Measuring Arrangement, Mounting System and Method for Pressure Measurement in a Measuring Volume

Abstract

A measuring arrangement includes a sensor fastened to a measuring volume by a mounting adapter and a coupling ring. The sensor penetrates a wall of the measuring volume. The mounting adapter is fixedly arranged in the wall. The sensor is movably arranged in the mounting adapter. The coupling ring is connected to the sensor. The sensor is held in the mounting adapter by the connection of the coupling ring to the mounting adapter. A recess is provided for guiding a peg element. The position of the peg element in the recess is adjustable in, or counter to, the insertion direction of the sensor by a rotary and/or insertion movement of the coupling ring. The sensor and coupling ring can be moved together by pressurization so that the peg element is arranged in a first locking position when pressurization by the medium is present in the measuring volume.

Claims

1. A measuring arrangement, comprising; a sensor unit; a measuring volume having a wall; and a mounting system; wherein the sensor unit is fastened to the measuring volume by the mounting system; wherein the sensor unit penetrates the wall of the measuring volume, so that the sensor unit is arranged at least partially in the interior of the measuring volume; wherein the mounting system includes at least one mounting adapter and a coupling ring; wherein the mounting adapter is fixedly arranged in the wall of the measuring volume; wherein the sensor unit is movably arranged in the mounting adapter; wherein the coupling ring is connected to the sensor unit; wherein the sensor unit is held in the mounting adapter by the connection of the coupling ring to the mounting adapter; wherein at least one peg element is provided; wherein at least one recess with a guide contour is provided for receiving and guiding the at least one peg element; wherein the position of the peg element in the guide contour can be adjusted in or counter to the insertion direction of the sensor unit by at least one rotary movement of the coupling ring and/or by at least one insertion movement of the coupling ring; wherein the guide contour permits movement of the sensor unit with the coupling ring in axial extension of the sensor unit from a first locking position into a second locking position; and wherein it is possible for the sensor unit together with the coupling ring to be moved in the axial direction of extension of the sensor unit by pressurization so that the peg element is arranged in the first locking position when pressurization by the medium is present in the measuring volume.

2. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one peg element is arranged on the mounting adapter; and wherein the at least one recess is arranged on the coupling ring.

3. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one peg element is arranged on the inside of the coupling ring; and wherein the at least one recess is arranged on the mounting adapter.

4. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one resetting element is present which ensures by resetting force that the peg element is arranged in the second locking position when there is no pressurization by the medium in the measuring volume; or wherein at least one holding element is present which holds the coupling ring together with the sensor unit in the first locking position when an existing pressurization decreases.

5. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mounting adapter is designed as a screw-in adapter; and wherein the measuring volume has a connecting element with a threading, or the mounting adapter is designed as a weld-on adapter, or the mounting adapter is fastened to the measuring volume via a flange connection.

6. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide contour is designed in such a way that it permits a combination of at least two rotational movements, oriented perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the sensor unit, of the coupling ring and at least two insertion movements of the coupling ring in or against the direction of insertion of the sensor unit.

7. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first locking position and/or the second locking positions of the guide contour are designed in such a way that when the peg element is arranged in the first locking position or in the second locking position of the guide contour, the coupling ring is locked against rotation.

8. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the guide contour has at least one service region, and one measuring region; wherein the sensor unit can be installed and removed when the peg element is arranged in the service region; and wherein the sensor unit is held at the measuring volume when the peg element is arranged in the measuring region.

9. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first locking position and/or the second locking position are arranged in the measuring region.

10. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first locking position and the second locking position are arranged one behind the other in the plug-in direction of the sensor unit.

11. The measuring arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the guide contour has an intermediate region; wherein the intermediate region is located between the measuring region and the service region in the direction of rotation of the coupling ring; and wherein there is a third locking position in the intermediate region, into which the peg element is guided when pressurization by the medium is present in the measuring volume.

12. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the coupling ring has at least one internal groove in which a sealing ring is accommodated.

13. The measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mounting adapter has at least one internal groove in which a sealing ring is accommodated.

