Filling level measuring device antenna cover

• US 8,797,207 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Kienzle, Klaus, Sum, Christian, Kopp, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US13/088,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 342/124, 343753-755, 343/772, 343/778, 343/781.R, 343/786, 343/907, 343/909, 343/910, 343/911.R, 343/911.L
• US Class Current: 342/124
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2624 provided with a multiplicity of wall-like cavities connected to a common cavity, e.g. for battery cases
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/225 used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241

Abstract

A filling level measuring device antenna cover includes a base body and a plurality of circular fins concentrically arranged on the base body, wherein the fins and the base body consist of a plastic material. The fins and the base body are one piece and injection-moulded.

Claims

1. A filling level measuring device antenna cover designed to cover a horn antenna of a filling level measuring device, comprising:

a base body;

a plurality of circular inner fins, each having the shape of a hollow cylinder, concentrically arranged on an inner surface of the base body, which inner surface faces towards an inside of the horn antenna when the cover covers the horn antenna; and

a central dome arranged on a symmetry axis of the inner fins,

wherein the inner fins and the base body consist of a plastic material injected at a top of the central dome,

wherein the inner fins and the dome have a common thickness,

wherein the thickness of each of the inner fins is one of less than and equal to 0.7 times a thickness of the base body, the plastic material used for molding the cover solidifies at every region of the plurality of circular fins substantially simultaneously.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is adapted for focusing electromagnetic radiation emitted by the horn antenna.

3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is adapted as a lens having at least one of a convex surface and a concave surface.

4. The cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner fins has a constant thickness between two concentrically arranged opposite surfaces of the inner fin.

5. The cover of claim 1, wherein the base body has a constant thickness between two opposite surfaces of the base body.

6. The cover of claim 1, wherein two adjacent fins have the same thickness, the thickness of each of the two inner fins being the distance of the two concentrically arranged opposite surfaces of the respective inner fin;

and wherein a distance between the two adjacent inner fins is equal to the thickness of each of the two adjacent inner fins.

7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover has a conical shape.

8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the base body and the plurality of circular inner fins are injection molded.

9. A horn antenna of a filling level measuring device, comprising

a filling level measuring device antenna cover including a base body and a plurality of circular inner fins, each having the shape of a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged on an inner surface of the base body, which inner surface faces towards an inside of the horn antenna when the cover covers the horn antenna, the filling level measuring device antenna cover including a central dome arranged on a symmetry axis of the inner fins;

wherein the inner fins and the base body consist of a plastic material injected at a top of the central dome,

wherein the inner fins and the dome have a common thickness,

wherein the thickness of each of the inner fins is one of less than and equal to 0.7 times a thickness of the base body, the plastic material used for molding the cover solidifies at every region of the plurality of circular fins substantially simultaneously.

10. A filling level measuring device, comprising:

a horn antenna including a filling level measuring device antenna cover, the cover including a base body and a plurality of circular inner fins, each having the shape of a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged on an inner surface of the base body, which inner surface faces towards an inside of the horn antenna when the cover covers the horn antenna, the cover including a central dome arranged on a symmetry axis of the inner fins;

wherein the inner fins and the base body consist of a plastic material injected at a top of the central dome,

wherein the inner fins and the dome have a common thickness,

wherein the thickness of each of the inner fins is one of less than and equal to 0.7 times a thickness of the base body, the plastic material used for molding the cover solidifies at every region of the plurality of circular fins substantially simultaneously.

11. The filling level measuring device of claim 10, wherein the device is adapted as a filling level radar.

12. A method for producing a filling level measuring device horn antenna cover for covering a horn antenna of a filling level measuring device, comprising the step of:

injection molding the cover, the cover including a base body and a plurality of circular inner fins, each having the shape of a hollow cylinder, concentrically arranged on an inner surface of the base body, which inner surface faces towards an inside of the horn antenna when the cover covers the horn antenna, the cover including a central dome arranged on a symmetry axis of the inner fins;

wherein the inner fins and the base body consisting of a plastic material injected at a top of the central dome,

wherein the inner fins and the dome have a common thickness,

wherein the thickness of each of the inner fins is one of less than and equal to 0.7 times a thickness of the base body, the plastic material used for molding the cover solidifies at every region of the plurality of circular fins substantially simultaneously.