PROCESS CONNECTION FOR A SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE PROCESS CONNECTION

• US 20200137912A1
• Filed: 10/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft FUER Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH+Company KG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Company KG
• Inventors: Pfeifer, Andre, Fanselow, Christian, Mayerhofer, Damian, Nagel, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 11,589,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/003 using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/141 Monolithic housings, e.g. molded or one-piece housings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5804 comprising a separate cable clamping part H01R13/5841 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/068 having a pressure compensation device, e.g. membrane venting means H05K5/0213
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a process connection for connecting a sensor to a process inlet via a process seal and a fixing element. The process connection includes a sensor housing and a clamping element. The sensor housing has a housing body configured to receive the sensor and a housing collar that extends around the housing body and has a first sealing section, which encircles the housing body, and a contact area. The housing collar is formed integrally with the housing body. The first sealing section is suitable for receiving the process seal to connect the process inlet to the housing collar in a fluid-tight manner. The clamping element has a contact area which is suitable for coming into contact with the contact area of the housing collar to press the housing collar onto the process seal.

Claims

1. A process connection for reversibly connecting a sensor to a process inlet having a fixing element, comprising:

a sensor housing including a housing body configured to receive the sensor and a housing collar that extends from a periphery of the housing body, wherein the housing collar includes a first sealing section surrounding the housing body and a collar contact area, wherein the first sealing section is configured to receive a process seal of the process inlet, and wherein the housing collar is formed integrally with the housing body; and

a clamping element including a clamping contact area and, in assembly, disposed at least partially between the sensor housing and the fixing element of the process inlet,

wherein the clamping contact area of the clamping element is configured to contact the collar contact area of the housing collar as to press the housing collar against the process seal, in assembly, such that the process connection is connected to the process inlet via the housing collar in a reversible, fluid-tight manner.

2. The process connection claim 1, wherein the clamping element is annular and has an axially circumferential first sealing section that is configured to contact the process seal to connect the process inlet to the clamping element in a fluid-tight manner.

3. The process connection claim 1, wherein the process connection has an annular sealing element that is disposed between the sensor housing and the clamping element.

4. The process connection claim 3, wherein the annular sealing element is disposed between the housing body of the sensor housing and the clamping element.

5. The process connection claim 1, wherein the first sealing section of the housing collar is disposed on an end face at a radially outer end of the annular housing collar.

6. The process connection claim 1, wherein the first sealing section has a flat, conical, groove, semicircular or rectangular cross-sectional shape.

7. The process connection claim 1, wherein the sensor housing includes a transition region disposed between the housing collar and the housing body, the transition region having a radius of between 3.2 mm and 6 mm or greater than 6 mm.

8. The process connection claim 1, wherein the sensor housing includes a transition region disposed between the housing collar and the housing body, the transition region having a radius of greater than 6 mm.

9. A manufacturing method for a process connection adapted for reversibly connecting a sensor to a prespecified process inlet having a fixing element and a prespecified process seal, the manufacturing method comprising:

fabricating a sensor housing including a housing body and a housing collar such that the housing body and the housing collar are formed in one piece, wherein the housing body is configured to receive the sensor, and the housing collar extends from a periphery of the housing body, and wherein the housing collar has an outer diameter and includes a first sealing section surrounding the housing body and a collar contact area;

adapting the housing collar such that the housing collar and the first sealing section are adapted and complementary to the process inlet and process seal; and

fabricating a clamping element that includes a clamping contact area configured to contact the collar contact area of the housing collar as to press the housing collar against the process seal, in assembly, such that the process connection is connected to the process inlet via the housing collar in a reversible, fluid-tight manner.

10. The manufacturing method claim 9, wherein the sensor housing is fabricated using injection molding.

11. The manufacturing method claim 9, wherein the adapting of the housing collar is performed using a separating method.

12. The manufacturing method claim 11, wherein the adapting of the housing collar is performed using a machining method.