14. A mounting system for connecting a sensor unit to a measuring volume, comprising: at least one mounting adapter; and at least one coupling ring; wherein the mounting system is designed for producing a measuring arrangement in which the sensor unit is fastened to the measuring volume by the mounting system, wherein the sensor unit penetrates a wall of the measuring volume, so that the sensor unit is arranged at least partially in the interior of the measuring volume, wherein the mounting system includes at least one mounting adapter and a coupling ring, wherein the mounting adapter is fixedly arranged in the wall of the measuring volume, wherein the sensor unit is movably arranged in the mounting adapter, wherein the coupling ring is connected to the sensor coupling ring to the mourning adapter, wherein at least one peg element is provided, wherein at least one recess with a guide contour is provided for receiving and guiding contour can be adjusted in or counter to the insertion direction of the sensor unit by at least one rotary movement of the coupling ring and/or by at least one insertion movement of the coupling ring, wherein the guide contour permits movement of the sensor unit with the coupling ring in axial extension of the sensor unit from a first locking position into a second locking position, and wherein it is possible for the sensor unit together with the coupling ring to be moved in the axial direction of extension of the sensor unit by pressurization so that the peg element is arranged In the first locking position when pressurization by the medium is present in the measuring volume.

15. A method for measuring pressure in a measuring volume in a measuring arrangement including a sensor unit and a mounting system, wherein the sensor unit is fastened to the measuring volume by the mounting system, wherein the sensor unit penetrates a wall of the measuring volume, so that the sensor unit is arranged at least partially in the interior of the measuring volume, wherein the mounting system includes at least one mounting adapter and a coupling ring, wherein the mounting adapter is fixedly arranged in the wall of the measuring volume, wherein the sensor unit is movably arranged in the mounting adapter, wherein the coupling ring is connected to the sensor unit, wherein the sensor unit is held in the mounting adapter by the connection of the coupling ring to the mounting adapter, wherein a least one pea element is provided, wherein at least one recess with a guide contour is provided for receiving and guiding the at lest one pep element, wherein the position of the peg element in the guide contour can be adjusted in or counter to the insertion direction of the sensor unit by at least one rotary movement of the coupling ring and/or by at least one insertion, movement of the coupling ring, wherein the guide contour permits movement of the sensor unit with the coupling ring in axial extension of the sensor unit from a first locking position into a second locking position, and wherein it is possible for the sensor unit together with the coupling ring to be moved in the axial direction of extension of the sensor unit by pressurization so that the pen element is arranged in the first locking position when pressurization so that the peg element is arranged in the first locking position when comprising: bringing the peg element into the second locking position by pressing the coupling ring from the first locking position, so that the peg element is guided into the first locking position by pressurization by the medium in the measuring volume, or so that the peg element remains in the second locking position when there is no pressurization.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising, in order to check whether there is a low pressurization, moving the coupling ring a few times from the first locking position into the second locking position; wherein the movement of the coupling ring in the direction of insertion of the sensor unit requires greater forces than the movement against the direction of insertion in the case of a low pressurization by the medium in the measuring volume.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the guide contour has at least one service region, in which the sensor unit can be inserted and removed, a measuring region, in which the sensor unit is held at the measuring volume, and an intermediate region; wherein the intermediate region is arranged between the measuring region and the service region in the direction of rotation of the coupling ring; wherein the first locking position and/or the second locking position are arranged in the measuring region and a third locking position is present in the intermediate region; and wherein when the coupling ring is actively rotated from the measuring region into the service region; the peg element is guided into the third locking position when pressurization by the medium is present in the measuring volume, so that further rotation of the coupling ring can only be effected by actively pressing the coupling ring against the pressurization.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] There are now a large number of possibilities for designing and further developing the measuring arrangement according to the invention, the mounting system according to the invention and the method according to the invention. Reference is thus made to the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.

[0057] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a measuring arrangement and mounting system, wherein the peg element is arranged in the service region.

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the measuring arrangement and the mounting system in longitudinal section.

[0059] FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a measuring arrangement.

[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates the first embodiment of the measuring arrangement and the mounting system, wherein the peg element is arranged in the second locking position.

[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in longitudinal cross-section.

[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates the first embodiment of a measuring arrangement and mounting system, wherein the peg element is arranged in the first locking position.

[0063] FIG. 7 illustrates the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in longitudinal cross-section.

[0064] FIG. 8 illustrates the result of a pressure check when excess pressure is present in the measuring volume.

