阅读说明：本技术 雷达测量装置和雷达测量装置在容器上的布置 (Radar measuring device and arrangement of a radar measuring device on a container ) 是由 罗兰·韦勒 莱温·迪特尔勒 于 2020-10-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种具有至少一个发射器(8)以发射电磁波的雷达测量装置(2),所述至少一个发射器(8)布置在壳体(4)内部。所述雷达测量装置(2)旨在牢固且持久地附接至柔性壁(18)。为此,所述壳体(4)的至少一部分(14)具有能够弹性变形的设计。此外,本发明公开了雷达测量装置(2)的应用于可填充容器的布置。(The invention relates to a radar measuring device (2) having at least one transmitter (8) for transmitting electromagnetic waves, wherein the at least one transmitter (8) is arranged inside a housing (4). The radar measuring device (2) is intended to be firmly and permanently attached to a flexible wall (18). For this purpose, at least one part (14) of the housing (4) has an elastically deformable design. Furthermore, the invention discloses an arrangement of a radar measuring device (2) applied to a fillable container.)

1. A radar measuring device comprising at least one transceiver unit (8) for electromagnetic waves, which transceiver unit (8) is arranged inside a housing (4), characterized in that at least a part (14) of the housing (4) is designed to be elastically deformable.

2. Radar measuring device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the section (14) is a housing wall (16) oriented towards the main emission direction (E) of the transmitting-receiving unit (8).

3. Radar measuring device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the elastically deformable housing wall (16) has a lens (22, 24, 26).

4. Radar measuring device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the lens (22, 24, 26) is designed to be elastically deformable in itself.

5. Radar measuring device according to claim 3, characterised in that the lens is designed to be rigid and is connected to the housing wall (16) by means of elastically deformable means.

6. Radar measuring device according to any one of preceding claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the lens is a Fresnel lens (22) or a diffractive optical element (24).

7. Radar measuring device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the resiliently deformable portion (14) has at least one groove (30).

8. Radar measuring device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the resiliently deformable portion (14) of the housing (4) is convex in its unstressed state.

9. Radar measuring device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the part (14) which is elastically deformable has a flexible dielectric adaptive layer on the inside.

10. Radar measuring device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the part (14) of the casing (4) that is resilient is only able to flex towards the interior of the casing to the extent that this part (14) is not in contact with the transceiver unit (8, 28).

11. Arrangement of a radar measuring device (2) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9 on a fillable container having an uneven wall (18), the radar measuring device being attached to the wall (18).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a radar measuring device according to the generic term used in claim 1. In particular, the invention relates to a radar level gauge which can be used for measuring a level in a container. The invention also relates to the arrangement of such a radar measuring device on a container having walls of flexible design.

Background

Various embodiments of a fill level measuring device for determining and/or monitoring a fill level in a container are known. Radar level measuring devices, for example, level measuring devices operating according to the transit time principle, emit pulses of electromagnetic radiation of a certain wavelength and then detect the temporal changes in the reflected electromagnetic radiation as echo curves. Furthermore, these devices detect, in particular, reflections on the surface of the liquid to be measured and/or on the surface of the container contents. The sum of the reflections then produces a signal that can be measured as a function of time and represented as a time-varying echo curve, which typically has a plurality of peaks. The trajectory of the echo curve is then used to determine the level of the liquid inside the container.

For measuring the filling level in the container, radar measuring devices are usually installed inside the container lid or in an opening created for this purpose in the container. In the case of plastic containers made of a material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the relevant frequency range (for example HD-PE), it is also possible to take into account measurements made through the container wall. The walls of the container are usually designed to be flexible and to deform according to the fill level inside the container. Alternatively, the device can be mounted on an uneven surface. Among other numerous options, the device can be attached using an adhesive. In particular, in the case where the radar measuring device is attached with an adhesive, the radar measuring device attached to an uneven wall (for example, the wall is arched or corrugated) may be loosened due to deformation of the wall. The measurement result will thus be corrupted or the measurement will even fail completely.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the above problems, it is the basic object of the present invention to provide a radar measuring device and an arrangement of a radar measuring device on a container, which enable a firm and durable attachment to an uneven substrate or a substrate that may be slightly deformed over time.

