Abstract: In an FMCW-based fill-level measurement device, the fill-level value can be compensated with regard to component tolerances. A diagnosis unit of the fill-level measurement device compares the clock rate of the signal-generating PLL with the sampling rate of the analog/digital converter and determines a first compensation factor. With the aid of the first compensation factor, the determined fill-level value can be compensated with regard to these sampling or clock rates without any external high-precision reference source having to be used for this purpose.

Abstract: A radar-based fill-level measuring device that operates, for example, according to the FMCW principle or the pulse time-of-flight principle comprises a temperature sensor. Thus, the measurement rate at which the fill level is determined can be controlled according to the measured temperature in such a way that, at least above a defined limit temperature, the measurement rate is reduced as the temperature increases further. Furthermore, the measurement can be completely stopped if the measured temperature exceeds a predefined maximum temperature, in particular 150° C. The development of heat in the fill-level measuring device is counteracted by the reduction of the measurement rate. The measurement rate is thereby adaptively adjusted with respect to the ambient temperature such that, even at elevated ambient temperatures, which can occur in the case of cleaning processes, the fill-level measuring device remains at least conditionally fit for use.

Abstract: An FMCW-radar based distance measuring device is characterized in that, in addition to analogue high-pass and low-pass filtering, the evaluation signal typical for FMCW additionally undergoes subsequent digital filtering. In this case, the analogue/digital conversion takes place by oversampling. As a result, according to the invention, all those frequencies in the evaluation signal that are above or below the frequency corresponding to the distance of the object are effectively suppressed. At the same time, the analogue filters can be constructed with a very low level of complexity. The space requirement and the costs of the analogue components is reduced thereby. In addition, the dependence on temperature of the distance measuring device is reduced thereby. The potentially high distance resolution is also maintained.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for FMCW-based measurement of a distance of an object located in a waveguide, as well as a corresponding distance measurement device that, in particular, may be used for fill-level measurement in surge pipes or bypass pipes of containers. The method is based upon the fact that the transmission signal that is typical in FMCW is not ramp-like, and thus is emitted with constant frequency modulation. Rather, according to the present disclosure, a curvature of the frequency ramp is set to be at least approximately proportional to the frequency dependency of the propagation velocity of the transmission signal in the waveguide. The distortion effect is thus compensated for in that the propagation velocity of the transmission signal in waveguides is not constant, but, rather, decreases with falling transmission frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a calibrating system for calibrating at least one distance-measuring device. In particular, the calibrating system is suitable for almost simultaneous calibration of a plurality of filling-level measuring devices. It is characterized in that a mirror arrangement is provided, by means of which a laser tracker can determine a least one distance to at least one reflector and at least one reference distance to the at least one distance-measuring device. The calibrating system according to the invention allows both the distance to the reflector and the reference distance to be determined by a single measuring device, without the at least one reflector having to be collapsible for this purpose or the calibration having to be interrupted. The calibrating system accordingly permits more precise calibration, the calibrating system further being operable with a high degree of automation.

Abstract: A radar based fill level measurement device for measuring the fill level of a material in a container, comprising an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit serves to generate a transmission signal, and serves to process a received signal. The received signal containing a reflected portion of the transmission signal, and the reflected portion being reflected from a surface of the material whose distance is to be measured. The electronics unit comprises a signal generator to generate a frequency modulated transmission signal, wherein the electronics unit comprises a processor to process the received signal using phase information comprised in the received signal, and wherein the radar device comprises a coaxial waveguide probe arranged in the container, wherein said coaxial waveguide probe serves for guiding the transmission signal (TX) and the received signal (RX).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for FMCW-based measurement of a distance of an object located in a waveguide, as well as a corresponding distance measurement device that, in particular, may be used for fill-level measurement in surge pipes or bypass pipes of containers. The method is based upon the fact that the transmission signal that is typical in FMCW is not ramp-like, and thus is emitted with constant frequency modulation. Rather, according to the present disclosure, a curvature of the frequency ramp is set to be at least approximately proportional to the frequency dependency of the propagation velocity of the transmission signal in the waveguide. The distortion effect is thus compensated for in that the propagation velocity of the transmission signal in waveguides is not constant, but, rather, decreases with falling transmission frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a calibrating system for calibrating at least one distance-measuring device. In particular, the calibrating system is suitable for almost simultaneous calibration of a plurality of filling-level measuring devices. It is characterized in that a mirror arrangement is provided, by means of which a laser tracker can determine a least one distance to at least one reflector and at least one reference distance to the at least one distance-measuring device. The calibrating system according to the invention allows both the distance to the reflector and the reference distance to be determined by a single measuring device, without the at least one reflector having to be collapsible for this purpose or the calibration having to be interrupted. The calibrating system accordingly permits more precise calibration, the calibrating system further being operable with a high degree of automation.

Abstract: A measuring device featuring ascertaining and monitoring optimized orientation of the measuring device. Thus, the invention provides a measuring device for determining and/or monitoring limit level or fill level of a medium in a container, comprising at least one sensor unit and a measurement transmitter unit, wherein at least one inclination sensor is integrated in the measuring device for ascertaining orientation of the measuring device and/or the sensor unit on the container.