[0065] FIG. 9 illustrates the result of a pressure check when there is no excess pressure in the measuring volume.

[0066] FIG. 10 illustrates the movement process to move the coupling ring from the measuring region to the service region.

[0067] FIG. 11 illustrates the embodiment of the measuring arrangement and the mounting system when the peg element is arranged in the third locking position.

[0068] FIG. 12 illustrates a first embodiment of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a measuring arrangement 1 comprising a mounting system 2, a sensor unit 3 and a measuring volume 4 in the form of a pipeline 5. The sensor unit 3 is attached to the pipeline 5 by means of the mounting system 2, so that the sensor unit 3 is arranged at least partially in the interior of the pipeline 5. The mounting system 2 comprises a mounting adapter 6 and a coupling ring 7, wherein the sensor unit 3 is arranged in the mounting adapter 6 and wherein the mounting adapter 6 is fixedly connected to the connecting element 8 of the pipeline 5.

[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting element 8 has a thread, and the mounting adapter 6 is designed as a screw-in adapter. In another embodiment, the connecting element may also comprise another intermediate adapter, provided that an adaptation to the diameter of the connecting element is required. The sensor unit 3 is designed as a plug-in sensor, which is plugged into the mounting adapter 6, so that the sensor unit 3 is arranged movably in the mounting adapter 6.

[0071] The coupling ring 7 is designed for connection to the mounting adapter 6. For this, the mounting adapter 6 has a peg element 9 and the coupling ring 7 has a recess 10 with a guide contour 11 for receiving the peg element 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 10 is designed as a slot. The position of the peg element 9 in the guide contour 11 can be changed by at least one rotary movement and by at least one insertion movement of the coupling ring 7 in or against the direction of insertion of the sensor unit 3. Overall, the guide contour 11 has the form of a two-stage bayonet lock, so that the coupling ring 7 can be connected to the mounting adapter 6 via this bayonet lock and thus the sensor unit 3 is held in the mounting adapter 6.

[0072] For locking against rotation of the coupling ring 7, the guide contour 11 has a first locking position 12, wherein the peg element 9 is guided into the first locking position 12 during operation when excess pressure is present in the pipeline 5. Furthermore, the guide contour has a second locking position 13, wherein the peg element 9 can be guided into the second locking position 13 during operation when there is no excess pressure in the pipeline 5. This can be done automatically with a resetting force when an existing excess pressure decreases. Alternatively, in this situation, the coupling ring 7 together with the sensor unit 3 can initially be held in the first locking position by a retaining element, so that the transfer to the second locking position is actively performed by the user.

[0073] The first locking position 12 and the second locking position 13 are both designed as a positive lock in the direction of rotation of the coupling ring 7, so that accidental opening of the connection of the coupling ring 7 with the mounting adapter 6 is prevented, for example by vibration.

[0074] In addition, the guide contour 11 has a service region 14, wherein the sensor unit 3 can be installed or removed when the peg element 9 is arranged in the service region 14, and a measuring region 15, wherein the sensor unit 3 is held on the pipeline 5 when the peg element 9 is arranged in the measuring region 15.

[0075] In the illustrated embodiment, the peg element 9 is arranged in the service region 14, so the embodiment shows the situation in which in the sensor unit 3 is attached to the pipeline 5.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the measuring arrangement 1 and the mounting system 2 in longitudinal cross-section. It can be seen that the mounting adapter 6 has two peg elements 9, which are arranged opposite each other. Accordingly, the coupling ring 7 has two recesses 10 with guide contours 11, wherein one recess 10 or one guide contour 11 is formed in each case for receiving a peg element 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor unit 3 comprises an additional sensor adapter 27. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor or the sensor housing is screwed into the sensor adapter 27 and the sensor adapter 27 is inserted into the mounting adapter 6.

