COUPLING ELEMENT FOR A DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AND/OR MONITORING A PROCESS VARIABLE

Abstract

A coupling element for a device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable, more particularly the temperature, the flow rate or the flow velocity, of a medium in a container includes a main body having a contact surface designed such that the main body can be applied to the container face to face via the contact surface, in which the main body includes a bore for receiving a sensor element of the device, which is configured for determining and/or monitoring the process variable, and a longitudinal axis of the bore runs tangentially to the contact surface.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A coupling element for fastening a device to a container, the device configured for determining and/or monitoring a process variable, including the temperature, the flow rate or the flow velocity, of a medium in the container, the coupling element comprising: a main body including a contact surface configured to enable the main body to be applied to the container face to face via the contact surface, wherein the main body includes a bore configured to receive a sensor element of the device, the sensor element configured for determining and/or monitoring the process variable, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the bore extends tangentially to the contact surface.

17. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the contact surface is adapted to correspond to a surface of the container.

18. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the contact surface comprises, at least in part, a deformable, flexible or ductile material, which is selected and configured such that the contact surface can be adapted to a contour of an outer wall of the container.

19. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the bore is closed in an end region, which end region lies within a volume of the main body.

20. The coupling element according to claim 16, further comprising a shaft that extends from the main body and opens into the bore.

21. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the coupling element is configured and/or arranged such that a longitudinal axis of the container and the longitudinal axis of the bore are arranged at a predeterminable angle.

22. The coupling element according to claim 21, wherein the longitudinal axis of the container and the longitudinal axis of the bore are arranged perpendicular to each other.

23. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the container is a pipeline conveying the medium.

24. The coupling element according to claim 16, further comprising a pipeline portion arranged adjacent the contact surface, which pipeline portion is configured to guide the medium.

25. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein, in a region of the contact surface, a member comprising a material having anisotropic thermal conductivity is arranged, or wherein the main body consists of the material having anisotropic thermal conductivity in a region facing the contact surface.

26. The coupling element according to claim 25, wherein the material having anisotropic thermal conductivity comprises graphite or hexagonal boron nitride.

27. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein thermal insulation comprising a thermally insulating material is arranged in a region of the main body facing away from the contact surface and the bore, which thermal insulation at least partially surrounds the main body, or wherein the main body consists of the thermally insulating material in the region of the main body facing away from the contact surface and the bore.

28. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the main body consists of a thermally conductive material in a region facing the contact surface and the bore.

29. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the main body is constructed from at least two components in a layered structure.

30. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the main body is fabricated, at least in part, from a sintered material or a composite material.

31. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the coupling element is embodied in one piece and is fabricated by a generative manufacturing process, or wherein the coupling element includes at least two, separately manufactured, coupling components.

32. The coupling element according to claim 16, wherein the generative manufacturing process is a 3D printing process.

33. The coupling element according to claim 16, further comprising a fastener configured to fasten the main body to the container.

34. A device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable, including a temperature, a flow rate or a flow velocity, of a medium in a container, the device comprising: a sensor element; and the coupling element according to claim 16.

Description

[0046] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. In the figures:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a thermometer for non-invasive temperature measurement according to the prior art;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows possible embodiments of a coupling element according to the invention, which is shown schematically fastened to a pipeline;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows possible embodiments of a multi-part coupling element according to the invention and possible fastening means for fastening the coupling element to a container in the form of a pipeline;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a possible embodiment of a coupling element according to the invention with thermal insulation;

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a first possible embodiment of a coupling element produced in one piece; and

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a second possible embodiment of a coupling element produced in one piece.

[0053] In the figures, identical elements are respectively provided with the same reference signs. The embodiments from the various figures can also be combined with one another as desired. In addition, all figures relate to containers in the form of pipelines and field devices in the form of thermometers. However, the present invention is in no way limited to pipelines or thermometers. Rather, the respective considerations can be readily applied to other types of containers and field devices.

[0054] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a thermometer 1 according to the prior art with a measuring insert 3 and an electronics module 4. The thermometer 1 is used to detect the temperature T of a medium M located in a container 2, in this case in the form of a pipeline. For this purpose, the thermometer 1 does not project into the pipeline 2, but rather is placed on a wall W of the pipeline 2 from the outside for non-invasive temperature determination.