The above object of the invention is achieved by a radar measuring device according to claim 1 and by an arrangement according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

The radar measuring device according to the invention and/or the radar level measuring device according to the invention comprise at least one transmitter to transmit electromagnetic waves of at least one wavelength. The electromagnetic waves are emitted by the emitter mainly along the main emission direction E. The emitter may be a radar chip with at least one integrated primary exciter. Alternatively, a separate patch antenna or horn antenna may be provided. The radar level measuring device according to the present invention further comprises at least one receiver for the reflected electromagnetic waves. The transmitter and the receiver can also be designed as a combined transmit-receive unit.

The at least one emitter is arranged inside a housing which is designed to be at least partially elastic (in a main emitting and/or main receiving direction). In particular, the housing completely encloses the at least one emitter/receiver and any electronic components and comprises one or more circumferential side walls. The housing forms in particular a mechanical protection for the transmitter/receiver and is preferably designed to be airtight so that moisture or liquid cannot penetrate into the housing. In the present invention, the term "elastically deformable" should be used to characterize the portion of the casing that is capable of returning to its original shape after deformation.

The resiliently deformable portion may be a side wall and/or a wall of the housing. In particular, the housing may be manufactured using two-component injection molding, wherein the rigid part of the housing is made of the first component and the resilient part of the housing is made of the second component.

Alternatively or additionally, the elastically deformable compensation element arranged on the outside of the side wall is considered to be an elastically deformable part of the housing. Such an elastically deformable compensation element may be, for example, a flexible or rubber-like material, such as foam rubber, interposed between the rigid side wall and the container.

The elastically deformable part of the housing will allow the housing of a radar measuring device designed according to the invention to adapt to uneven surfaces, such as arched or wavy walls, to a large extent in this part of the housing, so that it can be attached particularly firmly to that wall. This prevents the radar measuring device from being partially or completely released from the wall due to excessive bending strength of the housing. The formation of the at least partially elastically deformable housing is particularly advantageous if the housing is a radar measuring device which is attached to the flexible wall using an adhesive. In particular, this prevents the housing from partly falling off the adhesive surface and can prevent water from penetrating into the space between the housing and the wall, which could be the cause of a faulty measurement.

Radar measuring devices for measuring the level of a material in a container are usually attached to the wall of the container in such a way that the surface of the content is measured from above. In particular, the radar measuring device is arranged outside the container wall, above the contents. The deformation and/or arching of the vessel wall depends on the level or pressure and temperature in the vessel. Preferably, the radar measuring device has a section in the form of a housing wall which is oriented in the main emission direction relative to the emitter and is designed to be elastically deformable. The radar measuring device is arranged in particular above the tank, so that the housing rests with the housing wall against the outside of the tank.

In particular, the elastically deformable housing wall and the elastically deformable compensation element are made of a material transparent to the transmitted and received electromagnetic waves (for example, a plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like or a similar material).

Preferably, other parts of the housing, such as the additional side and rear walls and any fixing means for attaching the emitter, have a high bending strength (flexural strength), so that a connection between the elastically deformable housing wall and the emitter is formed. Thus, the rest of the housing is stable against any forces acting on the housing, and the position of the emitter inside the housing can be maintained as much as possible.

For focusing and concentrating the emitted and/or received electromagnetic radiation, the elastically deformable housing wall facing the main emission direction may have a lens. The lens may be designed to be elastically deformable in itself. In particular, the lens may be made of a gel-like dielectric material capable of following any deformation of the shell wall.

The lens can also be designed to be rigid and connected to the flexible housing wall by means of elastically deformable means. Such elastically deformable means may for example be a collapsible and/or concertina-like structure which lengthens or shortens if the shell wall is deformed.

Preferably, the lens on the elastically deformable housing wall is integrally formed and/or integrated into the wall. In other words, the elastically deformable housing wall forms a lens.

