Oscillatory Sensor Holding Portion Thermal Expansion Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oscillatory measuring devices for monitoring fill-levels in containers face contact loss between the driving/receiving unit and membrane/diaphragm during high temperature applications due to differing coefficients of expansion, leading to compromised measurement accuracy or impossibility.
Innovation Solution
The holding portion is designed to produce a radial force and moment that keeps the driving/receiving unit in contact with the membrane/diaphragm by utilizing a temperature gradient, with a tubular housing and a holding portion composed of a plate and inclined portion forming an angle (α) between 40° and 60°, ensuring a force component acts in the direction of the symmetry axis of the driving/receiving unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional holding portion is used to secure the driving/receiving unit, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but contact is lost between the driving/receiving unit and the membrane during temperature changes due to different expansion coefficients
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is designed with specific geometric parameters (inclined surface angle α between 40°-60°, plate thickness s, distance a) that enable it to convert radial thermal expansion forces into axial pressing forces. This parameter optimization allows the structure to maintain contact under temperature variations without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the thermal expansion of the holding portion itself as a functional mechanism. When temperature changes occur, the holding portion expands radially, and through its inclined geometry, this expansion is converted into an axial force that presses the driving/receiving unit against the membrane, compensating for differential expansion between components.
2Reliability
If the driving/receiving unit is pressed against the membrane with high force to maintain contact, then contact stability is improved, but the structure requires more complex mechanisms to generate and control the pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is designed to convert radial thermal expansion into axial pressing force through its inclined geometry. The expansion force generated by temperature changes is directly transformed into the necessary pressing force on the driving/receiving unit, eliminating the need for separate actuators or complex force control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding portion serves dual functions: it mechanically secures the driving/receiving unit and simultaneously generates the pressing force needed to maintain contact. The structure is self-regulating, automatically adjusting the pressing force based on thermal conditions without external control.
3Reliability
If the holding portion is designed with inclined surfaces to convert radial force, then contact maintenance during temperature changes is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies an optimal range for the inclined surface angle (40°-60°) rather than a single precise value. This parameter range provides sufficient design tolerance for manufacturing while ensuring the force conversion mechanism functions effectively across the specified temperature range.
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
This configuration maintains contact between the driving/receiving unit and membrane/diaphragm during temperature changes, ensuring continuous functionality and accurate measurements by converting the radial force into a moment that keeps the piezo-stack in contact with the membrane, even during extreme temperature shocks.
Implementation Method 1
The driving/receiving unit is often a piezoelectric element, which changes an electrical, alternating voltage into a mechanical oscillation, or, in reverse, mechanical oscillations into an alternating voltage.
Implementation Method 2
a radial force (Frad), which acts essentially in the direction of normals (N1) to the housing, produces a force component and/or a moment (Md), which acts essentially in the direction of a normal (N2) to the holding portion
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container. The apparatus includes at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, and at least one driving/receiving unit, which excites the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations, and which receives the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit. The mechanically oscillatable unit has at least one membrane, or diaphragm. The membrane, or diaphragm, is connected with a housing. The driving/receiving unit is arranged between the membrane and a holding portion, and the holding portion is secured to the housing. The invention holding portion is embodied in such a manner and secured to the housing in such a manner, that a radial force, which acts essentially in the direction of the normals of the housing, produces a force component and/or a moment, which acts essentially in the direction of a normal of the holding portion.