DEVICE FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS, FLOATABLE BODIES AND A METHOD

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for determining physical measured values ​​according to the preamble of claim 1, a float according to claim 10 and a method for carrying out a measurement according to the preamble of claim 11.

[0002] It is known to measure flow using floats arranged in fluid flow lines for the measurement, with the float position being monitored through a transparent observation window in the measuring line section. A disadvantage of this measuring device is that it is inflexible, both in terms of the type and location of its installation and the type of measuring device.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable device for measuring a material flow, while avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0004] The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

[0005] The present invention makes it possible to dispense with specific, individually adapted additional components and viewing systems in the measuring line section for floats or other areas of a flow device for measuring and transmitting measured values. The measured values ​​are recorded directly in the float and advantageously also stored, so that it can be used for very precise and specific measurements in the medium. A wide variety of sensor means can advantageously be used to record measured values, whereby the float itself can measure directly in the medium, acting as an intelligent signaling device and at the same time advantageously as a self-supplier for the required energy in the sense of energy harvesting. The acquired data can advantageously be transmitted to higher-level process control systems, for example through continuous so-called condition monitoring.The user can also easily remove or add functional units at a later date after installation. The device is very flexible in use, for all types of material flows, in particular for a suspension or emulsion of solid or liquid particles, or even in the form of flowing powder. Thanks to a variety of pre-provided means for attachment and / or passage, the user can use and / or retrofit the sensors in a modular manner, with different weights, wall thicknesses, materials, etc. In particular, materials can be selected based on the properties of the material flow, in particular the fluid, and in particular across material groups, so that, for example, on the one hand the fluid is safely guided and, on the other hand, the sensors are held stably and securely in the float. These can be manufactured as a single piece depending on the user's requirements.The proposed device allows sensors with a wide range of requirements regarding the type and design of measured value acquisition to be easily integrated into and / or on the float, even in advance of a standard change, without the need to replace the float. The float can include a sensor that is, for example, incorporated directly during production and subsequently connected via a removable contact when required by the user.

[0006] It is advantageous if a signal processing means is provided in and / or on the float.

[0007] It is advantageous if at least the floating body is to be constructed essentially in one piece by means of an additive manufacturing process, in particular 3D printing process, and / or integrated together with the sensor means into the floating body and / or sensor signal transmitting means and / or signal processing means and / or data storage and / or energy supply means, wherein in particular the floating body is to be designed as an inlay and / or hollow body comprising plastic, wherein sensor means are to be embedded by means of 3D printing and an inlay is to be received and sealed by a sleeve comprising a metal.

[0008] It is advantageous if the sensor means integrated into the float and / or sensor signal transmission means and / or signal processing means and / or data storage and / or energy supply means are arranged in contact with the medium and / or at a distance from the flowable medium, in particular a temperature meter with a distance calculation and / or a temperature gradient of the float material.

[0009] It is advantageous if, for communication with a receiving means outside the float, in particular a data reading device, in particular arranged in the measuring line section, for receiving the signals of the sensor means.

[0010] It is advantageous if the sensor means for measuring the flow and / or the pH value and / or the CO2 content and / or the flow velocity and / or the instantaneous flow rate and / or the viscosity and / or the degree of hardness and / or the mineral content, in particular with an RFID and / or NFC means and / or a Bluetooth transmitter, which is coupled in particular to a docking station and / or a computer and / or smartphone as a receiving means.

[0011] It is advantageous if the sensor means, in particular a plurality of sensor means, comprises an active sensor by means of which a voltage signal is to be generated, wherein in particular mechanical and / or chemical and / or light and / or heat energy is to be converted into a voltage signal, in particular by means of a thermocouple and / or a light sensor and / or a pressure sensor and / or the sensor means, in particular a plurality of sensor means, comprises a passive sensor, wherein together with the passive sensor an energy supply means is provided in order to convert the measured variable into an electrically usable signal, in particular by means of an inductive and / or capacitive and / or optical sensor, in particular a reflected light sensor and / or a light barrier and / or a magnetic field sensor, in particular a Hall probe and / or a reed contact, and / or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0012] It is advantageous if the flowable medium comprises an aerosol flow and / or fluid flow, in particular a gas flow, in particular an air flow, and / or a liquid flow.

