System for Manufacturing a Modularly Structured Apparatus for Determining a Physical Process Quantity, and Standardized Components

• US 20100000316A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Fehrenbach, Josef, Griessbaum, Karl, Motzer, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/54 using means specified in two or more of groups G01D5/02, G01D5/12, G01D5/26, G01D5/42, and G01D5/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/263 by measuring variations in capacitance of capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2967 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing

Abstract

A system for providing different versions of a modularly structured apparatus for determining a physical process quantity, wherein at least two devices to be generated from the system are based on different measuring principles, including a number sensor units (41-48), each sensor unit being designed for detecting a determined physical measuring quantity and for converting said measuring quantity into an electrical measuring signal, wherein at least two of the sensor units are distinguished from each other by their underlying measuring principles; at least one evaluation unit (10), adapted to connect to the sensor units, for evaluating and generating a process quantity signal representing the physical process quantity from the measuring signal of a sensor unit; at least one output unit (13) for outputting the process quantity signal; at least one voltage supply unit (16); and at least one housing unit (22-24) configured to accommodate at least the evaluation unit.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A kit for assembling a modularly structured measurement apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of sensor units including a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, the first sensor unit configurable to detect a specified physical measurement quantity and to convert the measurement quantity into an electrical measurement signal, the first and second sensor units being based on different measuring principles;

at least one evaluation unit configurable to evaluate and generate, based on the electrical measuring signal, a process quantity signal representing a physical measurement quantity detectable by any one of the sensor units, the evaluation unit being configured and standardized to be connectable to any one of the sensor units;

at least one output unit configurable to output the process quantity signal, the output unit being configured and standardized to be connectable to the at least one evaluation unit;

at least one voltage supply unit configurable to supply voltage to the assemblable apparatus, the voltage supply unit being configured and standardized to supply voltage to any one of assemblable versions of the modular apparatus;

at least one housing unit configured and standardized to accommodate at least one unit from the group of units including the evaluation unit, the output unit and the voltage supply unit; and

a plurality of different attachment units configurable to attach the assemblable apparatus to one of vessels and wall portions thereof, each of the attachment units being adapted to fit different ones of one of the vessels and the wall portions,

wherein the kit is capable of being assembled to form different versions of the measurement apparatus having different ones of the sensor units.

39. The kit according to claim 38, further comprising:

a plurality of specific sensor electronics units electronically processing the electrical measuring signal of specific ones of the sensor units to obtain a standardized digital measuring signal suitable to be converted by the evaluation unit into the process quantity signal,

wherein different ones of the sensor electronics units are configured and standardized to be connectable to the first and second sensor units.

40. The kit according to claim 39, wherein one of the sensor electronics units and the evaluation unit are integrable into a single module.

41. The kit according to claim 39, wherein one of the sensor electronics units and the evaluation unit are arranged on at least one printed circuit board.

42. The kit according to claim 38, wherein different measuring principles are selectable from the group consisting of:

(a) delay measurement of one of freely radiated waves and guided waves reflected on a filling matter, the waves including one of electromagnetic waves and ultrasonic waves, (b) measurement of a capacitance of a filling matter, (c) measurement of one of a pressure and a differential pressure, (d) limit level measurement using of vibration in a conductive way, and (e) temperature measurement.

43. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the housing unit is coupled with any one of the sensor units.

44. The kit according to claim 43, wherein the housing unit includes connection configurations for remote transmission links.

45. The kit according to claim 38, wherein one of the sensor units is selected from the group comprising a plurality of the following components:

a) a horn, rod or patch antenna and associated electronics transmitting and receiving microwaves,

b) a sound transducer and associated electronics transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves,

c) a cable or rod probe and associated electronics guiding microwaves,

d) a tuning fork and associated electronics,

e) a capacitive measuring probe and associated electronics,

f) a temperature sensor and associated electronics,

g) a pressure measuring cell and associated electronics,

h) a differential pressure measuring cell and associated electronics for transmitting.

46. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the output unit digital communicates with a bus system.

47. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the output unit outputs the process quantity using a two-wire technology.

48. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the output unit signals the process quantity using a relay.

49. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the at least one voltage supply unit includes first and second voltage supply units, the first and second voltage supply units being arranged for one of a two-wire technology, a four-wire technology and coupling with a bus system, each of the first and second voltage supply units having different standardized dimensions adapted to different ones of the different versions of the modular apparatus.

50. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the at least one voltage supply unit includes first and second voltage supply units, the first and second voltage supply units being connected in series, each of the first and second voltage supply units being supplied with a voltage of one of 3V and 5V.

51. The kit according to claim 38, further comprising:

at least one further housing unit; and

a display and operating module detachably mounted on the at least one further housing unit.

52. The kit according to claim 51, wherein the display and operating module includes an attachment arrangement and an electrical connection arrangement, the attachment arrangement being coupled with a standardized receiving arrangement of the housing unit, the electrical connection arrangement being paired with a corresponding electrical connection arrangement of the housing unit.

