DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE OF A TUBULAR STRAND

Abstract

A device for determining the temperature of a tubular strand conveyed out of an extrusion device includes at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of an outside of the tubular strand at a first position of the tubular strand. An evaluation apparatus further included and configured to compare the first temperature with a second temperature of the outside of the tubular strand at a second position of the tubular strand and determine at least one of a temperature within the tubular strand or a temperature on the inside of the tubular strand at a position of the tubular strand based on the comparison of the first and second temperature.

Claims

1-29. (canceled)

30. A device for determining a temperature of a tubular strand conveyed out of an extrusion device, comprising: at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of an outside of the tubular strand at a first position of the tubular strand; and an evaluation apparatus configured to, compare the first temperature with a second temperature of the outside of the tubular strand at a second position of the tubular strand, wherein the second position is spaced apart from the first position along a conveying direction of the tubular strand, and determine at least one of a temperature within the tubular strand or a temperature on an inside of the tubular strand at a position of the tubular strand based on the comparison of the first and second temperature.

31. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a second temperature sensor configured to measure the second temperature.

32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one temperature sensor is further configured to measure the second temperature.

33. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a contactless temperature sensor.

34. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one temperature sensor is arranged such that the first temperature is measured after the tubular strand has passed through a cooling section arranged downstream of the extrusion device.

35. The device according to claim 30, wherein the evaluation apparatus uses a finite element method to determine the at least one of the temperature within the tubular strand or the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand based on the comparison of the first and second temperature.

36. The device according to claim 30, wherein: the at least one temperature sensor is configured to measure the first temperature at multiple locations distributed over a circumference of the tubular strand at the first position; the evaluation apparatus is configured to compare the temperature measured at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the tubular strand with the second temperature at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the tubular strand at the second position; and determine at least one of the temperature within the tubular strand or the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the tubular strand at the position of the tubular strand based on the comparison.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein the at least the one temperature sensor is rotatable at least in portions over the circumference of the tubular strand.

38. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a measuring apparatus configured to measure at least one of a diameter or a wall thickness of the tubular strand at one of the first position and the second position of the tubular strand.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein the evaluation apparatus is configured to determine at one of the temperature within the tubular strand or the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand using at least one of the measured diameter and the measured wall thickness.

40. The device according to claim 38, wherein the measuring apparatus comprises a terahertz radiation measuring apparatus.

41. The device according to claim 30, wherein the evaluation apparatus is further configured to determine an expected shrinkage of the tubular strand based on a temperature-dependent expansion coefficient of a material of the tubular strand starting from the position of the tubular strand at which at least one of the temperature within the tubular strand is determined or the position on the inside of the tubular strand where the temperature is determined, until the tubular strand reaches a final shape.

42. The device according to claim 40, wherein the evaluation apparatus is further configured to determine at least one of a diameter and a wall thickness of the tubular strand after reaching a final shape based on at least one of: (i) the diameter measured at one of the first position and the second position of the tubular strand; (ii) the measured wall thickness of the tubular strand; and (iii) a determined expected shrinkage.

43. The device according to claim 30, wherein the evaluation apparatus is further configured to determine a refractive index of a material of the tubular strand based on the determined temperature.

44. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a control apparatus configured to control the extrusion device based on at least one of the determined temperature within the tubular strand and the determined temperature on the inside of the tubular strand.

45. A method for determining a temperature of a tubular strand conveyed out of an extrusion device, comprising: measuring a first temperature of an outside of the tubular strand at a first position of the tubular strand; measuring a second temperature of the outside of the tubular strand at a second position of the tubular strand, wherein the second position is spaced apart from the first position along a conveying direction of the tubular strand; comparing the first temperature with the second temperature; and determining at least one of: (1) a temperature within the tubular strand; and (2) a temperature on an inside of the tubular strand at a position of the tubular strand based on the comparison of the first and second temperature.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein at least the first temperature is measured contactlessly.

47. The method according to claim 45, wherein at least the first temperature is measured after the tubular strand has passed through a cooling section arranged downstream of the extrusion device.

48. The method according to claim 45, wherein at least one of the temperature within the tubular strand and the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand is determined from the comparison of the first and second temperatures using a finite element method.

49. The method according to claim 45, wherein the first temperature is measured at multiple locations distributed over a circumference of the tubular strand at the first position, and wherein the temperature measured at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the tubular strand is also compared with the second temperature at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the tubular strand at the second position.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein at least one of: (i) the temperature within the tubular strand; and (ii) the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand is determined at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the tubular strand at the position of the tubular strand from the comparison of the first temperature to the second temperature.

51. The method according to of claim 45, wherein the temperature of the tubular strand is determined at multiple locations within the tubular strand at the position of the tubular strand at which the temperature within the tubular strand is determined.

52. The method according to claim 45, wherein the temperature of the tubular strand is determined at multiple locations within the tubular strand at the position of the tubular strand at which the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand is determined.

53. The method according to claim 45, further comprising measuring at least one of: (i) a diameter; and (ii) a wall thickness of the tubular strand at at least one of the first position and the second position of the tubular strand.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein at least one of the diameter and the wall thickness is used to determine at least one of: (i) the temperature within the tubular strand and (ii) the temperature on the inside of the tubular strand.

