Conditioned isolation elements and sensor assemblies
AssigneeQuartzdyne, Inc.
InventorsNicholas B. Durrant, G. Scott Brown, K. Robert Harker
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Abstract
A method of forming a conditioned isolation element for a sensor assembly comprises subjecting a preformed isolation element structure to at least one thermal annealing process to form a conditioned isolation element structure substantially less susceptible to at least one of hydrogen permeation, hydrogen-based embrittlement, and hydrogen-based stress-cracking. Conditioned isolation elements and sensor assemblies are also described.
Claims18
A method of forming a conditioned isolation element for a sensor assembly, comprising:
- providing a housing structure comprising:
- a threaded stem;
- a sealing element extending from an upper end of the threaded stem;
- and
- a shelf at a lower end of the threaded stem and laterally extending beyond outermost lateral boundaries of the threaded stem;
- welding a bellows structure to a lower end of the shelf of the housing structure to form a preformed isolation element structure;
- and
- subjecting the preformed isolation element structure to at least one thermal annealing process to form a conditioned isolation element structure comprising the housing structure and a conditioned bellows structure comprising an annealed material substantially impermeable to hydrogen ions and resistant to one or more of physical degradation and chemical degradation, the conditioned isolation element structure substantially less susceptible to one or more of hydrogen ion permeation, hydrogen based embrittlement, and hydrogen-based stress-cracking than the preformed isolation element.
A conditioned isolation element for a sensor assembly, the conditioned isolation element comprising:
- a housing structure comprising:
- a threaded stem;
- a sealing element extending from an upper end of the threaded stem;
- and
- a shelf at a lower end of the threaded stem and laterally extending beyond outermost lateral boundaries of the threaded stem;
- and
- a conditioned bellows structure welded to a lower end of the shelf of the housing structure and comprising an annealed material substantially impermeable to hydrogen ions and resistant to one or more of physical degradation and chemical degradation.
A sensor assembly, comprising:
- a conditioned isolation element comprising:
- a housing structure comprising:
- a threaded stem;
- a sealing element extending from an upper end of the threaded stem:
- and
- a shelf at a lower end of the threaded stem and laterally extending beyond outermost lateral boundaries of the threaded stem;
- and
- a conditioned bellows structure welded to a lower end of the shelf of the housing structure and comprising an annealed material substantially impermeable to hydrogen ions and resistant to one or more of physical degradation and chemical degradation;
- a sensor housing threadably coupled to the threaded stem of the housing structure of the conditioned isolation element and exhibiting a chamber in fluid communication with the conditioned isolation element through a channel between the sensor housing and conditioned isolation element;
- and
- at least one sensor within the chamber of the sensor housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.