Thermoplastic Housing for Magnetic Inductive Flow Meter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing magnetically inductive flowmeters face challenges with direct embedding in casting compound, such as high pressure and temperature issues, component damage, and difficulty in accessing encapsulated components for repair, leading to potential need for replacing the entire device rather than repairing individual components.

Innovation Solution

A housing made of thermoplastic material that encases the measuring tube section and additional components with a precise fit, allowing for easy access and adjustment, using a shrink tube design that contracts to form a protective cover, and potentially featuring an adhesive layer for enhanced adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If direct embedding in casting compound is used, then housing protection and component fixation are improved, but component accessibility for repair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing protectionVSAvoidcomponent accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be separated from each other. The first housing part contains the measuring tube section with measuring electrodes, while the second housing part contains the electronics unit. This segmentation allows the housing to be disassembled for component access and repair, while still providing complete protection when assembled, thus resolving the contradiction between housing protection and component accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If high pressure and temperature are applied during casting, then housing encapsulation is improved, but component damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing encapsulationVSAvoidcomponent integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is constructed from two separate parts that are assembled together rather than formed through high-pressure casting. This eliminates the need for high pressure and temperature during manufacturing, preventing damage to sensitive components like plastic parts melting or solder joints scaling, while still achieving complete encapsulation and protection of internal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing parts are designed with flexible sealing elements and precise fitting surfaces that allow assembly without high pressure. The housing parts can be joined using methods such as threading, clamping, or adhesive bonding, which do not require the extreme conditions of casting processes, thereby protecting component integrity while maintaining encapsulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If thermoplastic material is used for housing, then ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness are improved, but adhesion to components may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing productionVSAvoidcable fixation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is made from thermoplastic material combined with adhesive layers or sealing compounds. The thermoplastic provides ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness through processes like injection molding or extrusion, while the adhesive layers ensure reliable fixation of cables and secure bonding between housing parts, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and fixation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides a cost-effective, easy-to-manufacture housing that prevents material penetration between components, ensures secure cable fixation, and allows for easy component access and repair, while maintaining a precise fit and protection against damage.

Implementation Method 1

the housing being at least partially made of a thermoplastic material which encases the partial measuring pipe section and the at least one additional component fastened to it with a precise fit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 2

A magnetic field of constant strength is generated perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the conductive fluid by means of a magnet system attached to a partial section of the measuring tube. As a result, the ions present in the flowing fluid are deflected in opposite directions.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

A magnetic field of constant strength is generated perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the conductive fluid by means of a magnet system attached to a partial section of the measuring tube. As a result, the ions present in the flowing fluid are deflected in opposite directions.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP3132234B1Housing for a magnetic inductive flow meter
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ENDRESS HAUSER FLOWTEC AG
  • EP3132234B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3132234B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Apparatus for measuring the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a measuring tube (3) according to the magnetic inductive measuring principle, comprising a magnetic system (14) for generating a constant magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid, at least two measuring electrodes (9, 9a) that couple to the fluid, are mounted on a section (4) of the measuring tube and pick off the induced voltage, at least one electronics unit (6) for detecting, analyzing and/or feeding signals, and a housing (5) that externally delimits and protects the measuring tube section (4) and at least one additional component, which is mounted on the measuring tube section on the side facing away from the fluid, against the environment, the housing (5) being at least partly made of a thermoplastic material which snugly fits around the measuring tube section (4) and the at least one additional component mounted thereon.