COUPLING ADAPTER FOR A THERMOMETER

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a coupling adapter for a measuring insert for determining and/or monitoring a temperature of a medium including a temperature sensor, which measuring insert can be introduced into a protective tube for accommodating the measuring insert. The coupling adapter includes a base body, including a bore with a diameter adapted to an outer diameter of the measuring insert, and a coupling element, which is arranged on an outer surface of the base body, which coupling element is embodied and/or dimensioned so as to serve for fixing the measuring insert inside the protective tube in a state in which the measuring insert is introduced into the protective tube. The present disclosure further includes an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring the temperature of a medium comprising such coupling adapter.

Claims

1. A coupling adapter for a measuring insert for determining and/or monitoring a temperature of a medium, wherein the measuring insert comprises a temperature sensor and is configured to be introduced into a protective tube configured to accommodate the measuring insert, the coupling adapter comprising: a base body including a bore having a diameter adapted to an outer diameter of the measuring insert; and a coupling element configured so as to fix the measuring insert inside the protective tube in a state when the measuring insert is introduced into the protective tube, wherein coupling element is arranged on an outer surface of the base body.

2. The coupling adapter of claim 1, wherein the base body and/or the coupling element are at least partially composed of a thermally conductive material.

3. The coupling adapter of claim 2, wherein the coupling element comprises a first component and a second component, the first component being at least partially rigid and the second component being at least partially elastic.

4. The coupling adapter of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises at least one at least partially elastic and/or deformable element.

5. The coupling adapter of claim 4, wherein the at least one at least partially elastic and/or deformable element is a metallic mesh or a metallic foam.

6. The coupling adapter of claim 4, wherein the at least one at least partially elastic and/or deformable element is a metallic spring element.

7. The coupling adapter of claim 6, wherein the spring element is configured such that a spring travel of the spring element is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the measuring insert.

8. The coupling adapter of claim 6, wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of outward curved bars and at least one ring-shaped connection element, to which the plurality of curved bars is connected, wherein the plurality of curved bars is evenly distributed around a circumference of the connection element.

9. The coupling adapter of claim 1, wherein the coupling element further comprises a filling material, wherein the filling material is a powder or a paste.

10. The coupling adapter of claim 9, wherein the coupling element comprises a graphite powder.

11. The coupling adapter of claim 1, wherein the coupling element is connected to the base body by a force-fit and/or form-fit connection.

12. The coupling adapter of claim 1, wherein the coupling element and/or the base body comprises fastening means for fastening the coupling element to the base body and/or the base body to the measuring insert.

13. The coupling adapter of claim 1, wherein the base body has a cylindrical shape with an internal bore having a bore diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the measuring insert.

14. An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a temperature of a medium in a vessel or pipe, the apparatus comprising: a measuring insert comprising a temperature sensor; a protective tube configured to accommodate the measuring insert; and the coupling adapter according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the following, the present disclosure will be explained in greater detail based on the drawings presented, which include:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a thermometer comprising a measuring insert and a protective tube according to the state of the art;

[0027] FIGS. 2a and 2b show embodiments of a coupling adapter with a coupling element comprising an elastic and/or deformable element in the form of a foam according to the present disclosure;

[0028] FIGS. 3a and 3b show further embodiments of a coupling adapter with a coupling element comprising an elastic and/or deformable element in the form of a spring element according to the present disclosure;

[0029] FIGS. 4a-4c show several preferred embodiments of a spring element according to the present disclosure; and

[0030] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with a coupling element comprising a spring element and a mesh according to the present disclosure.

[0031] In the figures, identical elements are always provided with the same reference sign.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a state of the art thermometer 1 for determining the temperature T of a medium M in a vessel V, the thermometer 1 comprising a protective tube 2, a measuring insert 3 and electronics 4. The measuring insert 3 is inserted into the protective tube 2 and comprises an elongated tube 3a in which temperature sensor 5, here in the form of a resistive element, is arranged. In certain embodiments, the temperature sensor, e.g., comprises a thermocouple of a resistive element. The temperature sensor 5 is electrically contacted via the connection lines 6 and connected to the electronics 4. In other embodiments, the electronics 4 can also be arranged separately from the measuring insert 3 and protective tube 2. Also, the temperature sensor 5 does not necessarily need to be a resistive element, or the number of connecting lines 6 used need not necessarily be two. Rather, a different number of connecting lines 6 can be used depending on the measuring principle applied.

[0033] To improve thermal contacting a spring element 7 is frequently arranged inside the protective tube 2 and/or a paste 8 is provided in the inner volume V of the thermowell 2. However, that way only insufficient mechanical stability and thermal contacting is achieved. Typically, air gaps between an inner wall of the thermowell 2 and an outer wall of the measuring insert 3 are not sufficiently minimized. This results in higher response times of the thermometer 3, less mechanical stability and a certain sensitivity towards vibrations.

