Patents Assigned to Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
  • Patent number: 5539611
    Abstract: This interface connection through a hole (2) in a high-temperature-resistant and vacuum-proof insulating part (1), particularly of ceramic, glass, or a single crystal, consists of a metallic lead (4, 17) inserted into the hole (2) and having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than that of the insulating part (1), wherein at least one end of the lead, if it is flush with at least one surface of the insulating part, is covered with active brazing material which high-vacuum-seals it to the insulating part, or, if it projects beyond at least one surface of the insulating part, is high-vacuum-sealed to the insulating part by means of ring-shaped active brazing material (5'), since in the liquid phase, the active brazing material moves into the gap between the wall of the hole (2) and the lead (4, 17) due to capillary action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Endress u Hauser GmbH u Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Thomas Klahn
  • Patent number: 5451940
    Abstract: The arrangement serves for the processing of sensor signals which are furnished by a capacitive sensor which includes a measuring capacitor having a measuring capacitance influenceable by a physical measured quantity to be determined and at least one reference capacitor having a reference capacitance influenceable in another manner and furnishing a measuring effect dependent on the measuring capacitance and the reference capacitance. The arrangement comprises a signal processing circuit which operates by the principle of quantized charge transport by means of switch-capacitor structures and charge balancing at least in time average and which receives the sensor signals representing the measuring effect and furnishes an output signal corresponding to the measuring effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Georg Schneider, Richard Wagner
  • Patent number: 5366000
    Abstract: The method for forming rings of uniform thickness from an active brazing alloy by melt-spinning the liquid alloy has the following steps: The alloy is liquefied in a crucible having a lateral opening whose height is approximately equal to the width of the ring material; the liquid alloy is forced out of the crucible onto the side surface of a metal drum of high thermal conductivity at a radial distance from the drum center approximately equal to the ring diameter, said metal drum rotating at a high circumferential velocity at a distance from the crucible approximately equal to the ring thickness; after an,,,approximately quarter to three-quarter turn of the active brazing alloy solidified on the metal drum into ring material, the latter is lifted off the metal drum by a mechanical deflector or a gas stream blown onto it in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the metal drum, and guided past the crucible; the ring helix being formed is guided around a lateral, coaxial extension of the metal dru
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Peter Reimann, Heinz Breitenstein, Stephan Messmer
  • Patent number: 5363341
    Abstract: The invention discloses a level measuring device which can be made up from components. It comprises a sonic or ultrasonic transducer which is arranged in a first housing and forms a self-contained functional unit; the electrical circuit arranged in a further separate housing forms a second functional unit. The functional units are so constructed that they can be assembled from the various components to a complete level measuring device in accordance with the required use conditions by arrangement of a steel plate above the sonic or ultrasonic transducer, or by potting with a commercially usual potting composition, or the selection of two different similar housings for receiving the sonic or ultrasonic transducer or the arrangement of selectively different but dimensionally identical sonic or ultrasonic transducers, and the selective mounting by means of a loose flange on a container, or by means of a suspension bracket in the interior thereof or above a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Rolf Schwald, Edwin Steinebrunner
  • Patent number: 5351938
    Abstract: This active brazing serves to braze ceramic parts or single crystals or metal parts or to braze ceramic parts to single crystals or ceramic parts or single crystals to metal parts. In addition to the zirconium-nickel alloy, which is composed of 70 atom % to 85 atom % zirconium and 15 atom % to 30 atom % nickel, it contains titanium. In an apparatus for fabricating a foil (6) from this ternary active-brazing alloy by melt spinning which has a uniform thickness and two surfaces that are as smooth as possible, the alloy, after being melted by high-frequency heating in a cylindrical crucible (1) made completely of a high-temperature-resistant and highly thermally conductive nonmetallic material, particularly of high-density graphite or of boron nitride, is forced through an opening (3) in the bottom of the crucible onto a metal drum (5) of high thermal conductivity rotating at a high circumferential speed, on which the liquid alloy solidifies at a cooling rate on the order of 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.6 .degree. C./s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Elke Schmidt, Thomas Klahn, Peter Reimann, Heinz Breitenstein, Stephan Messmer
  • Patent number: 5334344
    Abstract: This active brazing preferably serves to braze (join) ((aluminum-)oxide-)ceramic parts or single crystals or metal parts or to braze (join) ((aluminum-)oxide-)ceramic parts to single crystals or ((aluminum-)oxide-)ceramic parts or single crystals to metal parts. In addition to the zirconium-nickel alloy, which is composed of 70 atom % to 85 atom % zirconium and 15 atom % to 30 atom % nickel, it contains titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Elke Schmidt, Thomas Klahn, Peter Reimann, Heinz Breitenstein, Stephan Messmer
  • Patent number: 5323361
