Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G10K9/00—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers
  • G10K9/12—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated
  • G10K9/122—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated using piezoelectric driving means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
  • G01F1/66—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
  • G01F1/662—Constructional details
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
  • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
  • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
  • G01F23/296—Acoustic waves
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
  • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
  • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
  • G01F23/296—Acoustic waves
  • G01F23/2968—Transducers specially adapted for acoustic level indicators
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G10K9/00—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers
  • G10K9/12—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated
  • G10K9/13—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated using electromagnetic driving means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G10K9/00—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers
  • G10K9/18—Details, e.g. bulbs, pumps, pistons, switches or casings
  • G10K9/22—Mountings; Casings
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R17/00—Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers

Definitions

• ultrasonic transducers for use in fluid media are known from the prior art. Under an ultrasonic transducer is generally understood an element which is capable of emitting ultrasonic signals in the fluid medium and / or ultrasonic signals from the fluid
• Ultrasonic transducers of this kind are used, for example, in ultrasonic flow meters in process engineering and / or in the automotive sector, for example in flow meters (ultrasonic flow meters, ultrasonic flow meters, UFM), in particular in the intake tract and / or exhaust tract of internal combustion engines.
• ultrasonic transducers are known from DE 10 2007 010 500 A1, DE 10 2007 037 088 A1 or from the post-published German patent application from the applicant's home of the present application with the file reference DE 10 2008 055 126.0.
• the ultrasonic transducers described therein can also be used in principle in the context of the present invention and modified according to the invention.
• Ultrasonic transducers generally have at least one electrical-acoustic element, for example a piezoelectric transducer element. However, this is especially the case when measuring the flow in air or other gases
• a problem is that there is a high acoustic impedance difference between the material of the electro-acoustic transducer element and the air, which leads to high coupling losses in the coupling of ultrasonic signals between the electro-acoustic transducer element and the gas. Accordingly, the signal strokes can be weak if, for example, air quantity signals within a system control of an internal combustion engine are derived from the transducer signals in a flow measurement. the.
• Ultrasonic transducers with sound-emitting resonance or matching bodies such as, for example, a metal diaphragm or a ⁇ / 4 impedance matching layer, are therefore known.
• Such impedance matching layers which in principle can be of any geometric design, are known, for example, from the above-mentioned publications of the prior art.
• a housing is usually used in which a converter core is accommodated. On the side facing the fluid medium, this housing has an opening, within which the emission surface of the transducer core, via which ultrasound signals are emitted or picked up, is arranged.
• DE 10 2008 055 126.0 it is known from DE 10 2008 055 126.0 to completely or partially span this opening with a sealing film.
• the technical challenge arises that media can still penetrate into the interior of the housing at the edges of the sealing film, which can be detrimentally noticeable, for example, in flow measurements in internal combustion engines.
• the fluid medium may in particular be a gas, for example air or an exhaust gas.
• the ultrasonic transducer and the sensor arrangement can be used in particular in ultrasonic flow meters (UFMs), for example in motor vehicle internal combustion engines.
• UFMs ultrasonic flow meters
• Alternative fields of application are sensors for gases or liquids, for example in process engineering, in particular for process controls, as distance sensors, as level sensors or as flow sensors, for example in the chemical and / or pharmaceutical industry.
• Other fields of application are medical technology, for example for breathing gas monitoring, or energy technology, for example as a heat meter.
• the proposed ultrasonic transducer comprises at least one housing with at least one interior space.
• a housing Under a housing is an at least partially closed element to understand, which is the outer shape of the Ultrasonic transducer itself can define and which can protect the ultrasonic transducer at least partially against mechanical stress.
• the housing for example, as will be explained in more detail below, be wholly or partly made of a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic material, and / or of a metallic material.
• This inner space can, for example, be configured at least approximately cylindrically, as will be explained below.
• the ultrasonic transducer comprises at least one transducer core accommodated in the interior with at least one electrically-acoustic transducer element.
• an electrically-acoustic transducer element is basically to understand any element which is adapted to convert electrical signals into acoustic signals, in particular in ultrasonic signals or vice versa.
