Level Gauge Body Gas-Tight Electrical Lead Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing level gauge technologies face challenges in easily mounting capacitive gauges while maintaining a gas-tight barrier, particularly for pressurized gas containers.
Innovation Solution
A gauge body design featuring a metallic rod with a glass annulus and bushing, forming a gas-tight barrier, and a bore structure with a collar and washer for secure mounting of the electrical lead, allowing for easy assembly and modular integration of capacitive level sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrical lead is extended through the body in existing level gauge designs, then electrical connection is achieved, but gas-tight sealing becomes difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical lead assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a metallic rod for electrical conduction, a glass annulus for gas-tight sealing, and a bushing for mechanical support and positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together as an integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The components are nested concentrically within the bore: the metallic rod is centered, surrounded by the glass annulus, which is in turn surrounded by the bushing. This nested arrangement ensures gas-tight sealing while maintaining electrical connection and mechanical stability.
2Reliability
If a complex mounting structure is used to ensure gas-tight connection, then sealing reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated assembly: the metallic rod provides electrical conduction, the glass annulus provides gas-tight sealing, and the bushing provides mechanical support. This combined structure achieves gas-tight connection without requiring separate complex mounting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical lead assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: electrical conduction through the metallic rod, gas-tight sealing through the glass annulus, and mechanical positioning through the bushing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Reliability
If the central electrode support extends deep into the body, then gas-tight connection is improved, but positioning precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic rod is designed to be freely movable within the bushing, allowing it to self-adjust and center itself during assembly. This self-centering capability eliminates the need for precise pre-positioning of the rod, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while ensuring proper alignment for gas-tight connection.
4Ease of operation
If a modular gauge body is designed for easy mounting, then ease of operation improves, but ensuring gas-tight barrier becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical lead assembly (metallic rod, glass annulus, and bushing) is pre-assembled as an integrated unit before installation into the gauge body. This preliminary assembly ensures that the gas-tight barrier is already established and tested, simplifying the final mounting process while maintaining sealing reliability.
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 easy and secure mounting of capacitive gauges with a gas-tight electrical lead, facilitating the use of different types and sizes of level gauges and electronic interfaces, ensuring reliable operation in pressurized gas environments.
Implementation Method 1
a glass annulus between the metallic rod and the bushing, said annulus forming a gas tight barrier between the rod and the bushing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention is directed to a gauge body (4) for a container for pressurized gas, comprising a mounting surface (43) for mounting the body (4) to the container; an inner side (41) in contact with the pressurized gas when mounted on the container; an outer side (42) opposite to the inner side with regard to the mounting surface (43), said outer side (42) being outside of the container when the body is mounted on said container; an electrical lead (12) extending in a gas tight manner through the body (4) from the inner side (41) to the outer side (42). The electrical lead (12) comprises a metallic rod (121) and a bushing (123) around said rod, said bushing being mounted in a gas tight manner on the body (4).