In an embodiment of the radar measuring device according to the invention, the lens is a fresnel lens. Such a design would include concentric circular structures in the flexible housing wall that are capable of focusing electromagnetic waves. Fresnel lenses have the advantage of being thinner and lighter than conventional lenses having the same focal length, so that they can be designed here to be particularly flexible. The housing walls may have a surface structure equivalent to a fresnel lens. Specifically, the fresnel lens is disposed inside the casing wall. In order to obtain emission characteristics of the emitted waves which are as uniform as possible, the fresnel lens can be a plano-convex lens, the flat side of which faces the housing wall.

Alternatively, a Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) may be provided as a lens. In such a design, different microstructures capable of focusing the emitted electromagnetic wave are applied in particular to the shell wall, due to the different optical path lengths of the partial beams of the emitted electromagnetic wave. Also in this case, the microstructure may be applied to the shell wall itself, in particular to the inside of the shell wall.

In particular, the elastically deformable portion has at least one groove. The shell material in the area of the recess is thinner and the shell therefore becomes more expandable and compressible. In particular, the elastically deformable portion has several recesses spaced apart at a distance.

In another embodiment, the elastically deformable part of the housing (in particular the housing wall) is convex in its unstressed state. This means that the portion flexes at the center relative to the outer end. In particular, the portion is arched outwardly. In particular, the maximum deflection is between 0.1mm and 5mm, preferably between 0.1mm and 3 mm. The "unstressed state" refers to a state before the radar measuring device is attached to the wall, or a state in which no force acts on the portion. The convex shape of the elastically deformable portion facilitates its connection to the flexible wall. Specifically, if an adhesive is used to bond the unit, the maximum contact between the deformable portion and the bonding surface can be achieved, and inclusion of air bubbles is avoided.

Furthermore, the side of the elastically deformable portion facing the interior of the housing wall and preferably oriented towards the main emission direction E may have a flexible dielectric adaptive layer. A dielectric adaptive layer is provided to avoid reflections at the housing wall.

In a further embodiment of the radar measuring device according to the invention, the elastically deformable part of the housing and in particular the elastically deformable wall in the direction of the inside of the housing can only be deflected to such an extent that it does not come into contact with the at least one transmitter. This is to prevent the emitter from coming into contact with the housing wall and being damaged if the housing wall is deformed thereby. If such a contact is permitted, the elastically deformable part in the region of the possible contact points can be designed to be particularly flexible or made of a particularly soft material.

The invention also relates to the arrangement of a radar measuring device as described above on a fillable container. In particular, the fillable reservoir has a deformable and/or flexible wall in the direction of the radar measuring device, which wall is sometimes not planar, and to which wall a housing of the radar measuring device with elastically deformable housing walls is attached.

With regard to the benefits of the arrangement, reference is made herein to the above description.

In particular, the shell wall and the wall are arranged indirectly adjacent to each other with an adhesive layer therebetween. The adhesive is preferably a double-sided closed cell acrylate adhesive tape. The adhesive layer may cover the entire surface between the housing and the wall. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to apply the adhesive only partially, for example, possibly a ring-shaped application of the adhesive.

The interaction of the partially elastically deformable housing with the likewise deformable adhesive provides a particularly secure attachment of the radar measuring device relative to the container, and above all it is not affected by the penetration of water.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures show:

fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a radar measuring device according to the invention, in which an elastically deformable housing wall is shown in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing wall in a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing wall in a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a shell wall of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing wall in a fifth embodiment;

fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a radar measuring device according to the invention, showing an elastically deformable housing wall in a sixth embodiment; and

fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a radar measuring device according to the invention, in which an elastically deformable housing wall is shown in a seventh embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a radar measuring device 2. In this case, the radar level measuring device 2 is a radar level measuring device arranged on a wall 18 of a container (not shown) for measuring the level of contents inside the container.

The radar measuring device 2 is enclosed by a housing 4, the interior of which housing 4 contains a printed circuit board 6 with a transmitting and receiving unit 8, which transmitting and receiving unit 8 is used for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. In this exemplary embodiment, the transceiver unit 8 is a radar chip with an integrated primary exciter (primary exciter) inside the housing 4. In fig. 1, a main transmission direction E is shown extending downwards from the transmit receive unit 8. The housing 4 has two anti-flexing side walls 10 and one anti-flexing rear wall 12. The housing 4 also has a portion 14 (in the case shown, a wall 16) which is elastically deformable and oriented in the main emission direction E.

