Housing for an automation field device

Abstract

A housing comprising a housing body (1.4) and a housing cover (1.2), wherein the housing body (1.4) forms an interior space (1.3) which is accessible through an opening (1.6), and wherein the housing body (1.4) has a cylindrical region (1.5) which substantially adjoins the opening (1.6) and to which the housing cover (1.2) for closing the housing body (1.4) is attachable, wherein the housing body and the housing cover are coordinated with each other and designed such that the housing cover is insertable or can be inserted with the cover opening over the cylindrical region, wherein the housing cover (1.2) and / or the cylindrical region (1.5) of the housing body have / has fastening means (1.53), wherein the housing cover (1.2) and / or the cylindrical region (1.5) of the housing body (1.4) have / has a lifting device (1.8) which is designed to axially guide the housing cover at least during the opening of the housing cover (1.2) by the counter rotational movement (8) such that at least a partially guided axial movement takes place during the counter rotational movement (8) while opening the housing cover (1.2) from the closure position.

Description

[0001] Housing for a field device in automation technology

[0002] The invention relates to a housing, in particular a field device housing and a field device in automation technology.

[0003] In automation technology, particularly in process automation technology, field devices are often used to determine, optimize and / or influence process variables. Sensors such as level gauges, flow meters, pressure and temperature gauges, conductivity meters, etc. are used to record process variables and measure the corresponding process variables: level, flow, pressure, temperature or conductivity. Actuators such as valves or pumps are used to influence process variables and can change the flow of a liquid in a section of pipe or the fill level in a container. In principle, field devices are all devices that are used close to the process and that supply or process process-relevant information. In the context of the invention, field devices also include remote I / Os and / orGenerally, this refers to devices arranged at the field level. A large number of such field devices are manufactured and distributed by Endress + Hauser.

[0004] Such field devices always have a field device housing, which consists of a housing body and a housing cover. The housing body is usually made of metal, in particular sheet metal. However, other materials such as plastic are also conceivable, for example. To attach the housing cover, at least in the case of a housing body made of metal, a type of “jam jar” or “bayonet catch” is provided, in which the housing cover plugs and rotates relative to the housing body, since a metric thread cannot be implemented directly in the sheet metal for manufacturing reasons. To ensure that the housing cover is securely closed, a circumferential seal is provided in an overlapping area where the housing cover sits on the housing body. The housing cover is usually designed in such a way that a geometric orThe cover's contour element compresses the circumferential seal between the housing body and the housing cover when closing. Seals with an axial seal (axial seal seat) have the disadvantage that the seal requires increasing torque when closing the housing cover with increasing angle of rotation. The sealing effect is only achieved at a rotation angle that is difficult to define.

[0005] For this reason, the circumferential seal is often designed as a radial seal seat. However, this seal design does not cause the cover to lift axially when opened, so with radial seal seats, the housing cover must be rotated over a certain distance with a higher torque and, in addition, the housing cover must be pulled off against the restoring force of the circumferential seal. This can cause the housing cover to tilt and thus jam, making it difficult to open the housing.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a housing, in particular a field device housing, which enables easy opening and closing of the housing cover without jamming and / or damage occurring.

[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by the housing, in particular the field device housing according to patent claim 1 and the field device of automation technology according to patent claim 10.

[0008] The housing according to the invention, in particular a field device housing, comprises a housing body and a housing cover, wherein the housing body has a cup-like shape with an opening and forms an interior space accessible through the opening, wherein the housing body is preferably made of a metal, particularly preferably of a steel, very particularly preferably of a stainless steel, and wherein the housing body has a substantially adjoining orthe opening defining cylindrical region to which the housing cover can be attached to close the housing body, wherein the housing cover has a cup-like shape with a cover base and a cover opening, wherein the housing cover is made of a metal, preferably a steel, particularly preferably a stainless steel, and wherein the housing body and the housing cover are matched to one another and designed in such a way that the housing cover with the cover opening can be plugged over the cylindrical region orcan be plugged in, wherein the housing cover and / or the cylindrical region of the housing body have fastening means which are designed such that the housing cover can be brought into a closed position on the housing body by means of a rotary movement and can be locked in the closed position by the fastening means and can furthermore be released again from the closed position by a counter-rotating movement, wherein the housing cover and / or the cylindrical region of the housing body have a lifting device which is designed to guide the housing cover axially by the counter-rotating movement at least when the housing cover is opened, so that at least a partially guided axial movement takes place during the counter-rotating movement when the housing cover is opened from the closed position.

[0009] According to the invention, a housing is proposed that has a lifting device that generates a guided axial movement of the cover, particularly when opening the housing. This guided movement prevents the housing cover from tilting during opening.

