Antenna system for level measurement with radar level measurement devices

• US 7,561,113 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Lenk, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens; Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu; Jennifer F
• Application Number:
  US11/172,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 343/772, 343/882, 343/775, 343/779, 343/781.R, 343/761, 324/644, 342/124, 342/17, 722/90
• US Class Current: 343/772
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves

Abstract

The invention concerns an antenna system for level measurement with a level measurement device with a wave guide (5) that runs axially and that either has on its rear side an arrangement (4) for the generating and interpreting electromagnetic waves or can be connected to such an arrangement of an antenna, in particular, a parabolic antenna (1-3) on the front side of the wave guide and a wave adapter (9) for transmitting such a wave between two components of the arrangement that conduct the wave for adaptation of the wave transmission between the components, whereby the wave adapter has a through opening in the axial direction. Alternatively, or particularly preferred in combination, the invention concerns an antenna system for level measurement with a wave guide that runs axially, of an antenna, a fastening arrangement for fastening the wave guide to a wall of the vessel and a system of lines for conveying a medium, whereby system of lines (20-22, 24) is designed for supplying a cooling medium to components (2, 3) of the antenna that heat up.

Claims

1. Level measurement antenna system for a level measurement device, the antenna system comprising:

a wave guide that runs axially and that either has an arrangement on its rear side for generating and interpreting electromagnetic waves or can be connected to such an arrangement;

an antenna on the front side of the wave guide;

a connecting piece fixed on one end with the antenna and on another end with a spherical piece, so that the antenna can be turned; and

a wave adapter within the spherical piece and flush with an end-phase surface of the spherical piece for transmitting such a wave between two components of the arrangement that conduct the wave for adaptation of the wave transmission between the components, the wave adapter tapered in the rear direction towards the through opening,

wherein the wave adapter has a through opening in the axial direction and does not project over an end-face surface on the front side of the wave guide, and

wherein the antenna comprises a rod that ends within the connecting piece.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein

the wave adapter is designed for the adaptation of a wave transmission between the wave guide and the connecting piece and/or in the reverse direction.

3. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein

the connecting piece is dimensioned for spacing the antenna from an interior wall of a vessel.

4. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein

the through opening is hollow.

5. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising

a fastening arrangement for fastening wave guide to a vessel wall, and

a system of lines for conveying a medium,

wherein the system of lines supplies a cooling medium to components of the antenna that heat up.

6. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein

the system of lines are at least partially comprised by the antenna.

7. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein

the system of lines leads from at least one inlet opening on an exterior of the vessel wall to at least one outlet opening on an interior of the vessel wall.

8. The antenna system of claim 7, wherein

the system of lines leads through a plurality of components of the arrangement that conduct the wave.

9. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein

the system of lines leads through the wall of at least one component of the system that conducts the wave.

10. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein

the cooling medium is gaseous, liquid, or fluid.

11. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein

the fastening arrangement is designed in such a way that the antenna can be pivoted relative to the vessel wall.

12. The system of claim 5, the system further comprising

the pivoting permitting alignment of the antenna to direct the antenna at a bulk material surface.

13. The system of claim 12, the system further comprising

at least one line for conveying a rinse medium, and

at least one jet in a front area of the antenna connected to the line conveying the rinse medium and permitting the rinse medium to escape toward the front side of the antenna to direct the medium in the direction of the transmitter/receiver, 2, in order to cool and/or clean it.

14. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising

at least one line for conveying a rinse medium, and

at least one jet in a front area of the antenna connected to the line conveying the rinse medium and permitting the rinse medium to escape toward the front side of the antenna to direct the medium in the direction of the transmitter/receiver, 2, in order to cool and/or clean it.

15. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising

a system of lines for conveying a medium, wherein the system of lines supplies a cooling medium to components of the antenna that heat up,

a line conveying a rinse medium,

at least one jet in a front area of the antenna connected to the line conveying the rinse medium and permitting the rinse medium to escape toward the front side of the antenna to direct the medium in the direction of the transmitter/receiver, in order to clean it.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising the system of lines carrying the cooling medium and the line carrying the rinse medium provided as a single medium.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising the antenna constructed as a parabolic antenna.