Active diaphragm seal assembly for pressure measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9766145-B2
Application number	US-201514791380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2015
Priority date	Jul 3, 2015
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A fluid filled pressure measurement system having a pressure sensor or pressure gauge and a diaphragm seal to a process wherein the diaphragm seal is moveable by changing the volume behind the diaphragm seal by the volume member. In a first position the diaphragm seal is seated or is a parked position such that the diaphragm seal is fixed to avoid deformations during cleaning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure measurement system comprising:
a pressure channel system fillable with a fluid;
a pressure sensor or pressure gauge;
a first diaphragm seal arranged between a process in a process containment and a seat formed in or connected to a flange, a cavity being formed between the first diaphragm seal and the seat when the pressure measurement system is in an active operation; and
a volume member adapted to push the fluid from the pressure channel system into the cavity or suck the fluid from the cavity towards the pressure channel system,
wherein the first diaphragm seal is moveable by displacing the fluid behind the first diaphragm seal by the volume member,
wherein the pressure sensor or pressure gauge is connected to the pressure channel system and provides a pressure measurement of the process in the process containment based on a pressure of the fluid, and
wherein the pressure channel system includes at least a first fluid channel and a separate, second fluid channel, the first fluid channel extending from the cavity to the pressure sensor or pressure gauge and the second fluid channel extending from the volume member to either the first fluid channel or the cavity.

2. The pressure measurement system according to claim 1 , wherein the first diaphragm seal is set in the seat by the volume member to avoid deformations during cleaning.

3. A pressure measurement system comprising:
a pressure channel system fillable with a fluid;
a pressure sensor or pressure gauge;
a first diaphragm seal arranged between a process in a process containment and a seat formed in or connected to a flange, a cavity being formed between the first diaphragm seal and the seat when the pressure measurement system is in an active operation; and
a volume member adapted to push the fluid from the pressure channel system into the cavity or suck the fluid from the cavity towards the pressure channel system,
wherein the first diaphragm seal is moveable by displacing the fluid behind the first diaphragm seal by the volume member,
wherein the pressure sensor or pressure gauge is connected to the pressure channel system and provides a pressure measurement of the process in the process containment based on a pressure of the fluid and
wherein the volume member is a second diaphragm which is drivable by pressure or vacuum.

4. The pressure measurement system according to claim 1 , wherein a predetermined and/or optimized working position of the first diaphragm seal is defined by a specified pressure, force or a specified piston position from the volume member.

5. A pressure measurement system comprising:
a pressure channel system filled with a pressure fluid;
a pressure sensor connected to the pressure channel system and providing a pressure measurement of a process in a process containment based on a pressure of the pressure fluid, the pressure channel system being connected to the process containment via a first channel;
a first diaphragm seal arranged between the process and the first channel; and
a second diaphragm seal arranged in a second channel that is fluidically connected with the first channel,
wherein in a first mode, the second diaphragm seal is moved into a first position thereby moving the first diaphragm seal via the pressure fluid into an active position such that the pressure sensor obtains a pressure reading of the process in the process containment, and
wherein in a second mode, the second diaphragm seal is moved into a second position thereby moving the first diaphragm seal via the pressure fluid into a parked position such that the first diaphragm seal is held against a seat formed between the first channel and the process containment, the seat having a majority of its area shaped corresponding to a shape of the first diaphragm seal.

6. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein a flange fixedly holds the seat to the first channel.

7. The pressure measurement system according to claim 6 , wherein the flange is formed between the process containment and the first channel, and wherein the seat is formed in the flange.

8. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein a shut-off valve is formed in the second channel between the second diaphragm seal and the first channel, the shut-off valve isolating the second diaphragm seal from the first diaphragm seal and the pressure sensor.

9. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein a cylinder assembly, based upon an activation, moves the second diaphragm seal from the second position to the first position or from the first position to the second position.

10. The pressure measurement system according to claim 9 , wherein the cylinder assembly includes a piston and a piston rod, the piston rod connecting the piston to the second diaphragm seal, and wherein the piston is moveable within the cylinder assembly to be in the first position or the second position.

11. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein a switch operatively engaged with a movement of the second diaphragm seal initiates a zero setting of the pressure sensor upon an activation thereof.

12. The pressure measurement system according to claim 11 , wherein a time delay is set prior to the initiating of the zero setting of the pressure sensor such that upon initiating the zero setting, the second diaphragm seal is fully seated in the first position.

13. The pressure measurement system according to claim 12 , wherein the time delay substantially corresponds to an amount of time required for the second diaphragm seal to traverse from an activation of the switch to being fully seated in the first position.

14. The pressure measurement system according to claim 11 , wherein a stop activates the switch, and wherein the stop is arranged on a pushrod that is operatively engaged with the second diaphragm seal.

15. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein the process containment is a process containment for a brewery, dairy, creamery, chemical plant, or refinery.

16. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein the second diaphragm seal is moved from the first position to the second position or the second position or the first position based on a pneumatic or hydraulic force.

17. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein the pressure channel system is completely sealed.

18. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein the pressure fluid contained in the pressure channel system directly contacts a surface of the first diaphragm seal and a surface of the second diaphragm seal.

19. The pressure measurement system according to claim 5 , wherein the first diaphragm seal and the second diaphragm seal are each connected to a first flange and a second flange, respectively, only in an area of an outer circumference of the first diaphragm seal or second diaphragm seal.

20. A pressure measurement system comprising:
a pressure channel system for transmitting a pressure of a fluid to a pressure sensor or pressure gauge;
a diaphragm for fluidly separating the pressure channel system from a process area, the diaphragm being seatable in a seat located opposite to a side of the diaphragm facing the process area;
a volume adjusting member that is fluidly connected to the pressure channel system and arranged for displacing the fluid in the pressure channel system,
wherein the diaphragm is moveable by displacing the fluid in the pressure channel system by the volu

Assignees

• Wika Alexander Wiegand Se & Co Kg
• Wika Alexander Weigand Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Deane Jason
• Filippi Giovanni
• Kalisch Albrecht

Classifications

• G01L19/0046 Primary

  using isolation membranes (G01L13/026 and G01L19/0645 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01L7/082 Primary

  construction or mounting of diaphragms (of semiconductive diaphragms G01L9/0042) · CPC title

• G01L7/00 Primary

  Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements ({G01L11/004 takes precedence;} transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric {, e.g., photoelectric} or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00) · CPC title