HYBRID FLANGE

Abstract

Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one physical or chemical process variable of a medium in a containment comprising at least one sensor element, at least one housing module and at least one flange, wherein the sensor element and the flange are connected with the housing module, wherein the flange in a first portion, which is at least partially media contacting, is manufactured at least partially of a first material, which is selected application specifically, and wherein the flange in a second portion, which is at least partially environment contacting, is manufactured at least partially of a synthetic material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one physical or chemical process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising at least one sensor element, at least one housing module and at least one flange, wherein: the sensor element and the flange are connected with the housing module; the flange includes a first portion manufactured at least partially of a first material, which is selected application specifically and/or customer specifically, the first portion embodied to at least partially contact the medium; and the flange includes a second portion manufactured at least partially of a synthetic material, the second portion embodied to at least partially contact the environment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a coating or a plating disposed on or at the second portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion is manufactured of a metal or a chemically resistant, synthetic material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the metal is stainless steel, tantalum or Hastelloy, and the chemically resistant, synthetic material is polytetrafluoroethylene or perfluoroalkoxy alkane.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion is manufactured of a fiber composite material having a polymer matrix or containing a polymer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion is manufactured of a metal foam.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the metal foam is at least partially surrounded by a polymer matrix.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least the second portion has a heterogeneous structure such that portions of the flange exposed to an external loading include a reinforcement.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the synthetic material of the second portion is a thermal insulating material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flange is manufactured of a heterogeneous composite material such that in at least a medium contacting region the first material is arranged, wherein in at least one environment contacting region the second material is arranged, and wherein between the media-contacting and the environment contacting regions a heterogeneous mixture of the first and second materials with a gradient is arranged.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one flange is welded or adhered to the at least one housing module, and wherein in the housing module at least one component of an electronics unit is disposed.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are connected with one another by force and shape interlocking, including by an adhesive connection, a welded connection, a screwed connection, or an injection molding or casting process.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment is a container, and the apparatus is a field device, which is secured to the container by the at least one flange.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment is a pipeline, and the apparatus is a field device, which is secured to the pipeline by the at least one flange.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one physical or chemical process variable is flow, fill level, density, or viscosity of the medium.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present disclosure and its advantageous embodiments will now be explained in greater detail in the following based on the appended drawing, the figures of which show as follows:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a field device secured to a container by means of a flange;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a field device inserted into a pipeline by means of two flanges; and

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a flange of the present disclosure having a first portion and a second portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a field device 1 for determining and/or monitoring at least the fill level of a medium 3 in a container 2. The field device 1 includes a housing module 4, in which an electronics unit can be integrated. The housing module 4 is connected via a neck tube 5 with a flange 6. Neck tube 5 and flange 6 encircle the sensor unit 7, which is likewise connected with the housing module 4.

[0038] Container 2 is equipped with a nozzle 9, onto which a counterflange 8 is welded. Field device 1 is then connected with the container 2 by means of a flange connection between the flange 6 and the counterflange 8 in such a manner that the sensor unit 7 protrudes inwardly through the nozzle 9 at least partially into the container 2, where the sensor unit 7 is at least at times and at least partially in contact with the medium 3.

[0039] A further example of a field device 1 with two flanges 6, 6a is shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, it is a flow measuring device that is incorporated into a pipeline 10. Here, the pipeline has two counterflanges 8,8a, to which the field device 1 is connected via its two flanges 6, 6a. In the embodiment shown here, the at least one housing module 4 is arranged around a measuring tube 11. The sensor unit 7 is not drawn in detail.

[0040] In a large percentage of cases, the flanges 6, 6a for field devices 1 are manufactured of metal, since the respective containments 2, 10 are likewise often manufactured of metal. These flanges 6, 6a, especially in the case of greater nominal diameters, account for a considerable part of the weight and the manufacturing costs. This is especially true for exotic materials, such as tantalum, etc., used for special applications. By applying a hybrid flange of the present disclosure, both costs as well as also the weight fraction of the flanges can be reduced.

[0041] A corresponding flange 6,6a is shown in two-dimensional view in FIG. 3. Shown is the container 2 with the nozzle 9 and the counterflange 8. The flange 6 of the field device (not shown) is a flange connected to the container 2 by means of a sealing ring 14. Flange 6 includes a first portion 12 and a second portion 13. The first portion 12 is manufactured of the same material as the container 2. First portion 12 can be, for example, a plating or a coating. The second portion 13 is manufactured at least partially of a synthetic material, e.g. a plastic, and connected by force and shape interlocking with the first portion 12.

[0042] Options for the compositions of the first and second portions 12, 13 as well as for their respective volume fractions, for joining technology, etc. include a multiplicity of variants, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The second portion 13 can, for example, be manufactured of a composite material. In regions of increased mechanical loading, such as, for example, region 15, the composite material can have, for example, reinforcements. In another variant, the materials for the first and second portions 12, 13 can also transition continuously via a gradient into one another. In this example, the material, of which the first portion 12 is manufactured, can be in the form of fibers, which are also a component of the second portion 13. Moreover, the materials for the second portion 13 and those for the at least one housing module 4 as well as, in given cases, for the neck tube 5 can be matched to one another. The region facing the environment can be so selected that it is matched optimally to the environmental parameters, for example, when a high chemical durability of the material is required. Likewise, the material in the second portion 13 can be matched to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material used for the first portion 12.

[0043] The force and shape interlocking connection of the two portions and 12, 13 can, finally, be produced, for example, by means of weld, adhesive or screw connections. However, also injection molding or casting processes provide other options.