[0055] The measuring insert 3 comprises a sensor element in the form of a temperature sensor 5, which in the present case comprises a temperature-sensitive element in the form of a resistive element. The temperature sensor 5 is electrically contacted via the connection lines 6a, 6b and connected to the electronics module 4. While the thermometer 1 shown has a compact design having an integrated electronics module 4, the electronics module 4 can also be arranged separately from the measuring insert 3 in other thermometers 1. In addition, the temperature sensor 5 need not necessarily be a resistive element, nor does the number of connection lines 6 used need necessarily be two. Rather, the number of connection lines 6 can be selected appropriately depending on the measurement principle used and the temperature sensor 5 used.

[0056] As already explained, the measuring accuracy of such a thermometer 1 depends to a large extent on the respective materials used for the thermometer and on the respective contacting means, in particular thermal contacting means, in particular in the region of the temperature sensor 5. The temperature sensor 5 is in thermal contact with the medium M indirectly, i.e., via the measuring insert 3 and the wall W of the container 2. Heat dissipation from the medium M to the environment also plays a major role in this context, which can lead to an undesired temperature gradient in the region of the temperature sensor 5.

[0057] In order to suitably counteract these problems, an alternative embodiment for non-invasive determination of a process variable, for example by means of the thermometer 1, is proposed within the scope of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 by way of some preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0058] The invention is based on the use of a coupling element 7, as shown for example in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2c, the coupling element 7 has a main body 8 having a contact surface 9 by means of which the main body 8 can be applied to the container 2, in particular to the wall W of the container 2, face to face and in particular with a precise fit. The contact surface 9 is preferably designed to correspond to a surface O of the wall W of the container 2. The main body 8 also has a bore 10 into which the sensor element 5 of the device 1 can be introduced, for example, the measuring insert 3 having the sensor element 5 and the connection lines 6a and 6b of FIG. 1. According to the invention, a longitudinal axis L.sub.K of the bore 10 is tangential to the contact surface 9 of the coupling element 7, i.e., in a plane parallel to a tangent T to the contact surface 9 or to the wall W of the container 2.

[0059] FIG. 2a shows a first embodiment of a coupling element 7 according to the invention, in which an angle ? between the longitudinal axis L.sub.K of the bore 10 and a longitudinal axis L.sub.B of the pipeline 2 6 is ?=90? in the coupling element 7 shown on the left, i.e., it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.sub.B of the pipeline 2. In contrast, in the case of the coupling element 7 shown on the right, ?=45?. It is also conceivable for the coupling element 2 to have bores 10a and 10b, each of which is used to receive a measuring insert 3a and 3b, as illustrated in FIG. 2b. In the case of a plurality of bores 10a and 10b, the respective angles ? can be the same, as in the case of FIG. 2b, or at least partially different.

[0060] Numerous different variants are also conceivable for the design of the main body 8, as illustrated for example in FIG. 2d to FIG. 2f. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2d, the main body 8 is shell-shaped in order to allow for a compact design. The embodiment according to FIG. 2e is a large-volume main body 8 that can bring advantages in particular with regard to thermal insulation with respect to an environment of the coupling element 7 and the measuring insert 3. In addition, such an embodiment is typically more mechanically robust. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2f, the main body 8, which is designed similarly to the case of FIG. 2e, additionally comprises a shaft 8a for receiving the measuring insert 3. The shaft 8a has various functions, in particular, it is used to improve heat conduction from the wall W of the container 2 to the measuring insert 3 and to enlarge a region having homogeneous temperature distribution around the measuring insert 3. In addition, the shaft 8a can be used to improve the thermal insulation and/or the mechanical stability of the device 1 or of the measuring insert 3 in the bore 10 of the main body 8.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows various possible embodiments of multi-part coupling elements 7 and of possible fastening means 13. In the case of FIG. 3a, the main body 8 is designed in two parts and with a shaft 8a and has two coupling components in the form of half shells 11a and 11b, which can be arranged around the pipeline 2. The bore 10 runs in the region of both half shells 11a and 11b and is closed in an end region 12. It should be pointed out that, in other embodiments, the main body 8 can also have more than two coupling components, and that, even in the case of two coupling components, these do not necessarily have to be designed in the form of half shells 11a and 11b. Rather, numerous different variants are conceivable, all of which fall under the present invention.