• this electro-acoustic transducer element may comprise at least one piezoelectric transducer element.
• piezo or the term “piezoelectric transducer element” or the term “piezoceramic” is therefore also used as a synonym for the electro-acoustic transducer element without restricting other possible configurations of the electric-acoustic transducer element but also include other elements of said function.
• the transducer core may comprise further elements.
• the converter core may comprise at least one matching body, which is set up to improve an acoustic coupling between the electrical-acoustic transducer element and the fluid medium.
• this may be an impedance matching body.
• this impedance matching body has an acoustic impedance which is between the acoustic impedance of the electro-acoustic transducer element and the acoustic impedance of the fluid medium, ideally close to the geometric mean of these acoustic impedances.
• the matching body may also comprise a plurality of materials having different acoustic impedances and / or a material having an acoustic impedance gradient.
• a matching body which may be configured, for example, as an adaptation layer, reference may be made to the above-cited documents DE 10 2007 010 500 A1, DE 10 2007 037 088 A1 and DE 10 2008 055 126.0.
• the fitting bodies used there can basically also be used in the context of the present invention.
• the transducer core may include other elements.
• At least one compensating body in particular at least one compensating layer, may be provided between the optional matching body and the electrically-acoustic transducer element.
• a compensating body can prevent, for example, a build-up of thermo-mechanical stresses due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the electro-acoustic transducer element and the matching body, for example by selecting a thermal expansion coefficient for this balancing body which lies between that of the electric-acoustic transducer element and that of the matching body.
• this compensating body can comprise at least one adhesive layer.
• other embodiments are possible in principle.
• the converter core may in particular have at least one emitting surface.
• a radiating surface is basically understood any surface through which acoustic signals can be delivered from the transducer core to the fluid medium, and / or via which acoustic signals from the fluid medium can be absorbed by the transducer core.
• This at least one emitting surface can be assigned to the fluid medium and can be arranged, for example, within an opening of the housing.
• the housing can have at least one opening which is assigned to the fluid medium, for example an opening which is completely or partially enclosed by a housing edge of the housing. Within this opening, the emitting surface may be arranged, which is preferably arranged in the same plane as the edge of the housing. Another embodiment, for example an arrangement not in the same plane as the housing edge of the housing is possible. -.
• the at least one opening of the housing which may be configured, for example, circular or polygonal, is at least partially, preferably completely, covered by at least one sealing film.
• a sealing film is basically an arbitrary, film-like element to understand, which is arranged to influence the fluid medium, such as
• a foil-like element is to be understood as meaning an element whose lateral extent exceeds its thickness by at least a factor of 10, preferably by at least a factor of 100 or by a factor of at least 1000.
• the sealing film may comprise, for example, a plastic film and / or a metallic foil and / or a ceramic foil.
• the sealing film may comprise a thermoplastic material or a thermosetting material.
• Alternate materials can be used in combination either separately or are polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyvinyl lyphenylensulfid (PPS), polyimide (Kapton particular ®), liquid crystal polymer (Liquid Crystal Polymer, LCP), fluorocarbons such as Teflon or poly- tetrafluoroethene (PTFE) or, for example, perfluoroethylene-propylene copolymer (FEP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or other plastics. Combinations of said materials and / or other materials can be used. Alternatively or additionally, a thin metal foil can also be used. Furthermore, composite materials can also be used, for example materials with several film layers or the like.
• PEEK polyetheretherketone
• PPS polyvinyl lyphenylensulfid
• PPS polyimide
• LCP liquid crystal polymer
• fluorocarbons such as Teflon or poly- tetrafluoroeth
• At least one such film layer may be provided as a coating consisting of, for example, a metallic, ceramic or plastic material.
• the sealing film may further comprise an adhesive layer, by means of which, in particular independently of the sealing material, a non-positive or cohesive connection to the housing is achieved.
• the ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention may initially be configured, for example, analogously to the ultrasonic transducer described in the subsequently published German patent application with the number DE 10 2008 055 126.0.