[0013] It is advantageous if the energy supply means comprises an energy storage device, in particular an accumulator, and / or energy generation means, wherein an energy supply is provided in particular via an auxiliary current by means of kinetic energy, in particular an impeller and / or rotation of the floating body, and / or via utilization of a temperature difference, in particular an infrared method, and / or vibration energy of the floating body, which can be flowed around and driven by the flowable medium and / or via an induction coil in the floating body.

[0014] The object is also achieved by a method according to claim 8.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the claims and the following description, in which embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0016] They show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic section through a device according to the invention and Fig. 2 shows a schematic section through a device according to the invention.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a schematic section through a device 1 according to the invention for determining physical measured values ​​that characterize a flowable medium 2 in a measuring line section 5 and / or an environment, wherein the flowable medium 2 can flow through the measuring line section 5, and a floating body 6 is arranged essentially freely in the measuring line section 5 and is surrounded by the flowable medium 2 and is movable, in particular liftable, wherein in and / or on the floating body 6, in particular integrated into the floating body 6, at least one, in particular several, sensor means 3 are arranged for outputting a sensor signal for determining a physical measured value, in particular flow velocity and / or temperature and / or pH value, and in particular in and / or on the floating body 6, a sensor signal transmission means 4 and / or a data memory 7 associated with the sensor means 3 is provided,for transmitting and / or at least temporarily storing the sensor signal, and / or in particular an energy supply means 8 for supplying the sensor means 3 with energy.,

[0018] Fig. 2shows a schematic section through a device 1 according to the invention, wherein a signal processing means 9 is provided in and / or on the floating body 6, wherein at least the floating body 6 is to be constructed essentially in one piece by means of an additive manufacturing process, in particular 3D printing process, and / or integrated together with the sensor means 3 into the floating body 6 and / or sensor signal transmission means 4 and / or signal processing means 9 and / or data storage means 7 and / or energy supply means 8, wherein in particular the floating body is to be designed as an inlay and / or hollow body comprising plastic, wherein sensor means 3 are to be embedded by means of 3D printing and an inlay is to be received and sealed by a sleeve comprising a metal,wherein the sensor means 3 is integrated into the float 6 and / or sensor signal transmission means 4 and / or signal processing means 9 and / or data storage means 7 and / or energy supply means 8 are arranged in contact with the medium and / or at a distance from the flowable medium 2, in particular a temperature gauge with a distance calculation and / or a temperature gradient of the float material, wherein for communication with a receiving means 10 outside the float 6, in particular a data reading device, in particular arranged in the measuring line section 5, for receiving the signals of the sensor means 3. The sensor means 3 can be used to measure the flow and / or the pH value and / or the CO 2 content and / or the flow velocity and / or the instantaneous flow rate and / or the viscosity and / or the degree of hardness and / or the mineral content, in particular with an RFID and / or NFC means and / or a Bluetooth transmitter,which is coupled in particular to a docking station and / or a computer and / or smartphone as a receiving means 10. A sensor means 3 is in particular in contact with the media 11 or non-contacting 12 and is coupled by means of a power line 14 to a power supply means 8, in particular an induction coil 13 or a signal processing means 9 or a data storage device 7.

[0019] The sensor means 3, in particular a plurality of sensor means, can comprise, for example, an active sensor by means of which a voltage signal is to be generated, wherein in particular mechanical and / or chemical and / or light and / or heat energy is to be converted into a voltage signal, in particular by means of a thermocouple and / or a light sensor and / or a pressure sensor and / or the sensor means 3, in particular a plurality of sensor means, a passive sensor, wherein together with the passive sensor an energy supply means 8 is provided in order to convert the measured variable into an electrically usable signal, in particular by means of an inductive and / or capacitive and / or optical sensor, in particular a reflected light sensor and / or a light barrier and / or a magnetic field sensor, in particular a Hall probe and / or a reed contact, and / or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0020] The flowable medium 2 may comprise an aerosol flow and / or fluid flow, in particular a gas flow, in particular an air flow, and / or a liquid flow. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0021] 1Device for determining physical measured values ​​2Flowable medium 3Sensor means 4Sensor signal transmitting means 5Measuring line section 6Float 7Data storage device 8Power supply means 9Signal processing means 10Receiving means 11Media-contacting 12Non-media-contacting 13Induction coil 14Power line

