DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SIGNAL COLOR FOR A FILL LEVEL MEASURING DEVICE

Abstract

A device for providing at least one signal color for a level gauge is provided, the device including: a parameterization device configured to provide a signal color for a network of level measuring devices; and a transmission device configured to transmit the provided signal color as signal color data to the network of level measuring devices. A method of providing a signal color for a level measuring device and a nontransitory computer-readable storage medium are also provided.

Claims

1. A device for providing at least one signal color to a level gauge, the device comprising: a parameterization device configured to provide a signal color for a network of level measuring devices; and a transmitting device configured to transmit the provided signal color as signal color data to the network of level measuring devices.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the parameterization device is further configured to provide the signal color as a color for identifying a master-slave network of the level measuring devices.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device is further configured to transmit the signal color data synchronously, asynchronously, or cyclically.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the parameterization device is further configured to provide at least one error color for the network of level measuring devices, and wherein the transmitting device further configured to transmit the provided at least one error color as error color data to the network of level measuring devices.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting device is further configured to transmit the error color data synchronously, asynchronously, or cyclically.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the signal color data for a level measuring device is configured to indicate an affiliation of the level measuring device to the network of level measuring devices.

7. A level measuring device for determining a level of a medium, the level measuring device comprising: a receiving device configured to receive color data from a device according to claim 1.

8. The level measuring device according to claim 7, further comprising: a display device configured to display the received signal color data and/or error color data and to output a signal color and/or an error color.

9. The level measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the display device is formed as a luminous display or as a background illumination of a display of the level measuring device.

10. A method of providing a signal color for a level measuring device, the method comprising the following steps: providing at least one signal color for a network of level measuring devices; and transmitting the provided signal color as signal color data to the network of level measuring devices.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one signal color is provided as a color to identify a master-slave network of the level measuring devices.

12. The method according to claim 10, where the signal color data is transmitted synchronously, asynchronously, or cyclically.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one error color is provided for the network of level measuring devices, and wherein the provided at least one error color is transmitted as error color data to the network of level measuring devices.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the error color data is transmitted synchronously, asynchronously, or cyclically.

15. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored therein, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of the method according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a device for providing a signal color for a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a device for providing a signal color for a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method for providing a signal color for a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0043] In the figures of the drawings, identical reference signs designate identical or functionally identical elements, parts, components or process steps, unless otherwise indicated.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a device for providing a signal color for a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

[0045] The term “parameterization” as used herein may be understood to refer to, for example, any customizing, initialization, or calibration activity that sets or determines color parameters or values for a level measuring device or any network of level measuring devices.

[0046] According to an embodiment, a container 1 is irradiated by a radioactive source 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0047] According to an embodiment, an external radiation detection sensor 3 is formed with an illuminant, wherein the illuminant may be formed as an illuminated ring, and emits approximately a violet signal color.

[0048] According to an embodiment, a level measuring device 4 may be designed as a slave of a master-slave arrangement and may be formed with a luminous means, wherein the luminous means may be designed as a luminous ring, and may emit a violet signal color, for example.

[0049] According to an embodiment, a level measuring device 5 may be designed as a master of a master-slave arrangement and may be formed with a luminous means, wherein the luminous means may be designed as a luminous ring, and may emit a violet signal color, for example.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a device for providing a signal color for a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

[0051] The device 100 for providing a signal color to a level measuring device includes a parameterization device 10 and a transmission device 20.

[0052] The parameterization device 10 is designed to provide a signal color for a network of level measurement devices.

[0053] The transmitting device 20 is designed to transmit the provided signal color as signal color data to the network of level measuring devices.

[0054] In an embodiment, it is provided that the level of a container is determined using a plurality of PROTRAC devices.

[0055] The term “PROTRAC” refers to devices for level detection with radiometry. Radiometric level detection works with a radiometric source that emits bundled gamma radiation. The radiation is received by a detector on the opposite side of the vessel. If the radiation is blocked by the product, the detector receives less or no radiation. These intensity changes are passed on as signals by a relay.