• the invention proposes to seal an edge of the sealing film by at least one sealing material.
• An edge of the sealing film can be understood to mean a boundary of the sealing film, that is to say a limit of the lateral extent of the sealing film.
• the edge may also be covered by the at least one sealing material beyond this limit.
• a sealing material a basically arbitrary material which can be applied in a deformable state to the sealing film, for example in a liquid, viscous or pastose or other deformable state.
• the sealing material can thus adapt to the shape of the edge of the sealing film. In particular, that can
• Seal material also completely or partially penetrate into a space between the housing and the edge of the sealing film and / or close a gap between an edge of the sealing film and the housing. Under a seal is generally a state to understand, in which the inner space by the sealing material at least partially against the influence of the fluid
• Medium is protected, for example, from chemical influences and / or pressure influences.
• the sealing material may in particular comprise at least one adhesive.
• the sealing material may comprise an epoxy and / or a hot-thixotropic adhesive.
• the sealing material may for example be at least partially caterpillar-shaped, in particular as a glue bead.
• the sealing material can be applied as a bead of adhesive circumferentially or at least partially circumferentially on the edge of the sealing film.
• the housing may in particular have a housing edge facing the fluid medium and at least partially surrounding the opening.
• the sealing film can then rest at least partially on this edge of the housing, preferably in such a way that the edge of the sealing film also rests on the edge of the housing.
• Under a resting can be understood as a direct or even an indirect resting, the latter for example, at least one additional adhesive layer and / or at least one adhesive lamination, which can be introduced between the sealing film and the edge of the housing and which can establish a connection between the sealing film and housing edge ,
• the sealing film can be connected to the edge of the housing in a material-locking and / or non-positive and / or form-fitting manner.
• the edge of the sealing film is sealed by the at least one sealing material, preferably sealing a gap and / or gap between the sealing film and the edge of the housing.
• the casing edge may comprise, for example, a flat brim or a bent brim.
• the sealing film can follow the course of the housing edge and be designed, for example, flat or bent.
• the edge of the sealing film may, for example, substantially complete together with the housing edge of the housing, so that the edge of the sealing film protrudes laterally beyond the edge of the housing at least substantially, that is, in particular by less than 1 mm.
• the at least one sealing material can be applied to the edge of the sealing film and the housing edge of the housing or its edge simultaneously.
• the housing may be configured in one piece or also in several parts. If the housing is configured in several parts, this may include, for example, at least one first housing part and at least one second housing part, wherein the sealing material can simultaneously produce a material connection between the first housing part and the second housing part.
• the first housing part and the second housing part may be connected to each other by at least one further connection, which in principle may be, for example, cohesive and / or non-positive and / or positive-locking manner. Ultrasonic welding or latching between the first housing part and the second housing part is particularly preferred.
• Sensor arrangement may in particular be adapted to detect at least one property of the fluid medium, for example a level and / or a volume flow and / or a mass flow of the fluid medium.
• the sensor arrangement comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer according to one or more of the embodiments described above.
• a sensor arrangement may comprise two or more ultrasonic transducers in order, for example, to conclude a flow of the fluid medium via a transit time measurement.
• Such sensor arrangements are basically known from the prior art.
• the sensor arrangement comprises at least one sensor housing, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the sensor housing.
• the ultrasonic transducer can be glued with its housing in the sensor housing or glued to this. It is particularly preferred if the sealing material of the ultrasonic transducer is used in a dual function and at the same time causes a cohesive connection between the ultrasonic transducer and the housing element of the sensor arrangement. In the case of the described sensor arrangement, the sealing material may in particular be set up in such a way that it does not protrude beyond the sensor arrangement, or only to a reduced extent, for example via a housing edge facing the fluid medium.
• the sensor housing and / or the housing of the ultrasonic transducer can be configured such that the sealing material is accommodated in at least one depression.
• This depression can be arranged wholly or partly in the sensor housing and / or completely or partially in the housing and / or between the housing and the sensor housing.
• this depression may comprise a groove, in particular a circumferential groove.
