Method and apparatus for determining the material flow rate of conveying mechanisms

Claim 1

A method of determining the material volumetric flow rate of bulk material transported by a conveyer mechanism of which speed is measured by impulse counters, said method including continuously determining the contour of the free surface of the bulk material, at right angles to the direction of transport, by means of continuous non-contact distance measurement using at least one transmitter-receiver mechanism coupled with a computer, and computing the cross section per unit time of the bulk material; said method comprising the steps of: using as said transmitter-receiver mechanism at least two laser distance-measuring devices connected side by side for determination of irregular surface contour of the bulk material being conveyed which operate exclusively for distance measuring by using a pulse transit time measuring principle and which emit and receive reflecting laser beams for such distance measuring; directing said laser beams approximately at right angles to the direction of transport of said bulk mateiral having a cross section on said conveyor mechanism; and distributing several measuring points over the bulk material cross section and thus continuously ascertaining irregular surface contour of the bulk material transported by the conveyor mechanism in order to determine volumetric flow rate of the bulk material cross section collectively on the conveyor mechanism transverse to direction of movement thereof.

Claim 2

A method of determining the material volumetric flow rate of bulk material transported by a conveyer mechanism of which speed is measured by impulse counters, said method including continuously determining the contour of the free surface of the bulk material, at right angles to the direction of transport, by means of continuous non-contact distance measurement using at least one transmitter-receiver mechanism coupled with a computer, and computing the cross section per unit time of the bulk material; said method comprising the steps of: using as said transmitter-receiver mechanism at least two laser distance-measuring devices connected side by side for determination of irregular surface contour of the bulk material being conveyed which operate exclusively for distance measuring by using a pulse transit time measuring principle and which emit and receive reflecting laser beams for such distance measuring; directing said laser beams approximately at right angles to the direction of transport of said bulk mateiral having a cross section on said conveyor mechanism; and distributing several measuring points over the bulk material cross section and thus continuously ascertaining irregular surface contour of the bulk material transported by the conveyor mechanism in order to determine volumetric flow rate of the bulk material cross section collectively on the conveyor mechanism transverse to direction of movement thereof.

Claim 9

an apparatus for determining the material volumetric flow rate of bulk material transported by a conveyor mechanism by continuously determining the contour of the free surface of the bulk material, at right angles to the direction of transport, by means of continuous non-contact distance measurement using at least one transmitter-receiver mechanism including at least two laser distance-measuring devices which operate exclusively for distance measurement via a pulse transit time measuring principle, which are coupled with a computer, and which are employed to determine the bulk material volumetric flow rate by computing the cross section per unit time of the bulk material; said apparatus in combination comprising: a housing for said transmitter-receiver mechanism including said at least two laser distance-measuring device; said housing having a bottom side, facing said conveyor mechanism, said bottom side including a transparent pane; and an adjustable flap for blocking said transparent pane; said at least two laser distance-measuring devices being disposed side by side next to one another in said housing in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of transport of said conveyer mechanism for determination of irregular surface contours of the bulk material being conveyed; said laser distance-measuring devices being operative to emit and receive reflecting laser beams through said transparent pane for such distance measurement continuously to ascertain irregular surface contour of the bulk material transported by the conveyer mechanism in order to determine volumetric flow rate of the material on the conveyer mechanism transverse to direction of movement thereof.

Claim 10

an apparatus for determining the material volumetric flow rate of bulk material transported by a conveyor mechanism by continuously determining the contour of the free surface of the bulk material, at right angles to the direction of transport, by means of continuous non-contact distance measurement using at least one transmitter-receiver mechanism including at least two laser distance-measuring devices which operate exclusively for distance measurement via a pulse transit time measuring principle, which are coupled with a computer, and which are employed to determine the bulk material volumetric flow rate by computing the cross section per unit time of the bulk material; said apparatus in combination comprising: a housing for said transmitter-receiver mechanism including said at least two laser distance-measuring device; said housing having a bottom side, facing said conveyor mechanism, said bottom side including a transparent pane; and an adjustable flap for blocking said transparent pane; said at least two laser distance-measuring devices being disposed side by side next to one another in said housing in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of transport of said conveyer mechanism for determination of irregular surface contours of the bulk material being conveyed; said laser distance-measuring devices being operative to emit and receive reflecting laser beams through said transparent pane for such distance measurement continuously to ascertain irregular surface contour of the bulk material transported by the conveyer mechanism in order to determine volumetric flow rate of the material on the conveyer mechanism transverse to direction of movement thereof.