Abstract:
A fluid conduit element having a measurement apparatus receptacle is configured to receive a sensor unit wherein there is an insert sleeve which reaches through a receptacle gap designed in a carrier base and connects a flow channel to the sensor unit. The insert sleeve is sealed against the measurement apparatus receptacle by a sealing unit, The design is characterized by a relatively simply and operationally securely effected assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. National Phase Patent Application based on International Application No. PCT/EP2011/050790 filed Jan. 20, 2011, which is based on German Patent Application No. 10 2010 006 766.0 filed Feb. 4, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fluid conduit element. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     One known fluid conduit element is disclosed in US 2007/0212912 A1. The prior fluid conduit element has a flow-through body that comprises a through-channel and on which is mounted a case-shaped measurement apparatus receptacle. The measurement apparatus receptacle is provided with a pot-type case part that is connected in one piece to the flow-through body, and with a cover part that seals the case part. Disposed in the case part is a measurement apparatus comprising a sensor unit that is operative to measure at least one measurement value assigned to a fluid flowing through the through-channel. For this purpose, disposed between the through-channel and the case part is a flow-through opening through which the fluid flowing through the through-channel can enter the case part. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a fluid conduit element that can be assembled relatively easily and reliably. 
     Owing to the presence of an insert sleeve that is disposed fluid-tightly, by means of the sealing unit, in a receiving opening formed in a support plate of the measurement apparatus receptacle, said insert sleeve being sealingly connected to the sensor unit, the assembly of the fluid conduit element is made very simple and reliable to perform, since large-area seals are eliminated. Instead, the fluid to be measured with the sensor unit passes directly from the through-channel through the sampling channel to the sensor unit without it being necessary to fill relatively large spaces with the fluid, and consequently to seal them. 
     In one form thereof, the present invention provides a fluid conduit element having a flow-through body that comprises a through-channel and on which a measurement apparatus receptacle is mounted, and, disposed in the measurement apparatus receptacle, a measurement apparatus that includes a sensor unit and by means of which at least one measurement value assigned to a fluid flowing through the through-channel can be measured, characterized in that the measurement apparatus receptacle includes a support plate having a receiving opening; in that an insert sleeve is present that has a sampling channel and is disposed in the receiving opening and opens by a fluid end into the through-channel; in that a sealing unit is present by means of which the insert sleeve can be sealed with respect to the measurement apparatus receptacle; and in that the sensor unit is fluid-tightly connected to a sensor end of the insert sleeve that faces away from the fluid end. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a fluid conduit element according to the invention, comprising a plug connector and a hose connector; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a flow-through body of the fluid conduit element according to  FIG. 1 , with a support plate that is formed on the flow-through body in one piece therewith; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of an insert sleeve for a fluid conduit element according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  in the region of the insert sleeve; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a fluid conduit element according to the invention, in which a cap portion is connected to a carrier base via a latching connection; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a flow-through body for a fluid conduit element according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fluid conduit element according to the invention, having an elongate flow-through body  1 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , formed on the flow-through body  1  are a plug connector  2  and a hose connector  3 , to integrate the fluid conduit element into a fluid conduit system not shown in  FIG. 1 . The plug connector  2  serves to connect an insert part (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) fluid-tightly and latchingly to the flow-through body  1 , whereas the hose connector  3  is shaped to be inserted into a hose (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the fluid conduit system. 
     Between the plug connector  2  and the hose connector  3 , the fluid conduit element comprises, as an element of a measurement apparatus receptacle, a carrier base  4  formed in one piece with the flow-through body  1 . The fluid conduit element according to the invention further comprises, as another element of a measurement apparatus receptacle, an attachment  5  that has a cap portion  6  fitted into the carrier base  4  and, formed on said cap portion  6 , a connecting portion  7  that extends away approximately perpendicularly to the flow-through body  1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the flow-through body  1  of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  directed at the top side of the carrier base  4 , i.e., the side facing away from the flow-through body  1 . It is apparent from  FIG. 2  that the carrier base  4  has an outwardly circumferential outer wall  8  and an inner wall  9  that extends circumferentially at a distance from said outer wall  8 , a circumferential receiving slot  10  being formed between the outer wall  8  and the inner wall  9 . 
     The inner wall  9  surrounds an approximately rectangular, flat support plate  11 , which for production engineering reasons has a number of perforations  12  extending from it toward the flow-through body  1  and configured as blind holes. Formed in corner regions of the support plate  11  are L-shaped support webs  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 , which extend away from the support plate  11  on the side facing away from the flow-through body  1 . In the center of the support plate  11  there is a receiving opening  17 , which is surrounded by an annular bead  18  that protrudes slightly above the support plate  11 . 
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in the arrangement according to  FIG. 1 . It can be seen from  FIG. 3  that extending through the flow-through body  1  is a flow-through channel  19 , through which a fluid flowing through a fluid conduit system (not shown in the illustration of  FIG. 3 ) is able to flow. The receiving opening  17  extends through the support plate  11 , there being in said receiving opening  17  an insert sleeve  20  that is arranged fluid-tightly in said receiving opening  17  by means of a sealing unit formed, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , by two sealing rings  21 ,  22  and a spacer ring  23  disposed between said sealing rings  21 ,  22 . The insert sleeve  20  is provided with a throughpassing sampling channel  24  that opens at a fluid end  25  of the insert sleeve  20  into flow-through channel  19 . 
