DE102008003622A1 - Sensor for e.g. washing machine, has flow rate and temperature electric converter elements provided as parts of measuring components for converting parameters into electrical signals, where elements are accommodated in individual carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The sensor (1) has a flow rate measuring component (2) and a temperature measuring component (3) for measuring two parameters e.g. flow rate and temperature. A flow rate electric converter element and a temperature electric converter element (10) are provided as parts of the measuring components to convert the parameters into electrical signals. The converter elements are accommodated in an individual carrier (14), and the measuring components are arranged in a housing (5) of the sensor. The carrier has a punching scrap insert molded with plastic and made of electrically conductive metal.

Description

The The invention relates to a sensor according to the preamble of the claim 1.

such Sensors are used to measure measured variables in household appliances and appliances Building services industry used. In particular, these sensors are for home appliances, like Washing machines, dishwashers o. The like., Determined.

Lots Applications where liquids move be required, in addition to the detection of the flow rate Measurement of pressure, temperature and degree of contamination of the fluid. For heating systems, for example, serve flow and temperature of the circulating heating water the regulation of the amount of heat transported, while the pressure is a measure of the degree of filling of Circulation and the function of the circulation pump is. For the purpose of anticipatory maintenance needed one additionally the degree of contamination of the heating water, so that the heating water can change before too many aggressive particles and other impurities Individual components such as valves can shut down.

For the individual Measurement functions So far, an arrangement of individual sensors with associated measuring components used, each of which requires a cable connection with plug. For the measurement of at least two measured quantities thus at least two measuring components with electrical transducer elements as part of the measuring components for converting the respective measured variable into an electrical signal necessary. The costs are therefore considerable and are used in price-critical applications in the household and / or consumer sector opposite.

Of the Invention is based on the object, the arrangement of the sensors to simplify.

These Task is in a generic sensor by the characterizing Characteristics of claim 1 solved.

At the inventive sensor are the two electrical transducer elements on a single carrier located. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject the dependent claims.

In expedient embodiment the sensor has a housing, wherein the measuring components in the case are arranged. For simplicity, it is advisable that the carrier with contacted a single plug connection is, so that the corresponding to the measured variables electrical signals of the electrical transducer elements can be tapped at the plug connection are. With regard to an inexpensive production, the carrier can be made a circuit board, a plastic-encapsulated stamped grid electrically conductive Metal o. The like. Exist. The carrier can be plugged into the housing in the plug-in direction of the plug connection be such that there all measuring components are positioned in their desired position and / or locked, bringing a simple mountability of the sensor is given.

In summary is for to determine a particularly preferred embodiment that the components the different measuring functions in a housing are arranged such that the electrical transducer elements are all on a single carrier, which in turn is contactable with a single plug connection. For a cheap Manufacture the transducer elements on a single carrier, preferably a printed circuit board or an overmolded stamped grid, arranged, which is plugged into the housing in the insertion direction of the plug connection is positioned while all sensors in their desired position.

For example are in a flow sensor, the well-known working principles of a housing, a from the liquid flowing through powered wing or turbine wheel, one of them taken encoder and a fixed to the housing arranged pulse generator, additionally in the liquid flow protruding heat conductor, in which a temperature sensor sits, and the optoelectronic parts a turbidity sensor on an optically transparent Part of the flow through the fluid housing arranged and the electrical connections all led to a single plug connection. Of the carrier for the Components can be inexpensive designed as a flat circuit board, in the housing against attacks is positioned and locked. For larger numbers, however, can also overmoulded punched grid as carrier be used what cost and has constructive advantages. A plug-in and / or Verreastrichtung the carrier in the later Connecting direction of the connection can increase the mechanical strength.

The particular advantages of the invention are that for applications, at those at fluent Fluids of the flow, To monitor the temperature and / or the pollution load, all measured variables with only a single low priced detected combisensor detected and can be tapped at a single plug connection. The proposed structure of the multi-sensor thus eliminates the above Disadvantage.

embodiments The invention with various developments and refinements shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

1 a sensor according to a first embodiment in side view,

2 a section along the line 2-2 in 1 .

3 a section along the line 3-3 in 2 .

4 a sensor according to a second embodiment in side view,

5 a section along the line 5-5 in 4 .

6 a section along the line 6-6 in 5 .