    Abstract: For the measurement of distance using the pulse transit time principle the received signal produced after each transmission of a pulse is stored as an echo profile and the effective echo is determined from the stored echo profile. In order to suppress recurrent interfering signals a stationary threshold profile adapted to the measurement environment is formed and employed for each evaluation of a stored echo profile. In order to take into account fluctuations in the properties of the received echo profile rapidly without necessitating a modification in the stationary threshold profile for this, from a stored echo profile a floating threshold profile is generated in the form of a monotonously descending curve. From the mutually corresponding values of the floating threshold profile and of the stationary threshold profile the respectively larger value is utilized for the formation of a resulting threshold profile, which is employed for each evaluation of stored echo profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Andre Elle, Hartmut Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5264831
    Abstract: To determine and/or monitor a predetermined contents level in a container, at the height of the level to be monitored a region of the container wall is defined by a ring or frame which is attached to the outer side of the container wall in such a manner that it is in oscillatory mechanical connection with said container wall. The region of the container wall enclosed by the ring or frame forms the diaphragm of a sensor which also comprises an electromechanical excitation transducer which when fed with an electrical voltage sets the defined diaphragm region into oscillations, and an electromechanical receiving transducer which converts the oscillations of the defined diaphragm region to an electrical AC voltage. An evaluating circuit connected to the receiving transducer serves to initiate display and/or switching operations in dependence upon the frequency, the phase or the amplitude of the AC voltage emitted by the receiving transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventor: Helmut Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 5257210
    Abstract: The arrangement serves to process sensor signals which are furnished by a measuring sensor and by one or more further sensors. The measuring sensor generates a measuring effect which depends on a physical measured quantity to be determined and on physical disturbance quantities and each further sensor generates a measuring effect which depends substantially only on physical disturbance quantities. The arrangement includes a signal processing circuit which receives the measuring effects as input quantities. By analog processing of the sensor signals the signal processing circuit furnishes an output quantity, the ratio of which to a reference quantity in dependence upon the measuring effects forming the input quantities is governed by a transfer function defined in specific manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Georg Schneider, Richard Wagner
  • Patent number: 5254371
    Abstract: This method comprises the following steps, which are compatible with thin-film technology: forming a bottom electrode (2) on an insulating substrate (1), depositing a humidity-sensitive polymer layer (5) of uniform thickness on the bottom electrode (2) leaving contact areas (3a, 3b) uncovered, activating surface bonds of the polymer layer (5), applying a colloidal dispersion of SiO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 particles (6) of uniform grain size as a thin layer to the polymer layer (5) and subsequently drying it, depositing a cover electrode (7) on the particles (6) still evenly distributed on the polymer layer (5) after the drying of the dispersion, and removing the particles (6) together with the portions of the cover electrode (7) overlying them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Traugott Kallfass
  • Patent number: 5237851
    Abstract: Proposed is a device for the analog actuation of a digital setting process, specifically the setting and/or calibration of transducers equipped with microprocessors, with a setting shaft extending through the outside wall of a housing in the interior of which the electrical/electronic components of the transducer are located. The device is formed by a first, analog component and a second, digital component which is in nonpositive connection with the first component. The rotary movement of the first component pivots a cam which is firmly connected with it against the paddle of a rocker switch, causing the paddle to deflect. Associated with the deflection, the rocker motion of the rocker switch about the fulcrum causes a boss arranged on the rocker switch to engage the push button of a push-button switch arranged on a printed circuit board, to switch the push-button switch and to close or open a circuit necessary for setting and/or calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Winfried Maier, Elmar Pfuendlin
  • Patent number: 5194697
    Abstract: A mechanically heavily loadable and high-vacuum-tight feedthrough connection through a hole (2) of a high-temperature-resistant and vacuum-proof insulating part (1), particularly of ceramic, glass, or a single crystal, is disclosed which can be produced in a single high-temperature step and is thus inexpensive. It is designed as a terminal lead (4) covered with active solder and soldered into the hole, the terminal lead having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than that of the insulating part (1). The feedthrough connection is preferably used in a capacitive pressure sensor (10) having a diaphragm (11) and a substrate (12) which have spaced-apart, flat inner surfaces which are provided with at least one conductive layer (14, 15) for forming at least one capacitor and are electrically connected to the respective rear side via the feedthrough connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Thomas Klahn
  • Patent number: 5191316
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises at least two oscillating rods which are secured spaced from each other to a diaphragm, the edge of which is connected to a screw-in piece. On the side of the diaphragm remote from the oscillating rods a clamping screw is fixedly connected to the diaphragm so that the clamping screw and diaphragm assume a position with respect to each other in which the axes of symmetry coincide. The clamping screw is surrounded by a stack of annular piezoelectric elements, electrode rings and insulating rings. The stack forms the excitation and receiving transducer of the apparatus. The stack-shaped excitation and receiving transducer is clamped and secured between the diaphragm and a hexagonal nut. The stack bears on pressure studs which are arranged between a metal ring terminating the stack and the diaphragm. The clamping force is chosen so that the diaphragm is simultaneously concavely prestressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventor: Volker Dreyer