Abstract: A method for determining frequency components of a discrete time signal, comprising steps as follows: transforming the discrete time signal into the frequency domain by means of a fast Fourier transformation, wherein a frequency spectrum is obtained as a sequence of frequency sample values, detecting peaks in the frequency spectrum, introducing at least one additional frequency support point in the vicinity of a detected peak, determining a frequency amplitude at the at least one additional frequency support point by means of the Goertzel algorithm, and determining the position of the peak maximum of the detected peak by applying both the frequency sample values delivered by the fast Fourier transformation as well as also the frequency amplitude at the at least one additional frequency support point.

Abstract: A device for continually conveying dust-like or granular bulk materials into a pressure Chamber, having an inlet opening through which the bulk material is supplied or discharged from a bulk material storage, a housing which is arranged along a rotational axis, a conveying region which adjoins the inlet opening, and a shaft which rotates in the housing and which has a conveyor arranged on the circumference. The rotational axis, the housing and the shaft are arranged vertically, and a seal in the form of a regeneratable material seal stopper. The seal sealing the pressure chamber, is arranged in the conveyor region between the pressure chamber and the inlet opening. The housing has a polygon, a cannelure, or at least one helically running groove on the housing inner wall, and the orientation of the polygon, the cannelure, or the groove runs substantially perpendicularly to the two-dimensional orientation of the conveyor.

Abstract: A radar based fill level measurement device for measuring the fill level of a material in a container, comprising an electronics unit, wherein the electronics unit serves to generate a transmission signal, and serves to process a received signal. The received signal containing a reflected portion of the transmission signal, and the reflected portion being reflected from a surface of the material whose distance is to be measured. The electronics unit comprises a signal generator to generate a frequency modulated transmission signal, wherein the electronics unit comprises a processor to process the received signal using phase information comprised in the received signal, and wherein the radar device comprises a coaxial waveguide probe arranged in the container, wherein said coaxial waveguide probe serves for guiding the transmission signal (TX) and the received signal (RX).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for calibrating a distance measuring device, comprising: a measuring track, on which the distance measuring device is mountable; an areal reflector mountable shiftably on the measuring track for reflecting a measurement signal transmitted from the distance measuring device back to the distance measuring device, so that by means of the distance measuring device a distance measurement for determining a distance (D) between the distance measuring device and the reflector is performable; and a laser distance measuring device mountable on the measuring track for registering tilt of the reflector; wherein means for orienting the distance measuring device are provided, so that measurement signals of the distance measuring device reflected back to the distance measuring device by means of the reflector are received with maximum intensity by the distance measuring device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for calibrating a distance measuring device (2), comprising: a measuring track (3), on which the distance measuring device (2) is mountable; an areal reflector (4) mountable shiftably on the measuring track (3) for reflecting a measurement signal transmitted from the distance measuring device (2) back to the distance measuring device (2), so that by means of the distance measuring device (2) a distance measurement for determining a distance (D) between the distance measuring device (2) and the reflector (4) is performable; and a laser distance measuring device (5) mountable on the measuring track (3) for registering tilt of the reflector (4); wherein means for orienting the distance measuring device (2) are provided, so that measurement signals of the distance measuring device (2) reflected back to the distance measuring device (2) by means of the reflector (4) are received with maximum intensity by the distance measuring device (2).

Abstract: A method for determining frequency components of a discrete time signal, comprising steps as follows: transforming the discrete time signal into the frequency domain by means of a fast Fourier transformation, wherein a frequency spectrum is obtained as a sequence of frequency sample values, detecting peaks in the frequency spectrum, introducing at least one additional frequency support point in the vicinity of a detected peak, determining a frequency amplitude at the at least one additional frequency support point by means of the Goertzel algorithm, and determining the position of the peak maximum of the detected peak by applying both the frequency sample values delivered by the fast Fourier transformation as well as also the frequency amplitude at the at least one additional frequency support point.

Abstract: A measuring device featuring ascertaining and monitoring optimized orientation of the measuring device.

Abstract: A cellular wheel sluice embodied as a blow-through sluice is suitable for dosing secondary fuel, for example. The blow-through sluice includes a supply chute (2) in the top area and a cylindrical housing (1) which is disposed below the supply chute (2) and in which a cellular wheel (4) is arranged. The cellular wheel (4) includes radial webs (3), in the rotational area of which a blow-in hole (10) and an opposite blow-out hole (11) are provided on the side faces (26) of the housing. An injector nozzle (15) which blows the transport air into the rotating dosing chambers (5) so as to empty the same, is integrated into the housing in the area, of the blow-in hole (10). Thereby pressure differences result in the dosing chamber (5) that is to be emptied such that only small pressure loads act upon the metallically hard gap seals, which have a long useful life and allow only small quantities of leakage air, and which are arranged on the radial end areas of the cellular wheel webs (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cellular wheel sluice that is embodied as a blow-through sluice and serves for dosing secondary fuel. The blow-through sluice comprises a supply chute (2) in the top area and a cylindrical housing section (1) disposed below the supply chute (2) and in which a cellular wheel (4) is arranged in a horizontal direction. The cellular wheel (4) includes radial webs (3), in the rotational area of which a blow-in hole (10) and an opposite blow-out hole (11) are provided on the faces (26) of the housing. The invention is characterized in that an injector nozzle (15) which blows the transport air into the rotating dosing chambers (5) so as to empty the same, is integrated into the housing in the zone of the blow-in port (10). Thereby pressure differences result in the dosing chamber (5) that is to be emptied such that only small pressure loads act upon the gap seals.