Patents by Inventor Markus Rufenacht
Markus Rufenacht has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240060804Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic-inductive flow meter including a measuring pipe having a measuring pipe body which electrically insulates portions thereof. A device generates a magnetic field that penetrates the measuring pipe body and detects an induced voltage in the medium, which is a function of a velocity of flow. A monitoring device detects damage to the measuring pipe body and comprises at least one electrically conductive conductor. The conductor is separated from the measuring pipe volume by a region of the measuring pipe body when the measuring pipe body is intact. The monitoring device comprises a measuring circuit electrically connected to the conductor and is designed to measure values of a measured variable which is dependent on an impedance of the conductor. The measuring circuit then compares each of the measured values with a reference value or a target value range.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2021Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Tobias Brütsch, Simon Mariager, Frank Voigt, Markus Rüfenacht
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Publication number: 20230417584Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic-inductive flowmeter, comprising: a measuring pipe for conducting a medium, wherein the measuring pipe comprises an electrically insulating measuring pipe body; a device for generating a magnetic field that penetrates the measuring pipe body; a device for detecting an induced voltage, which is a function of a flow rate; a reference electrode; an electrode assembly for detecting damage to the measuring pipe body, wherein the electrode assembly is electrically insulated from the reference electrode and/or the medium by the measuring pipe body; a measuring circuit configured to measure a variable that is a function of an electrical impedance between the electrode assembly and the reference electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2021Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Tobias Brütsch, Simon Mariager, Markus Rüfenacht, Werner Wohlgemuth
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Patent number: 11025079Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device with an electric load and a replaceable electric energy store. The energy store has at least one first storage unit with a first initial energy quantity and at least one second storage unit with a second initial energy quantity, wherein an electronic circuit is designed to actuate the first storage unit or the second storage unit according to an algorithm. By actuating the first storage unit or the second source unit, the energy supply of the device is ensured by the respective storage unit, and by actuating the first storage unit or the second storage unit, it is ensured that when a remaining energy quantity or an applied energy quantity of one storage unit is low, the respective other storage unit has a remaining energy quantity of at least 10% of a total energy quantity.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Antoine Simon, Markus Rüfenacht, Ronald Wicki
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Publication number: 20200044470Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device with an electric load and a replaceable electric energy store. The energy store has at least one first storage unit with a first initial energy quantity and at least one second storage unit with a second initial energy quantity, wherein an electronic circuit is designed to actuate the first storage unit or the second storage unit according to an algorithm. By actuating the first storage unit or the second source unit, the energy supply of the device is ensured by the respective storage unit, and by actuating the first storage unit or the second storage unit, it is ensured that when a remaining energy quantity or an applied energy quantity of one storage unit is low, the respective other storage unit has a remaining energy quantity of at least 10% of a total energy quantity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Antoine Simon, Markus Rüfenacht, Ronald Wicki
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Publication number: 20190277679Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a magnetic-inductive flow meter. The method includes steps of generating a magnetic field in a medium during a feeding phase, wherein the feeding phase has a shot phase and a measuring phase, and measuring a coil current. The method also includes switching over from the shot phase to the measuring phase as soon as the coil current reaches a limit value, recording a time period from the beginning of the feeding phase to reaching the limit value, and determining a deviation of the time period from a target time period. The method further includes generating the magnetic field during a subsequent feeding phase, where a shot voltage of the subsequent feeding phase is adapted in dependence on the deviation in order to reduce the deviation of the time period from the target time period of the next feeding phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2017Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Florent Tschambser, Markus Rüfenacht
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Patent number: 10408646Abstract: A method for defect detection for a signal line between an electrode and a measuring- and/or evaluation unit of a magneto-inductive flow measuring device having at least one measuring- and/or evaluation unit, as well as a measuring tube with at least two measuring electrodes and a third electrode, comprising steps as follows: A) ascertaining a ratio of at least two measured electrical impedances between the measuring electrodes and/or between at least one of the two measuring electrodes and the third electrode; B) comparing the impedance ratio with a desired value range and C) outputting a defect report, when the impedance ratio exceeds or subceeds the desired value range, and a magneto-inductive flow measuring device.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AGInventors: Andre Spahlinger, Markus Rufenacht, Christophe Boeglin
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Patent number: 9893611Abstract: A method for controlling coil current of a magneto inductive, flow measuring device with a first value representing an overvoltage UO and a second value representing a holding voltage UH, wherein the first value is greater than the second value, characterized by steps as follows: setting a first switching point IS for the electrical current level, up to which a coil should be supplied with the overvoltage UO; applying an overvoltage UO until the electrical current level rises to the switching point IS set for the electrical current level; switching from the overvoltage UO to the holding voltage UH, in order to hold the electrical current level at a constant electrical current end value IH. Also intended is a magneto inductive, flow measuring device.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventors: Markus Rufenacht, Andre Spahlinger, Thomas Kung
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Publication number: 20170343396Abstract: A method for defect detection for a signal line between an electrode and a measuring- and/or evaluation unit of a magneto-inductive flow measuring device having at least one measuring- and/or evaluation unit, as well as a measuring tube with at least two measuring electrodes and a third electrode, comprising steps as follows: A) ascertaining a ratio of at least two measured electrical impedances between the measuring electrodes and/or between at least one of the two measuring electrodes and the third electrode; B) comparing the impedance ratio with a desired value range and C) outputting a defect report, when the impedance ratio exceeds or subceeds the desired value range, and a magneto-inductive flow measuring device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: November 30, 2017Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Andre Spahlinger, Markus Rufenacht, Christophe Boeglin