  • Patent number: 5171091
    Abstract: The temperature measuring circuit includes a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is formed by a temperature-dependent measuring resistance having two current terminals and two voltage tapping terminals arranged in each case between an associated current terminal and the temperature-dependent measuring resistance. The temperature sensors are connected via the current terminals in series and the series circuit is connected via two current conductors to an evaluating circuit which sends a constant current through the measuring resistances connected in series. For measuring the voltage drops caused by the constant current at the individual measuring resistances the voltage tapping terminals of each temperature sensor are connected by voltage conductors to the evaluating circuit. The two voltage tapping terminals of two temperature sensors following each other in the series circuit and assigned to two interconnected current terminals are each connected via a resistance to a common voltage conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Jurgen Kruger, Jurgen Tetard, Dieter Funken
  • Patent number: 5111698
    Abstract: The differential pressure measuring apparatus comprises a single chamber differential pressure sensor having two resilient sensor diaphragms which enclose a volume filled with a fluid. In the single chamber differential pressure sensor two measuring capacitors are formed whose capacitances vary in opposite senses in response to the sensor differential pressure between the pressures acting on the two sensor diaphragms. The single chamber differential pressure sensor is connected to an adaptor comprising a volume filled with a fluid which is closed on the one hand by one of the two sensor diaphragms and on the other hand by an elastic adaptor diaphragm. An evaluation circuit calculates the sensor differential pressure from the capacitances of the measuring capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Karlheinz Banholzer, Peter Gerst, Peter Jung
  • Patent number: 5103462
    Abstract: The arrangement for the conversion of an electrical input quantity into an electrical DC signal proportional thereto comprises two digital pulse duration modulators of limited resolution. The first digital pulse duration modulator supplies a first periodic pulse sequence which is pulse duration modulated with a quantization value, corresponding to the limited resolution, of the input quantity neglecting the quantization remainder. The second digital pulse duration modulator supplies a second periodic pulse sequence which is pulse duration modulated with the sum of the quantization value and of the quantization remainder multiplied by a predetermined factor. A system is provided for selectively transmitting pulses of the first and second pulse sequences to an averaging circuit in such a manner that the raito of the number of transmitted pulses of the second pulse sequence to the total number of transmitted pulses is equal to the reciprocal of the predetermined factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Andre Elle, Gunter Lange
  • Patent number: 5097712
    Abstract: The differential pressure measuring apparatus comprises a single chamber differential pressure sensor filled with a fluid and having two measuring capacitors whose capacitances vary in opposite senses in response to the differential pressure to be measured and in the same sense in response to the temperature said capacitances being transformed by means of associated capacitance measuring circuits into measurement signals which are supplied to a calculation circuit for calculating the temperature and the differential pressure. A temperature measuring means which comprises a temperature sensor mounted on the differential pressure sensor and a temperature measuring circuit connected to the temperature sensor measures directly the temperature of the single chamber differential pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Peter Gerst, Wulf Springhart
  • Patent number: 5079953
    Abstract: This pressure gage has a housing (b 10) with a first connection (1) for applying a first pressure (p1), an interior space (11) for receiving, mounting, and sealing a sensing element (3..), a wall (12) enclosing the interior space and having a channel (41) therein for guiding reference air or a second pressure (p2), and a cover (5). The sensing element (3..) comprises a diaphragm (31), to the outer side of which the first pressure (p1) is applied, and a substrate (32) having an opening (33) through which pressure is applied to the inner side of the diaphragm (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Rainer Martin, Georg Schneider
  • Patent number: 5076147
    Abstract: The pressure sensor consists of a substrate and a diaphragm joined together around the periphery so as to form a chamber. The surface of the diaphragm facing away from the substrate is exposed to a medium whose pressure is to be measured. To protect the diaphragm against corrosion or abrasion, the diaphragm surface exposed to the medium is covered with a layer of silicon carbide, preferably by chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Manfred Frank
  • Patent number: 5050034
    Abstract: The substrate (12) and/or the diaphragm (11) of the pressure sensor (10) are made of ceramic, glass, or a single-crystal material. The side of the diaphragm (11) facing the substrate (12) is covered with a layer of silicon carbide, niobium, or tantalum which, in turn, is covered with a protective layer (21) and serves as one capacitor electrode (14). The side of the substrate (12) facing the diaphragm (11) is covered with at least one additional layer of any one of said materials which, in turn, is covered with an additional protective layer (22) and serves as the second capacitor electrode (15). Substrate (12) and diaphragm (11) are soldered together by a formed part of active solder (20) which also serves as a spacer.This pressure sensor can be manufactured in a single soldering step. The maximum load capacity of the diaphragm is determined not by the strength of the joint, but only by the strength of the diaphragm material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Endress u. Hauser GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Frank Hegner, Manfred Frank, Thomas Klahn