Radar Level Gauge Comprising a Safety Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017356785-A1
Application number	US-201415302058-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 7, 2014
Priority date	Jul 7, 2014
Publication date	Dec 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention is a radar level gauge comprising a signal generator for generating electromagnetic waves and an antenna for emitting the electromagnetic waves in a container and for receiving electromagnetic waves reflected by the container. The radar level gauge also comprises a safety device for verifying the functional capability or for improving the measuring quality of the radar level gauge, said safety device having a reflector and an adjustment device and/or a reduction device and being suitably designed to adjust the reflector and/or the reduction device at least between a first position and a second position, in which the reflector reflects the electromagnetic waves in a reduced manner. The adjustment device acts on the reflector and/or the reduction device in a contactless manner.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A radar level gauge comprising a signal generator for generating electromagnetic waves and an antenna for emitting the electromagnetic waves as well as receiving reflected electromagnetic waves, comprising a safety device for checking the functionality or for improving the quality of measurements of the radar level gauge, with the safety device comprising a reflector and an adjustment device and a reduction device and being suitably embodied to adjust the reflector and the reduction device at least between a first position, in which the reflector reflects the electromagnetic waves, and a second position, in which the reflector reflects the electromagnetic waves in a reduced fashion, wherein the adjustment device acts in a touchless fashion upon the reflector and the reduction device.

2 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device comprises a magnetic coupling to the reflector and/or the reduction device.

3 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device rotationally moves the reflector and the reduction device.

4 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device acts linearly upon the reflector and the reduction device.

5 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device comprises a permanent magnet.

6 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is arranged in a housing separated from the measuring environment in a preferably pressure-tight fashion.

7 . The radar level gauge according to claim 6 , wherein the housing is welded to a fastening flange.

8 . The radar level gauge according to claim 6 , wherein the adjustment device is arranged inside the housing and the reflector or the reduction unit outside thereof.

9 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the safety arrangement is embodied such that it automatically shifts into the second position without any operational intervention.

10 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device, the reflector or the reduction device comprise a permanent magnet.

11 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the reduction device is embodied as a sheath that is mobile in reference to the reflector.

12 . The radar level gauge according to claim 11 , wherein the sheath of the reflector projects beyond the reflector in the second position and in the radial direction.

13 . The radar level gauge according to claim 12 , wherein the reflector is embodied as a stop for the reduction device.

14 . The radar level gauge according to claim 13 , wherein the reduction device is embodied such that in the second position it reflects the electromagnetic waves away from the antenna.

15 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement comprises a sensor for monitoring the position of the reflector and the reduction device.

16 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is driven automatically.

17 . The radar level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is coupled to a field device.

18 . A safety device for the radar level gauge of claim 1 , comprising a reflector and an adjustment device and a reduction device and being suitably embodied to adjust the reflector and the reduction device at least between a first position, in which the reflector reflects the electromagnetic waves, and a second position, in which the reflector reflects the electromagnetic waves in a reduced fashion, wherein the adjustment device acts in a touchless fashion upon the reflector and the reduction device.

Assignees

• Grieshaber Vega Kg

Inventors

• Hengstler Clemens

Classifications

• G01S13/88

  Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00) · CPC title

• G01F23/284 Primary

  Electromagnetic waves · CPC title

• G01S7/4052

  by simulation of echoes · CPC title

• G01S2007/4091

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F25/0061

  Physics · mapped topic