METHOD FOR ASCERTAINING A CHARACTERISTIC VARIABLE FOR EVALUATING A MEASURING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A CLAMP-ON, ULTRASONIC, FLOW MEASURING DEVICE AND A PIPE AND/OR FOR EVALUATING MEASUREMENT OPERATION OF SUCH A MEASURING ARRANGEMENT

• US 20180164144A1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Ploss, Peter, Rupitsch, Stefan J., Bezdek, Michal, Frohlich, Thomas, Kissling, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/665 of the drag-type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/668 Compensating or correcting for variations in velocity of sound
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A method for ascertaining a characteristic variable for evaluating a measuring arrangement comprising a clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring device and a pipe, on which the clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring device is secured, and/or for evaluating measurement operation of such a measuring arrangement, characterized by the method steps as follows: A) providing characteristic values relative to an exciter signal produced by the clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring device; B) providing sensor-specific data as regards acoustic properties of one or more ultrasonic transducers of the clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring device C) inputting data relative to the pipe material and the pipe wall thickness, especially inputting such data by a user, and D) ascertaining the characteristic variable from the parameters and data of steps A-C based on a mathematical model, as well as a computer program product and a clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring device.

Claims

1. A connector assembly (10, 110) comprising:

a. a connector part (12) having a jack cavity (14);

b. a cable manager part (20) conductively attached to the connector part (12), the cable manager part (20) having;

i. a housing assembly (70, 170) having a central aperture (76, 176) through which a cable (4) having an exposed conductive element (5) can extend;

ii. a grounding clamp assembly (80, 180) held within the housing assembly (70, 170), the grounding clamp assembly including a first clamp member (82, 182) and an oppositely arranged second clamp member (84, 184), the first and second clamp members (82, 182, 84, 184) defining a clamp opening (88, 188) concentrically aligned with the central aperture (76, 176);

iii. a first biasing spring (60, 160) arranged to exert a force on one or both of the clamp members (82, 182, 84, 184) to urge at least one of the ground clamp members (82, 182, 84, 184) against the cable conductive element (5).

2. The connector assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the first biasing spring (60) extends between the first housing part (72) and the first clamp member (82).

3. The connector assembly (10) of claim 2, further comprising a second biasing spring (62) extending between the first housing part (72) and the second clamp member (84).

4. The connector assembly (110) of claim 1, wherein the first biasing spring (160) extends between the first and second clamp members (182, 184).

5. The connector assembly (110) of claim 4, further comprising a second biasing spring (162) extending between the first and second clamp members (182, 184).

6. The connector assembly (10, 110) of claim 1, wherein the first biasing spring (60, 160) is a spring.

7. The connector assembly (10) of claim 3, wherein the first and second biasing springs (60, 62) are each formed as a spring.

8. The connector assembly (110) of claim 5, wherein the first and second biasing springs (160, 162) are each formed as a spring.

9. The connector assembly (10) of claim 3, wherein the housing assembly (70) includes a first housing part (72) and a second housing part (74) and wherein the grounding clamp assembly first and second clamp members (82, 84) are slidably disposed between the first and second housing parts (72, 74) or within the first housing part (72).

10. The connector assembly (10) of claim 9, wherein the first clamp member (82) is aligned along the same plane as the second clamp member (84).

11. The connector assembly (10) of claim 9, wherein the first clamp member (82) and the second clamp member (84) are aligned along different planes.

12. The connector assembly (110) of claim 5, wherein the grounding clamp assembly first and second clamp members (182, 184) are slidably disposed within the housing assembly (170).

13. The connector assembly (110) of claim 5, wherein the housing assembly (170) includes a first housing part (172) having a front wall (172a) and a rear wall (172b).

14. The connector assembly (110) of claim 11, wherein a clamp portion (82a) of the first clamp member (82) is aligned along a different plane than a clamp portion (84a) of the second clamp member (84) such that the first clamp portion (82a) can slide past the second clamp portion (84a).

16. The connector assembly (10) of claim 13, further comprising a first biasing spring (60) extending between the first housing part (72) and the first clamp member (82).