[0010] An advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that the fastening means in the cylindrical region of the housing body has on an outer surface a plurality of radially projecting bayonet projections, preferably arranged equidistant from one another, by means of which the housing cover can be locked in a closed position by means of the rotational movement.A further advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that the fastening means on the housing cover has a plurality of radial indentations, preferably arranged equidistant from one another, on an inner side which, when the housing cover is plugged with the cover opening over the cylindrical region, is directed towards the outer surface of the cylindrical region, wherein the indentations are matched to the projecting bayonet projections in such a way that the indentation is guided on the bayonet projections at least during the rotational movement.

[0011] A further advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular the field device housing, can provide that the lifting device consists of at least two parts, wherein a first part is formed in the housing body and a second part is formed in the housing cover.

[0012] A further advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that one of the two parts, preferably the first part of the lifting device has at least one, preferably at least two radially projecting lifting contours on the outer surface of the cylindrical region of the housing body.

[0013] A further advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that the lifting contour has a substantially round or oval lifting contour.

[0014] An alternative embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that the lifting contour has a substantially triangular contour, which is designed such that a flank directed in the opening direction of the housing body is designed as a rising flank in counter-rotational movement. A further advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that the other part of the two parts, preferably at least the second part of the lifting device, comprises parts of the fastening means, preferably the second part of the fastening means formed on the housing cover, particularly preferably the radial indentations of the second part of the fastening means.

[0015] A further advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, in particular of the field device housing, can provide that a circumferential seal, in particular a circumferential seal in the form of an O-ring, is provided in the cylindrical region, wherein the cylindrical region of the housing body, the housing cover and / or the circumferential seal are coordinated and designed in such a way that at least in the closed position the circumferential seal is pressed by the housing cover and the cylindrical region, in particular radially.

[0016] The invention further relates to a field device of automation technology with a housing, in particular a field device housing according to one of the previously described embodiments.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings. It shows:

[0018] Fig. 1 : a schematic representation of a field device in automation technology,

[0019] Fig. 2: a perspective view of the housing body to which the housing cover is releasably attached by means of the fastening means, Fig. 3: an embodiment of a lifting device according to the invention, and

[0020] Fig. 4: A sectional view through the cylindrical area where the housing cover is attached to the housing body. Figure 1 outlines a typical design of a field device in automation technology 1. The field device 1 has a housing with a housing body 1.4 and a housing cover 1.2. The housing body

[0021] 1 .4 is made of a metal sheet, preferably a steel sheet, particularly preferably a stainless steel sheet, such as 316L. The housing body 1.4 has a substantially cup-like shape with a housing bottom and a housing opening 1 .6 through which an interior space 1.3 is accessible. The housing opening 1 .6, which is essentially round in cross section, is formed by a substantially cylindrical region

[0022] 1.5 of the housing body 1.4 is defined or formed.

[0023] The housing cover 1.2 is also made of a metal sheet, preferably a steel sheet, particularly preferably a stainless steel sheet, such as 316L. Furthermore, the housing cover 1.2 also has a cup-like shape with a cover base and a cover opening. The housing cover 1.2 and the housing body 1.4 are matched and designed in such a way that the housing cover 1.2, with its housing opening, can be plugged virtually upside down onto the cylindrical region 1.5 of the housing body 1.4 and can be releasably fastened to the housing body 1.4 using a fastening means 1.53, 1.54 to be described in more detail below. The cover base of the housing cover 1.2 can have a recess for a viewing window, into which a viewing window insert made of a transparent material, in particular a plastic, can be inserted. For this purpose, the viewing window insert can have a stepped elevation projecting into the recess.Alternatively, a viewing window can be integrated into the base of the housing cover.

[0024] In addition, the field device 1 further comprises a sensor and / or actuator element 5 arranged on or in the housing 1.1 for setting and / or detecting a process variable, as well as an electronic field device electronics 4 incorporated in the interior 1.3, which is designed, among other things, to operate the sensor and / or actuator element 5.

[0025] To enable operation / parameterization of the field device 1 and / or to display information, e.g., regarding the process variable to be measured or set, the field device 1 can have an operating and / or display element 2. The operating and / or display element 2 can be arranged behind the viewing window in the interior of the housing body, as sketched in Fig. 1.

[0026] Alternatively, the control and / or display element 2 can also be mounted on an outer side of the housing wall. If the field device 1 has a control and / or display element 2, the field device electronics 4 can also be configured to control or operate the control and / or display element 2 accordingly.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the housing body 1.4, to which the housing cover 1.2 is detachably fastened by means of the fastening means 1.53, 1.54. In the present exemplary embodiment, the fastening means 1.53, 1.54 comprises two parts. A first part of the fastening means comprises radially projecting bayonet projections 1.53, which are formed on an outer surface 1.51 of the housing body 1.4 in the cylindrical region 1.5. A second part of the fastening means 1.82 comprises indentations 1.54 formed radially in the direction of a rotation axis 9 on the housing cover 1.2. The indentations 1.54 and the bayonet projections 1.53 are coordinated and formed in such a way that the indentations 1.54 are on a flank 1.531 of the projecting bayonet projections 1.53 directed away from the housing opening 1.6.53 during a rotational movement 7 about the axis of rotation 9, by which the housing cover is brought into a closed position on the housing body, run along and are guided accordingly.