     Resting on a sensor end  26  of the insert sleeve  20  disposed oppositely from the fluid end  25  of said insert sleeve  20  is a sensor unit  27 , as an element of a measurement apparatus, which also rests by its edges on the support webs  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 . The sensor unit  27  is equipped with at least one sensor, by means of which a fluid flowing through the flow-through channel  19  and entering the sampling channel  24  can be measured by means of at least one measurement value assigned to it, for instance pressure, temperature, electrical conductivity or other characteristics. 
     On its side facing away from the carrier base  4 , sensor unit  27  is covered by a protective hood  28  in an area that is relatively sensitive to external environmental influences, whereas in an exposed area, a number of contact pins  29  are present that are mechanically and electrically connected to the sensor unit  27 , project into the connecting portion  7  and are connectable by means of a plug connector (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) provided to interconnect the sensor unit  27  with a detection apparatus (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The cap portion  6  of the attachment  5  comprises abutment webs  30 ,  31 , which extend toward the sensor unit  27  and which, when the attachment  5  is arranged as intended on the support base  4 , rest on the sensor unit  27  and secure it. In this intended arrangement of the attachment  5 , a circumferential immersing wall  32  engages in the receiving slot  10 , with the result that in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , once the empty space then present in the receiving slot  10  has been filled with an adhesive compound, the attachment  5  is fixedly connected to the support base  4 . 
     The height of the immersing wall  32  is so calculated that it does not touch the bottom of the receiving slot  10  after the attachment  5  is mounted. This ensures that the sensor unit  27  is received between the abutment webs  30 ,  31  and the support webs  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  without play and without gaps. This prevents vibration-induced damage to the sensor unit  27  and to the connections of the contact pins  29 , which are fixedly joined to the sensor unit  27 . 
     In this arrangement, the space enclosed by the attachment  5  is in communication with the external environment through an equalizing opening  33  formed in the cap portion  6 , particularly in order to equalize the pressure between the external environment and the space enclosed between the abutment webs  30 ,  31  and the cover side of the cap portion  6 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the insert sleeve  20  from the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 3 . The insert sleeve  20  is configured with a substantially cylindrical immersing portion  34  that extends from the fluid end  25  toward the sensor end  26 . Disposed on the side of immersing portion  34  facing away from fluid end  25  is a spacer ring  35 , which is larger in diameter than immersing portion  34  and which forms an abutment in the form of a pressure-applying step for the sealing unit (not shown in  FIG. 3 ), whereas the other abutment is configured as a stop step in the receiving opening  17 . 
     On the side of the spacer ring  35  facing away from the fluid end  25 , insert sleeve  20  is provided with a support plate  36 , which is larger in diameter than the spacer ring  35  and which rests on the annular bead  18  when insert sleeve  20  is arranged as intended. Finally, insert sleeve  20  is provided on the side of the support plate  36  facing away from the fluid end  25  with a sensor portion  37 , which is smaller in diameter than the support plate  36  and, in particular, is configured in the same manner as the insert portion  34 . Shaping the insert sleeve  20  in this way makes it easy to establish communication between the sensor unit  27  and a fluid flowing in the flow-through channel  19 . 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  in the region of the insert sleeve  20 . It is apparent from  FIG. 5  that the sealing rings  21 ,  22  surround the immersing portion  34  of the insert sleeve  20  and seal it with respect to the carrier base  4 . It can also be understood from  FIG. 5  that in the region of the sensor end  26  there is a sensor chip  38  that is part of the sensor unit  27  and that seals the sampling channel  24  fluid-tightly. The sensor chip  38  is electrically connected to a circuit board  39  of the sensor unit  27  that is pierced by the sensor portion  37  of the insert sleeve  20 , and is implemented for example as a pressure sensor, to measure the static pressure of a fluid flowing in the flow-through channel  19 . 
     In this way, it is merely necessary to seal the insert sleeve  20  with respect to the environment, which greatly facilitates the assembly of the fluid conduit element according to the invention and ensures high reliability even under harsh operating conditions. 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed longitudinal section of another exemplary embodiment of a fluid conduit element according to the invention, it being noted that like elements in the exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5  and the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 6  are provided with the same reference numerals and will not be described more closely below. In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 6 , which has a much thinner carrier base  4  than the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , a number of locking hooks  40 ,  41  of a latching device are formed on the attachment  5  and, when the attachment  5  is arranged as intended on the carrier base  4 , engage in locking recesses  42 ,  43  of the latching device that are formed in the outer wall  8  of the carrier base  4  and thereby secure the attachment  5 , alternatively or in addition to adhesive bonding to the carrier base  4 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a fluid conduit element according to the invention, showing a flow-through body  1 , on which, to effect connection at each of the opposite ends of said flow-through body  1  to a fluid conduit system not shown in  FIG. 7 , are provided respective insert parts  45 ,  46  each configured with a fully circumferential annular collar  44  and able to be inserted in the plug connectors  2  of the fluid conduit system. It is understood that with respect to other, not illustrated exemplary embodiments of flow-through bodies  1  for fluid conduit elements according to the invention, said flow-through bodies can also include a plug connector  2  and an insert part  45 ,  46 , or a hose connector  3  comprising an insert part  45 ,  46 , for making the connection to a fluid conduit system. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.