53. The kit according to claim 51, wherein the display and operating module is detachable mounted in different one of positions and orientations on the housing unit.

54. A modular measurement apparatus for determining a physical process quantity, comprising:

a first sensor unit detecting a physical measurement quantity and converting the measurement quantity into an electrical measuring signal, an operation of the sensor unit being based on a first measuring principle;

an evaluation unit evaluating and generating, based on the electrical measuring signal, a process quantity signal representing a physical process quantity;

an output unit receiving the process quantity signal and outputting the process quantity signal;

a voltage supply unit supplying operating voltage to the apparatus;

a housing unit accommodating at least a plurality of units from the group of units comprising the evaluation unit, the output unit and the voltage supply unit, and

a first attachment unit mounting the apparatus to one of a vessel and a wall portion thereof,

wherein the sensor unit is replaceable by a second sensor unit, an operation of the second senor unit being based on a second measuring principle different from the first measuring principle.

55. The apparatus according to claim 54, further comprising:

a first sensor electronics unit electronically processing the electrical measuring signal of the first sensor unit to obtain a standardized digital measuring signal suitable to be converted by the evaluation unit into the process quantity signal,

wherein the first sensor electronics unit is replaceable by a second sensor electronics unit which electronically processes the electrical measuring signal of the second sensor unit to obtain the standardized digital measuring signal if the first sensor unit is replaced by the second sensor unit.

56. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the first attachment unit is replaceable by a second attachment unit to fit the apparatus to one of a different vessel, a portion thereof and a different wall portion of the vessel.

57. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the units are mechanically connected by way of standardized mechanical connections.

58. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the units are interconnected way of standardized electrical interconnections.

59. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the voltage supply unit is selectable from a group of standardized voltage supply units, the group of standardized voltage supply units including at least one voltage supply unit connecting using a two-wire technology, a voltage supply unit connecting using a four-wire technology and a voltage supply unit connecting to a bus system.

60. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the housing unit includes a receiving portion having electrical and mechanical connections in which a display and operating module is detachably mounted.

61. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the evaluation unit is configured and standardized in such a way that it is operable with the first and second sensor units.

62. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the output unit is configured and standardized in such a way that it is operable with the first and second sensor units.

63. The apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the output unit includes at least one IIC bus interface, the at least one IIC bus interface being connected to one of a display and operating unit and a computer.

64. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the first and second sensor units are based on different measuring principles from the group of measuring principles consisting of:

(a) delay measurement of one of freely radiated waves and guided waves reflected on a filling matter, the waves including one of electromagnetic waves and ultrasonic waves, (b) capacitance measurement of a filling matter, (c) measurement of a pressure, (d) measurement of a differential pressure, (e) limit level measurement using vibration, (f) limit level measurement in a conductive way, (g) limit level measurement using vibration in a conductive way, and (h) temperature measurement.

65. A housing unit being part of a kit for assembling a measurement apparatus for determining a physical process quantity, the housing unit for one of its end being configured and standardized so as to be couplable to one of a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit of the kit for assembling the fill level measurement apparatus, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit arranged to detect a specific physical measuring quantity representative of the physical process quantity signal, the operation of the first and second sensor units being based on different measuring principles, the housing unit further arranged to house any one of a sensor unit specific printed circuit board having the electronics for driving one of the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the housing unit, when in use, affords operation of the assembled measurement apparatus in hazardous locations.

66. The housing unit according to claim 65, wherein its other end is configured and standardized so as to be couplable to a display unit suitable to display, when the assembled measurement apparatus is in operation, the detected specific physical measuring quantity.

67. An evaluation unit being part of a kit for assembling a measurement apparatus for determining a physical process quantity, the evaluation unit being configured and standardized so as to be communicatively couplable to either a first sensor unit or a second sensor unit of the kit for assembling the measurement apparatus, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit arranged to detect a specific physical measuring quantity representative of the physical process quantity signal, the operation of the first and second sensor units being based on different measuring principles, the evaluation unit comprising:

circuitry means for processing the determined physical process quantity into an output signal suitable for displaying the quantity on a display module connectable to the evaluation unit;

memory means for storing sensor specific calibration data, the calibration data suitable to selectively calibrate any one of the first sensor unit and second sensor unit;

output means for outputing the respective calibration data to effect calibration of either the first or the second sensor unit.

68. An attachment unit being part of a kit for assembling a measurement apparatus for determining a physical process quantity in relation to bulk matter in a vessel, the attachment unit configured to fit the measurement apparatus, when assembled, to the vessel or a wall portion thereof, the attachment unit for one of its ends being further configured and standardized so as to be couplable to either a first sensor unit or a second sensor unit of the kit for assembling the measurement apparatus, wherein the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are arranged to detect a specific physical measuring quantity representative of the physical process quantity signal and wherein the operation of the first and second sensor units are based on different measuring principles, the attachment unit suitable to hold one of the first sensor and the second sensor unit in a position relative to the vessel so that the respective sensor unit is capable of detecting the specific physical measuring quantity.