Sensor based on the travel time principle with a detector unit for mechanically elastic waves

• US 7,239,129 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASM Automation Sensorik Messtechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: ASM Automation Sensorik Messtechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Steinich, Klaus Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, ROSE MARY
• Application Number:
  US10/964,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20050132807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 736/44, 736/17, 324/207.13, 324/207.24, 324/207.22
• US Class Current: 324/207.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/485 using magnetostrictive devices

Abstract

A position sensor based on the travel time principle of a mechanically elastic wave length having a wave guide, an electrical hollow return conductor, a detector coil attached to the wave guide and a position element which is movable along the wave guide which generates or detects mechanical elastic wave.

Claims

1. A position sensor based on the travel time principle of a mechanically elastic wave, said sensor comprising:

a wave guide having a detector range, a free end, and a center range located between the detector range and free end;

an electric hollow return conductor formed of an electrically conductive, non magnetic material surrounding the wave guide;

a detector coil attached to the wave guide in its detector range, as well as; and

a position element movable along the wave guide and positioned inside said hollow return conductor within the center range of said wave guide.

2. A position sensor per claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor is made of metal.

3. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor features a thermal expansion in a longitudinal direction, which corresponds to that of said wave guide, and which contains titanium and/or graphite.

4. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor features a circumferentially closed cross section.

5. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor has a jacket surface with penetrations therein and a plurality of individual conductors distributed over the circumference and oriented within the outer jacket of said hollow return conductor at an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal direction.

6. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor has individual fibers that have no contact with each other.

7. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor has individual fibers that have contact with each other and are components of a hoselike mesh.

8. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein the length of said hollow return conductor is variable in a longitudinal direction, is elastic, and the length of said return conductor relative to said wave guide is selected such that due to temperature generated length variations said wave guide is not loaded in an axial direction by said hollow return conductor or only in tension.

9. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor is made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient identical or similar a support pipe.

10. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wave guide is located at a defined location within a cross section of said hollow return conductor.

11. A position sensor in accordance with claim 10 wherein a spacer tube or hose consisting of an electrically non conductive and non magnetic material is placed in the cross section between said wave guide and said hollow return conductor as a spacer.

12. A position sensor in accordance with claim 11 wherein said spacer tube sits close to an outer circumference of said wave guide at specially defined axial intervals and as a wave support under prestress particularly generated by radial constrictions, by swaging, as for example burls, indentations, or ring grooves, of said hollow return conductor.

13. A position sensor according to claim 1 wherein said position element is a position magnet.

14. A position sensor according claim 1 wherein said hollow return conductor is made of brass.

15. A position sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wave guide is concentrically located at a defined location within a cross section of said hollow return conductor.