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Patent number: 9341506Abstract: A method for controlling excitation energy in a coil arrangement of a flow measuring device having an energy buffer system for storing energy and embodied as a two-conductor field device is provided for producing a magnetic field B passing through a medium as a function of the excitation energy. The wherein the flow measuring device has a plurality of operating states, between which it transfers and which describe an excitation current pulsed in a time interval.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Andre Spahlinger, Thomas Kung, Markus Rufenacht
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Patent number: 9304021Abstract: A measuring electronics serves for ascertaining a potential difference (??12) between a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode. For such purpose, the measuring electronics comprises a reference electrode, an input circuit having two circuit inputs electrically connectable with the first, respectively second, measuring electrodes and two signal voltage outputs, a compensation circuit, a measuring and control circuit having two signal voltage inputs, two signal voltage inputs electrically and a compensation control output. The compensation circuit is adapted to provide on the first compensation voltage output a compensation voltage, namely an adjustable direct voltage referenced to the reference potential, and on the second compensation voltage output a compensation voltage, namely a direct voltage referenced to the reference potential.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Thomas Kung, Andre Spahlinger, Markus Rufenacht
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Publication number: 20150247747Abstract: A measuring electronics serves for ascertaining a potential difference (?12) between a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode. For such purpose, the measuring electronics comprises a reference electrode, an input circuit having two circuit inputs electrically connectable with the first, respectively second, measuring electrodes and two signal voltage outputs, a compensation circuit, a measuring and control circuit having two signal voltage inputs, two signal voltage inputs electrically and a compensation control output. The compensation circuit is adapted to provide on the first compensation voltage output a compensation voltage, namely an adjustable direct voltage referenced to the reference potential, and on the second compensation voltage output a compensation voltage, namely a direct voltage referenced to the reference potential.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: September 3, 2015Inventors: Thomas Kung, Andre Spahlinger, Markus Rufenacht
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Publication number: 20150188416Abstract: A method for controlling coil current of a magneto inductive, flow measuring device with a first value representing an overvoltage UO and a second value representing a holding voltage UH, wherein the first value is greater than the second value, characterized by steps as follows: setting a first switching point IS for the electrical current level, up to which a coil should be supplied with the overvoltage UO; applying an overvoltage UO until the electrical current level rises to the switching point IS set for the electrical current level; switching from the overvoltage UO to the holding voltage UH, in order to hold the electrical current level at a constant electrical current end value IH. Also intended is a magneto inductive, flow measuring device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Markus Rufenacht, Andre Spahlinger, Thomas Kung
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Publication number: 20150185056Abstract: A method for controlling excitation energy in a coil arrangement of a flow measuring device having an energy buffer system for storing energy and embodied as a two-conductor field device is provided for producing a magnetic field B passing through a medium as a function of the excitation energy. The wherein the flow measuring device has a plurality of operating states, between which it transfers and which describe an excitation current pulsed in a time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Andre Spahlinger, Thomas Kung, Markus Rufenacht
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Patent number: 8587326Abstract: A method for operating a magneto-inductive flow measuring device having a measuring tube, wherein an at least partially electrically-conductive measured material flows through the measuring tube. For determining flow, there is produced by means of at least one coil arrangement a clocked magnetic field, which at least partially passes through the measured material, wherein the magnetic field is produced by an exciter current, which flows through the coil arrangement. The magnetic field is operated with at least a first clocking, wherein, in a case in which the coil arrangement is free of exciter current, an electrical potential difference is sensed between the measured material and a reference potential by means of at least a first measuring electrode communicating with the measured material.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventor: Markus Rufenacht
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Publication number: 20110267076Abstract: A method for operating a magneto-inductive flow measuring device having a measuring tube, wherein an at least partially electrically-conductive measured material flows through the measuring tube. For determining flow, there is produced by means of at least one coil arrangement a clocked magnetic field, which at least partially passes through the measured material, wherein the magnetic field is produced by an exciter current, which flows through the coil arrangement. The magnetic field is operated with at least a first clocking, wherein, in a case in which the coil arrangement is free of exciter current, an electrical potential difference is sensed between the measured material and a reference potential by means of at least a first measuring electrode communicating with the measured material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventor: Markus Rufenacht
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Patent number: 7882749Abstract: A method for ascertaining volume- or mass-flow of a magnetically conductive medium flowing through a magneto-inductive, flow-measuring device having a predetermined nominal-diameter, wherein a periodically alternating, magnetic field is caused to pass through the flow-measuring device, the actual rise time, until a constant magnitude of the magnetic field is reached, is ascertained, the actual rise time is compared with a desired rise time ascertained in the case of flow of a reference medium through the flow-measuring device, and, on the basis of a difference between actual rise time and desired rise time, a measurement error is ascertained and the actually measured volume- or mass-flow of the magnetically conductive medium is so corrected, that the measurement error is canceled.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Fred Kappertz, Markus Rüfenacht
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Publication number: 20100024567Abstract: A method for ascertaining volume- or mass-flow of a magnetically conductive medium flowing through a magneto-inductive, flow-measuring device having a predetermined nominal-diameter, wherein a periodically alternating, magnetic field is caused to pass through the flow-measuring device, the actual rise time, until a constant magnitude of the magnetic field is reached, is ascertained, the actual rise time is compared with a desired rise time ascertained in the case of flow of a reference medium through the flow-measuring device, and, on the basis of a difference between actual rise time and desired rise time, a measurement error is ascertained and the actually measured volume- or mass-flow of the magnetically conductive medium is so corrected, that the measurement error is canceled.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: ENDRESS + HAUSER FLOWTEC AGInventors: Fred Kappertz, Markus Rufenacht