As can be seen in fig. 1, the housing 4 with the elastically deformable housing wall 16 is attached to a wall 18 (in the case shown a flexible cover of a container). The housing is attached using an adhesive. For this purpose, an adhesive layer 20 is arranged between the container wall 18 and the housing wall 16. In the present invention, the adhesive is an acrylate adhesive tape. Fig. 1 already clearly shows that the container wall 18 is flexible and can be deformed, in particular corrugated or arched. The deformation of the adhesive layer 20 and the elastically deformable shell wall 16 follows the deformation of the container wall 18. The other parts 10, 12 of the housing remain largely rigid.

The shell wall 16 and the adhesive layer 20 and the container wall 18 are designed to be transparent to the emitted waves and are elastically deformable in the present invention. The level of material in the vessel is measured by electromagnetic waves which propagate from the transceiver unit 8 through the wall 16, adhesive layer 20 and wall 18 of the vessel and then strike the contents of the vessel. Subsequently, the light reflected from the impact is detected by the receiver 8.

Further embodiments of the radar measuring device 2 are explained below with reference to fig. 2 to 5. Each of these figures shows only a portion of the housing 4, the resiliently deformable wall 16 and the adhesive layer 20.

With respect to the description of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements or at least elements having the same function to describe other embodiments.

Fig. 2 shows an elastically deformable housing wall 16 designed as a fresnel lens 22. The interior of the housing wall 16 is configured in such a way that it acts as a fresnel lens 22. The shell wall 16 has a plurality of concentric annular structures, shown in cross-section in the drawings.

Fig. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a radar measuring device 2, the interior of the housing wall 16 being designed in such a way that it forms a diffractive optical element 24.

Fig. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the radar measuring device 2. In this embodiment, a separate lens 26 is arranged inside the housing wall 16. The lens 26 is formed of a gel-like dielectric material that is also elastically deformable and able to follow the deformation of the housing wall 16.

Each of the lenses 22, 24, 26 shown in fig. 2 to 4 is designed such that the waves emitted from the emitter 8 in the main emission direction E emerge from the housing 4 with a uniform, parallel wave front as far as possible, and, conversely, the waves reflected from the medium to be measured are focused mainly on the receiver 8.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the radar measuring device 2, in this case with a convex housing wall 16, i.e. with an outwardly arched design. In this case, the maximum deflection a is 3 mm. Thus, radar measuring device 2 having elastically deformable housing wall 16 is more easily attached to container lid 18 using an adhesive.

Fig. 6 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a radar measuring device 2, which differs from the first exemplary embodiment described in conjunction with fig. 1 primarily in that a horn antenna 28 arranged in the housing 4 is used for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals. It may also contain additional lenses. The resiliently flexible housing wall 16 is designed so that it does not contact the horn antenna 28 even with the maximum deflection towards the interior of the housing.

Fig. 7 shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of a radar measuring device 2. In the present embodiment, the elastically deformable portion 14 is formed by a housing wall 16 having a plurality of recesses 30. Further, in this case, only the adhesive layer 20 in the shape of a ring is applied to the case 4 to attach the case 4 to the container.

It should be noted that in particular the embodiments shown in fig. 1 and 6 may also be combined with a housing wall 16 according to the embodiments shown in fig. 2 to 5 and 7. Another embodiment is also possible as follows: wherein the housing has a rigid wall and is connected to the container via an elastically deformable portion 14 in the form of an elastically deformable compensation element.

List of reference numerals

2 Radar measuring device

4 casing

6 fixing device

8 transmitting and receiving unit

10 side wall

12 rear wall

14 part (A)

16 shell wall

18 container wall, container cover

20 adhesive layer

22 Fresnel lens

24-diffractive optical element

26 lens

28 horn type antenna

30 groove

E main emission direction

a maximum deflection