Fill-level measuring device for ascertaining and monitoring fill level of a medium located in the process space of a container by means of a microwave travel time measuring method

• US 9,000,775 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Chen, Qi, Bergmann, Eric, Feisst, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): CURTIS, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/809,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 324/76.56, 324/629, 324/637, 324/642
• US Class Current: 324/637
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/32 in circuits having distributed constants , e.g. having very long conductors or involving high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• 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 fill-level measuring device for ascertaining and monitoring fill level of a medium located in the process space of a container by means of a microwave travel time measuring method. The device comprises a measurement transmitter and an antenna unit, which is constructed at least of a hollow conductor and a radiating element A microwave transmissive, process isolating element is inserted for process isolation into the hollow conductor between the measurement transmitter and the horn shaped radiating element contacting the process space. The process isolating element is embodied as a hollow body having at least one tubular hollow body region matched to the shape of the hollow conductor, and a pointed hollow body region neighboring the hollow body region in the direction of the radiating element and having a wall thickness selected based on reflection, or lack thereof, of the microwave signals.

Claims

1. A fill-level measuring device for ascertaining and

monitoring fill level of a medium located in the process space of a container by means of a microwave travel time measuring method, such device comprising:

a measurement transmitter;

an antenna unit, which is constructed at least of a hollow conductor and a horn shaped radiating element; and

a microwave transmissive, process isolating element inserted for process isolation into said hollow conductor between said measurement transmitter and

said horn shaped radiating element contacting the process space, wherein;

said process isolating element is embodied as a hollow body having at least one tubular hollow body region matched to the shape of said hollow conductor, and a pointed hollow body region neighboring said tubular hollow body region in the direction of said radiating element and having a wall thickness selected based on reflection, or lack thereof, of the microwave signals, and

there is present in said tubular hollow body region of said process isolating element up to said pointed hollow body region a metal tube electrically connected with said hollow conductor or, electrically connected with said hollow conductor, a metal coating of the inner wall of said tubular hollow body region of said process isolating element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the selected wall thickness of said process isolating element, especially in said pointed hollow body region, lies steadily at about half the wavelength of the transmitted microwave signal or at a whole number multiple thereof.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the selected wall thickness of said process isolating element, especially in said pointed hollow body region, lies in a range of one to five millimeters.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said tubular hollow body region of said process isolating element is embodied as a circular cylinder and said pointed hollow body region of said process isolating element has a conical formation toward the process space.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said tubular hollow body region of said process isolating element is embodied as a rectangular cylinder and said pointed hollow body region of said process isolating element has a wedge shaped or pyramid shaped formation toward the process space.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said pointed hollow body region has an acute angle, wherein half the acute angle corresponds to ninety degrees minus Brewster'"'"'s angle.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said process isolating element has toward said hollow conductor a collar region on said tubular hollow body region, whereby a sealed clamped securement of said collar region of said process isolating element to said hollow conductor is effected by means of a screwed and/or welded nozzle element.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said process isolating element seals by means of at least one seal, especially an O-ring-seal, graphite compression gland-seal, or a ceramic-metal-soldered connection, which seals said hollow conductor hermetically.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an absorber element, especially a silicon carbide washer, is present in the joint of said hollow conductor with said process isolating element.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said process isolating element comprises a ceramic material, a synthetic material, a dielectric composite material, such as e.g. a fiber reinforced, synthetic material, a ceramic filled synthetic material or a glass.