• the sealing material may be included. Accordingly, for example, the
• the sensor housing may in particular have at least one receptacle.
• the housing of the ultrasonic transducer may be at least partially accommodated in this recording.
• the receptacle may comprise a cylindrical shape in the sensor housing, in particular a cylindrical recess.
• the housing may be accommodated in the receptacle in such a way that, in the case of a pressure loading of the sensor arrangement by the fluid medium, there is essentially no tensile load on the sealing film and / or the sealing material. This can be accomplished, for example, such that, as described above, the sealing material and / or the edge of the sealing film are at least partially accommodated in at least one recess, for example a circumferential groove.
• a brim of the housing can be provided, wherein the edge of the sealing film and / or the sealing material are arranged on or on the brim, wherein the brim rests against the sensor housing, for example in a recess of the sensor housing.
• the brim is then pressed against the sensor housing, so that no or only a slight tensile load of the edge of the sealing film and / or the sealing material, such as the bond occurs.
• low tensile loads can be accepted.
• the sealing film under pressure loading of the sensor assembly always be charged to train, if, for example, the interior of the ultrasonic transducer easily yields and / or has a not infinitely high modulus of elasticity, especially if the sealing film stretched or at least completely straight rests.
• loads can be tolerated to some extent and are still tolerable under the term "substantially no tensile load".
• the proposed ultrasonic transducer and the proposed sensor arrangement have a multiplicity of advantages over known ultrasonic transducers and sensor arrangements.
• a media-tight ultrasonic transducer can be provided in this way, which can be used in particular for flow measurement in internal combustion engines and / or other aggressive environments.
• the interior of the ultrasound transducer for example damping or structure-borne sound decoupling in the ultrasound transducer, would be exposed to the sometimes aggressive fluid media, for example the media contained in a motor vehicle intake tract, such as moisture, oil, exhaust gas fractions, hydrocarbons, acids or similar aggressive media.
• soft silicones are generally required, which are less resistant to these media.
• a sealing film alone is usually exposed to relatively high loads, in particular due to pressure and / or temperature fluctuations. These loads are due in particular to thermal expansions of materials in the ultrasonic transducer, such as plastics. Accordingly, the sealing film can be easily infiltrated by media at the edge in conventional constructions. By sealing the edge of the film, however, the ultrasonic transducer is mechanically stabilized and respects lent its tightness. Furthermore, the production of said ultrasonic transducer can be easily accomplished.
• the at least one sealing element can simultaneously serve for fastening the ultrasonic transducer in the sensor housing and / or for sealing the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the sensor housing. Simultaneous manufacture of the seal and attachment and / or seal greatly simplifies the manufacturing process sequence.
• Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a conventional ultrasonic transducer
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show an exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic transducer according to the invention and a sensor arrangement according to the invention
• FIGS 5 to 7 different embodiments of ultrasonic transducers with multi-part housing.
• FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic transducer 110 according to the prior art.
• the ultrasonic transducer 110 for example, essentially correspond to the ultrasonic transducer shown in DE 10 2008 055 126.0.
• the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 comprises a housing 1 12, which is only partially shown in the illustrated embodiment.
• This housing 1 12 is designed substantially sleeve-shaped and has an inner space 1 14.
• This opening 1 18 is annularly surrounded by a housing edge 120, which in the illustrated embodiment to the rear, away from the fluid medium 1 16, is bent.
• a housing edge 120 which in the illustrated embodiment to the rear, away from the fluid medium 1 16, is bent.
• Within the interior 1 14 is in the illustrated embodiment a
• Transducer core 122 received, for example, concentric to an axis 124 of the ultrasonic transducer 1 10.
• the transducer core 122 includes an electrically acoustic transducer element 126, for example, a piezoelectric transducer element.
• the converter core 122 comprises, on its side facing the fluid medium 16, a matching body 128, which, as illustrated above, serves to improve the acoustic coupling between the transducer core 122 and / or the electro-acoustic transducer element 126 and the fluid medium 16.
