CONNECTION APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL CONNECTING OF AN ELECTRONICS HOUSING AND A MEASURING TRANSDUCER HOUSING, MEASURING TRANSDUCER WITH SUCH A CONNECTION APPARATUS, AND FIELD DEVICE FORMED THEREWITH

• US 20180364075A1
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Published: 12/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Bitto, Ennio, Gunzenhauser, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 10,989,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/14 Casings, e.g. of special material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/18 Supports or connecting means for meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0023 for flowthrough systems having a flexible pressure transmitting element

Abstract

A connection apparatus comprises: a connecting nozzle having a lumen surrounded by a nozzle wall; as well as a tubular cable duct with a lumen surrounded by a duct wall and extending from a duct end to a duct end remote therefrom for guiding electrical connecting lines. The nozzle wall, or the connecting nozzle formed therewith, has an opening and an opening remote therefrom. The cable duct and the connecting nozzle are additionally so arranged that the cable duct is partially located in the lumen of the connecting nozzle and partially accommodated both by the opening of the nozzle wall as well as also the opening of the nozzle wall, and that a cavity is formed between an inner surface of the nozzle wall facing the lumen and an outer surface of the duct wall facing the lumen. Moreover, the cable duct and the connecting nozzle are so connected together that the cavity is closed gas tightly. The formed measuring transducer by means of such a connection apparatus comprises additionally a measuring transducer housing with a cavity surrounded by a wall as well as, positioned at least partially within the cavity, a sensor element, which is adapted to register a measured variable of a measured substance and to generate least one measurement signal representing the measured variable, wherein the connection apparatus is affixed to the measuring transducer housing. The field device, in turn, includes, moreover, a transmitter electronics electrically connected with the measuring transducer.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A connection apparatus for mechanical connecting of an electronics housing, namely a protective housing for an electronics, especially a transmitter electronics, and a measuring transducer housing, namely a protective housing for at least one, especially physically to electrical, sensor element, which connection apparatus comprises:

a tubular connecting nozzle, said connecting nozzle including a lumen surrounded by a metal nozzle wall; and

a tubular cable duct, with a lumen surrounded by a duct wall and extending from a first duct end to a second duct end remote therefrom for guiding electrical connecting lines;

wherein;

said nozzle wall, or the connecting nozzle formed therewith, includes a first opening and a second opening remote therefrom;

said cable duct and connecting nozzle are so arranged;

that said cable duct is partially located in the lumen of said connecting nozzle and partially accommodated both by said first opening of the nozzle wall of said connecting nozzle as well as also said second opening of the nozzle wall of said connecting nozzle; and

that between an inner surface of said nozzle wall facing the lumen and an outer surface of said duct wall facing the lumen a cavity is formed; and

said cable duct and said connecting nozzle are so connected together, by material bonding or adhesively, that said cavity is closed gas tightly, in such a manner that the cavity is hermetically sealed against an atmosphere surrounding said connecting nozzle.

34. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said tubular connecting nozzle and the cable duct are adapted to hold a gas in said cavity, especially nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, acting with a gas pressure of 1 bar on said nozzle wall and said duct wall.

35. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said cavity contains a fluid, especially a fluid having a specific thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(m-K) and/or a gaseous fluid, especially nitrogen (N₂), argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO₂).

36. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein:

said cavity is filled with a gas having a specific thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(m-K), especially a noble gas and/or a protective gas, especially in such a manner that a gas pressure reigning in said cavity at 25°

C. is less than 300 mbar or greater than 0.5 bar.

37. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said cavity is evacuated/gas-free, at least to the extent that a gas pressure reigning therein at 25°

C. is less than 300 mbar, especially less than 1 mbar.

38. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein:

the gas pressure at 25°

C. (room temperature) is less than 10 3 mbar, especially less than 10 4 mbar.

39. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said cable duct is adapted to withstand a static pressure of greater than 100 bar without damage; and

/or

said duct wall of said cable duct has a bursting pressure of greater than 300 bar; and

/or

said cable duct provides a pressure resistant encapsulation for connecting lines led therein, especially a pressure resistant encapsulation meeting the requirements of the standard, IEC 60079-1;

2007, or a pressure resistant encapsulation according to the ignition protection type “

Pressure-Resistant Encapsulation (Ex-d)” and

/or a pressure resistant encapsulation having a pressure resistance of greater than 100 bar.

40. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said nozzle wall is composed of metal, especially a stainless steel; and

/or

said duct wall is composed of metal, especially a stainless steel or titanium; and

/or

said nozzle wall and duct wall are of the same material; and

/or

said cable duct is formed by means of a corrugated metal hose; and

/or

said nozzle wall has a bursting pressure of greater than 300 bar; and

/or

said connecting nozzle has cooling fins on an outer surface of said nozzle wall facing away from its lumen, especially cooling fins embodied as an integral component of said nozzle wall.

41. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said nozzle wall has a thickness, especially a smallest thickness, which is greater than 1 mm, especially greater than 2 mm; and

/or

said duct wall has a thickness, especially a smallest thickness, which is greater than 0.5 mm, especially greater than 1 mm; and

/or

said duct wall has a thickness, especially a smallest thickness, which is greater than a thickness, especially a smallest thickness, of said nozzle wall; and

/or

said cable duct and said connecting nozzle are equally long; and

/or

said cable duct and said connecting nozzle are arranged extending coaxially relative to one another; and

/or

said connecting nozzle has a length, which is greater than 50 mm, and/or which is essentially, in the ratio of greater than 2;

1, greater than an outer diameter of the connecting nozzle; and

/or

said connecting nozzle has an outer diameter, which is greater than 20 mm; and

/or

said cable duct has a length, which is greater than 50 mm, and/or which is essentially, in the ratio of greater than 2;

1, greater than an outer diameter of the cable duct; and

/or

said cable duct has an outer diameter, which is less than 10 mm, and/or which is essentially in the ratio of less than 1;

2, less than an outer diameter of said connecting nozzle.

42. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

said nozzle wall has a first terminal segment lying in the first opening, a membrane like, first terminal segment and/or a first terminal segment axially resilient in the direction of an imaginary longitudinal axis of said cable duct.

43. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein:

said first terminal segment of said nozzle wall is adapted to react with a reversible deformation to a difference resulting from a temperature difference between said nozzle wall and said duct wall changing as a function of time between relative length changes of said connecting nozzle changing as a function of time and relative length changes of said cable duct changing as a function of time; and

/or

said first terminal segment of said nozzle wall is formed at least partially by means of a thin washer, having a thickness less than a diameter essentially, in a ratio of less than 1;

5; and

/or

said first terminal segment of said nozzle wall has an axial flexibility, which enables without damage a difference between length changes of said connecting nozzle and/or of said cable duct of at least 0.1 mm.

44. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein:

said nozzle wall has a second terminal segment lying in the second opening, especially a membrane like, second terminal segment and/or a second terminal segment axially resilient in the direction of an imaginary longitudinal axis of said cable duct.

45. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein:

said second terminal segment of said nozzle wall is adapted to react with a reversible deformation to a difference resulting from a temperature difference between said nozzle wall and said duct wall changing as a function of time between relative length changes of said connecting nozzle changing as a function of time and relative length changes of said cable duct changing as a function of time; and

/or

said second terminal segment of said nozzle wall is formed at least partially by means of a thin washer, having a thickness less than a diameter essentially, in the ratio of less than 1;

5; and

/or

said second terminal segment of said nozzle wall has an axial flexibility, which enables without damage a difference between length changes of said connecting nozzle and/or of said cable duct of at least 0.1 mm.

46. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein:

said first terminal segment of said nozzle wall and said second terminal segment of said nozzle wall are adapted to enable without damage a difference between length changes of said connecting nozzle and said cable duct of at least 0.1 mm, in that said first terminal segment of said nozzle wall and said second terminal segment of said nozzle wall have, as a whole, an axial flexibility, which enables without damage a difference between length changes of said connecting nozzle and said cable duct of at least 0.1 mm.

47. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

a middle segment of said nozzle wall extending with lateral separation around said cable duct and/or a middle segment arranged coaxially with said cable duct is a hollow-cylindrical tube.

48. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 33, further comprising:

a connection head connected with said connecting nozzle especially a hollow cylindrical and/or sleeve-shaped, connection head having a wall extending from a first end facing said connecting nozzle and said cable duct to a second end remote from said connecting nozzle and said cable duct especially a metal wall and/or a wall connected with said nozzle wall by material bonding as well as a lumen surrounded by the wall, which connection head is adapted to be mechanically connected with an electronics housing.

49. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein:

said wall of the connection head is connected at the first end, gas tightly and/or by material bonding, with said nozzle wall with an end of its middle segment facing the connection head in such a manner that the lumen of said cable duct communicates with the lumen of said connection head.

50. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein

said connection head, said connecting nozzle and said cable duct are so arranged that the lumen of said cable duct communicates with the lumen of said connection head.

51. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 48, further comprising:

a feedthrough serving for connection of electrical connecting lines led in said cable duct and manufactured, of glass, ceramic or a synthetic material, wherein said feedthrough is located within the lumen of said connection head and/or held by the wall of said connection head.

52. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein:

said wall of said connection head has at least in the region of the second end an external thread.

53. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 52, wherein:

said external thread is adapted to be screwed together with a complementary internal thread of an electronics housing.

54. The connection apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein:

said connection head has a connection flange, which is adapted to be connected, releasably, with a complementary connection flange of an electronics housing.

