In-line process fluid pressure transmitter for high pressure applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10209154-B2
Application number	US-201514672647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An in-line process fluid pressure transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes a process fluid connector configured to couple to a source of process fluid. A plug is coupled to the process fluid connector and has a passageway configured to convey fluid to a distal end of the plug. A pressure sensor subassembly is coupled to the plug at a weld. The pressure sensor subassembly has a pressure sensor operably coupled to the distal end of the passageway such that the pressure sensor reacts to process fluid pressure. The plug includes a sidewall encircling the weld. Transmitter electronics are coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to measure an electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and provide a process fluid pressure value based on the measured electrical characteristic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An in-line process fluid pressure transmitter comprising:
a process fluid connector configured to couple to a source of process fluid;
a plug coupled to the process fluid connector, the plug having a passageway configured to convey fluid to a distal end of the plug;
a pressure sensor subassembly coupled to the plug at a weld, the pressure sensor subassembly having a pressure sensor operably coupled to the distal end of the passageway such that the pressure sensor reacts to process fluid pressure;
wherein the plug includes a sidewall encircling the weld and configured to apply a radially compressive force to the weld to reduce stress concentration at the weld by applying the radially compressive force; and
transmitter electronics coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to measure an electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and provide a process fluid pressure value based on the measured electrical characteristic.

2. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the plug is an isolator plug having an isolation diaphragm disposed to contact the process fluid and deflect in response to process fluid pressure, and wherein the isolator plug has fill fluid disposed in the passageway.

3. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall extends axially beyond the pressure sensor subassembly.

4. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor subassembly has a diameter of about 0.5 inches.

5. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the plug and the pressure sensor subassembly are formed of the same material.

6. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 5 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of 300 series stainless, duplex stainless steel, and super-austenitic stainless steel.

7. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , wherein one of the pressure sensor subassembly and the plug is formed of 300 series stainless steel while the other is formed of duplex stainless steel.

8. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , wherein one of the pressure sensor subassembly and the plug is formed of 300 series stainless steel while the other is formed of super-austenitic stainless steel.

9. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 1 , and further comprising a support ring disposed about an external diameter of the sidewall.

10. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 9 , wherein the support ring is configured to apply a radially compressive force to the sidewall.

11. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 10 , wherein the support ring, is press-fit onto the sidewall.

12. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the support ring is formed of a different material than the isolator plug.

13. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 12 , wherein the support ring is formed of a precipitation hardening stainless steel.

14. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 10 , wherein the support ring is shrink-fit onto the sidewall.

15. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 9 , wherein the support ring includes an endcap that is configured to engage a ledge of the pressure sensor subassembly.

16. The in-line process fluid pressure transmitter of claim 15 , wherein the endcap is configured to apply an axial compression to the ledge of the pressure sensor subassembly.

17. A method of manufacturing, an in-line process fluid pressure transmitter, the method comprising:
providing a pressure sensor subassembly having a pressure sensor therein;
providing an isolator plug having a sidewall defining, a bore therein;
inserting the pressure sensor subassembly into the bore such that the sidewall extends beyond the pressure sensor subassembly, and such that the isolator plug is shrink fit around the outside diameter of the subassembly; and
welding the pressure sensor subassembly to the isolator plug.

18. A method of manufacturing an in-line process fluid pressure transmitter, the method comprising:
providing a pressure sensor subassembly having a pressure sensor therein;
providing an isolator plug having a sidewall defining a bore therein; and
coupling the pressure sensor subassembly to the isolator plug at the weld such that the sidewall exerts a radially compressive force on the weld to reduce stress concentration at the weld by applying the radially compressive force.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein coupling the pressure sensor subassembly to the isolator plug includes heating the sideman relative to the pressure sensor subassembly.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein coupling the pressure sensor subassembly to the isolator plug includes pressing the pressure sensor subassembly into the bore.

21. The method of claim 18 , and further comprising obtaining a support ring formed of a different material than the isolator plug and applying the support ring around the sidewall.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein applying the support ring around the sidewall includes pressing the support ring onto the sidewall.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein applying the support ring onto the sidewall includes axially moving the support ring until a surface of the support ring contacts a ledge of the pressure sensor subassembly.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein coupling the pressure sensor subassembly to the isolator plug includes generating a thermal differential between the pressure sensor subassembly and the isolator plug.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein generating the thermal differential includes cooling the pressure sensor subassembly.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein generating the thermal differential includes heating the isolator plug before inserting the pressure sensor subassembly into the bore.

Assignees

• Rosemount Inc

Inventors

• Strei David M
• Willcox Charles R
• Petersen Blake T
• Broden David A

Classifications

• G01L19/086

  for remote indication · CPC title

• B23K2203/05

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B23K31/02 Primary

  relating to soldering or welding · CPC title

• G01L9/0041 Primary

  Transmitting or indicating the displacement of flexible diaphragms · CPC title

• G01L19/003

  using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge · CPC title