WO2013092105A1

WO2013092105A1 - Transducer tilt indicator, transducer having a tilt indicator interface, and method for determining transducer tilt

Info

Publication number: WO2013092105A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/073370
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Kirst
Original assignee: Endress+Hauser Gmbh+Co. Kg
Priority date: 2011-12-23
Filing date: 2012-11-22
Publication date: 2013-06-27
Also published as: DE102011089846A1; DE102011089846A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a tilt indicator (1), in particular for a transducer (2), comprising an indicator housing (10), wherein the indicator housing (10) has a first coupling element of a plug connector coupling, by means of which the indicator housing (10) can be detachably mechanically connected in a defined orientation to a complementary second coupling element of the plug connector coupling, in particular of a transducer (2), a tilt sensor assembly (1), which is rigidly connected to the indicator housing at a fixed orientation with respect to the indicator housing, wherein the tilt sensor assembly is designed to detect the tilt of at least one first axis (11) of the indicator housing (10) with respect to an external field (V), and a converter circuit for generating and providing a signal that depends at least on the detected tilt of the first axis with respect to the external field.

Description

TRANSMIT TESTS, TRANSMITTERS WITH A TILT TERMINAL INTERFACE AND TRANSMITTER TERMINATION METHOD

The present invention relates to a tilt detector for a

Transmitter, a transmitter with an interface for such a tilt detector and a method for determining the inclination of a

Transmitter. Some transmitters have position-dependent measurement errors caused by external fields, such as the gravitational field, the Earth's magnetic field, or a centrifugal field. It is known to equip transducers with a tilt detector for these position-dependent measurement errors

compensate. The published patent application DE201010002157 discloses a pressure transmitter with a hydraulic pressure transmitter and a

Tilt detector, which makes it possible to compensate for inclination-dependent influences on the internal hydrostatic pressure of the diaphragm seal. The

Publications WO 2007/109177 A2 and WO 2008/080802 A1 disclose Coriolis mass flowmeters with an inclination sensor.

The solutions mentioned serve their purpose, but with the following disadvantages: The tilt detector takes up space in the housing, it costs money, the price increases with accuracy, and it is another component that in terms of energy consumption and - for example in the

Device software - must be taken into account during error management. This is unfortunate in that the tilt detector is actually needed only once, namely during the installation of the transmitter. It is therefore the object of the present invention to remedy this situation.

The object is achieved by a tilt detector according to the independent claim 1, a transmitter according to the independent claim 7, a measuring system according to the independent claim 10 and a method according to the independent

The inclination detector according to the invention comprises a detector housing, wherein the detector housing has a first coupling element of a connector coupling, whereby the detector housing in a defined orientation is detachably mechanically connected to a complementary, second coupling element of the connector coupling, a tilt sensor arrangement in a defined orientation with respect to the detector housing the detector housing is firmly connected, wherein the

Tilt sensor arrangement is provided to detect the inclination of at least a first axis of the detector housing with respect to an external field; and a converter circuit for generating and providing a signal dependent at least on the detected inclination of the first axis with respect to the external field. In a further development of the invention, the inclination sensor arrangement is also suitable for detecting the inclination of a second axis with respect to the external field, wherein the second axis is preferably perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the converter circuit for generating and providing a signal or a signal tuple, which depends on the inclination of the first and second axes with respect to the external field.

In a development of the invention, the converter circuit is suitable for providing the signal or the signal tuple at the connector coupling.

In one embodiment of the invention, the inclination detector is designed as a so-called service plug. D. h., The housing of the tilt detector also serves as a connector housing which is connected to a cable, which via the connector coupling, for example, to a transmitter

is to connect the transmitter via the cable to a service device, such as a computer.

The signal or signal tuple can equally wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth, Zigbee or as an RFID signal or via cable to a

In a further development of the invention of the parent unit based on the signal or

Signal tuple determined data can be transmitted to the transmitter.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the external field is a gravitational field, in particular gravity on earth. In a second embodiment of the invention, the external field comprises a magnetic field, in particular the geomagnetic field.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the external field comprises an acceleration field, in particular a centrifugal field.

