IP Library Granted Patent US 9,869,571
Granted Patent B2
US 9,869,571 · App. 14/519,936 · Granted Jan 16, 2018

Device for detecting mass particles and method for control

Inventors: Sebastian Meyer zu Hoberge (Paderborn, DE); Martin Liebich (Breitenbach, DE); Ulrich Hilleringmann (Bad Wuennenberg, DE)
Assignee: Mueller-Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG
G01F1/363A01C7/105A01C21/005G01L1/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,869,571
App. No.
14/519,936
Granted
Jan 16, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for detecting mass particles in air flows guided in a pipe, in particular of seeds to be distributed in a seed drill. A sensor element is disposed on the pipe. The sensor element is a piezoelectric element. An impact surface is disposed on the side of the piezoelectric element facing the interior of the pipe. A damping body is arranged on the side of the piezoelectric element facing away from the interior of the pipe. A rigid base body is disposed on the side of the piezoelectric element facing away from the interior of the pipe.

Claims (14)

1. A device for detecting mass particles carried in air streams, in particular seeds to be distributed in a seed drill, comprising a pipe through which the air stream containing the mass particles is guided, with a sensor element arranged on the pipe, the sensor element comprising

a piezo-element,

an impact plate arranged on the side of the piezoelectric element facing the inside of the pipe

a damping body arranged on the side of the piezoelectric element facing away from the inside of the pipe, and

a rigid base body or securing element disposed on the side of the piezoelectric element facing away from the inside of the pipe, wherein

between the damping body ( 10 ) and the rigid base body or securing element ( 12 ) a contact disk ( 11 ) is arranged having a first connecting element ( 17 ) and a second connecting element ( 19 ) at a radial distance to the first connecting element, and wherein

the damping body ( 10 ) is designed as a damping disc, having electrical connecting elements ( 14 , 16 ) spaced-apart from one another in the radial direction, wherein, on the one hand, a first connecting element ( 14 ) electrically connects only the first connecting surface ( 17 ) of the contact disk ( 11 ) with a first connecting element ( 21 ) of the piezo element ( 9 ), and on the other hand, a second connecting element ( 16 ) of the damping plate electrically connects only the second connecting element ( 19 ) of the contact disk ( 11 ) to the second connecting element ( 22 ) of the piezo element ( 9 ).

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein on the one hand the first connecting element ( 17 , 21 ) of the contact disk ( 11 ) or the piezoelectric element ( 9 ) and the first connecting element ( 14 ) of the damping body ( 10 ) is circular, and on the other hand the second connecting element ( 19 , 22 ) of the contact disk ( 11 ) or the piezoelectric element ( 9 ) and the second connecting portion ( 16 ) of the damping body ( 10 ) is circular.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a diameter (d K1 ) of the first connecting element ( 17 ) is smaller than an inner diameter of the second connecting element ( 16 ) of the damping body ( 10 ), and wherein a diameter (d D1 ) of the first connecting element ( 14 ) of the damping body ( 10 ) is smaller than an inner diameter of the second connecting element ( 22 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 9 ).

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the second connecting element ( 19 ) of the contact disk ( 11 ) is greater than a diameter (d D1 ) of the first connecting element ( 14 ) of the damping body ( 10 ) and the inner diameter of the is the second connecting element ( 16 ) of the damping body ( 10 ) is greater than the inner diameter of the second connecting element ( 22 ) of the piezo element ( 9 ).

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the damping disc ( 10 ) is formed completely rubberized.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element arranged on the pipe is arranged in a bore with a bore throat ( 6 ), wherein the pipe has a downstream transfer section ( 32 ) and/or a deflection portion ( 2 ), and wherein the bore throat ( 6 ) and/or the feed section ( 31 ) and/or the downstream transfer section ( 32 ) and/or of the deflection portion ( 2 ) is formed resilient.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element ( 3 ) is disposed in a deflection section ( 2 ) of the pipe ( 1 ), and wherein an upstream arranged feed section ( 31 ) of the pipe ( 1 ) is tapered in the flow direction (S) such that substantially all the mass particles conveyed in the feed section ( 31 ) and to be detected impact once on the impact surface ( 8 ) of the sensor element ( 3 ).

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element ( 3 ) is arranged in a deflection section ( 2 ) of the pipe ( 1 ) and wherein an outer region ( 5 ) of the deflection portion ( 2 ) has a bore throat ( 6 ), which can be brought into engagement with a securing element ( 12 ) via a threaded connection, so that in a locking position of the securing element ( 12 ) the piezoelectric element ( 9 ), the damping body ( 10 ) and the impact plate ( 8 ) are compressed in the bore throat ( 6 ) in the assembled position.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 29, 2024
From: MUELLER-ELECTRONIK GMBH (FORMERLY TRIMBLE GMBH)
To: PTX TRIMBLE GMBH
Reel/Frame 068172/0031 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: MUELLER-ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO. KG
To: MUELLER-ELEKTRONIK GMBH
Reel/Frame 058908/0842 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2017
From: HILLERINGMANN, ULRICH
To: MUELLER-ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 041064/0844 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2014
From: MEYER ZU HOBERGE, SEBASTIAN; LIEBICH, MARTIN
To: MUELLER-ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 034229/0289 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTDE2013000619 · Oct 21, 2013
Related Publication 20150112556A1 · Apr 23, 2015