Claims

1. Device (1) for determining physical measurement values that characterize a flowable medium (2) in a measuring pipe section (5) and / or an environment, wherein the flowable medium (2) can flow through the measuring pipe section (5) encompassed by the device, and a floating body (6) is arranged substantially freely in the measuring pipe section (5) and is surrounded by the flowable medium (2) and is movable, namely lift-able, wherein at and / or in the floating body (6), namely integrated in the floating body (6), at least one, in particular several, sensor means (3) are arranged, for outputting a sensor signal for determining a physical measurement value, in particular flow speed and / or temperature and / or pH value, and in particular in the floating body (6) a sensor signal transmission means (4) and / or assigned to the sensor means (3) a data memory (7) is provided for the transmission and / or at least temporary storage of the sensor signal, and / or in particular a power supply means (8) for supplying the sensor means (3) with energy, wherein a signal processing means (9) is provided in and / or on the floating body (6), where at least the floating body (6) is to be built essentially in one piece by an additive manufacturing process, namely a 3D printing process, and / or integrated with the sensor means (3) in the floating body (6) and the sensor signal transmission means (4) and signal processing means (9) and data memory (7) and power supply means (8), where the floating body is to be designed as an inlay and / or hollow body comprising plastic, where sensor means (3) are to be embedded by 3D printing and an inlay of a sleeve comprising a metal to be picked up and sealed, with the floating body being a self-sufficient energy harvester.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor means (3) is integrated into the floating body (6) and / or the sensor signal transmitting means (4) and / or the signal processing means (9) and / or the data storage means (7) and / or the power supply means (8) are in contact with and / or spaced from the flowable medium (2), in particular a temperature measuring device with a distance calculation and / or a temperature gradient of the floating body material.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that for communication with a receiving means (10) outside the floating body (6), in particular a data reading device, in particular arranged in the measuring pipe section (5), for receiving the signals of the sensor means (3).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a sensor means (3) for measuring the flow and / or the pH value and / or the CO2 content and / or the flow velocity and / or the instantaneous flow rate and / or the viscosity and / or the hardness and / or the mineral content, in particular with an RFID and / or NFC means and / or a Bluetooth transmitter, which is in particular coupled with a docking station and / or a computer and / or smartphone as receiving means (10).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor means (3), in particular several sensor means, comprises an active sensor, by which a voltage signal is to be generated, in particular mechanical and / or chemical and / or light and / or heat energy is to be converted into a voltage signal, in particular by a thermocouple and / or a light sensor and / or a pressure sensor, and / or the sensor means (3), in particular several sensor means, comprises a passive sensor, by which, together with the passive sensor, an energy supply means (8) is provided to convert the measurable quantity into an electrically usable signal, in particular by an inductive and / or capacitive and / or optical sensor, in particular a reflex light sensor and / or a light barrier and / or a magnetic field sensor, in particular a Hall probe and / or a reed contact, and / or an ultrasonic sensor.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the flowable medium (2) comprises an aerosol flow and / or fluid flow, in particular a gas flow, in particular an air flow, and / or a liquid flow.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the energy supply means (8) comprise an energy storage, in particular an accumulator, and / or energy generation means, wherein the energy supply is provided in particular by an auxiliary current through in particular kinetic energy, in particular a flywheel and / or rotation of the floating body (6), and / or by utilizing a temperature difference, in particular an infrared method, and / or vibration energy of the floating body (6), which can be flowed around and driven by the fluid medium (2) and / or by an induction coil in the floating body (6).

8. Method for measuring physical properties of a fluid medium (2) and its surroundings, wherein a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims is used to determine physical measurement values characterizing a fluid medium (2) in a measuring pipe section (5) and / or surroundings, wherein the fluid medium (2) flows through the measuring pipe section (5), and a floating body (6) in the measuring pipe section (5) is substantially freely arranged and surrounded by the fluid medium (2) and is movable, in particular is raised wherein at and / or in the floating body (6), particularly integrated in the floating body (6), at least one, particularly several, sensor means (3) are arranged, for outputting a sensor signal for determining a physical measured value, particularly flow velocity and / or temperature and / or pH value, and particularly in and / or at the floating body (6) a sensor signal transmission means (4) and / or a data memory (7) assigned to the sensor means (3) is provided, for forwarding and / or at least temporary storage of the sensor signal, and / or particularly an energy supply means (8) for supplying the sensor means (3) with energy, wherein the floating body is operated as a self-supplier for the required energy in the sense of an energy harvesting.