The transmitter according to the invention for providing a measurement signal on the basis of a measurement path has a measurement path with a cross-sensitivity to at least one external field, the cross-sensitivity depending on the inclination of at least a first axis of the transmitter with respect to the external field, wherein the transmitter has a processing circuit which is suitable is to take into account the cross-sensitivity of the measuring path to the external field from signals representing the slope of at least the first axis with respect to the external field or which depend on the inclination of the first axis, the transmitter having a coupling element of a connector coupling, which in a defined orientation at least with respect to the first axis of the transmitter, wherein a complementary coupling element in a defined orientation with respect to the first axis of the transmitter is connectable, and wherein the connector coupling has an interface to the processing circuit, and wherein the processing circuit is adapted from the Interface to receive the signals representing the inclination of the at least one axis with respect to the external field.

The transmitter according to the invention can according to a development of the invention, the transmitter also have a converter housing, within which the processing circuit is placed,

The term measuring path in the context of the present invention refers to a sequence of sampling, conversion and / or

Processing steps with which a measurement signal is generated based on a measured variable-dependent primary effect.

The transmitter according to the invention can in particular a

Pressure transmitter whose measuring path comprises a hydraulic diaphragm seal for transmitting a media pressure to a pressure sensor.

In particular, this hydraulic pressure transmitter can cause a slope-dependent cross-sensitivity of the transmitter, as described for example in DE201010002157. The pressure sensor usually comprises a measuring diaphragm whose pressure-dependent deformation is converted by means of a (piezo) resistive or capacitive transducer into an electrical signal. Thereafter, the measuring section comprises further electronic or

The term "electronic" here includes both analog and digital electronics.The measurement signal to be output, for example, an analog 4 ... 20 mA or a digital signal which in particular the HART standard, the Foundation Fieldbus standard or the Profibus standard is sufficient. The connector coupling may according to an embodiment of the invention comprise a USB connector coupling, which ensures a one-to-one orientation of the components connected by means of the connector coupling to each other, provided that the coupling elements are respectively fixed and connected in a defined orientation.

The measuring system according to the invention comprises a transmitter for

Providing a measurement signal based on a measurement path with a

Cross-sensitivity to at least one external field, wherein the

Cross sensitivity of the inclination of at least a first axis of the

Transmitter with respect to the external field, as well as one

Tilt detector, the transmitter having a processing circuit adapted to take into account the cross-sensitivity of the measurement path to the external field from signals representing the slope of at least the first axis with respect to the external field or which depend on the slope of the first axis,

wherein the transmitter is a coupling element of a

Connector coupling, which is arranged in a defined orientation at least with respect to the first axis of the transmitter, wherein a complementary coupling element is connectable in a defined orientation with respect to the first axis of the transmitter,

the connector coupling being an interface to the

Having processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to receive from the interface the signals representing the inclination of the at least one axis with respect to the external field, wherein the inclination detector,

a detector housing, the detector housing has a first coupling element of a connector coupling, with which the detector housing is releasably mechanically connected in a defined orientation to a complementary, second coupling element of the connector coupling,

a tilt sensor arrangement which is fixedly connected in a defined orientation with respect to the detector housing with the detector housing, wherein the tilt sensor arrangement is provided to detect the inclination of at least a first axis of the detector housing with respect to an external field, and

a converter circuit for generating and providing a dependent on at least the detected inclination of the first axis with respect to the external field signal, and

wherein the inclination detector is releasably connected to the transmitter to form the connector coupling, such that the coupling element of the inclination detector is engaged with the coupling element of FIG.

The inventive measuring system can according to a development of

Invention of the transmitter have a converter housing, within which the processing circuit is placed such that tilt detector extends outside of the converter housing.

The inventive method for determining the inclination of a

Transmitter comprises: connecting a tilt detector according to the invention with a transmitter according to the invention by connecting the

Coupling element of the inclination detector with the coupling element of the transmitter, determined by means of a slope value by means of the

Tilt detector and transmit signals representing the slope value or signals derived from the slope value to the transmitter.

The slope value determined by the slope detector may correspond to the slope value of the transducer axis with respect to the external field.

In a further development of the method, the signals are used to check whether a current installation position of the sensor is valid, that is, whether the influence of the

position-dependent cross-sensitivity of the measuring section still allows a sufficiently accurate measurement.

