with refrigerant. A system may have a specified mass of refrigerant with which the system must be charged. This means that the mass of refrigerant added must be monitored during the charging process.

[0003] The refrigerant is usually stored in compressed gas cylinders, so for the sake of simplicity, the entire refrigerant cylinder is weighed to determine the mass of refrigerant. A cylinder scale is used for this purpose, which has a weighing platform on which the refrigerant cylinder can be placed. This makes it easy to determine the mass of refrigerant that has been filled into the system.

[0004] However, there is a wide selection of different refrigerant cylinders available on the market. Large refrigerant cylinders, in particular, have limited space on current cylinder scales and cannot be positioned securely. However, cylinder scales cannot be made any larger, as this would make them more difficult to transport and handle.

[0005] Another problem, especially with large bottle scales, is uneven ground, which can make the scale unstable. Height-adjustable feet are available to compensate for such unevenness. However, the weighing surface of the bottle scale must be aligned as precisely as possible horizontally. Therefore, a spirit level is also required to align the weighing surface, which may require adjusting several feet. This is cumbersome, time-consuming, and error-prone.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to create a bottle scale, in particular for refrigerant bottles, which is simple and safe to use.

[0007] This task is solved in that the bottle scale has three separate sensor units that can be individually arranged on a bottle, each sensor unit having a weighing sensor, and in that the bottle scale has an evaluation unit that is designed to receive signals from the sensor units and to calculate the mass. In this way, the bottle scale does not require an extensive weighing surface on which the bottle must be placed. Therefore, complex and time-consuming alignment of the bottle scale is no longer necessary. The individual sensor units can be attached to a stand or the base of the bottle, for example, so that the bottle stands directly on these weighing sensors. In addition, since the three sensor units are small and lightweight, the transport and use of the refrigerant scale is made considerably easier.

[0008] In one version, the evaluation unit is located in one of the sensor units. In this way, one of the three sensor units essentially serves as a control unit for the other two sensor units.

[0009] In one embodiment, the bottle scale has an output unit designed to display a measured value. The output unit can, for example, comprise a graphic display or a screen on which a measured value, i.e., a mass, can be displayed and output.

[0010] In one embodiment, the output unit is located in a sensor unit. This can be the same sensor unit in which the evaluation unit is located. However, it is also possible for the evaluation unit and the output unit to be located in different sensor units.

[0011] In one version, the bottle scale has an output unit designed to send a measured value to a remote receiver. This eliminates the need for a display. Instead, the measured value from the bottle scale is sent to a separate device.

[0012] The output unit can also be configured to display and transmit the measured value. This allows, for example, the measured value to be sent to a data logger for recording, in addition to direct monitoring on the bottle.

[0013] It can be particularly advantageous if the evaluation unit and / or the output unit are implemented as an application on a mobile computer, especially a tablet or smartphone. This allows the three sensor units to be identical and simple in design, each sending their measured values ​​to a central app, which can handle the evaluation, display, and logging.

[0014] Such an application can also serve as a remote receiver that receives the measured values ​​from an output unit.

[0015] The individual sensor units can be electrically connected to each other via cables. This allows for a power supply and / or the exchange of measured values.

[0016] In one embodiment, the sensor units, the evaluation unit, and possibly the output unit or one output unit are configured for wireless signal transmission, particularly for transmission via a wireless network, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This eliminates the need for disruptive cabling. Each of the sensor units can operate autonomously and wirelessly transmit the measured values ​​to an evaluation unit.

[0017] As already mentioned, a bottle, for example, can be placed directly on the three sensor units.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sensor units each have a fastening device with which the sensor unit can be attached to a bottle. This ensures that the sensor unit stays in place on the bottle. This further simplifies handling, as the sensor unit cannot fall off the bottle or the bottle slip off the sensor unit.

[0019] In one embodiment, the fastening means comprises a substantially U-shaped attachment part that can be attached to a rim or edge of the bottle. This reliably prevents the bottle from slipping off a sensor unit. Furthermore, simple and safe handling is enabled, eliminating errors.

[0020] In one embodiment, the fastening means comprises a clamp and / or a magnet. This also firmly connects the sensor unit to the bottle, preventing it from slipping off.