[0028] The indentations 1.54 on the housing cover, which are formed radially in the direction of the rotation axis 9, preferably have an oval or rectangular contour with rounded corners. Both the radially projecting bayonet projections 1.53 and the indentations 1.54 can be created, for example, by stamping the sheet metal of the housing body 1.4 or housing cover 1.2. The fastening means 1.53, 1.54 can lock the housing cover 1.2 by means of the rotational movement. In the exemplary embodiment, three projecting bayonet projections are distributed over the circumference of the cylindrical opening of the housing body. However, it is also conceivable that only two or more than three projecting bayonet projections are present. It goes without saying that a corresponding number of radially formed indentations 1.54 are located on the housing cover 1.2. Preferably, the projecting bayonet projections 1.53 are equidistant from each other on the outer surface 1 .51 of the cylindrical region 1.5 are arranged distributed over the circumference. The projecting bayonet projections are each designed such that the projecting flank 1.531 of the bayonet projection 1.53 facing away from the opening of the housing body is designed to slope downwards in the rotational movement 7. The indentations 1.54 are preferably also arranged equidistant from one another on an inner surface 1.21 of the housing cover. Furthermore, a flank of the indentation facing the housing opening can also be designed to slope downwards in the rotational movement, so that the two flanks run along one another when the housing cover is opened or closed.

[0029] According to the invention, the housing 1.1 further comprises a lifting device 1.8. Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of such a lifting device 1.8. The lifting device 1.8 guides the housing cover 1.2 axially, at least during the counter-rotational movement 8 for opening the housing, thus preventing tilting of the housing cover 1.2 and the associated jamming. The lifting device 1.8 is formed from at least two parts.

[0030] A first part of the lifting device 1.81 is embodied in the housing body 1.4 in the cylindrical region 1.5. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first part of the lifting device 1.81 comprises a plurality of radially projecting lifting contours 1.81. The radially projecting lifting contours 1.81 are preferably arranged equidistant from one another on the outer surface 1.51 of the cylindrical region 1.5, distributed over the circumference. The lifting contours 1.81 can be produced, for example, by embossing the sheet metal of the housing body 1.4. With regard to an outer contour, the radially projecting lifting contours 1.81 can, for example, have a substantially round or oval shape. However, as shown in Fig. 3, a substantially triangular lifting contour 1.81 has proven particularly advantageous. The lifting contour 1 .8 is preferably designed such that a flank 1 directed in the opening direction of the housing body.811 in counter-rotational movement 8 is designed as a rising flank.

[0031] A second part of the lifting device 1.82 is embodied in the housing cover 1.2. The second part of the lifting device 1.82 comprises a plurality of indentations 1.82 formed radially in the housing cover in the direction of the axis of rotation 9. These are preferably also arranged equidistant from one another on an inner surface of the housing cover. The indentations can also be produced by embossing. In particular, a part of the fastening means, which also serves to fasten the housing cover 1.2 to the housing body 1.4, serves as the second part of the lifting device 1.82. In the illustrated embodiment, the indentations 1.54 formed radially in the housing cover in the direction of the axis of rotation 9 serve as the second part of the lifting device 1.82. In this case, the flank 1.82 directed towards the housing opening also serves.541 of the recess, which can be designed to slope downwards during rotation, serves as a corresponding counterflank, so that the two flanks run along each other when the housing cover is opened or closed. It is also conceivable, however, that the second part of the lifting device 1.82 is designed as a separate contour in the housing cover.

[0032] In order to ensure secure closure of the housing cover 1 .2, a circumferential seal can also be provided in the cylindrical region 1 .5, where the housing cover 1 .2 sits on the housing body 1 .4, as shown in the sectional view in Fig. 3. In order to hold the circumferential seal 3, the housing cover 1 .2 can have a circumferential groove in the cylindrical region 1 .5, into which the circumferential seal 3 can be inserted or is inserted. The housing cover 1 .2 and the housing body 1 .4 in the cylindrical region 1.5 are coordinated and designed such that the housing cover presses the circumferential seal 3 between the housing body 1 .4 and the housing cover 1 .2, in particular radially (radial sealing seat). Furthermore, the housing cover 1 .2 can be designed such that a diameter of the housing cover 1 .2 decreases from the cover opening to the cover base, at least in a partial area, so that an easier attachment of the housing cover 1 .2 onto the housing body 1 .4 and a subsequent locking by means of the previously described fastening means 1.53,1.54 is possible.

