Probe Arrangement With Integrated Rinsing Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor arrangements for measuring process variables in liquid media face contamination issues during calibration and rinsing, as a large amount of process medium is brought into a rinsing chamber, requiring extensive cleaning and medium usage.
Innovation Solution
A tubular housing with a treatment window opposite the probe, allowing the functional element to be moved between the process window and the treatment window, enabling rinsing and calibration within the probe arrangement, minimizing medium transfer and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the sensor arrangement is withdrawn from the process medium for rinsing and calibration, then the functional element can be cleaned and calibrated, but a large amount of process medium is brought into the rinsing chamber causing contamination and requiring extensive cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rinsing and calibration functions directly within the probe housing by integrating a rinsing chamber and calibration chamber into the housing structure. This allows the functional element to be rinsed and calibrated in-situ without withdrawing the entire sensor arrangement from the process medium, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining calibration accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary rinsing chamber that acts as a mediator between the process medium and the functional element. The rinsing chamber receives process medium through a rinsing opening and directs it onto the functional element for cleaning, enabling contamination-free rinsing without direct contact between the process medium and the external environment
2Ease of repair
If the entire sensor arrangement is translated out of the process medium for calibration, then the functional element can be accessed, but time and washing agent consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the calibration function into the probe housing by providing a calibration chamber that can be accessed directly within the housing. This allows calibration to be performed in-situ without withdrawing the sensor arrangement from the process medium, significantly reducing calibration time and eliminating the need for extensive external cleaning procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the sensor arrangement to perform its own rinsing and calibration operations through integrated chambers and openings in the housing. The functional element can be rinsed and calibrated in-situ using the built-in rinsing chamber and calibration chamber, eliminating the need for external intervention and reducing overall calibration time
Data Source
AI summary
A probe arrangement, in the case of which a probe is arranged within a tubular housing, wherein the tubular housing has at least one process window open to the process medium, and at least one functional element is secured on the probe and surrounded by the process medium. In order to suppress a taking along of the process medium during transfer of the functional element from the measured medium into a rinsing chamber, the tubular housing includes at least one treatment window open opposite the probe (3), preferably for washing, rinsing and/or calibrating the functional element, wherein the functional element is movable between the process window and the treatment window, and, during the measuring in the process medium, the at least one functional element is arranged approximately coincident with the at least one process window of the housing.