Transmitter Housing Plug Connection for Explosion-Proof Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing measuring devices face challenges in manufacturing ease and component replacement, particularly in ensuring explosion-proof designs while maintaining compactness and efficient signal transmission in tight spaces.

Innovation Solution

A measuring device with a self-centering connection unit that adapts to the contacting unit during connection, featuring funnel-shaped sockets and pins with a tolerance range, and a modular design with separate electronics and terminal compartments to prevent explosion spread, along with a flexible circuit board for compactness and easy assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a modular electronics unit with separate terminal compartment and electronics compartment is used, then explosion-proof safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexplosion-proof safetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter housing is divided into a terminal compartment and an electronics compartment, with the terminal compartment further subdivided into a non-flameproof section and a flameproof section. This segmentation isolates potentially explosive areas from electronics, preventing explosion spread while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A partition wall with a flameproof penetration acts as an intermediary barrier between the terminal compartment and electronics compartment. This intermediary structure allows controlled signal and power transmission while maintaining explosion-proof isolation, resolving the contradiction by enabling communication without direct exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If connection elements are arranged in a floating manner perpendicular to the joining direction, then ease of assembly is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements are designed to be movable in the perpendicular direction rather than fixed, allowing automatic adaptation to position variations during assembly. This dynamic arrangement compensates for manufacturing tolerances and simplifies assembly operations without requiring high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floating connection elements self-adjust to the correct position during assembly through their movable design, eliminating the need for precise pre-positioning or complex alignment procedures. The system performs its own positioning function, reducing both assembly difficulty and precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a self-centering connection with floating connection elements is used, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements automatically center themselves during assembly through their floating, movable design, performing the alignment function without external assistance or complex mechanisms. This self-centering capability simplifies assembly operations while the underlying mechanism remains integrated into the existing connection structure, minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If funnel-shaped sockets and pins with tolerance range are used, then ease of assembly is improved, but manufacturing precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements are designed with intentional tolerance ranges and funnel-shaped geometries that accommodate manufacturing variations. By changing the dimensional parameters to include built-in tolerances, the design prioritizes ease of assembly while accepting reduced manufacturing precision, as the forgiving geometry compensates for dimensional variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3425345B1Measuring element, transmitter housing and method for manufacturing a measuring element
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 KROHNE MESSTECHNICK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3425345B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3425345B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3425345B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A measuring device (1) with at least one sensor (3) and at least one transmitter housing (4) is described and illustrated, wherein the transmitter housing (4) has at least one terminal compartment (5) and an electronics compartment (7) adjacent to the terminal compartment (5) and connected via a partition (6), wherein at least one first electronic device (25) for connecting supply and/or I/O lines is arranged in the terminal compartment (5) and wherein at least one second electronic device (11) with electronics for controlling the sensor (3) is arranged in the electronics compartment (7), wherein the first electronic device (25) and the second electronic device (11) are electrically connected to each other via a contacting unit (14), wherein the second electronic device (11) has a connection unit (13) which is connected to the contacting unit (14) via a plug connection, wherein the plug connection has an insertion direction.The task of specifying a measuring instrument that is easy to manufacture and whose components are particularly easy to replace is solved by the fact that the connection unit (13) is fixedly arranged in the joining direction and that the connection unit (13) is arranged floating perpendicular to the joining direction in such a way that it adapts to the position of the contacting unit (14) when connected to the contacting unit (14).