Device for determining the position of a scraper

• US 7,075,053 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eisenmann Lacktechnik KG
• Original Assignee: Eisenmann Lacktechnik KG
• Inventors: Albrecht, Markus, Ucan, Aydin
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US10/434,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 250/559.4, 250/221, 250/222.1, 356/622, 738/659, 738/661, 151/046.1, 116/173, 116/303, 118/246, 118/261, 118/262, 118/DIG.17, 134/2, 220/224
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/1481 comprising pigs, i.e. movable elements sealingly received in supply pipes, for separating different fluids, e.g. liquid coating materials from solvent or air cleaning pipes with pigs B08B9/0557, pigs per se F16L55/26
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1608 the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/16 Coating by application of fluent materials, e.g. painting
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/48 Indicating the position of the pig or mole in the pipe or conduit

Abstract

A device for determining the position of a scraper which is displaceable for the transport of coating material in a supply path of thereof, the coating material comprises a sensor responding to the presence of the scraper. This sensor is accommodated in a separate measuring head, which contains an inner, self-sufficient current source and a circuit arrangement which generates an electric output signal indicating presence or absence of the scraper on the sensor. The information in this output signal is conducted by means of a device, which manages without galvanic connection, preferably via an optical waveguide, to an evaluation circuit, electrically insulated at a distance from the measuring head and which generates an electric output signal used for controlling other parts of the plant. A device of this kind can also be used for detecting scrapers where, as frequently in electrostatically operating coating plants, the sensor has to be attached at a point located at high electric potential.

Claims

1. A device for determining the position of a scraper which is displaceable for the transport of a coating material in a supply path of a coating material which supply path is designed to be put to high voltage, comprising:

a) a sensor responding to the presence of the scraper, the sensor being accommodated in a separate measuring head which includes an inner, self-sufficient current source and a circuit arrangement which generates an electric output signal representative of the presence or absence of the scraper on the sensor,

b) an evaluation circuit electrically insulated at a distance from the measuring head which is capable of generating an electric output signal which can be used for controlling other parts of a plant, and

c) a device which supplies the information in the electric output signal of the measuring head which is free of a galvanic connection of the evaluation circuit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device described in feature c) comprises a luminous diode in the measuring head, an optical waveguide illuminated at one end by the luminous diode and a receiving diode illuminated by the other end of the optical waveguide and arranged in the evaluation circuit.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device described in feature c) comprises a radio transmitter in the measuring head and a radio receiver in the evaluation circuit.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the self sufficient electrical source comprises a battery.