Measuring device having an interface

• US 10,247,754 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Neuburger, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): McAndrew, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US14/780,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20160084877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 324126
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364

Abstract

A measuring device (1) for determining a measured variable has a sensor device (2) that generates at least one primary signal depending on the measured variable to be determined, an electronics device (3), a transition section (4) located between the sensor device (2) and the electronics device (3), an interface (5) arranged in the transition section (4) for transmitting energy and/or signals and having at least one signal line (7) between the sensor device (2) and the electronics device (3) are provided. To provide a measuring device that has an interface for transmitting signals or energy, which is easier to access than in the measuring device of the prior art, the interface (5) and the signal line (7) can be reversibly connected for transmitting signals to one another.

Claims

1. A measuring device for determining a measured variable, comprising:

at least one sensor device,

at least one electronics device,

at least one transition section located between and mechanically connecting the sensor device and the electronics device, the at least one transition section being located at an accessible location,

at least one interface device arranged in the transition section for transmitting at least one of energy and signals, and

at least one signal line electrically connected to and extending between the sensor device and the electronics device for enabling data transmission between the sensor device and the electronics device over the at least one signal line, wherein the signal line is a separate element from the transition section, such that the transition section and the signal line separately and independently connect the sensor device and the electronics device to one another, the signal line being tapped by the at least one interface device for enabling signals of the sensor device to be tapped before a transition to the electronics device thereby enabling access to data on the signal line bypassing the electronics device,

wherein the sensor device is operable to generate at least one primary signal depending on the measured variable to be determined,

wherein the at least one interface device and the signal line are removably connectable for connecting and disconnecting communication between the at least one interface device and the signal line, and

wherein the transition section remains mechanically connected to the sensor device and the electronics device regardless of whether the interface device and the signal line are connected or disconnected from one another.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one contact element is provided for transmitting the at least one of energy and signals between the signal line and the at least one interface device, and wherein, in at least one state of the measuring device, the contact element interrupts transmission of said at least one of energy and signals via the signal line and enables at least the transmission of signals between the signal line and the interface.

3. The measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one contact element allows said transmission of at least one of energy and signals via the signal line in at least one standard state.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one flap is assigned to the at least one interface device.

5. The measuring device according to claim 4, wherein at least one contact element is provided for transmitting the at least one of energy and signals between the signal line and the at least one interface device, and wherein, in at least one state of the measuring device, the contact element interrupts transmission of said at least one of energy and signals via the signal line and enables at least the transmission of signals between the signal line and the at least one interface device, and wherein the flap and the contact element are assigned to one another.

6. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the electronics device is assigned to at least one electronics housing and wherein the sensor device is assigned to at least one sensor housing.

7. The measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one interface device is arranged in an adapter housing and wherein the adapter housing is connected to at least one of the electronics housing and the sensor housing in an interruptible manner.

8. The measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the electronics housing and the sensor housing are connectable to one another in an interruptible manner.

9. The measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the electronics housing and the sensor housing are each closed units and wherein the signal line forms a connection between the electronics housing and the sensor housing.

10. The measuring device according to claim 9, wherein the interface is assigned to one of the electronics housing and the sensor housing.

11. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device has only the at least one interface device for transmitting energy and signals.