[0077] A sealing ring 16 is arranged between the mounting adapter 6 and the sensor unit 3 for sealing. In addition, another sealing ring 17 is arranged between the coupling ring 7 and the sensor unit 3 for sealing. The sealing ring 16 also has the function of holding the coupling ring 7 together with the sensor unit 3 in the first locking position 12 when there is only temporary excess pressure in the measuring volume. According to the illustrated embodiment, the combination of the coupling ring 7 and the sensor unit 3 remains in the first locking position 12 when an excess pressure present in the measuring volume decreases.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a measuring arrangement 1 comprising a mounting system 2, a sensor unit 3 and a measuring volume 4, wherein, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recess 10 with the guide contour 11 is arranged on the mounting adapter 6 and the peg element 9 is arranged inside the coupling ring 7, i.e. not visible here. A display element 26 in the form of a colored ring is present under the recess 10. This colored ring is visible during operation, i.e. when the peg element 9 is arranged in the measuring region 15, only when the peg element 9 is arranged in the first locking position 12, i.e. when there is at least temporarily pressurization by the medium in the measuring volume 4.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the measuring arrangement 1 or the mounting system 2, wherein the peg element 9 is arranged in the second locking position 13 in the measuring region 15. In the illustrated embodiment, therefore, there is no excess pressure at the pipeline 5. In addition, the sensor unit 3 is fixed to the pipeline 5, since the coupling ring 7 is locked against rotation by the positive connection to the mounting adapter 6.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows the situation illustrated in FIG. 4 for mounting the sensor unit 3 on a pipeline 5 in longitudinal cross-section.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the measuring arrangement 1 or the mounting system 2, wherein the peg element 9 is arranged in the first locking position 12 in the measuring region 15. In this position, the sensor unit 3 with the coupling ring 7 is minimally lifted out of the mounting adapter 6 by the excess pressure in the pipeline 5 so that the peg element 9 is guided into the first locking position 12. It is therefore visible to the user from the outside that there is excess pressure in the pipeline 5, so that he is warned against removing the sensor unit 3 from the pipeline without releasing the excess pressure.

[0082] FIG. 7 shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in longitudinal cross-section.

[0083] In order to determine during operation whether there is excess pressure on the pipeline 5, a pressure check can be carried out before the sensor unit 3 is removed. For this, the coupling ring 7 is pressed in the direction of insertion of the sensor unit 3 when the peg element 9 is arranged in the measuring region 15. If there is excess pressure in the pipeline 5, the sensor unit 3 is pressed out of the mounting adapter 6 together with the coupling ring 7 so that the peg element 9 is guided into the first locking position 12. This is shown in FIG. 8.

[0084] If there is no excess pressure in the pipeline, the coupling ring 7 remains in such a way that the peg element 9 is arranged in the second locking position 13. This is shown in FIG. 9.

[0085] In addition to the service region 14 and the measuring region 15, the guide contour 11 also has an intermediate region 18, which is located between the service region 14 and the measuring region 15 in the direction of rotation of the coupling ring 7.

[0086] FIG. 10 shows that, starting from the first locking position 12 in the measuring region 15, the intermediate region 18 is reached by first pressing the coupling ring 7 in the direction of insertion and then rotating it. If the peg element 9 is in the intermediate region 18 and an excess pressure is applied to the pipeline 5, the peg element 9 is guided into a third locking position 19. This is shown in FIG. 11. The third locking position 19 is also designed as a positive lock in the direction of rotation of the coupling ring 7, so that the coupling ring 7 is secured against further rotation.

[0087] Accidental removal of the sensor unit 3, even though there is excess pressure in the pipeline 5, is thus further prevented. In this respect, the intermediate region 18 with the third locking position 19 represents a further safeguard against unintentional removal of the sensor unit 3 in the presence of excess pressure in the pipeline 5.

[0088] FIG. 12 shows a first embodiment of a method 20 for measuring the pressurization of the sensor unit 3 by the medium in the measuring volume 4, in detail in the pipeline 5 in a measuring arrangement 1, which is constructed as shown in FIG. 1.

[0089] In a first step 21, the peg element 9 is brought from the first locking position 12 to the second locking position 13 by pressing the coupling ring 7.

[0090] If there is pressurization by the medium in the pipeline 5, the peg element 9 is moved back 22 to the first locking position. Before removal 24 of the sensor unit 3, the excess pressure must first be released 25.

[0091] If there is no excess pressure in the pipeline, the peg element 9 remains 23 in the second locking position 13 and the sensor unit can be removed 24.

[0092] In an advantageous manner, it is thus possible to check whether there is a relevant excess pressure in the pipeline before removing the sensor unit 3, which could lead to an uncontrolled discharge of the medium from the pipeline when the sensor unit is removed.