55. A measuring transducer, comprising:

a measuring transducer housing including a cavity surrounded by a metal wall;

a sensor element positioned at least partially within said cavity, which is adapted to register a measured variable of a measured substance, and to generate at least one measurement signal representing the measured variable;

as well as a connection apparatus for mechanical connecting of an electronics housing, namely a protective housing for an electronics, especially a transmitter electronics, and a measuring transducer housing, namely a protective housing for said at least one sensor element, which connection apparatus comprises;

a connecting nozzle, said connecting nozzle including a lumen surrounded by a nozzle wall; and

a tubular cable duct with a lumen surrounded by a duct wall and extending from a first duct end to a second duct end remote therefrom for guiding electrical connecting lines;

wherein;

said nozzle wall, or the connecting nozzle formed therewith, includes a first opening and a second opening remote therefrom;

said cable duct and connecting nozzle are so arranged that said cable duct is partially located in the lumen of said connecting nozzle and partially accommodated both by said first opening of the nozzle wall of said connecting nozzle as well as also said second opening of the nozzle wall of said connecting nozzle and that between an inner surface of said nozzle wall facing the lumen and an outer surface of said duct wall facing the lumen a cavity is formed; and

said cable duct and said connecting nozzle are so connected together that said cavity is closed gas tightly in such a manner that the cavity is hermetically sealed against an atmosphere surrounding said connecting nozzle, and said connection apparatus, wherein the connection apparatus is affixed on the measuring transducer housing, especially connected with its wall by material bonding.

56. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 55, wherein:

said connection apparatus is located at least partially, predominantly, removed from said cavity surrounded by said wall.

57. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 55, wherein:

said measuring transducer housing is adapted to hold in its cavity a gas, especially nitrogen and/or argon and/or carbon dioxide, or air, especially a gas acting with a gas pressure of 1 bar on the nozzle and the wall and/or having a specific thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(m-K).

58. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 57, wherein:

said cavity of the measuring transducer housing is filled with a gas, or a gas mixture, a protective gas, a gas having a specific thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(m-K), in such a manner that a gas pressure reigning in said cavity of the measuring transducer housing at 25°

C. (room temperature) is greater than 0.5 bar.

59. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 55, wherein:

a middle segment of said nozzle wall extending with lateral separation from the cable duct and/or arranged coaxially with the cable duct-is a hollow cylindrical tube; and

said nozzle wall is connected via an end of its middle segment facing the measuring transducer housing, by material bonding, soldering, brazing or welding, with the wall of said measuring transducer housing.

60. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 55, further comprising:

arranged at least partially within said cavity of the measuring transducer housing, at least one tube, which is adapted to guide in a lumen surrounded by a tube wall of metal, a flowing fluid, which is adapted, to be caused to vibrate, while fluid is flowing through it.

61. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 60, wherein:

said at least one sensor element serving for producing a measurement signal representing vibrations of the at least one tube, is arranged on the at least one tube, or in its proximity, in such a manner that the sensor element is connected with said tube wall of said tube.

62. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 60, further comprising:

positioned within said cavity of the measuring transducer housing, at least one oscillation exciter, which is adapted to excite the at least one tube to cause it to execute mechanical oscillations.

63. A field device, comprising:

a measuring transducer housing including a cavity surrounded by a wall;

at least one sensor element positioned at least partially within said cavity, which is adapted to register a measured variable of a measured substance, especially a fluid, measured substance, and to generate at least one measurement signal representing the measured variable;

as well as a connection apparatus for mechanical connecting of an electronics housing, namely a protective housing for an electronics, especially a transmitter electronics, and a measuring transducer housing, namely a protective housing for said at least one sensor element, which connection apparatus comprises;

a connecting nozzle, wherein said connecting nozzle includes a lumen surrounded by a nozzle wall; and

a tubular cable duct with a lumen surrounded by a duct wall and extending from a first duct end to a second duct end remote therefrom for guiding electrical connecting lines;

wherein;

said nozzle wall, or the connecting nozzle formed therewith, includes a first opening and a second opening remote therefrom;

said cable duct and connecting nozzle are so arranged;

that said cable duct is partially located in the lumen of said connecting nozzle and partially accommodated both by said first opening of the nozzle wall of said connecting nozzle as well as also said second opening of the nozzle wall of said connecting nozzle; and

that between an inner surface of said nozzle wall facing the lumen and an outer surface of said duct wall facing the lumen a cavity is formed; and

said cable duct and said connecting nozzle are so connected together that said cavity is closed gas tightly in such a manner that the cavity is hermetically sealed against an atmosphere surrounding said connecting nozzle, and said connection apparatus, as well as a transmitter electronics electrically connected, by means of electrical connecting lines led in the cable duct, with said at least one sensor element of the measuring transducer.

64. The field device as claimed in claim 63, further comprising:

an electronics housing, namely a protective housing for said transmitter electronics, wherein;

said transmitter electronics, especially a transmitter electronics electrically connected with the measuring transducer by means of electrical connecting lines led in the cable duct, is located within said electronics housing; and

said electronics housing is mechanically connected, releasably, with said connection apparatus.