• the matching body 128, which may be configured, for example, as a ⁇ / 4 impedance matching layer, reference may be made to DE 10 2007 037 088 A1, DE 10 2007 010 500 A1 or DE 10 2008 055
• the transducer core 122 may include additional elements.
• a gap 130 may be provided between the converter core 122 and the housing 1 12, a gap 130 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 1, this intermediate space 130 may be completely or partially filled with a decoupling element 132.
• This decoupling element 132 is used to attenuate structure-borne sound transmissions between the housing 1 12 and the transducer core 122, which could for example lead to parasitic ultrasonic paths between a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1 10 in a sensor arrangement. Examples of such decoupling elements 132 are decoupling with a silicone material.
• the decoupling element 132 can, for example, as a casting or even completely or partially as
• a damping material 134 is optionally provided on the rear side of the converter core 122 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.
• This damping material 134 can be introduced, for example, as a damping casting on the back in the housing 1 12 and serves to accelerate a Abkling s the converter core 122nd
• the transducer core 122 On the side facing the fluid medium 16, the transducer core 122 has an emission surface 136, ie a surface via which ultrasound signals can be delivered to the fluid medium 16 and / or ultrasound signals can be received by the fluid medium 16.
• This radiating surface 136 is arranged in the illustrated embodiment in a plane with an end face 138 of the housing edge 120.
• the decoupling element 132 preferably terminates in this plane.
• the entire, the fluid medium 1 16 zu josde side of the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 is spanned in the illustrated example of a sealing member 140 in the form of a sealing film 142, which covers the opening 1 18.
• the sealing film 142 may, for example, be glued to the emitting surface 136 and / or the housing edge 120.
• the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 according to Figure 1 is a fictitious ultrasonic transducer, from which can be assumed for the invention, which, however, is not known or common in this way in the market or otherwise.
• the ultrasound transducer 110 according to FIG. 1 can be modified in various ways according to the invention, as explained in more detail below.
• the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 can be modified according to Figure 1 in many respects.
• the matching body 128 can be configured in various ways and can in particular include an impedance matching layer with a voided material, for example a porous ceramic, a foamed plastic, in particular a thermoset or a thermoplastic or generally a polymer, or in general a hollowed plastic ,
• plastic or glass hollow bodies preferably hollow glass spheres, can come into consideration as hollow bodies.
• a polyimide offers, for example, a foamed and / or a sintered or porous polyimide, such as Kapton ® or the material Vespel ® from DuPont.
• the matching body 128 can contain further materials or regions which, for example, enable an impedance matching in several steps from the electro-acoustic transducer element 126, for example from the piezo, to the fluid medium 16, for example the air, or their flexibility with regard to their thermal expansion behavior or the ability to relieve voltages, serve to protect the overall composite of the transducer core 122, and in particular the electro-acoustic transducer element, from distortion.
• the transducer core 122 or a coupling assembly of this transducer core 122 could also comprise a different sound-emitting resonance or matching body, such as a metal diaphragm or a metal body with a metal diaphragm.
• an impedance matching for example, via an implementation of a radial or bending movement of small amplitude but large force, for example a piezoelectric element, in a swinging movement with small force but large amplitude done, as required for coupling into air or other gases.
• the converter core 122 so for example a piezoceramic and a coupling assembly are about the
• the decoupling element 132 in the housing 1 12 attached may preferably be designed in a silicone-like manner. It can also comprise a material filled with particles or cavities or hollow bodies, for example likewise a silicone material.
• the housing 1 12 itself may be made of a plastic material and / or a metallic material, for example. In the direction of the fluid medium 1 16, the sealing sheet 142 sealing the ultrasonic transducer 1 10.
• this sealing film 142 takes in principle for this sealing film 142, a plurality of materials into consideration, for example, PEEK, PPS, polyimide (for example Kapton ®), LCP, PTFE, FEP, PEN or other plastics or thin metal foils, films with metallic, ceramic or plastic-like coatings, films with an adhesive layer or combinations of said and / or other materials.
• the sealing film 142 preferably has a thickness of less than 100 ⁇ , particularly advantageous is a thickness of less than 25 ⁇ .