17. The connector assembly (10) of claim 14, further comprising a second biasing spring (62) extending between the first housing part (72) and the second clamp member (84).

18. The connector assembly (10) of claim 13, wherein the first clamp member (82) and the second clamp member (84) are differently shaped.

19. The connector assembly (10) of claim 13, wherein the first clamp member (82) and the second clamp member (84) have an identical shape.

20. The connector assembly (10) of claim 13, wherein the first and second clamp members (82, 84) are formed from an electrical conductive material.

22. The connector assembly (110) of claim 18, further comprising a first biasing spring (160) extending between the first clamp member (182) and the second clamp member (184).

23. The connector assembly (110) of claim 19, further comprising a second biasing spring (162) extending between the first clamp member (182) and the second clamp member (184).

24. The connector assembly (110) of claim 18, wherein the first clamp member (182) and the second clamp member (184) have an identical shape.

25. The connector assembly (110) of claim 18, wherein the first and second clamp members (182, 184) are formed from an electrical conductive material.

26. The connector assembly (110) of claim 24, wherein the grounding clamp assembly first and second clamp members (182, 184) are slidably disposed between front and rear walls (172a, 172b) defined by the housing assembly (170).

27. The connector assembly (110) of claim 18, wherein the first clamp member (182) and the second clamp member (184) are differently shaped.

15. A connector assembly (10) comprising:

a. a connector part (12) having a jack cavity (14);

b. a cable manager part (20) conductively attached to the connector part (12), the cable manager part (20) having;

i. a housing assembly (70) having a first housing part (72) and a second housing part (74) connected to the first housing part (72), the housing assembly (70) including a central aperture (76) defined by the first and second housing parts (72, 74), the central aperture (76) having a first dimension (D1);

ii. a grounding clamp assembly (80) including a first clamp member (82) and a second clamp member (84), each of the first and second clamp members (82, 84) being located at least partially between the first and second housing parts (72, 74), wherein the first grounding clamp (82) includes a clamp portion (82a) and a handle portion (82b) that are connected to each other by a support portion (82c), wherein the second grounding clamp (84) includes a clamp portion (84a) and a handle portion (84b) that are connected to each other by a support portion (84c);

iii. wherein the clamp assembly is positionable in;

1. a compressed position in which the clamp portions (82a, 84a) of the respective first and second grounding clamps (82, 84) are moved against a spring biasing force such that the central aperture (76) is unblocked by the clamp portions (82a, 84a) to allow a cable (4) to be inserted through an opening (88) defined by the clamp portions (82a, 84a); and

2. a grounded position in which the clamp portions (82a, 84a) of the respective first and second grounding clamps (82, 84) are spring biased to engage against a conductive element (5) of the cable (4).

21. A connector assembly (110) comprising:

a. a connector part (12) having a jack cavity (14);

b. a cable manager part (120) conductively attached to the connector part (12), the cable manager part (120) having;

i. a housing assembly (170) having a first housing part (172) and a second housing part (174) connected to the first housing part (172), the housing assembly (170) including a central aperture (176) defined by the first and second housing parts (172,174), the central aperture (76) having a first dimension (D1);

ii. a grounding clamp assembly (180) including a first clamp member (182) and a second clamp member (184), each of the first and second clamp members (182, 184) being located within the first housing part (172), wherein the first grounding clamp (82) includes a ring-shaped clamp portion (82a) connected to a handle portion (82b), wherein the second grounding clamp (84) includes a ring-shaped clamp portion (84a) connected to a handle portion (84b);

iii. wherein the clamp assembly is positionable in;

1. a compressed position in which the clamp portions (182a, 184a) of the respective first and second grounding clamps (182, 184) are moved against a spring biasing force such that the central aperture (176) is unblocked by the clamp portions (182a, 184a) to allow a cable (4) to be inserted through an opening (188) defined by the clamp portions (182a, 184a); and

2. a grounded position in which the clamp portions (182a, 184a) of the respective first and second grounding clamps (182, 184) are spring biased to engage against a conductive element (5) of the cable (4).