Measuring device for measuring the state of oils or fats

• US 7,719,289 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Testo AG
• Original Assignee: Testo AG
• Inventors: Muhl, Mike, Hall, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole; Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOQUE, FARHANA AKHTER
• Application Number:
  US11/547,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20070277594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 324/661, 324/662, 324/698
• US Class Current: 324/658
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/221 by investigating the dielectric properties using microwaves G01N22/00; measuring loss factors or dielectric constants per se G01R27/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/03 Edible oils or edible fats

Abstract

A measuring device is used to measure the state of oils of fats. Said measuring device comprises a housing, a hollow connecting element which is secured therein and a carrier which is applied to the opposite end of the connecting element, said carrier being used to receive a sensor which can be used to measure an electric property of the product which is to be measured. The sensor is in contact with an evaluation unit by means of at least one electric line which is arranged on a non-conductive carrier, which is arranged in the region of the housing and/or the end of the connecting element which is oriented towards the housing. The measuring device comprises a plurality of carriers which are arranged in a row and which are thermally insulated from each other.

Claims

1. A measuring device for measuring the state of oils or fats, comprising:

a housing;

a hollow connecting element attached to the housing, wherein at least one electrical conductor runs inside the hollow connecting element;

a plurality of substrates mounted on the opposite end of the connecting element for receiving a sensor for measuring an electrical property of oil or fat to be measured, the connecting element being thermally insulated from the plurality of substrates, the sensor being connected to an electronic analyzer circuit via the at least one electrical conductor situated on at least one of the plurality of substrates that is a non-conductive substrate, the electronic analyzer circuit being situated in the area of at least one of;

the housing and the end of the connecting element facing the housing, wherein the plurality of substrates includes a plurality of electrically connected and thermally isolated carrier substrates arranged in series, each of the plurality of electrically connected and thermally isolated carrier substrates having electrical conductors situated thereon.

2. The measuring device as recited in claim 1, wherein electrically conductive connecting elements are situated at connecting points of the substrates.

3. The measuring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical conductors have a small cross-section in the area of the sensor on a first substrate.

4. The measuring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical conductors have a large cross-section toward the electronic analyzer circuit.

5. The measuring device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one substrate has a plurality of layers.

6. The measuring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrates are situated at a distance from one another.

7. The measuring device as recited in claim 6, wherein a thermally insulating material is provided between the substrates.

8. The measuring device as recited in claim 7, wherein air is provided as the thermally insulating material.

9. The measuring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the individual substrates are made of different materials, so that the electrical and mechanical properties of the substrates can be optimally adjusted to the components.

10. The measuring device as recited in claim 9, wherein the different materials include ceramic, plastic, metal and composite materials.

11. The measuring device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the electrical conductors have a small cross-section in the area of the sensor on one of the substrates and a large cross-section toward the electronic analyzer circuit,

wherein at least one substrate has a plurality of layers, and

wherein a thermally insulating material is provided between each of the plurality of substrates.

12. A measuring device for measuring the state of oils or fats, comprising:

a housing;

a hollow connecting element attached to the housing;

a plurality of substrates mounted on the opposite end of the connecting element for receiving a sensor for measuring an electrical property of oil or fat to be measured, the sensor being connected to an electronic analyzer circuit via at least one electric conductor situated on at least one of the plurality of substrates that is a non-conductive substrate, the electronic analyzer circuit being situated in the area of at least one of;

the housing and the end of the connecting element facing the housing, wherein the plurality of substrates includes a plurality of electrically connected and thermally isolated substrates arranged in series, and electrical conductors situated thereon, wherein at least one substrate has a plurality of layers, and wherein at least one layer of the substrate has a compound area in regions that have no conductors and no contact with the oil or fat to be measured.

13. A measuring device for measuring the state of oils or fats, comprising:

a housing;

a connecting element having a first end coupled to the housing, wherein at least one electrical conductor runs inside the connecting element;

a plurality of substrates disposed at a second end of the connecting element, the substrates being electrically connected carrier substrates and substantially thermally isolated from each other, the connecting element being thermally insulated from the plurality of substrates;

a plurality of electrical conductors disposed on the plurality of electrically connected and substantially thermally isolated carrier substrates;

an analyzer circuit disposed in an area of at least one of the housing and an end of the connecting element facing the housing; and

a sensor for measuring a property of oil or fat to be measured, the sensor being disposed on at least one of the plurality of substrates and coupled to the analyzer circuit.

14. The measuring device as recited in claim 13, wherein electrically conductive connecting elements are situated at connecting points of the plurality of substrates.

15. The measuring device as recited in claim 13, wherein the electrical conductors have a smaller cross-section in the area of the sensor on a first substrate and a larger cross-section toward the analyzer circuit.

16. The measuring device as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one substrate has a plurality of layers.

17. The measuring device as recited in claim 13, wherein a thermally insulating material is provided between the substrates.

18. The measuring device as recited in claim 13, wherein at least two substrates of the plurality of substrates are made of different materials.

19. The measuring device as recited in claim 18, wherein the different materials include at least one of ceramic, plastic, metal and composite materials.

20. A measuring device measuring the state of oils or fats, comprising:

a housing;

a connecting element having a first end coupled to the housing;

a plurality of substrates disposed at a second end of the connecting element, the substrates being electrically connected substrates and substantially thermally isolated from each other;

a plurality of electrical conductors disposed on the plurality of substrates;

an analyzer circuit disposed in an area of at least one of the housing and an end of the connecting element facing the housing; and

a sensor for measuring a property of oil or fat to be measured, the sensor being disposed on at least one of the plurality of substrates and coupled to the analyzer circuit, wherein at least one substrate has a plurality of layers, and wherein at least one layer of the substrate has a compound area in regions that have no conductors and no contact with the oil or fat to be measured.