DE8910338U1 - rain sensor - Google Patents

Description

Colt International Holdings AG Dipi.-lng. Dr. iur. v. Busse

"~~ Oipl.-Ing. Dietrich Busse

Celtic Way 6 Dipl.-Ing. Eg"»n Bünemann

__ ^-~_ -. . w Dipl.-Ing. Ulrich Pott

CH-63T2 Steinhaaaen ³

O-4500 Cs ri Struck GroBh«nd»l»fin(j &bgr; ■ Po»l!ach 12 28 Tiialon: 05 41-5« eo 81 ,' 82 7*.jgrimm·: patgawar ofnaOrück ralakoitiarar: 0541-5*81$-«

2S-OS.1983
P/Te

^ensensor

The invention relates to a rain sensor with an insulating carrier plate and a group of conductor tracks arranged on the carrier plate in a design according to the preamble of claim 1.

Rain sensors are used in particular for control and regulation purposes, for example for controlling fans in buildings, and are intended to give a reliable signal when precipitation is about to occur. As they are exposed to the effects of the weather, they are subject to destructive stresses in continuous operation. In particular, however, they are only useful if they give an accurate signal about precipitation even under difficult conditions and do not fail when there is ice or give false signals when there is dew.

Conventional rain sensors already have a carrier plate made of glass fiber reinforced plastic with integrated comb-shaped, interlocking conductor tracks made of preferably non-ferrous metal. Such a plate is to be placed on the top of a housing and heated from below so that a reliable signal can be obtained even when ice, snow and dew are falling. For this purpose, the plate is equipped with a special

whose radiators are connected;" Even though the associated effort is not insignificant, such conventional rain sensors are particularly suitable for long-term operation.

p not always reliable signals can be achieved, which is often

f| to a line destruction due to mechanical or

due to corrosion-related influences.

9&xgr;, It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a

&psgr;. To create a rain sensor of the type mentioned above, w; even in the event of a line destruction, the risk

consists in the sensor emitting a signal indicating no precipitation when it rains. According to the invention , this object is achieved by a rain sensor of the type described at the outset, starting with the characterizing features of claim 1. With regard to advantageous embodiments, reference is made to claims 2 to 4.

The rain sensor of the invention can be used to control a control and regulating device connected to it in a simple manner in such a way that in the event of a conductor damage or breakage, a higher-level signal is emitted, which, for example, closes a ventilation device without the need for a galvanic connection between the electrodes as a result of raindrops and the like. The resistance element is to be provided in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner. The rain sensor according to the invention must be permanently supplied with a quiescent current during operation.

For further explanation of the invention, reference is made to the drawing and the following description. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the rain sensor according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a rain sensor carrier plate with conductor tracks in a plan view.

As can be seen from the schematic diagram, the rain sensor plate, generally numbered 1, has a group of conductor tracks which are connected to two groups 2 and 3 of closely nested electrodes with connections 4 and 5. The groups or electrodes 2 and 3 are galvanically connected to one another via a conductor track 6, in which a terminating resistor of 150 Ki/l is integrated. In addition, a heating conductor track 7 with an integrated 60-12 resistor is also provided for heating the carrier plate.

The rain sensor plate shown in Fig. 2 and designated as 1 consists of a carrier plate 9 made of highly heat-resistant, acid-resistant and UV-light-resistant plastic, in the corners of which holes can be made for screw mounting. Not shown in detail, the plate is occupied, except for a peripheral edge area, by a dense pattern of narrow and essentially parallel conductor tracks, which extend in their main orientation parallel to the narrow sides of the carrier plate 9. These conductor tracks are designed to be connected to one another in such a way that only two separate conductor tracks are required.

4 and 5. The electrodes 2 and 3 are connected to one another via the connections 10 and 11 via a conductor track 6 with an integrated terminating resistor 6.1. The resistor 6.1 is a 150 K./2 resistor, so that a quiescent current must be applied .

Claims (4)

Colt International Holdings AG Dipi.-ing. Or. iur. v. buses Dipl.-Ing. Dietrich Busse Kaltenweq 6 Dlpl.-lng. Egon Bünemann CH-6312 Steinhauaen ^Dipl - ^{|ng Ulrlch Pott} D-4S00 Osnabruck Qronn«nd«l>Hng &bgr; · Pottfteh 12 26 &Tgr;&bgr;&igr;·&Igr;&ogr;&eegr;: 05 41-!&bgr;βθ; 81 / 82 Tcltgramme: palgtwar otnibrüeh ^r tl«kopi«rtl: 05 <&Igr;·5&bgr; 11 64 28.08.1989 P/Te Expectations 1. Rain sensor with an insulating carrier plate and a group of conductor tracks arranged on the carrier plate, which are combined to form two groups of electrodes which are each galvanically connected and preferably closely nested against one another in a comb-like manner, characterized in that the electrodes (2, 3) each have connections (10, 11) at one end which are connected via a resistance element (6.1) to a resistance value which lies above the resistance range of the electrodes (2, 3). 2. Rain sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (2,3) are connected to one another via a conductor track with a high-ohmic resistance element (6.1). 3. Rain sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that the resistance element (6.1) is an integrated 150-/CJZ resistor. 4. Rain sensor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a quiescent current can be applied to the electrodes (2, 3) and the resistance element (6.1).