Patent Publication Number: US-2023135984-A1

Title: Measuring apparatus with a housing and corresponding use

Description:
This application is a continuation of International application PCT/EP2021/054636 filed on Feb. 25, 2020 that claims priority from German Pat. application DE 10 2020 109 889 8 filed on Apr. 8, 2020. Both of which are incorporated in their entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to measuring apparatus with a housing and a corresponding use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Measuring apparatuses with plural components are typically arranged in a housing wherein a respective frame is formed from injection molded synthetic material or metal and supports the individual components. In order to assure reception and arrangement of the individual components in the housing the components are bolted down in the housing with additional supports at various levels. This creates a high level of assembly complexity. Furthermore, noise reduction is Implemented by additional suitable measures like e.g. sound dampening plates since this type of equipment emits a high noise level. 
     In order to protect the components against vibrations and jolts, so called 2 K housings are used where the housing of the measuring apparatus is made from two components or layers. A 2 K - housing is made e.g. using a complex two component injection molding method which requires special machinery and expensive molds. A less complex method for producing the 2 K - housing, the so-called re-insertion technology, however, is unsuitable for larger production runs due to the low level of automation. 
     In order to cool individual components of the measuring apparatus a fan is arranged in a housing wall. This can make it difficult to control energy flows, in particular heat flows since unknown air turbulence may be created in the apparatus. 
     Running the gas flow through the apparatus using hoses can cause problems from kinks in the hoses or disengagement of the hoses from the hose connection 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a measuring apparatus with an improved housing 
     The object is achieved in particular by a measuring apparatus including at least one housing part including a shaped body made from a foam material. 
     Advantageously air spaces in an interior of the measuring apparatus can be filled easily. Thus, the components can be received and arranged in a simple manner without a bolted connection since the individual components of the measuring apparatus can be supported in the shaped body made from the foam material. This facilitates a flexible and compact functionality. Advantageously the components do not have to be fixed at a frame or similar. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the components can be integrated in a positive form locking manner into the measuring apparatus due to the homogenous configuration. Thus, the components can remain in position during vibrations and jolts. This, helps to prevent or reduce a tearing of component supports or a movement of the components in the measuring apparatus. Using the foam material also provides noise reduction so that no additional measures are required. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the foam body is made from a foam material that is made from an expanded synthetic material. The shape body can be formed e.g. from a foam material made from expanded polypropylene (EPP). Alternatively or additionally the shaped body can be formed from a synthetic material made from expanded polystyrol (EPS). 
     However, also other suitable expanded synthetic materials can be used in the shaped body to form the at least one housing part of the measuring apparatus. These include e.g. expanded polyethylene (EPE) and/or expandable copolymers. Advantageously, a mechanical protection of sensitive components against vibrations and jolts can be provided. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the expanded synthetic materials are resistant against mechanical impact due to dampening properties and high level of pressure resistance. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shaped body forms at least one ventilation channel in which at least one fan is arranged so that at least one component of the measuring apparatus is coolable. Thus, a substantially closed air path can be formed from the fan to the at least one component. Advantageously, at least one component, in particular also additional components of the measuring apparatus can be received in the shape body made from the synthetic material and can be cooled through the established ventilation channel. The invention uses the fact that air flows that are required to cool the component at risk can be flowed past the component in a controlled manner. Thus, kinking hoses is not possible since no hoses are used. Using the shaped body made from the foam material achieves a tight seal between two adjacent components or shaped body parts in spite of relatively large tolerances in order to seal the ventilation channel tight. Advantageously, ventilation can be controlled in a stable manner. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shaped body is configured in several components In particular at least two shaped body parts of the shaped body are connected with one another by positive form locking. This way the components can be embedded and enclosed. Advantageously the individual components can be arranged in various assembly planes e.g. when more than two shaped body parts are being used. This facilitates space saving installation on plural levels Advantageously additional supports and bolts can be omitted due to the use of the multi part shaped body from the foam material which helps to save weight and/or reduce fabrication costs. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one ventilation channel is routed so that at least two components of the measuring apparatus are coolable. The components can be coolable e.g. in series. Alternatively, or additionally the components can be coolable in parallel. Thus, the at least one ventilation channel is routed and configured accordingly. 