In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is further provided that the inclination detector is separated again by the transmitter, for example shortly after the signals which represent the inclination value, or signals which have been derived from the inclination value have been transmitted to the transducers, or briefly before the transmitter is to start its normal measuring operation. Alternatively or in addition, it is also provided that the measuring signal using the same signals, which

Or signals derived from the slope value, or generated taking into account the slope value transmitted to the transmitter.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings

Embodiments explained. It shows:

Fig. 1: a view of a first embodiment of a tilt detector according to the invention, which is attached to a transmitter according to the invention to determine its inclination.

2 shows a view of a second embodiment of a

tilt detector according to the invention, which on a

the transmitter according to the invention is plugged to determine its inclination.

1 is attached to a transmitter 2, in particular a pressure transmitter by means of a USB interface, not shown here. The transmitter 2 is in turn mounted on an inclined surface of a container 3. With the inclination detector 1, the inclination of the transmitter 2 is to be determined, and the inclination or a quantity derived therefrom must be communicated to the transmitter 2.

The inclination detector 1 comprises a housing 10 with a coordinate system 1 1, whose inclination with respect to the vertical V by means of a Inclination sensor arrangement is to be determined in the housing. The housing 10 of the tilt detector 1 1 is arranged in a defined orientation on an end face of a substantially cylindrical housing 20 of the transmitter 2. In order to ensure a sufficiently accurate orientation of the two housings 10, 20 relative to one another, the housings can have surface sections which are complementary to one another in the region of their contact. In the simplest case, these are plane-parallel surface sections, but it may also be complementary concave or convex structures, which engage with each other when the tilt detector is plugged onto the connector. These surface sections can continue to be formed according to the so-called poka-yoke principle, to a clear orientation

guarantee. The unique orientation can equally be determined by the structures of the connector coupling, as is the case for example with a USB connector coupling. The inclination detector may for example also be integrated in a so-called service plug, with which the transmitter 2 is connected via a cable 12 to a higher-level unit, such as a portable computer, temporarily, such as during commissioning of the transmitter or during a review of the same. The inclination detector can - as a supplement or as a substitute for the cable connection formed by means of the cable 12 - have a radio module to communicate with the same parent unit.

The inclination data or data derived therefrom must be available to the transmitter for measuring operation, in particular also such that during the generation of measuring signals by means of the transmitter an inclination of at least a first axis of the transmitter with respect to an external field, to which inclination the measuring path is a dependent quench has, can be taken into account or that the influence of the same slope on the measuring section can be compensated accordingly by means of the transmitter. The preparation of the inclination data can be carried out when determining the inclination, for example when commissioning the transmitter, of each of the components mentioned, ie the transmitter, the inclination detector and / or the higher-level unit. In many cases, it may be sufficient to know the inclination of only a first axis of the coordinate system 1 1 of the tilt detector with respect to the external field. This is the case, for example, if the cross-sensitivity of the transmitter with the inclination of only one axis of the coordinate system 21 of the transmitter with respect to an external field is described with sufficient accuracy, and if this axis of the coordinate system of the

Transmitter with the first axis of the coordinate system of the

Tilt detector collapses. This would be for example at a

Pressure transmitter with a hydraulic diaphragm seal the case, whose hydraulic path along the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical

Transmitter housing 20 extends when tilt detector 2 also has an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of transmitter housing 20 and when the tilt detector detects the inclination of that axis with respect to the external field as shown in FIG. The situation illustrated in FIG. 2 differs from the previous one in that although the inclination detector 1 is still in a defined position

Orientation with respect to a transmitter 3 aligned but now with a Connector clutch is held on a lateral surface of a drum housing 30 of the transmitter, so that the axes of the coordinate system 1 1 of the inclination detector do not coincide with the axes of a coordinate system 31 of the transmitter. In this case, one is

Coordinate transformation required to determine from the inclination of the axes of the coordinate system 1 1 of the inclination detector 10, the inclination of one or more axes of the coordinate system 21 of the transmitter 3, which is preferably carried out by a connected via a cable 12 to the inclination detector 1 superordinate unit, including her the transformation between the coordinate system 31 of the transmitter 3 and the coordinate system 1 1 of the inclination detector must be known.

After the information about the slope of interest in the transmitter is available, the inclination detector can now be disconnected again from the transmitter, for example shortly after the signals which the

Represent slope value, or signals derived from the slope value have been transmitted to the transmitter or shortly before the

Transmitter absorbs its actual, serving to generate measurement signals measuring operation, to be used again thereafter in another with regard to its inclination transmitter.