• the front sleeve region is exemplarily configured as "brim" 144 and bent backwards in the exemplary embodiment shown.
• This embodiment has the advantage that the housing edge 110 bears against the sensor housing (not shown in FIG)
• the rim geometry of the housing 112 and the geometry of the sensor housing can be shaped to provide a groove and a spring for gluing, in the case of using a hot thixotropic adhesive This is not absolutely necessary for adhesives, for example an epoxy material can be used as the adhesive.
• the ultrasonic transducer 110 shown in FIG. 1 forms the starting point for the present invention. Accordingly, the previously described features of the ultrasonic transducer 110 according to FIG. 1 can optionally also be present in an ultrasonic transducer 110 according to the invention.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show a modification of the ultrasonic transducer 110 according to FIG. 1 according to the invention.
• the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 shown there is accommodated in a sensor housing 146 of a sensor arrangement 148, so that the illustrations simultaneously show embodiments of a sensor arrangement 148 according to the invention.
• a sensor arrangement 148 may, for example, comprise a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 110, for example a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 110, which are used for a transit time measurement in the fluid medium 16.
• FIG. 2A shows a schematic overall view of the ultrasonic transducer 110, whereas FIG.
• FIG. 2B shows only an enlarged illustration of a transition region between the ultrasonic transducer 110 and the sensor housing 146, designated by the reference numeral 150 in FIG. 2A.
• the ultrasonic transducer 110 is accommodated in the housing 146 in the sensor housing 146 in the exemplary embodiment shown.
• this receptacle 160 may comprise a cylindrical recess.
• the receptacle 160 may for example be designed such that the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 on the side of the fluid medium 1 16 is flush with the sensor housing 146.
• the receptacle 160 or the sensor housing 146 preferably have a recess 162 in the region of the housing edge 120 of the ultrasonic transducer 110.
• the brim 144 of the housing rim 120 is preferably received in this recess 122.
• the sealing foil 142 can be flush with the housing edge 120 of the housing 1 12.
• an edge of the sealing film 142 is sealed with a sealing material 164.
• This sealing material 164 may comprise, for example, an adhesive.
• the sealing material 164 is configured, for example, in the form of a bead of adhesive 166.
• two possible diameters of the adhesive beads 166 are shown, wherein the reference numeral 168 denotes an adhesive bead with a first, smaller diameter and the reference numeral 170 denotes a bead of adhesive with a second, larger diameter.
• the adhesive bead 170 is shown in dashed lines, whereas the adhesive bead 168 is shown by solid lines. These diameters can be used alternatively.
• the adhesive bead 168 may have a diameter of 0.89 mm
• the adhesive bead 170 may have a diameter of 2 mm and, for example, may cover the housing edge 120 of the housing 12 in a further area. All dimensions in FIG. 2 are to be understood as examples and are given in FIG.
• the adhesive bead 166 is dimensioned such that it is completely received in the optional recess 162 of the sensor housing 146.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B therefore, possible special geometric shapes with two different possible adhesive thickness diameters are shown by way of example. If the installation of the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 carried out in a different manner than in the illustrated embodiments, for example in an inverted structure "over head, as an adhesive for the adhesive bead 166 is preferably to use a hot thixotropic adhesive, which is its shape over the temperature, that is during curing, maintains.
• the sealing film 142 may be deep-drawn around the contour of the rim 144, for example, by a deep-drawing process in converter manufacturing. The amount of adhesive and
• Adhesive positioning is to be dimensioned when applying the adhesive bead 166, for example by means of a dispenser process, such that on the one hand the film end is completely enclosed by adhesive and on the other hand preferably the housing 1 12 is permanently sealed against the sensor housing 146 at the same time.
• FIG. 3 shows, in an analogous representation to FIG. 2B, a modification of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
• a sensor housing 146 is shown with a recess 162, in which the ultrasonic transducer 1 10 is inserted with its housing 1 12.
• the ultrasonic transducer 110 does not necessarily have to terminate flush with the sensor housing 146 on the side of the fluid medium 16, but can also be recessed in the receptacle 160 into the sensor housing 146, for example.