[0021] Such a clamp and / or a magnet is particularly advantageous in combination with a U- or L-shape of an attachment.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] It shows: Fig. 1 a block diagram of a bottle scale with three sensor units, one of the sensor units having an evaluation unit, Fig. 2 a block diagram of a bottle scale with three sensor units, an output unit and a separate display unit, wherein one of the sensor units has an evaluation unit, Fig. 3 a block diagram of a bottle scale with three sensor units, one of the sensor units having an evaluation unit and another of the sensor units having an output unit, Fig. 4 a block diagram of a bottle scale with three sensor units, one of the sensor units having an evaluation unit and an output unit, Fig. 5 a block diagram of a bottle scale with three identical sensor units and a separate device having an evaluation unit and an output unit, Fig. 6 an oblique view of a sensor unit with a U-shaped fastening means and an internal weighing sensor, Fig. 7 a top view of the sensor unit of the Fig. 6, Fig. 8 an oblique view of a sensor unit with a U-shaped fastening means and an external weighing sensor, Fig. 9 a bottom view of the sensor unit of the Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is an oblique view of a substantially L-shaped sensor unit with an external weighing sensor and a magnet as a fastening means, Fig. 11 a schematic representation of a refrigerant bottle with a bottle scale according to the invention with separate evaluation and output unit, and Fig. 12 a schematic representation of an upside-down refrigerant bottle with a bottle scale arranged on the head with a sensor unit with integrated evaluation and output unit.

[0024] The Fig. 1 to 6 show various configurations for a bottle scale 1 according to the invention. All versions have three separate sensor units in common, each with a weighing sensor 3. These sensor units can be individually arranged on a bottle so that the mass of the bottle can be determined.

[0025] The execution according to Fig. 1 has two first sensor units 2, each with a weighing sensor 3. A second sensor unit 4 has, in addition to the weighing sensor 3, an evaluation unit 5, which is designed to receive sensor signals 6, in particular the sensor values ​​of the weighing sensors 3 of the first sensor units 2. The sensor signals 6 are preferably transmitted wirelessly via a radio connection. The evaluation unit 5 is designed to calculate a common mass value for the bottle mass from the sensor signals 6 of the three weighing sensors 3. The mass value can, for example, be stored in a memory and read out later.

[0026] The execution of the Fig. 2 comprises two first sensor units 2 and a third sensor unit 10, which is configured like the second sensor unit 4 and additionally comprises an output unit 7 configured to send mass values ​​12 to an external device 8. In the example, this external device 8 comprises a screen 9 for displaying the mass value.

[0027] The execution of the Fig. 3 comprises a first sensor unit 2, a fourth sensor unit 11, and a fifth sensor unit 13. The fourth sensor unit 11 comprises a weighing sensor 3 and an evaluation unit 5, which receives the sensor signals 6 from the individual weighing sensors 3 and calculates them into a mass value 12. The fifth sensor unit 13 comprises a weighing sensor 3 and an output unit 7 with a screen 9 for outputting the mass value 12. In this embodiment, this mass value 12 is transmitted from the fourth sensor unit 11 to the fifth sensor unit 13.

[0028] The execution of the Fig. 4 comprises two first sensor units 2 and a sixth sensor unit 14. The sixth sensor unit 14 comprises a weighing sensor 3, an evaluation unit 5, and an output unit 7 with a screen 9 for displaying a mass value.

[0029] The execution of the Fig. 5 has three first sensor units 2. An evaluation unit 5 and an output unit 7 are implemented as an application program or app on a smartphone 15. The first sensor units 2 transmit the sensor values ​​6 of the weighing sensors 3 directly to the evaluation unit 5, which is implemented as software. The mass value is displayed by the output unit 7, which is also implemented as software.

[0030] In addition to the versions shown here, other versions of the bottle scale are conceivable, which is why the application should not be limited to the versions shown.

[0031] The Fig. 6 to 10 show exemplary designs of the sensor units.

