Vibration sensor array

• US 8,590,384 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vonroll Infratec AG
• Original Assignee: Vonroll Infratec AG
• Inventors: Ltscher, Hugo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, David A
• Application Number:
  US12/295,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20090044628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,442 Days
• Field of Search: 73 3509- 3513, 735/84, 735/92, 736/49, 736/61, 738/665
• US Class Current: 73/661
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/12 of longitudinal or not specified vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/08 using piezoelectric devices

Abstract

A vibration sensor arrangement (1) includes a vibrating mass (5) in permanent mechanical contact with a first side (3) of a piezoelectric element (2). The vibrating mass (5) includes a water-proof capsule (6) in which the piezoelectric element (2) is fixed. A dead weight (7) is in permanent mechanical contact with a second side (4) of the piezoelectric element (2) and is arranged in the water-proof capsule (6). A spring (8) is arranged between the dead weight (7) and the vibrating mass (5) and ensures permanent mechanical contact of the two masses (5,7) with the two sides (3,4) of the piezoelectric element (2). The vibration sensor arrangement (1) further includes first and second electric contacts (9,10) for picking up electric signals which are generated by the piezoelectric element (2) and for forwarding the signals to a recording device (11).

Claims

1. A vibration sensor arrangement (1), comprising:

(a) a piezoelectric element (2) with a first side (3) and a second side (4);

(b) a vibrating mass (5) which is in permanent mechanical contact with the first side (3) of the piezoelectric element (2), said vibrating mass (5) comprising a water-proof capsule (6) in which the piezoelectric element (2) is fixed;

(c) a dead weight (7) which is in permanent mechanical contact with a second side (4) of the piezoelectric element (2) and which is arranged in said water-proof capsule (6);

(d) a spring (8) which is arranged between the dead weight (7) and the vibrating mass (5) and which ensures the permanent mechanical contact of the two masses (5,7) with the two sides (3,4) of the piezoelectric element (2), such that it presses the two masses (5,7) constantly against the two sides (3,4) of the piezoelectric element (2); and

(e) first and second electric contacts (9,10) for picking up electric signals which are generated by said piezoelectric element (2) and for forwarding said signals to a recording device (11) which is or can be connected with the electric contacts (9,10) and which is arranged for recording the electric signals generated by the piezoelectric element (2), the first electric contact (9) having an insulation layer on its backside, being arranged between the piezoelectric element (2) and the dead weight (7), and providing the mechanical contact between the dead weight (7) and the piezoelectric element (2),

wherein the vibration sensor arrangement (1) is embodied in a portable way, and wherein the dead weight (7) inside the water-proof capsule (6) comprises at least one electric battery (12) such that said dead weight (7) is arranged as a power supply for the operation of said recording device (11), said at least one electric battery (12) being connected or connectable via electric conductors (13,14) with said recording device (11).

2. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element (2) is a rod-shaped piezoelectric element or a piezoelectric stack, the first side (3) and the second side (4) being arranged as an end cap with said piezoelectric element (2) generating electric signals according to the pressure fluctuations caused in the same by the vibrating mass (5).

3. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 2, wherein the electric contact (9) is arranged at a first side (17) of a printed circuit board (18) and the electric conductor (13) is arranged on a second side (19) of the printed circuit board (18), said printed circuit board (18) being arranged between the piezoelectric element (2) and the at least one electric battery (12) in such a way that the second end cap or side (4) of the piezoelectric element (2) makes contact with the electric contact (9) and a first pole of the least one electric battery (12) makes contact with the electric conductor (13).

4. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board (18) is mounted mechanically pre-stressed, so that it exerts a constant pressure on the second side (4) of the piezoelectric element (2).

5. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 3, wherein the rod-shaped piezoelectric element (2) is partly cast into an insulation material which stabilizes the same.

6. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 3, wherein the water-proof capsule (6) has a wall that is arranged in an electrically conductive way and forms the electric contact (10) to the piezoelectric element (2) and also forms the electric conductor (14) to the other pole of the at least one electric battery (12).

7. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element (2) is a piezoelectric membrane or a piezoelectric membrane stack, having a first side (3) arranged as a periphery (31) and a second side (30) subjected to the actions of a rod (30), with said piezoelectric element (2) generating electric signals according to the deflection fluctuations caused by the vibrating mass (5) in the same.

8. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 4, wherein the electric contact (9) is arranged on a first side (17) of a printed circuit board (18) and the electric conductor (13) is arranged on a second side (19) of the printed circuit board (18), said printed circuit board (18) being arranged in such a way between the rod (30) and the at least one electric battery (12) that the second side (4) of the piezoelectric element (2) makes contact with the electric contact (9) and a first pole of the least one electric battery (12) makes contact with the electric conductor (13).

9. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board (18) is mounted mechanically pre-stressed, so that it exerts a constant pressure on the second side (4) of the piezoelectric element (2).

10. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor arrangement (1) is partly installed in the recording device (11) in such a way that the vibrating mass (5) co-includes said recording device (11), with the water-proof capsule (6) comprising a sensor end (15) which is arranged outside of the recording device (11).

11. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 10, wherein the sensor end (15) is arranged as a screw cap for the water-proof capsule (6) which receives the electric batteries, said screw cap having a conical tip (16) for the purposeful scanning or detection of vibrations.

12. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor arrangement (1) is arranged outside of the recording device, is arranged movably relative to the same, and is connected to the same via merely the contacts (9,10) and the electric conductors (13,14), with the water-proof capsule (6) comprising a sensor end (15).

13. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 12, wherein the sensor end (15) is arranged as a screw cap for the water-proof capsule (6) which receives the electric batteries, said screw cap having a conical tip (16) for the purposeful scanning or detection of vibrations.

14. The sensor arrangement (1) of claim 1, wherein the water-proof capsule (6) comprises suitable materials for transmitting vibrations and for conducting electric current or electric signals.

15. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 14, wherein the water-proof capsule (6) is made of an electrically conductive plastic material or a metal and comprises at least one O-ring for connecting in a sealing manner screwed parts of the same.

16. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 1, wherein this recording device (11) is also arranged as an evaluating and display device for evaluating and displaying results arising from electric signals generated by the piezoelectric element (2).

17. The vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 16, wherein this recording, evaluating and display device is arranged as a multifunctional measuring device (20) whose area of application comprises the detection of vibrations and at least one of the following fields of application:

the detection of combustible gases, the measurement of pressure, temperature, flow-rate and humidity values, with said multifunctional measuring device (20) comprising at least one plug-in connection (21) and a digital bus for connecting probes corresponding to the fields of application.

18. A method of using of the vibration sensor arrangement (1) of claim 17 for detecting oscillation or vibrations, and for measuring at least one of pressure, temperature, flow-rate, and humidity values.