     Thus, in particular the at least one ventilation channel can run at more than one level so that components that are arranged on several levels are coolable. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a temperature sensor is arranged in the at least one ventilation channel and controls the at least one fan. This way a desired operating temperature can remain stable. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one component of the measuring apparatus forms undercuts with reference to the shaped body that keep the shaped body assembled in a mounted condition. Thus, the entire measuring apparatus is self-supporting when assembled. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shaped body includes at least one recess configured to receive the at least one component. In particular the at least one recess can be adapted to a shape of the at least one component of the measuring apparatus. Advantageously the at least one component is supported in the shaped body in a form stable manner. Form stable means e.g. that the components are fixed with respect to their relative movabilities. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one compression rib is arranged protruding outward from a side wall of the shaped body and into the at least one recess. This assures that the individual components are reliably and firmly supported. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one additional housing is arranged about the shaped body and advantageously includes at least one ventilation slot. The ventilation slot is advantageously arranged at a location where the at least one ventilation channel exits. Advantageously additional protection and/or easy transportability is achievable by installing the additional housing. The additional housing can be advantageously made from metal of a synthetic material. This assures that the shaped body can be formed from a foam material with at least one ventilation slot which facilitates arranging the shaped body in the at least one compatible housing made from the metal or the synthetic material. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a foam material is used to form a housing of a measuring apparatus, in particular of the measuring apparatus described supra and/or of a measuring apparatus according to one of the claims related to the measuring apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is subsequently described with reference to advantageous embodiments but not limited to these embodiments. Additional embodiments can be generated by combining features of individual or plural patent claims amongst each other or with individual or plural features of the embodiments. The invention will now be described based on these advantageous embodiments with reference to drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a measuring apparatus with a three-piece housing in an external side view, 
         FIG.  2    illustrates the measuring apparatus according to  FIG.  1    with the three-piece housing in a cross-sectional viewing showing a fan; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates the measuring apparatus with the three-piece housing according to  FIG.  1    in a cross-sectional view showing the fan and plural ventilation channels; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the measuring apparatus with the three-piece housing according to  FIG.  1    in a cross-sectional view along a X-axis and a Z-axis; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates the measuring apparatus with the three-piece housing according to  FIG.  1    in a cross-sectional view along the X-axis and a Y-axis; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates the measuring apparatus with the three-piece housing according to  FIG.  1    in a cross-sectional view along the Y-axis and the Z-axis; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates the measuring apparatus according to  FIG.  1    with the three-piece housing in a cross-sectional view along the X-axis and the Y-axis. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS.  1  -  7    illustrates a measuring apparatus  1  in various embodiments. 
     In the embodiments of the measuring apparatus illustrated herein the housing  2  includes a shaped body  3  made from three shaped body parts  4 . Additional embodiments include another number of shaped body parts, e.g. more than three or less than three 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a measuring apparatus  1  with a housing  2  in an external side view. It is evident from  FIG.  1    that the housing  2  includes a shaped body  3  made from three shaped body parts  4 . The individual shaped body parts  4  are connected with one another by positive form locking. The mutual engagement of the illustrated form body part  4  generates a positive form locking connection  5  wherein the connected partners cannot separate from each other even when no force is transferred or when the force transfer is interrupted. 
       FIGS.  1  -  7    show that the individual components  6  of the entire measuring apparatus  1  are embedded in and enveloped by the shaped body parts  4 . It is evident from the embodiments of  FIGS.  2  and  4    that the component  6  an be a filter  7 , a pump  8  and an evaporator  9 . Further embodiments of the component  6  can be an additional pump  10 , a sample channel  11  and electronic components  12  as shown in  FIGS.  3 ,  6  and  7   . 
     It is furthermore evident from  FIG.  3   .  4  and  6  that the shaped body  3  forms a ventilation channel  13  that includes a fan  14 . The pumps  8  and  10  and the evaporator  9  provided with thermal insulation are subject to a heat exchange through the ventilation channel  13  as evident from  FIGS.  3  and  6   . 
       FIGS.  3 ,  5  and  7    show that the ventilation channel  13  extends at more than one level, so that the component  6  that are arranged over more than one level are cool able. 
     In order to keep the desired operating temperaturestable, a temperature sensor  15  is arranged in the ventilation channel  13 . The components  6  of the measuring apparatus  1  form undercuts  16  with respect to the shaped body  3  which keep with shaped body  3  in one piece in the assembled condition. 
       FIG.  2    shows that the shaped body  3  includes a recess  17  configured to receive the component  6  configured as the evaporator  9 . Thus, the evaporator  9  can be supported form stable in the shaped body  3 . 
     In order to assure reliable and firm support of the individual components  6 , a compression rib  18  is formed at or in the shaped body  3  protruding outward from a side wall of the shaped body into the at least one recess  17 . 
       FIGS.  1  -  7    show a measuring apparatus  1  with a housing  2  and a shaped body  3  made from a foam material wherein at least one additional housing  19  is arranged about the shaped body  3 . The at least one additional housing  19  formed from metal or a synthetic material can be configured with at least one ventilation slot  20  at a location where the at least one ventilation channel  13  exits. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention a measuring apparatus with at least one housing part  2  is provided wherein the at least one housing part  2  includes a shaped body  3  made from a foam material. 
     Reference Numerals and Designations 
       1  measuring apparatus 
       2  housing part 
       3  shaped body made from foam material 
       4  shaped body part 
       5  positively form locking connection 
       6  component of measuring apparatus  1   
       7  filter 
       8  pump 
       9  evaporator 
       10  additional pump 
       11  sample channel 
       12  electric component 
       13  ventilation channel 
       14  fan 
       15  temperature sensor 
       16  component undercuts in shaped body  3   
       17  recess 
       18  compression rib 
       19  additional housing made from metal or synthetic material 
       20  ventilation slot