Applying its signature magnetoresistive technology, Temposonics has recently introduced two sensor products that bring new capabilities to design engineers needing to solve challenging industrial situations. One is a position sensor engineered for installations in confined spaces, the other a safety position sensor. Both excel in flexibility and precision.
The absolute, linear position sensors provided by Temposonics rely on the company’s proprietary magnetostrictive technology, first developed 50 years ago, which can determine position with a high level of precision and robustness. We asked their technical staff to detail how the products work.
“Each Temposonics position sensor consists of a ferromagnetic waveguide, a position magnet, a strain pulse converter and supporting electronics,” explains Matt Hankinson, Ph.D., who is global market segment leader in industrial markets for the company. “The magnet, connected to the object in motion in the application, generates a magnetic field at its location on the waveguide. A short current pulse is applied to the waveguide. This creates a momentary radial magnetic field and torsional strain on the waveguide.”
“The momentary interaction of the magnetic fields releases a torsional strain pulse that propagates the length of the waveguide. When the ultrasonic wave reaches the beginning of the waveguide it is converted into an electrical signal. Since the speed of the ultrasonic wave in the waveguide is precisely known, the time required to receive the return signal can be converted into a linear position measurement with both high accuracy and repeatability,” said Hankinson, who is located in the U.S.
In January, the company introduced the R-Series V FLEX, a groundbreaking position sensor that redefines flexibility and performance. Engineered for installations in confined spaces and capable of stroke lengths up to 20 meters. Its slim measuring rod is designed to fit seamlessly into standard 10 mm pressure pipes and features an impressive minimal bend radius of only 100 mm, making it well suited for installations in limited spaces. “This sensor transforms the way we approach space-limited installations while delivering unparalleled measurement capabilities,” said Dr. Olaf Kissing, product manager at Temposonics in Germany.
The base unit of the R-Series V FLEX meets ingress protection standards of IP68, ensuring the internal waveguide is safeguarded against water ingress. Additionally, the flexible rod design simplifies handling and transportation, allowing the unit to be coiled for convenient shipping. It maintains all the benefits of the company’s established R-Series V platform, including advanced diagnostics for Industry 4.0 applications. This ensures not only high-performance measurements but also enhanced data insights and monitoring capabilities.
When combined with the TempoLink and TempoGate smart assistants, the R-Series V transducers provide comprehensive data about the application – such as sensor status, electronics temperature, operating hours, and magnet travel distance – facilitating predictive maintenance and optimizing system performance. “This powerful combination ensures increased flexibility, operational efficiency and long-term reliability for our customers.” concludes Dr. Kissing.
In November, Temposonics introduced a safety rated flexible position sensor for easy in-field serviceability, the MH-Series FLEX Safety. Also based on magnetoresistive sensing, it can measure linear position up to 10.5m and is designed particularly for safety functions with hydraulic cylinder feedback on aerial work platforms, man-lifts, cranes and other critical measurements.
“The new FLEX Safety sensor sets the standard for safety position sensors, offering unmatched accuracy, safety, and serviceability,” stated product manager Aaron Sabino. “We continue to see an increase in demand for safety rated sensors as customers in the EU and globally design for the Machinery Regulation 2023/1230/EU, which replaces the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The FLEX gives design engineers the ability to meet the machinery regulation with a single SIL-compliant sensor, while replacing multiple non-rated sensors.”
A key aspect of the FLEX Safety’s serviceability is its innovative modular design consisting of an outer housing, electronic module, and featuring Temposonics’ SMART SE (patent pending). The SMART SE combines Temposonics’ patented flexible sensing element with integrated memory and allows for seamless interoperability between any SMART SE and FLEX Safety electronic module. The other key benefit of design is being able to service the position sensor without breaking the hydraulic seal on the cylinder. The sensor is designed for the outer housing to be externally threaded into the cylinder keeping the field serviceable electronic module and SMART SE out of the cylinder.
“Embedded sensors are protected from the external environment, but they require dismantling the cylinder in order to be serviced,” notes Sabino. “This introduces logistical problems for vehicles with long extensions and little clearance. The new FLEX Safety solves this problem because the SMART SE can bend around obstructions from other machine components requiring only 200 mm of clearance regardless of stroke length. Getting spare parts to the field is also more efficient as even a 10.5 meter long SMART SE can be coiled and shipped economically.”
Previously known as the MTS Sensors Division, Temposonics was acquired by Amphenol in 2021 and renamed to its original identity. The history of Temposonics began in 1975, when the physicist Jacob Tellerman first used the magnetostrictive effect for linear position measurement, recognizing the advantages of ferromagnetic material for developing a non-contact and absolute measurement method.
Today the company operates out of design and production centers in Cary, North Carolina in the USA and two sites in Germany at Ludenscheid and Dortmund with a diverse product lineup that also includes sensors and transmitters for liquid level measurement and Hall effect linear position measurement.
The company’s linear position sensors utilizing Hall Effect technology consist of sensing elements and supporting electronics in a robust sensor rod. The non-contacting position magnet is attached to the object in motion for the given application. The magnetic field, of the position magnet, perpendicular to the sensing elements creates a measurable (Hall) voltage which is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. The Hall voltage is then converted into a linear position measurement. Since the output of the sensor corresponds to an absolute position, rather than a relative value, recalibration is not required. For more info, see www.temposonics.com.
