Pressure monitoring using a hybrid pressure switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11835409-B2
Application number	US-202017134319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2020
Priority date	Dec 26, 2020
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A pressure sensor apparatus and a method of operating the pressure sensor apparatus can include a hybrid pressure switch having a single switching point, the hybrid pressure switch comprising: a mechanical pressure switch; and an electronic pressure sensor, wherein the hybrid pressure switch monitors a media pressure with the mechanical pressure switch providing a switching function and the electronic pressure sensor providing a continuous pressure measurement with respect to the media pressure based on a continuous pressure output signal. The switching function can comprise a fail-safe switching function or a non-fail-safe switching function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
a hybrid pressure switch provides a single switching point, the hybrid pressure switch comprising:
a mechanical pressure switch; and
an electronic pressure sensor, wherein the hybrid pressure switch monitors a media pressure with the mechanical pressure switch providing a switching function and the electronic pressure sensor providing a continuous pressure measurement with respect to the media pressure based on a continuous pressure output signal,
wherein the mechanical pressure switch comprises a micro-switch, wherein when the single switching point is attained, the micro-switch is actuated and functions as a change-over contact.

2. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switching function comprises: a fail-safe switching function or a non-fail-safe switching function.

3. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing, wherein the hybrid pressure switch is located within the housing.

4. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the continuous pressure output signal is output from the hybrid pressure switch.

5. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanical pressure switch switches with a switching pressure comprising a rising pressure or a falling pressure.

6. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hand wheel for adjusting the switching pressure.

7. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic measuring system that outputs a measured pressure scaled to an output signal in a range of 4 mA-20 mA.

8. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic measuring system that outputs a measured pressure via a bus system.

9. A pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
a hybrid pressure switch provides a single switching point; and
a housing, wherein the hybrid pressure switch is located within the housing, the hybrid pressure switch including:
a mechanical pressure switch; and
an electronic pressure sensor, wherein the hybrid pressure switch monitors a media pressure with the mechanical pressure switch providing a switching function and the electronic pressure sensor providing a continuous pressure measurement with respect to the media pressure based on a continuous pressure output signal, wherein the switching function comprises: a fail-safe switching function or a non-fail-safe switching function,
wherein the mechanical pressure switch comprises a micro-switch, wherein when the single switching point is attained, the micro-switch is actuated and functions as a change-over contact.

10. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 9 wherein the continuous pressure output signal is output from the hybrid pressure switch.

11. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 9 wherein the mechanical pressure switch switches with a switching pressure comprising a rising pressure or a falling pressure.

12. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an electronic measuring system that outputs a measured pressure scaled to an output signal in a range of 4 mA-20 mA.

13. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an electronic measuring system that outputs a measured pressure via a bus system.

14. A method of operating a pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
operating a hybrid pressure switch with a single switching point, the hybrid pressure switch comprising a mechanical pressure switch and an electronic pressure sensor; and
monitoring a media pressure with the hybrid pressure switch with the mechanical pressure switch providing a switching function and the electronic pressure sensor providing a continuous pressure measurement with respect to the media pressure based on a continuous pressure output signal, wherein the switching function comprises: a fail-safe switching function or a non-fail-safe switching function,
wherein the mechanical pressure switch comprises a micro-switch, and when the single switching point is attained, actuating the micro-switch as a change-over contact.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising outputting the continuous pressure output signal from the hybrid pressure switch.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising switching the mechanical pressure switch with a switching pressure comprising a rising pressure or a falling pressure.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
outputting a measured pressure scaled to an output signal in a range of 4 mA-20 mA; or
outputting the measured pressure via a bus system.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising outputting a measured pressure scaled to an output signal in a range of 4 mA-20 mA.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising outputting the measured pressure via a bus system.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising switching the mechanical pressure switch with a switching pressure comprising a rising pressure or a falling pressure.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Ruwe Christian
• Lampe Thomas
• Otterpohl Tobias
• Heyen Thomas
• Kucera David

Classifications

• G01L19/14 Primary

  Housings {(G01L19/0007, G01L19/0084, G01L19/0092, G01L19/04, G01L19/06 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H01H9/00

  Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00 · CPC title

• G01L19/00 Primary

  Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluent medium insofar as such details or accessories are not special to particular types of pressure gauges · CPC title

• H01H35/24

  Switches operated by change of fluid pressure, by fluid pressure waves, or by change of fluid flow (wherein the change of pressure is caused by change of temperature H01H37/36) · CPC title