Container Sensor Device for Flowable Product Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to monitor the removal of filling material from containers to detect the start and end of the removal process accurately, ensuring precise tracking of the fill level and preventing contamination with ambient air.
Innovation Solution
A container equipped with a sensor device that includes a medium channel with a constriction to accelerate gas flow, a branch line for pressure measurement, and a pressure sensor to detect changes in static pressure, allowing for the monitoring of protective gas flow and determining the removal of filling material. Additionally, a telemetry module with sensors for condition parameter acquisition and wireless data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective gas line is connected to the gas connection before the opening is sealed, then the container interior can be filled with protective gas to prevent contamination, but the inert gas line remains connected during filling material removal which may allow ambient air to enter the container
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is extracted as a separate functional component that can be connected independently to the gas connection. This allows the protective gas line to be disconnected when filling material is removed, while the sensor device remains connected to monitor gas flow and container status, thus preventing ambient air contamination without compromising monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device serves multiple functions: it monitors protective gas flow during filling material removal, detects container status parameters, and can be connected to the gas connection without requiring the protective gas line to remain connected. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling monitoring while allowing the protective gas line to be disconnected for contamination prevention
2Reliability
If the inert gas line is always connected to the gas connection, then protective gas can continuously flow into the container during filling material removal, but it is difficult to determine when filling material removal has started and ended
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device acts as an intermediary between the protective gas line and the container interior. It monitors gas flow dynamics and detects changes in pressure and flow rate that indicate the start and end of filling material removal, providing precise timing information while maintaining continuous protective gas flow through the gas connection
3Adaptability or versatility
If the container is made of stainless steel for reusability and loading/unloading operations, then the container can be used multiple times, but there is no built-in monitoring capability to track filling material removal and container status
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is designed as a universal monitoring system that can be attached to any stainless steel container with a gas connection. It provides multiple monitoring functions including filling material removal detection, container status monitoring, and protective gas flow monitoring, adding information tracking capability without compromising the container's reusability and versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device provides continuous feedback about container status and filling material removal through sensors that detect gas flow, pressure changes, and other parameters. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and tracking of container operations while maintaining the container's structural integrity and reusability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable detection of the start and end of filling material removal, precise fill level monitoring, and continuous remote monitoring of container status, ensuring quality assurance and logistics efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The medium channel (14) of the adapter element (11) has at least one constriction (20) at which a cross section (21) of the medium channel (14) is reduced compared to a cross section (22) of the medium channel (14) outside of the constriction (20)
Implementation Method 2
the sensor device (10) has at least one branch line (23), which interacts in terms of flow with the medium channel (14) of the adapter element (11)... by means of which pressure sensor (24) changes within the stub line (23) can be detected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present application relates to a container (1) for transporting flowable filling material, the container comprising at least one frame (2) for standing the container (1) on a base (3) and at least one container (4), inside which the filling material can be stored. The container (4) can be positioned at a distance (5) from a base (3) by means of the frame (2) in such a way that the underside (6) of the container (4) is accessible, the container (4) having at least one opening (7) on its underside (4), by means of which opening the filling material can be guided into an interior (8) of the container (4) or filling material can be removed from the interior (8). The container (4) has at least one gas connection (9), by means of which a shielding gas line can be connected to the container (4). In order to provide a conatiner that is suitably equipped with a sensor device of this kind, at least one sensor device (10) is provided, according to the invention, which has an adapter element (11) and a telemetry module (12), the sensor device being connectable, preferably releasably, to the gas connection (9) of the container (4) by means of the adapter element (11), the adapter element (11) having at least one gas connection piece (13) and at least one medium cannel (14). A shielding gas line can be connected to the gas connection piece (13), and a shielding gas can be guided through the gas connection piece (13) and through the medium channel (14) of the adapter element (11) into the interior (8) of the container (4). The telemetry module (12) has at least one sensor (15) and at least one transmitter (16), wherein data relating to at least one state parameter of the container (1) and/or the filling material is detectable by means of the sensor (15) and the data is transmittable wirelessly by means of the transmitter (16).