[0056] For this purpose, three SOLITRAC devices (summation) and another device for external radiation detection are interconnected according to another embodiment.

[0057] The term “SOLITRAC” refers to devices or radiometric sensors with PVT rod detector for continuous measurement of liquids and bulk solids. It is suitable for level measurement at extreme process temperatures, with critical product properties or of aggressive media, thus ideal for use in cylindrical vessels, reactors, autoclaves, separators, and mixing vessels.

[0058] In an embodiment, it is provided that electrical illuminants will illuminate in a particular color in the normal state.

[0059] For example, if a particular connection is broken, for example a data transmission connection from the master to a summing slave of the master-slave arrangement of level measuring devices, this is detected by the system and the master of the master-slave arrangement of level measuring devices goes into fault or fault mode and the display changes color to, for example, a color value of “red”, according to a further embodiment.

[0060] In an embodiment, it is provided that this new color value is transmitted to the other devices still present on the bus via data transmission, and the field devices are designed to also change the color to a different hue or to a different color value, such as red.

[0061] In an embodiment, it is provided that on the liquid container, for example, illuminants of three level measuring devices would light up with the color value “red” and a detection of the faulty measurement would be achieved more reliably than if this lighting up were indicated only by a single illuminant of a level measuring device.

[0062] In an embodiment, it is provided that the level measuring device used as master or its electrical illuminant can additionally flash alternately with the color value “red” and with the color value “violet”. This makes it advantageously recognizable that the master has caused the error.

[0063] The level measuring device that is no longer on the bus would continue to light up with the color value “violet” and it would be recognizable that it can no longer be reached by the master.

[0064] In an embodiment, it is provided that all level gauges in the master/slave system light up with the color value “violet”, to indicate the signal color.

[0065] In an embodiment, it is provided that the extraneous radiation device detects extraneous radiation and is adapted to place the equipment in a corresponding fault state and to display a fault color or fault color value accordingly.

[0066] In an embodiment, it is provided that the extraneous radiation device flashes in an error color. This enables it to be made apparent that extraneous radiation is present or has acted on a sensor of the level measuring device.

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a level measuring device according to an embodiment.

[0068] The level measuring device 200 for determining a level of a medium includes a receiving device 210 and a display device 220.

[0069] The receiving device 210 is adapted to receive the color data from a device 100.

[0070] The display device 220 is adapted to display the received signal color data and/or error color data, and to output a signal color and/or an error color.

[0071] For example, the display device 220 is adapted to be used as a NAMUR signal display.

[0072] The term NAMUR refers to the “Standards Working Group for Measurement and Control Technology in the Chemical Industry”.

[0073] The association primarily supports the concerns of the process industry with regard to standardization, devices, measuring methods or the like. The term “NAMUR signal display”, within the meaning of the description of the present patent application, further includes electronic components designed to display colors defined or standardized according to NAMUR and/or to output colors or symbols defined or standardized according to NAMUR.

[0074] Furthermore, the term “NAMUR signal display” includes electronic display components that are to be operated with defined minimum or maximum current or power values.

[0075] Furthermore, the term “NAMUR signal display” covers electronic display components that can display signal levels and the failure information of digital measuring transducers with analog output signal defined or standardized according to NAMUR, e.g., failure of the measuring transducer, failure in connecting lines, failure of auxiliary energies, etc. The failure information states that there is a failure in the measuring system.

[0076] FIG. 4 a flow diagram a flow diagram of a method for providing a signal color for a level measuring device.

[0077] The method for providing a signal color for a level measuring device has the following method steps:

[0078] As a first step of the process, a signal color S1 is provided for a network of level measuring devices.

[0079] As a second step of the process, S2 of the provided signal color is transmitted as signal color data to the network of level measuring devices.

[0080] Finally, it should be noted that “comprising” and “including” do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles “an” or “a” do not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limitations.