7 a sensor according to a third embodiment in side view,

8th the sensor off 7 in cutaway view and

9 a section along the line 9-9 in 8th ,

The in 1 shown sensor 1 , which is used in household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers o. The like., Has at least two, in 2 visible measuring components 2 . 3 for measuring two measured quantities, namely for the flow or the water level and the temperature of a fluid. In the present case, the sensor points 1 yet another measuring component 4 for the turbidity of the fluid. So it is a combination sensor for measuring flow, temperature and pollution and / or turbidity. The sensor 1 has a housing 5 in which the measuring components 2 . 3 . 4 are arranged. At the housing 5 there are fluid connections 6 . 7 for the supply and discharge of the fluid.

The measuring component 2 for flow measurement comprises an impeller projecting into the fluid 8th and one the revolutions of the impeller 8th detecting electrical transducer element 9 as a component of the measuring component 2 , The impeller 8th is by means of a rotation axis 12 in the case 5 stored like that 3 can be seen. The measuring component 2 comprises a rotary encoder consisting of a magnet, for example 16 , the impeller 8th is attached, and a Hall sensor 17 as based on the 6 is shown. As in further 2 can be seen, has the measuring component 3 for temperature measurement, an electrical transducer element 10 For example, an NTC resistor. The electrical transducer element 10 is from a heat conductor 13 surrounded for protection and protrudes on the housing 5 into the fluid. The measuring component 4 for turbidity measurement comprises a light emitting diode 18 and a photoreceiver as the electric conversion element 11 , as in 3 you can see. The light-emitting diode 18 and the electric conversion element 11 are at a window in the housing 5 arranged so that the light emitting diode 18 Radiation emitted into the fluid. The fluid not absorbed by the electrical transducer element 11 received portion of the radiation corresponds to the turbidity of the fluid. The purpose of converting the respective measured variable into an electrical signal serving electrical transducer elements 9 . 10 . 11 are on a single carrier 14 , the case 5 is attached.

The carrier 14 is with a single plug connection 15 Contactable, which corresponds to the measured variables corresponding electrical signals of the electrical transducer elements 9 . 10 . 11 at the plug connection 15 can be tapped. The electrical signals can then from the plug connection 15 to a controller, which includes, for example, a microprocessor to be forwarded in the household appliance. At the carrier 14 it may be a printed circuit board, a stamped grid of electrically conductive metal coated with plastic or the like. How to continue on the basis of 2 sees, is the carrier 14 in the plug-in direction of the plug connection 15 into the housing 5 is inserted, in such a way that the measuring component 3 at the fluid port 7 protrudes into the fluid. After inserting the carrier 14 into the housing 5 are all measuring components 2 . 3 . 4 positioned in their desired position. In this case, the measuring components 2 . 3 . 4 and / or the carrier 14 also with the housing 5 be locked.

In the 4 to 6 is another version of the sensor 1 to see. This embodiment differs substantially from the first embodiment by the arranged on the opposite side plug connection 15 , Finally, in 7 to 9 again another version of the sensor 1 to see the carrier 14 essentially obliquely with respect to the fluid ports 6 . 7 is arranged.

The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. Rather, it also encompasses all expert developments within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. So can such a sensor 1 not only in household appliances, but also in heating technology and for combination sensors for flow, pressure, temperature and / or turbidity measurement in laboratory and / or chemical engineering find use.

1

sensor

2

measured component (for flow)

3

measured component (for temperature)

4

measured component (for cloudiness)

5

casing

6 7

fluid port

8th

impeller

9

electrical Transducer element (for flow)

10

electrical Transducer element (for Temperature)

11

electrical Transducer element (for turbidity)

12

axis of rotation

13

heat conductor

14

carrier

15

plug connection

16

encoders

17

Hall sensor

18

led

Claims (5)

Sensor, in particular for household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers o. The like., With at least two measuring components ( 2 . 3 . 4 ) for measuring two measured quantities, and with electrical transducer elements ( 9 . 10 . 11 ) as a component of the measuring components ( 2 . 3 . 4 ) for converting the respective measured variable into an electrical signal, characterized in that at least two electrical transducer elements ( 9 . 10 . 11 ) on a single support ( 14 ) are located. Sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor ( 1 ) a housing ( 5 ), and that the measuring components ( 2 . 3 . 4 ) in the housing ( 5 ) are arranged. Sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier ( 14 ) with a single plug connection ( 15 ) is contactable, such that the electrical signals corresponding to the measured variables of the electrical transducer elements ( 9 . 10 . 11 ) at the plug connection ( 15 ) can be tapped. Sensor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the carrier ( 14 ) consists of a printed circuit board, a die-coated with stamped grid of electrically conductive metal o. The like. Sensor according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support ( 14 ) in the plug-in direction of the plug connection ( 15 ) into the housing ( 5 ) is inserted, so that thereby all measuring components ( 2 . 3 . 4 ) are positioned in their desired position and / or locked.