Endress+hauser Gmbh+co.

Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft Fur Mess-und Regeltechnik Mbh +co.

Endress + Gmbh + Co.

Donald D Cummings

Kenneth L Perdue

Gerd Wartmann

William Patrick McCarthy

Bernd D Grieger

Todd M Hockemeyer

Geoffrey W Wickens

R Todd Lucey

An apparatus for holding a sensor for sensing the contents of a vessel is provided. The apparatus has an extended position where the sensor is exposed to the contents and a retracted position for cleaning the sensor. The apparatus includes a process connection configured to connect the apparatus to the wall of the vessel. The process connection defines an aperture including a first rim, a second rim angularly displaced from the first rim, and a sidewall extending between the first rim and the second rim. The sidewall is angularly displaced from the first rim by no less than 135 degrees.

Mounting system and retractable sensor holder for analytical sensors

A method and apparatus for processing a time domain reflectometry (TDR) signal having a plurality of reflection pulses to generate a valid output result corresponding to a process variable for a material in a vessel. The method includes the steps of determining a reference signal along a probe in the vessel, establishing a first fiducial reference point, a reference end of probe location, a measuring length and a maximum probe length. The method also includes the steps of periodically detecting a TDR signal along the probe, establishing a second fiducial reference point, a detected end of probe location, an end of probe peak to peak amplitude, and attempting to determine a process variable reflection on the TDR signal. The method indicates a broken cable condition, a loss of high frequency connection, a low amplitude reflection condition, an empty vessel condition. Distances and locations on the reference signal are computed in relation to the first fiducial reference point, and distances and locations on the TDR signal are computed in relation to the second fiducial reference point.

Probe mapping diagnostic methods

A method and apparatus for processing a time domain reflectometry (TDR) signal having a plurality of reflection pulses to generate a valid output result corresponding to a process variable for a material in a vessel. The method includes the steps of determining an initial reference signal along a probe, storing the initial reference signal as an active reference signal, periodically detecting a TDR signal along the probe in the vessel, and computing the output result using the TDR signal and the active reference signal. The method also includes the steps of determining an appropriate time for updating the active reference signal, automatically computing an updated reference signal at the appropriate time, and overwriting the active reference signal with the updated reference signal for use in subsequent computations of the output result.

Periodic probe mapping

A sensor apparatus is provided for transmitting electrical pulses from a signal line into and out of a vessel to measure a process variable. The sensor apparatus has a mounting section, at least one dielectric insert, a conductive transitioning pin, a metallic insert, a probe element, and an electrical connector to the signal line. The mounting section is configured to be coupled to the vessel and includes a central aperture with a first tapered surface. The dielectric insert has a second and third tapered surface. The second tapered surface is configured to engage the first tapered surface of the mounting section to prevent movement of the dielectric insert in a direction away from the mounting section. The conductive transitioning pin has a fourth tapered surface configured to engage the third tapered surface of the dielectric insert The metallic insert is located above the transitioning pin and the dielectric insert, and is coupled to the mounting section to secure the dielectric insert within the mounting section. The conductive probe element is coupled to the transitioning pin and extends downwardly through the dielectric insert and into the vessel. The electrical connector is coupled to the transitioning pin and is configured to couple the signal line to the probe element through the transitioning pin.

Sensor apparatus for process measurement

A sensor apparatus for transmitting electrical pulses from a signal line into and out of a vessel to measure a process variable. The sensor apparatus includes a mounting section configured to be coupled to the vessel, a conductive probe element, a dielectric insert located within the mounting section, a conductive pin coupled to the top end of the probe element, and an electrical connector coupled to the conductive pin. The conductive probe element has a predetermined diameter and is formed to include a section having a reduced diameter adjacent a top end of the probe element and a tapered section providing transition from the probe element to the reduced diameter section. The dielectric insert includes an inwardly tapered section to prevent movement of the probe element in a direction toward the mounting section and an outwardly tapered section. The conductive pin has a larger diameter than the diameter of the reduced-diameter section of the probe element to engage the outwardly tapered section of the dielectric insert and to prevent movement of the probe element in a direction away from the mounting section. The electrical connector is configured to couple the signal line to the probe element through the conductive pin.

A method for processing a time domain reflectometry (TDR) signal having a plurality of reflection pulses to generate a valid output result corresponding to a process variable for a material in a vessel. The method includes the steps of determining a background signal for a probe and detecting a sample TDR signal for the probe in the vessel. At least one transition point is established on the sample TDR signal and the background signal. A portion of the sample TDR signal on one side of the at least one transition point is combined with a portion of the background signal on the other side of the at least one transition point to establish an initial boundary signal, and the initial boundary signal is stored. The method also includes the steps of detecting the TDR signal and calculating the output result using the initial boundary signal.

Partial probe mapping

An apparatus and method for processing a time domain reflectometry (TDR) signal to generate an output result corresponding to a valid process variable. The method includes the steps of processing the TDR signal using at least two different techniques for detecting a valid reflection pulse generated by the process variable to calculate an independent result using each of the at least two techniques, and applying a weighted factor to the independent results from each of the at least two different techniques to provide weighted output results. The method also includes the steps of comparing the weighted output results, and selecting the valid output result from the weighted output results based on the comparing step. In the illustrated method, the comparing step includes the step of summing the weighted factors for each independent result.

Processor apparatus and method for a process measurement signal

A sensor apparatus is provided for transmitting electrical pulses from a signal line into and out of a vessel to measure a process variable. The sensor apparatus has a mounting section, at least one dielectric insert, a conductive transitioning pin, a metallic insert, a probe element, and an electrical connector to the signal line. The mounting section is configured to be coupled to the vessel and includes a central aperture with a first tapered surface. The dielectric insert has a second and third tapered surface. The second tapered surface is configured to engage the first tapered surface of the mounting section to prevent movement of the dielectric insert in a direction away from the mounting section. The conductive transitioning pin has a fourth tapered surface configured to engage the third tapered surface of the dielectric insert. The metallic insert is located above the transitioning pin and the dielectric insert, and is coupled to the mounting section to secure the dielectric insert within the mounting section. The conductive probe element is coupled to the transitioning pin and extends downwardly through the dielectric insert and into the vessel. The electrical connector is coupled to the transitioning pin and is configured to couple the signal line to the probe element through the transitioning pin.

A sensor apparatus is provided for transmitting electrical pulses from a signal line into a vessel to measure a process parameter. The sensor apparatus includes a lower flange configured to be coupled to the vessel. The lower flange is formed to include a central aperture defined by a radially outwardly tapered surface located adjacent a top surface of the lower flange. The apparatus also includes a conductive probe element including a head having first and second radially outwardly tapered surfaces and an elongated conductive portion extending away from the head. The first tapered surface of the head is configured to engage the tapered surface of the lower flange to prevent movement of the probe element in a direction toward the lower flange. The apparatus further includes an upper flange configured to be coupled to the lower flange to secure the probe element to the lower flange. The upper flange includes a central aperture defined by a radially outwardly tapered surface located adjacent a bottom surface of the upper flange. The tapered surface of the upper flange is configured to engage the second tapered surface of the probe element to prevent movement of the probe element in a direction toward the upper flange. The apparatus still further includes a launch plate coupled to the upper flange, and an electrical connector coupled to the probe element. The connector is configured to couple the signal line to the probe element.

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Greenwood, IN, United States of America

Donald D Cummings