[0062] Various variants are also conceivable for fastening the coupling components, here the two half shells 11a and 11b, to one another and for fastening the main body 8 to the container 2. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3b, the coupling element 7 comprises fastening means 13 for producing a screw connection by means of two screws that are used simultaneously to fasten the two half shells 11a and 11b to one another and to the pipeline 2. In contrast, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3c, fastening means 13 are provided that comprise a hinge and a screw. Other embodiments can comprise other fastening means 13, for example those with connecting elements, clamps, tensioners, straps or springs. In this case, the fastening means 13 can be used both for fastening a plurality of components of the main body 8 to one another and for fastening the coupling element 7 to the pipeline 2. However, separate fastening means 13 can also be used for these two purposes. In the case of a one-piece coupling element 7, only one fastening to the container 2 is required.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a coupling element 7 having a unit 14 comprising a material having anisotropic thermal conductivity and thermal insulation 15. The unit 14 is arranged in a region of the main body 8 facing the container 2, while the thermal insulation 15 is arranged in a region of the main body facing away from the container 2 and is used for insulation with respect to the environment of the coupling element or the device 1.

[0064] A first possible embodiment of an integrally produced coupling element 7 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The coupling element 7 has a main body 8 having an (optional) shaft 8a and a bore 10 for receiving a measuring insert 3 having a sensor element 5. The contact surface 9 rests flat against the wall W of the container 2. The surface of the contact surface 9 is as large as possible, in particular maximally, while an extension of the main body 8 perpendicular to the contact surface 9 is particularly small, in particular minimally. This results in a particularly compact design. In addition, such an embodiment also ensures reduced, in particular minimized, heat loss to the environment. This effect can be further increased by suitable measures with respect to the design or the structure of the main body 8, for example with respect to internal heat conduction, in particular the main body 8 can be designed such that increased heat conduction takes place from the contact surface 9 to the bore 10 or to the shaft 8a.

[0065] While the main body 8 is a solid body in the case of FIG. 5a, the main body 8 shown in FIG. 5b is a hollow body. A main body 8 in the form of a hollow body offers the additional advantage that the measuring insert 3 comes into direct contact with the wall W of the container 2. This reduces the distance between the sensor element 5, which is arranged in the measuring insert 3, and the wall W of the container 2, to which the measuring insert 3 is arranged tangentially, which in turn results in a further improvement of the heat conduction from the medium M to the sensor element 5.

[0066] Finally, FIG. 6 shows a shaft-like embodiment of the main body 8 of the coupling element 7. This embodiment constitutes a particularly compact and simple design. It is also conceivable for this embodiment to use a solid (FIG. 6a) main body 8 and a main body in the form of a hollow body (FIG. 6b). In addition to the two variants for a one-piece main body 8 from FIGS. 5 and 6, numerous further possible embodiments for a main body 8 of a coupling element 7 according to the invention which also fall within the scope of the present invention are conceivable. In particular, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can also be combined with one another as desired. In summary, it is an advantage of the present invention that a standard measuring insert 3, for example a thermometer 1, can be used to realize a non-invasive thermometer 1. For this purpose, the coupling element 7 according to the invention has a bore 10 for receiving the measuring insert 3. Adaptation to the geometry of the container 2 is effected by means of the contact surface 9 of the coupling element 7. In contrast to other solutions known from the prior art, a longitudinal axis L of the measuring insert 3 runs tangentially to the wall of the container W, whereby improved heat conduction can be achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0067] 1 Device [0068] 2 Container [0069] 3 Measuring insert [0070] 4 Electronics module [0071] 5 Temperature sensor [0072] 6 Connecting wires [0073] 7 Coupling element [0074] 8 Main body [0075] 9 Contact surface [0076] 10 Bore [0077] 11 a, b Coupling components, in the form of half shells [0078] 12 End region [0079] 13 Fastening means [0080] 14 Unit having anisotropic thermal conductivity [0081] 15 Thermal insulation [0082] M Medium [0083] T Temperature [0084] W Wall of the container [0085] L.sub.B Longitudinal axis of the container [0086] L.sub.K Longitudinal axis of the coupling element [0087] ? Angle between the longitudinal axes [0088] T Tangent