55. The method according to claim 54, further comprising determining an expected shrinkage of the tubular strand at a final shape based on a temperature-dependent expansion coefficient of a material of the tubular strand starting from the position of the tubular strand at which at least one of: (i) the temperature within the tubular strand is determined; and (ii) the temperature within the inside of the tubular strand is determined.

56. The method according to claim 53, wherein at least one of: (i) the diameter; and (ii) the wall thickness of the tubular strand after reaching the final shape is determined based on at least one of: (i) the diameter measured at the first position; and (ii) the diameter measured at the second position, and based on the determined expected shrinkage.

57. The method according to claim 45, wherein a refractive index of a material of the tubular strand is determined based on the determined temperature.

58. The method according to claim 45, further comprising controlling the extrusion device based on at least one of: (i) the determined temperature within the tubular strand; and (ii) the determined temperature within the inside of the tubular strand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below based on a drawing. FIG. 1 schematically shows a device according to the invention in a side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises an extrusion device 10 with a conveying apparatus. A tubular strand 12, in the present case a plastic tube 12, exiting from the extrusion device 10 is conveyed along its longitudinal axis in a conveying direction 14. In doing so, the strand 12 passes through a first cooling section 16 and a second cooling section 18, in each of which a cooling liquid is sprayed onto the outside of the strand 12 for cooling. Between the extrusion device 10 and the first cooling section 16, a calibration apparatus (not shown) with a, for example, metallic calibration sleeve can be arranged, against the inner wall of which the strand 12 is pressed, for example suctioned, for the outer shaping. In a region between the first cooling section 16 and the second cooling section 18, the strand 12 is accessible from the outside. In this region, a diameter and/or wall thickness measuring apparatus 20 drawn in a dashed line is provided, comprising a terahertz transceiver 22, which emits terahertz radiation onto the tubular strand 12, as can be seen in FIG. 1 at the arrow 24. The terahertz radiation penetrates the tubular strand 12 and is reflected on the boundary surfaces of the strand 12, in particular its outer and insides. The reflected terahertz radiation is in turn received by the terahertz transceiver 22. The measuring apparatus 20 is in connection with an evaluation apparatus 28 via a data connection 26. The evaluation apparatus 28 determines, based on the reflected terahertz radiation, at least the wall thickness of the wall of the strand 12 facing the terahertz transceiver 22 and, if applicable, also the wall thickness of the wall of the strand 12 opposite the terahertz transceiver 22 but also its diameter.

[0027] The measuring apparatus 20 also comprises a first temperature sensor 30, in the present example a pyroelectric temperature sensor 30. The first temperature sensor 30 measures, along the directions indicated by the arrows 32 and 34, the thermal radiation originating from the strand 12 and with it a first temperature of the outside of the strand 12 at a first position 36 in the longitudinal direction of the strand 12 as well as a second temperature of the outside of the strand 12 at a second position 38 in the longitudinal direction of the strand 12. As is visible in FIG. 1, the first temperature sensor 30 measures the first temperature and the second temperature along the directions 32 and 34 symmetrically at the same angles to the strand surface. The measurement values of the first and second temperatures are also provided to the evaluation apparatus 28 via the connection 26. The evaluation apparatus 28 calculates the temperature within the tubular strand 12 and/or on the inside of the tubular strand 12, for example, at the second position 38 of the tubular strand 12 from a comparison of the measured first and second temperatures and taking into account the conveying speed of the strand 12, the thermal capacity and the thermal conductivity of the strand material as well as the measured wall thickness and the diameter of the strand 12. The calculation can take place as explained on the basis of iterative finite element methods.

[0028] It is possible, for example, to determine a radial temperature profile over, for example, the wall portion of the tubular strand 12 facing the temperature sensor 30. It is also possible that the transceiver 22 and the temperature sensor 30 are rotated about the longitudinal axis of the strand 12 so that both a wall thickness measurement and a measurement of the first and second temperatures at multiple locations distributed over the circumference of the strand 12 at the first or respectively second position can take place. In this manner, a temperature profile of the strand 12 can also be calculated over the circumference of the strand 12 in the interior or at its inside.

[0029] On the basis of the ascertained temperature values in the interior of the strand 12 or respectively on its inside, the refractive index, the absorption, and the shrinkage of the strand material, which are known to be temperature-dependent, can be determined more exactly. With better knowledge of the mentioned properties, considerably more exact wall thickness and diameter values can be generated, both for the hot values at the measurement location and also predicted after its cooling, for example, to room temperature.

[0030] The values ascertained by the evaluation apparatus 28 for the wall thickness and the temperature are provided in the example shown via a data connection 40 of a control and/or regulation apparatus 42 of the device. On this basis, the control and/or regulation apparatus 42 can control and/or regulate the extrusion device 10 via another data connection 44 and, for example, a conveying apparatus comprised by this for the strand 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0031] 10 Extrusion device
12 Tubular strand
14 Conveying direction
16 First cooling section
18 Second cooling section
20 Diameter and/or wall thickness measuring apparatus
22 Terahertz transceiver
24 Terahertz radiation
26 Data connection
28 Evaluation apparatus
30 Temperature sensor
32 Temperature measuring direction
34 Temperature measuring direction
36 First position
38 Second position
40 Data connection
42 Control and/or regulation apparatus
44 Data connection