Claims

claims

1. Tilt detector (1), in particular for a transmitter (2), comprising:

a detector housing (10), wherein the detector housing (10) has a first

Coupling element of a connector coupling, whereby the detector housing (10) in a defined orientation releasably mechanically to a complementary, second coupling element of

Connector coupling, in particular a transmitter (2) can be connected,

an inclination sensor arrangement (1) which is fixedly connected to the detector housing in fixed orientation with respect to the detector housing, the inclination sensor arrangement being arranged to reduce the inclination of at least one first axis (1 1) of the detector housing (10) with respect to an external field (V ) capture,

a converter circuit for generating and providing a signal dependent at least on the detected inclination of the first axis with respect to the external field.

2. inclination detector according to claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor arrangement is adapted to detect the inclination of a second axis with respect to the external field, the second axis in particular perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the converter circuit for generating and providing a signal or a Signal tuple, which depends on the inclination of the first and the second axis with respect to the external output.

The tilt detector of claim 2, wherein the transducer circuit is adapted to provide the signal or signal tuple at the connector coupling.

4. inclination detector according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the

The detector housing of the inclination detector is connected to a cable which is to be connected via the connector coupling to a transmitter in order to connect the transmitter via the cable to a service device, for example a computer.

5. inclination detector according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the signal or signal tuple can be output wirelessly or via cable to a higher-level unit.

6. inclination detector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the external field is a gravitational field, in particular gravity on the earth, a magnetic field, in particular the earth's magnetic field, or an acceleration field, in particular a centrifugal field.

7. Transmitter for providing a measurement signal by means of a

Measuring distance

the measuring path having a cross-sensitivity to at least one external field, the cross-sensitivity depending on the inclination of at least one first axis of the transmitter with respect to the external field,

the transmitter having a processing circuit capable of taking into account the cross-sensitivity of the measurement path to the external field from signals representing the slope of at least the first axis with respect to the external field or which depend on the slope of the first axis,

wherein the transmitter is a coupling element of a

Connector coupling which is arranged in a defined orientation at least with respect to the first axis of the transmitter, wherein a complementary coupling element in a defined orientation at least with respect to the first axis of the transmitter is connectable, and

the connector coupling being an interface to the

Processing circuit which is adapted to receive from the interface, the signals which depend on the inclination of the at least one axis with respect to the external field or represent the inclination of the at least one axis with respect to the external field.

8. Transmitter according to claim 7, wherein the signals are received in particular by a tilt detector according to one of claims 1 to 6, which is connected in a defined orientation to the connector coupling.

9. Transmitter according to claim 7 or 8,

wherein the transmitter is a pressure transducer whose

Measuring section comprises at least one hydraulic pressure transmitter for transmitting a media pressure to a pressure sensor; and or

wherein the transmitter is a flowmeter, the measuring section comprises in particular a working according to the Coriolis principle sensor.

10. measuring system comprising:

A transmitter according to any one of claims 7 to 9 and a tilt detector according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

wherein the inclination detector is releasably connected to the transmitter to form the connector coupling, such that the

Coupling element of the inclination detector with the coupling element of the engaged.

1 1. A measuring system according to the preceding claim, wherein the transducer comprises a converter housing, within which the processing circuit is placed, and wherein inclination detector is located outside the

Transformer housing extends.

12. A method of determining the inclination of a transmitter, comprising:

Connecting a tilt detector according to one of claims 1 to 6 with a transmitter according to one of claims 7 to 9; by means of Connector coupling, in particular for forming a measuring system according to one of claims 10 to 1 1;

Determining by means of a slope value by means of the inclination detector; and transmitting signals representing the slope value or signals derived from the slope value to the

Transmitter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the slope value, which is determined by the tilt detector, the inclination value of the axis of

Transmitter with respect to the external field.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein it is checked by means of the signals, whether a current installation position of the sensor is valid.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising:

Disconnecting the tilt detector from the transmitter, esp. After

Transmitting signals representing the slope value or signals derived from the slope value to the transmitter.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising:

Generating the measurement signal using the same signals representing the slope value or signals derived from the

Slope value are derived or taking into account the transmitted to the transmitter inclination value.