[0034] The present disclosure addresses these problems by providing a coupling adapter 9 comprising a base body 10 and a coupling element 11. Exemplary embodiments of measuring inserts 3 inside a thermowell 2 equipped with a coupling adapter 9 positioned in the end region of the measuring insert 3 in which the temperature sensor 5 is arranged are shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The coupling element 11 is embodied and/or dimensioned so as to serve for fixing the measuring insert 3 inside the protective tube 2 when inserted therein. That way, mechanical stability of the thermometer 1 can be improved and furthermore, a sensitivity of the thermometer 1 to mechanical vibrations becomes reduced.

[0035] In certain embodiments, the coupling element 11 and/or the base body 10 is/are at least partially composed of a thermally conductive material, e.g., a metal. Such an embodiment results in an improved performance of the thermometer 1. In particular, a response time of the thermometer 1 in response to a change of the temperature T of the medium M is significantly reduced.

[0036] In case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, the coupling element 11 comprises at least one at least partially elastic and/or deformable element in the form of, for example, a metallic, foam 12 attached to the base body 10. The coupling element 11 may further comprise a filling material 13 filled into remaining gaps in the foam 12. Alternatively, the elastic and/or deformable element can also be, for example, a metallic, mesh.

[0037] In such an embodiment, the base body 10 has an overall cylindrical shape with an internal bore adapted to the dimensions of the measuring insert 3. However, also other embodiments of the base body 10 are feasible and do fall within the present disclosure. For instance, the base body 10 may have varying thickness, different geometries and/or different dimensions from one embodiment relative to another.

[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 2b, the coupling element 11 may further also comprise at least two different components 14 serving different purposes, e.g., one rigid component 14a and one elastic component 14b. For example, the coupling element 11 in such that the second elastic component 14b is provided by the elastic and/or deformable element, e.g., a foam or mesh, and the first component 14a, e.g., in the form of a rigid frame.

[0039] Examples for preferred materials for the coupling element 11 are stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum or others.

[0040] Further embodiments are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In the embodiment of FIG. 3a, the at least partially elastic and/or deformable element is a spring element 15 fastened to the base body 10 by means of a form-fit connection. A spring travel a of the spring element 15 is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 1 of the measuring insert 3.

[0041] In the embodiment of FIG. 3b, the base body 10 also has a cylindrical shape with an internal bore having a bore diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the measuring insert 3. However, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the outer diameter d of the base body 10 varies along its and the longitudinal axis 1 of the measuring insert 3. The outer wall of the base body 10 comprises several shoulders 16a-16d. The diameter do of the base body 10 is further reduced to a first reduced diameter d.sub.1 in a first section 51 defined by the shoulders 16a and 16d and further reduced to a second reduced diameter d.sub.2 in a second section s.sub.2 defined by shoulders 16a and 16d. Spring element 15 is clamped or fastened on the base body 10 in the second section s.sub.2 between shoulders 16b and 16c. By providing several sections s with varying diameter d for the base body 10, different spring elements 15 can be provided for the same coupling adapter 9 for different applications and geometries.

[0042] It shall be noted that the base body 10 may further comprise fastening means 17 for fastening the base body 10 to the measuring insert 3. In such an embodiment, the fastening means 17 are provided by an end section of the base body 10 with reduced wall thickness serving to establish a force-fit or form-fit connection with the measuring insert 3.

[0043] Several embodiments for a coupling adapter 9 including a coupling element 11 comprising a spring element 15 are shown in FIGS. 4a-4c. The spring element 15 shown in FIG. 4a comprises a plurality of outward curved bars 18 and two ring-shaped connection elements 19. The bars 18 are clamped and fastened between the two connecting elements 19 and are evenly distributed around the circumference of the connecting elements 19. The quantity of bars 18 as well as their dimensions, e.g., length and width, can vary from one embodiment relative to another. For instance, in case of the spring element 15 shown in FIG. 4b, the number of bars 18 provided is less as in case of FIG. 4a, but the width of each bar 19 is larger. Moreover, while two connection elements 19 are provided for the embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, the one shown in FIG. 4b comprises one connecting element 19. Another embodiment of a spring element 15 is subject to FIG. 4c. Here, three connection elements 19 are provided, whereas bars 18 are provided in each case between two adjacent connecting elements 19.

[0044] Another embodiment is presented in FIG. 5. The coupling adapter 9 is arranged in the end region of the elongated tube 3a of the measuring insert 3. The coupling element 11 comprises a base body 10 and a spring element 13 similar, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3b. Moreover, a mesh 12 is provided at the tip of the elongated tube 3a. That way, the coupling element 11 comprises a mesh 12 and a spring element 15. Alternatively, a metallic foam can be provided instead of the mesh 12.