Sensor Device Dynamic Resetting for Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor devices for pipelines face challenges in maintaining reliable operation due to thermal expansion, which causes changes in pipe diameter, leading to detachment or damage of the converter element, and are difficult to assemble and limit use to specific cross-sections.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a restoring device featuring a transmission element and energy store that adjusts the converter element's position in response to diameter changes, ensuring optimal positioning and ease of assembly, and a modular design with a carrier device and housing for enhanced reliability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a holding device secures the transducer element in its operating position, then the transducer element is fixed in position during assembly, but the transducer element detaches or damages when the object diameter changes due to thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static holding device with a dynamic resetting device that can automatically adapt to diameter changes. The resetting device includes a transmission element and energy storage device that enable the transducer element to move dynamically, maintaining contact with the object surface despite thermal expansion and diameter variations during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resetting device enables the transducer element to self-adjust its position automatically when diameter changes occur. The energy storage device stores and releases energy to drive the transmission element, which in turn adjusts the transducer element's position without external intervention, ensuring continuous reliable operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the transducer element is fixed in position by a holding device, then assembly is straightforward, but the sensor device cannot accommodate objects of different cross-sections
Solution Approach 1:
The resetting device provides dynamic adaptability to the transducer element, allowing it to adjust to different object diameters and cross-sections. This dynamic capability enables the sensor device to be universally applied to various pipeline sizes while maintaining proper transducer positioning during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resetting device design makes the sensor device universally applicable to objects with different cross-sections. The ability to automatically adjust to diameter changes allows the same sensor device to be used on various pipeline sizes without requiring custom configurations, enhancing versatility while keeping assembly straightforward.
3Manufacturing precision
If the transducer element maintains constant distance from the object surface, then optimal sensor function is achieved, but thermal expansion causes the element to detach or the assembly to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The resetting device creates a dynamic positioning system that maintains the transducer element at the optimal constant distance from the object surface despite thermal expansion. The transmission element automatically compensates for diameter changes, ensuring the conductor element remains at the required distance for optimal sensor function while preventing detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The resetting device acts as a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors and adjusts the transducer element position. When the object diameter changes due to thermal expansion, the resetting device detects this change and automatically adjusts the element position to maintain the optimal constant distance, ensuring both manufacturing precision and operational 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
The sensor device maintains optimal positioning and functional reliability across varying pipe diameters and shapes, simplifies assembly, and protects the converter element from environmental influences, allowing for repeated use on different objects.
Implementation Method 1
a reset device with at least one transmission element (14) arranged on the transducer element (6). The reset device also has an energy storage device (44). The reset device (12) is provided for adjusting and/or resetting the transducer element (6) to the operating position when the diameter of the object changes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor device (2) for mounting on an object through which a medium is passed, in particular on a pipeline, the sensor device comprising at least one transducer device (4) having at least one flexible transducer element (6), which has at least one electrically conductive conductor element and can be transferred into an operating position in order to cover the object in part, in which operating position the transducer element is arranged at least in part about a longitudinal axis (10). The transducer device (4) has a restoring device (12) with at least one transfer element (14) arranged on the transducer element (6), the restoring device (12) being intended to adjust and/or return the transducer element (6) into the operating position.