[0032] The Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show a first exemplary embodiment of a sensor unit 16 with a substantially U-shaped housing 17. The housing 17 has a plug-on part 18, which can be placed, for example, on the rim or edge of a bottle, in particular a refrigerant bottle. The housing 17 and the plug-on part 18 are formed as one piece in this embodiment. A weighing sensor 3 is arranged on the inside of the plug-on part 18. This means that the weighing sensor 3 is directly loaded by a bottle. Each of the Fig. The first to sixth sensor units described in Figures 1 to 5 may have such a configuration.

[0033] The Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show a further exemplary embodiment of a sensor unit 16, which differs from the embodiment of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 in that the weighing sensor 3 is located on the outside of the attachment part 18. This means that the weighing sensor 3 is in contact with the ground and is loaded by a bottle through the sensor unit 16.

[0034] The Fig. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a sensor unit 16. The sensor unit 16 essentially has an L-shape, wherein here the weighing sensor 3, analogous to the embodiment of the Fig. 8, is arranged or effective on the outside of a first leg 20 of the sensor unit 16. The sensor unit 16 also has a magnet 19 as a fastening means, which is arranged on the inside of the second leg 21 of the sensor unit 16. The magnet 19 allows the sensor unit 16 to be attached to a bottle, with a bottom or edge of the bottle being in contact with the inside of the first leg 20 of the sensor unit 16.

[0035] The Fig. 11 shows, by way of example and schematically, the arrangement of a bottle scale 1 according to the invention according to the Fig. 5 on a refrigerant bottle 22. The bottle scale 1 has three sensor units 16, which are designed, for example, according to one of the aforementioned embodiments. The sensor units 16 are preferably arranged uniformly, that is, at an angle of 120° to each other, on the edge 23 of the base 24 of the refrigerant bottle 22. The bottle scale 1 has, as shown Fig. 5, an app on a smartphone 15 which evaluates the sensor signals and displays a mass value.

[0036] The Fig. 12 shows, by way of example and schematically, a further arrangement of a bottle scale 1 according to the invention according to the Fig. 4 on a refrigerant bottle 22. Deviating from the Fig.11, the refrigerant bottle 22 is upside down and the sensor units 16 are arranged on the edge 23 of the valve protection collar 25 of the refrigerant bottle. List of reference symbols 1 bottle scale 2 first sensor unit 3 weighing sensor 4 second sensor unit 5 Evaluation unit 6 Sensor signal 7 Output unit 8 external device 9 screen 10 third sensor unit 11 fourth sensor unit 12 Mass value 13 fifth sensor unit 14 sixth sensor unit 15 smartphones 16 Sensor unit 17 housings 18 Attachment 19 Magnet 20 first leg 21 second leg 22 Refrigerant bottle 23 edge 24 Stand 25 valve protection collars

Claims

[1] Bottle scale, especially for refrigerant bottles (22), characterized by that the bottle scale (1) has three separate sensor units (16) which can be arranged individually on a bottle, each sensor unit (16) having a weighing sensor (3), and that the bottle scale (1) has an evaluation unit (5) which is designed to receive signals from the sensor units (16) and to calculate a mass. [2] Bottle scale according to claim 1, characterized by that the evaluation unit (5) is arranged in one of the sensor units (4, 10, 11). [3] Bottle scale according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the bottle scale (1) has an output unit (7) which is designed to display a mass value and / or to send a mass value to a remote receiver (8). [4] Bottle scale according to claim 3, characterized bythat the evaluation unit (5) and / or the output unit (7) is designed as an application on a mobile computer, in particular a tablet or smartphone (15). [5] Bottle scale according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor units (16), the evaluation unit (5) and possibly the or an output unit (7) are designed for the wireless transmission of signals (6, 12), in particular for transmission in a radio network, for example Bluetooth or WLAN. [6] Bottle scale according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor units (16) each have a fastening means with which the sensor units (16) can be fastened to a bottle. [7] Bottle scale according to claim 6, characterized by that the fastening means has a substantially U-shaped plug-on part (18) which can be plugged onto an edge or rim (23) of a bottle. [8] Bottle scale according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by that the fastening means comprises a clamp and / or a magnet (19). [9] Bottle scale according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by that the sensor unit (16) and the fastening means (18) are formed in one piece. [10] Bottle scale according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the weighing sensor (3) has a strain gauge.

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