[0033] List of reference symbols Field device Field device housing Cover of the field device housing Inside of the cover Interior of the field device housing Housing body Cylindrical area Outer surface or outer contour of the cylindrical area Projecting bayonet projection on the housing body Flank of the projecting bayonet projection Recesses on the housing cover Flank of the indentation Opening of the field device housing Lifting device First part of the lifting device or lifting contour Flank of the first part of the lifting device Second part of the lifting device Operating and / or display element Circumferential seal Electronics or electronic circuit Sensor and / or actuator element Connection element Rotary movement to close the housing cover Counter-rotary movement to open the housing cover Rotary axis

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Housing, in particular a field device housing, comprising a housing body (1.4) and a housing cover (1.2), wherein the housing body (1.4) has a cup-like shape with an opening (1.6) and forms an interior space (1.3) accessible through the opening (1.6), wherein the housing body (1.4) is preferably made of a metal, particularly preferably of a steel, most preferably of a stainless steel, and wherein the housing body (1.4) has a cylindrical region (1.5) which essentially adjoins the opening (1.6) or defines the opening, onto which region the housing cover (1.2) can be placed to close the housing body (1.4) can be attached, wherein the housing cover has a cup-like shape with a cover base and a cover opening, wherein the housing cover is made of a metal, preferably a steel, particularly preferably a stainless steel, and wherein the housing body and the housing cover are matched to one another and designed in such a way that the housing cover with the cover opening can be or can be plugged over the cylindrical region, wherein the housing cover (1 . 2) and / or the cylindrical region (1 . 5) of the housing body have fastening means (1. 53) which are designed in such a way that the housing cover (1. 2) can be brought into a closed position on the housing body (1 . 4) by means of a rotary movement (7) and can be locked in the closed position by the fastening means (1. 53, 1. 54) and can further be released from the closed position again by a counter-rotating movement (8), wherein the housing cover (1 .2) and / or the cylindrical region (1 .5) of the housing body (1.4) have a lifting device (1.8) which is designed to guide the housing cover axially at least when opening the housing cover (1.2) by the counter-rotational movement (8), so that at least a partially guided axial movement during the. Counter-rotational movement (8) occurs when opening the housing cover (1 .2) from the closed position.

2. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (1.53) in the cylindrical region (1.5) of the housing body (1.4) on an outer surface (1.51) has a plurality of radially projecting bayonet projections (1.53), preferably arranged equidistant from one another, by means of which the housing cover (1.2) can be locked in a closed position by means of the rotary movement (7).

3. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (1 .53) on the housing cover (1.2) on an inner side (1.21), which, when the housing cover (1 .2) is plugged with the cover opening over the cylindrical area (1 .5), is directed towards the outer surface of the cylindrical area (1.5), a plurality of radial indentations, preferably arranged equidistant from one another (1 .54), wherein the indentations (1 .54) are matched to the projecting bayonet projections (1.53) in such a way that the indentation (1.54) is guided on the bayonet projections at least during the rotational movement (7).

4. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting device (1 .8) consists of at least two parts (1 .81 , 1 .82), wherein a first part (1 .81 ) is formed in the housing body (1 .4) and a second part (1.82) is formed in the housing cover (1 .2).

5. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the two parts, preferably the first part of the lifting device (1.81) has at least one, preferably at least two radially projecting lifting contours (1.81) on the outer surface (1.51) of the cylindrical region (1.5) of the housing body.

6. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to the preceding claim, wherein the lifting contour (1.81) has a substantially round or oval lifting contour.

7. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to claim 5, wherein the lifting contour (1.81) has a substantially triangular contour which is designed such that a flank (1.811) directed in the opening direction (1.6) of the housing body is designed as a rising flank in counter-rotational movement (8).

8. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least another part of the two parts, preferably at least the second part of the lifting device (1 .82) comprises parts of the fastening means (1.53, 1.54), preferably of the second part of the fastening means (1.54) formed on the housing cover (1.2), particularly preferably the radial indentations of the second part of the fastening means.

9. Housing, in particular field device housing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a circumferential seal (3), in particular a circumferential seal in the form of an O-ring, is provided in the cylindrical region (1.5), wherein the cylindrical region (1.5) of the housing body (1.4), the housing cover (1.2) and / or the circumferential seal (3) are coordinated and designed such that at least in the closed position the circumferential seal (3) is pressed together by the housing cover (1.2) and the cylindrical region (1.5), in particular radially.

10. Field device of automation technology with a housing, in particular a field device housing (1.1) according to claim 1.

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