• the brim 144 does not necessarily have to be bent backwards, but also for example can be configured flat.
• FIGS. 1 the embodiment in FIGS.
• two adhesive beads 166 are provided in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG.
• one of these adhesive beads 166 may rather take on the task of sealing the edge of the sealing film 142, whereas the other of these adhesive beads 166 may connect the ultrasonic transducer 110 to the sensor housing 146 and / or effect sealing between the housing 112 and sensor housing 146.
• This exemplary embodiment shows that the stated tasks can also optionally be assumed by a plurality of elements, for example a plurality of adhesive beads.
• the adhesive beads 166 may again have a diameter of 0.89 mm. All information in FIG. 3 is again in millimeters.
• FIG. 4 shows a modification of the sensor arrangement 148 according to FIG. 3, in which only a single bead of adhesive 166 is provided.
• This individual adhesive bead 166 takes over in the illustrated embodiment, the function of sealing the edge of the sealing film 142. Furthermore, this assumes the function of gluing the sensor housing 1 12 in the receptacle 160 and / or sealing of the housing 1 12 relative to the sensor housing 160 in multiple function.
• the recess 164 in the sensor housing 146 can also be rounded.
• the adhesive bead 166 for example, again a diameter
• FIGS. 5 to 6 show exemplary embodiments of an ultrasound transducer 1 10 according to the invention, in which the housing 1 12 can be designed in several parts.
• the illustrated ultrasonic transducers 110 may in turn also be components of a sensor arrangement 148.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 show exemplary embodiments in which the housing 12 comprises a first housing part 172 and a second housing part 174.
• the housing 1 12 may be formed as a double transducer sleeve.
• a recess 162 may be provided, which may be formed for example in the first housing part 172 and / or in the second housing part 174 , In this recess 162, the sealing material 164 may be wholly or partially received.
• the sealing material 164 may, for example, be configured again as an adhesive, for example as an adhesive bead 166. Accordingly, the sealing material 164 in the illustrated embodiment again serves a multiple function. Thus, this not only seals the edge of the sealing film 142, but also seals between the walls of the housing part 172 and 174th
• FIG. 5 shows a simple double-walled sleeve as the housing 1 12
• FIG. 6 again shows the possibility of further mounting the ultrasonic transducer 110, for example in a sensor housing 146 of the sensor arrangement 148.
• a locking 176 can be used for this purpose in FIG of the housing 1 12 may be provided in a receptacle 160 of the sensor housing 146.
• This latching 176 can serve, for example, a prefixing, which can be supplemented for example by a further sealing adhesive 178. The latter may then be decoupled in function from the film seal by the sealing material 164.
• FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the ultrasound transducer 1 10 and the sensor arrangement 148 modified from FIG. 6.
• a decoupling element 132 is not shown in FIG. 7, but may optionally be additionally provided.
• two housing parts 172, 174 of the housing 1 12 are provided, which are connected to one another by the sealing material 164.
• the connection between the housing parts 172, 174 also completely or partially can be accomplished by other compounds.
• one or more other connections may be provided.
• the two housing parts 172, 174 may be non-positively and / or positively and / or materially connected to each other.
• FIG. 7 shows by way of example an ultrasound sound welding 180 provided, for example, on a corresponding shoulder 182 and / or another corresponding, such a connection enabling contour.
• FIG. 7 shows by way of example an ultrasound sound welding 180 provided, for example, on a corresponding shoulder 182 and / or another corresponding, such a connection enabling contour.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
• Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-10-29 DE DE200910046147 patent/DE102009046147A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2010
  • 2010-09-10 US US13/502,712 patent/US8988971B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-09-10 WO PCT/EP2010/063279 patent/WO2011051041A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2010-09-10 JP JP2012535710A patent/JP5496350B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-09-10 EP EP10750137A patent/EP2494318A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-09-10 RU RU2012121918/28A patent/RU2551550C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-09-10 CN CN201080049160.5A patent/CN102667417B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-09-10 KR KR1020127011025A patent/KR20120099227A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

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