Freeze proof protection of pressure sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9534975-B2
Application number	US-201414468047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Aug 25, 2014
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A pressure sensor assembly for measuring the pressure of a first fluid. The assembly having a first housing including a pressure sensing device arranged therein. A diaphragm is arranged on a surface of the first housing and is configured to transmit a force exerted on a first side thereof to the pressure sensing device. A second housing is provided and attached to the first housing. The second housing may be arranged generally circumferentially around the diaphragm. A compressible element is provided and arranged within a compressible element space defined within the second housing. The compressible element is configured to transmit a force exerted thereon by the fluid to the first side of the diaphragm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure sensor assembly for measuring the pressure of a fluid comprising:
a first housing;
a pressure sensing device arranged within the first housing;
a diaphragm arranged on a surface of the first housing and configured to transmit a force exerted on a first side thereof to the pressure sensing device;
a second housing attached to the first housing and arranged circumferentially around the diaphragm, the second housing including a first open end configured to be placed in communication with the fluid to be measured, and a second open end oriented proximate the diaphragm; and
a compressible element arranged within a compressible element space defined within the second housing;
wherein the compressible element is configured to transmit a force exerted thereon by the fluid to be measured to the first side of the diaphragm.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second housing further defines a cavity space arranged between the compressible element space and the diaphragm.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cavity space is filled with an adhesive material.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the adhesive material is configured to isolate the diaphragm from the fluid to be measured.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the compressible element defines an aperture formed therethrough, the aperture having a first end configured to be exposed to the fluid to be measured, and a second end in communication with the cavity space.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 5 , wherein the aperture is filled with an adhesive material such that the fluid to be measured is prevented from entering the aperture.

7. A freeze-proof assembly for a fluid pressure sensor:
a housing configured to cover a sensing diaphragm of a pressure sensor, the housing defining an internal cavity including a compressible element space arranged proximate a first open end of the housing and a cavity space arranged proximate a second open end of the housing;
a compressible element arranged within the compressible element space, and defining an aperture formed therethrough; and
an adhesive material arranged within the cavity space.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the cavity space is arranged between the compressible element and the diaphragm.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the adhesive material is configured to isolate the diaphragm from a fluid being measured.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein a first end of the compressible element is configured to be placed in communication with a fluid to be measured.

11. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the aperture extends between a first end of the compressible element configured to be placed in communication with the fluid to be measured, and a second end in communication with the cavity space.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the aperture is filled with an adhesive material such that the fluid to be measured is prevented from entering the aperture.

13. A method of manufacturing a freeze-proof pressure sensor comprising:
attaching a housing over a pressure sensing diaphragm of a pressure sensor;
inserting a compressible element into the housing;
positioning the compressible element within the housing so as to create a cavity between the pressure sensing diaphragm of the pressure sensor and the compressible element; and
filling the cavity with an adhesive material.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of forming an aperture through the compressible element.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of filling the aperture with an adhesive material.

Assignees

• Measurement Spec Inc

Inventors

• Kachenko Natasha V
• Wagner David E
• Xie Weijun

Classifications

• G01L19/04

  Means for compensating for effects of changes of temperature {, i.e. other than electric compensation} · CPC title

• G01L19/14

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

• G01L19/146

  using flexible element between the transducer and the support · CPC title

• G01L19/06 Primary

  Means for preventing overload or deleterious influence of the measured medium on the measuring device or vice versa · CPC title

• G01L19/0627

  Protection against aggressive medium in general · CPC title