RU226374U1 - ICE THICKNESS MEASURING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (controller) that measures ice thickness in industrial ice makers allows the use of measuring electrodes with different sensor areas. The device operates in environments both with liquid circulation and active aeration, and without circulation and aeration. The technical result is an increase in the strength of the sensor, leading to increased reliability and durability of the device for measuring ice thickness. The technical result is achieved in that a device for measuring ice thickness containing a sensor with a sensor in the form of a metal plate connected by a signal cable to an impedance and resistance measurement unit is characterized in that the sensor contains a plastic housing to which a sensor made in the form of a metal plate is mechanically connected a plate consisting of two parts, long and short, adjacent to each other at right angles. The long portion of the metal sensor plate may contain a T-shaped cutout. A hole for the signal cable may be provided in the body of the finished sensor. The long part of the metal plate can be fused into the body. On the upper surface of the plastic housing there may be elongated projections parallel to the long side of the housing.

Description

A device (controller) that measures ice thickness in industrial ice makers, allowing the use of measuring electrodes with different sensor areas. The device operates in environments both with liquid circulation and active aeration, and without circulation and aeration.

The “Device and Method for Measuring Ice Thickness” US 9625248 [2] is known, containing: a sensor device designed to obtain impedance values, a reference sensor device configured to generate reference impedance values, and a processing unit connected to the sensor device and to the reference device. sensors and configured to determine the presence of ice based on the provided impedance values.

The disadvantages of the device include the inability to determine the presence of ice in the volume of the vessel.

The closest to the claimed technical solution is the “Ice thickness controller system for an ice production device” CN 206037932 [1], containing a sensor in the form of a metal plate connected to an impedance and resistance measurement unit.

A known device can monitor the appearance of ice in a vessel.

The disadvantage of the known solution is low reliability due to the low mechanical strength of the sensor.

The technical result is an increase in the strength of the sensor, leading to increased reliability and durability of the device for measuring ice thickness.

The technical result is achieved in that the device for measuring ice thickness, made in the form of a sensor with a sensor in the form of a metal plate, configured to connect to an impedance and resistance measurement unit, is characterized in that the metal plate consists of two parts, long and short, which are adjacent to each other at right angles, and the sensor body is made of lower and upper parts, which are connected to each other by fusion, forming a molded plastic body with the main long part of the metal sensor plate filled inside it.

Implementation:

In FIG. 1 shows the upper part of the sensor housing, Fig. 2 - lower part of the sensor housing, Fig. 3 - sensor (electrode), Fig. 4 - sensor assembly, front view, Fig. 5 - sensor assembly, side view, Fig. 6 - sensor assembly, rear view, Fig. 7 is an example of installing a sensor in an ice maker, where:

1 – lamellas;

2 – place for soldering the signal cable to the sensor;

3 – technical slots for fixing the signal cable;

4 – cutout in the sensor;

5 – upper part of the body;

6 – lower part of the body;

7 – sensor;

8 – hole for signal cable;

9 – bent short metal sensor plate;

10 – main long metal plate of the sensor;

11 – heat exchange coil;

12 – ice maker housing.

The device operates as follows.

The device is assembled with a connection by fusing the lower 6 and upper 5 parts of the housing, between which the main long metal plate of the sensor 10 is located. The cable for connecting the sensor to the impedance and resistance measurement unit (not shown) is secured through technical slots for the signal cable 3. According to the impedance value and resistance determines the thickness of the ice. The place where the signal cable is soldered to the long main metal plate of the sensor is shown 2. A bent (at right angle to the long) short metal plate of the sensor 9 is connected to the long main metal plate of the sensor. The proposed sensor can be installed inside the body of the ice maker 12, for example, near the top of the heat exchanger coil 11, where, during the freezing of water poured into the body (tank), ice forms first.

The long part of the metal plate of the sensor may contain a T-shaped cutout 4, the use of which increases the mechanical resistance of the sensor during repeated freezing and thawing cycles. Increasing the mechanical resistance further improves the reliability and longevity of the sensor.

A hole for the signal cable 8 can be provided in the housing of the finished sensor. The presence of a hole in the plastic housing for the signal cable makes it possible to produce a sensor that is more protected from external influences. Increased security further improves the reliability and longevity of the sensor.

On the upper surface of the plastic case there may be elongated protrusions 1 (lamellas) parallel to the long side of the case, which further increase the resistance of the case and its fastening to repeated exposure to forces arising during periodic thawing and freezing. Increasing the robustness of the housing further improves the reliability and longevity of the sensor.

The technical result - increasing the strength of the sensor is achieved by the fact that the sensor body is made of molded plastic, with a filled sensor. Increasing the strength of the sensor leads to increased reliability and durability of the ice thickness measuring device.

Industrial applicability. The proposed device for measuring ice thickness can be manufactured using known technologies.

Claims (4)

1. A device for measuring ice thickness, made in the form of a sensor with a sensor in the form of a metal plate, configured to be connected to an impedance and resistance measurement unit, characterized in that the metal plate consists of two parts, long and short, which are adjacent to each other under at a right angle, and the sensor body is made of lower and upper parts, which are connected to each other by fusion, forming a molded plastic body with the main long part of the metal sensor plate filled inside it. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the long part of the sensor plate contains a T-shaped cutout. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a hole in the plastic housing for the signal cable. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the surface of the housing there are elongated projections parallel to the long side of the housing.