Vibration sensor array

1. A vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ), comprising:

(a) a piezoelectric element ( 2 ) with a first side ( 3 ) and a second side ( 4 );

(b) a vibrating mass ( 5 ) which is in permanent mechanical contact with the first side ( 3 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ), said vibrating mass ( 5 ) comprising a water-proof capsule ( 6 ) in which the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) is fixed;

(c) a dead weight ( 7 ) which is in permanent mechanical contact with a second side ( 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) and which is arranged in said water-proof capsule ( 6 );

(d) a spring ( 8 ) which is arranged between the dead weight ( 7 ) and the vibrating mass ( 5 ) and which ensures the permanent mechanical contact of the two masses ( 5 , 7 ) with the two sides ( 3 , 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ), such that it presses the two masses ( 5 , 7 ) constantly against the two sides ( 3 , 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ); and

(e) first and second electric contacts ( 9 , 10 ) for picking up electric signals which are generated by said piezoelectric element ( 2 ) and for forwarding said signals to a recording device ( 11 ) which is or can be connected with the electric contacts ( 9 , 10 ) and which is arranged for recording the electric signals generated by the piezoelectric element ( 2 ), the first electric contact ( 9 ) having an insulation layer on its backside, being arranged between the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) and the dead weight ( 7 ), and providing the mechanical contact between the dead weight ( 7 ) and the piezoelectric element ( 2 ),

wherein the vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) is embodied in a portable way, and wherein the dead weight ( 7 ) inside the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) comprises at least one electric battery ( 12 ) such that said dead weight ( 7 ) is arranged as a power supply for the operation of said recording device ( 11 ), said at least one electric battery ( 12 ) being connected or connectable via electric conductors ( 13 , 14 ) with said recording device ( 11 ).

2. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) is a rod-shaped piezoelectric element or a piezoelectric stack, the first side ( 3 ) and the second side ( 4 ) being arranged as an end cap with said piezoelectric element ( 2 ) generating electric signals according to the pressure fluctuations caused in the same by the vibrating mass ( 5 ).

3. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein the electric contact ( 9 ) is arranged at a first side ( 17 ) of a printed circuit board ( 18 ) and the electric conductor ( 13 ) is arranged on a second side ( 19 ) of the printed circuit board ( 18 ), said printed circuit board ( 18 ) being arranged between the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) and the at least one electric battery ( 12 ) in such a way that the second end cap or side ( 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) makes contact with the electric contact ( 9 ) and a first pole of the least one electric battery ( 12 ) makes contact with the electric conductor ( 13 ).

4. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the printed circuit board ( 18 ) is mounted mechanically pre-stressed, so that it exerts a constant pressure on the second side ( 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ).

5. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the rod-shaped piezoelectric element ( 2 ) is partly cast into an insulation material which stabilizes the same.

6. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) has a wall that is arranged in an electrically conductive way and forms the electric contact ( 10 ) to the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) and also forms the electric conductor ( 14 ) to the other pole of the at least one electric battery ( 12 ).

7. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) is a piezoelectric membrane or a piezoelectric membrane stack, having a first side ( 3 ) arranged as a periphery ( 31 ) and a second side ( 30 ) subjected to the actions of a rod ( 30 ), with said piezoelectric element ( 2 ) generating electric signals according to the deflection fluctuations caused by the vibrating mass ( 5 ) in the same.

8. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 4 , wherein the electric contact ( 9 ) is arranged on a first side ( 17 ) of a printed circuit board ( 18 ) and the electric conductor ( 13 ) is arranged on a second side ( 19 ) of the printed circuit board ( 18 ), said printed circuit board ( 18 ) being arranged in such a way between the rod ( 30 ) and the at least one electric battery ( 12 ) that the second side ( 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ) makes contact with the electric contact ( 9 ) and a first pole of the least one electric battery ( 12 ) makes contact with the electric conductor ( 13 ).

9. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the printed circuit board ( 18 ) is mounted mechanically pre-stressed, so that it exerts a constant pressure on the second side ( 4 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 2 ).

10. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) is partly installed in the recording device ( 11 ) in such a way that the vibrating mass ( 5 ) co-includes said recording device ( 11 ), with the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) comprising a sensor end ( 15 ) which is arranged outside of the recording device ( 11 ).

11. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the sensor end ( 15 ) is arranged as a screw cap for the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) which receives the electric batteries, said screw cap having a conical tip ( 16 ) for the purposeful scanning or detection of vibrations.

12. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) is arranged outside of the recording device, is arranged movably relative to the same, and is connected to the same via merely the contacts ( 9 , 10 ) and the electric conductors ( 13 , 14 ), with the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) comprising a sensor end ( 15 ).

13. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 12 , wherein the sensor end ( 15 ) is arranged as a screw cap for the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) which receives the electric batteries, said screw cap having a conical tip ( 16 ) for the purposeful scanning or detection of vibrations.

14. The sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) comprises suitable materials for transmitting vibrations and for conducting electric current or electric signals.

15. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 14 , wherein the water-proof capsule ( 6 ) is made of an electrically conductive plastic material or a metal and comprises at least one O-ring for connecting in a sealing manner screwed parts of the same.

16. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein this recording device ( 11 ) is also arranged as an evaluating and display device for evaluating and displaying results arising from electric signals generated by the piezoelectric element ( 2 ).

17. The vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 16 , wherein this recording, evaluating and display device is arranged as a multifunctional measuring device ( 20 ) whose area of application comprises the detection of vibrations and at least one of the following fields of application: the detection of combustible gases, the measurement of pressure, temperature, flow-rate and humidity values, with said multifunctional measuring device ( 20 ) comprising at least one plug-in connection ( 21 ) and a digital bus for connecting probes corresponding to the fields of application.

18. A method of using of the vibration sensor arrangement ( 1 ) of claim 17 for detecting oscillation or vibrations, and for measuring at least one of pressure, temperature, flow-rate, and humidity values.