Optical sensor device for fluid substances having a protection arrangement for compensating increase in fluid volume or pressure

An optical sensor device for detecting at least one characteristic of a fluid substance, the optical sensor device comprising a device body having a fluid-tight space for containment or flow of the fluid substance,

• wherein the device body has a detection portion, mounted at which is a sensitive optical part configured for detecting the at least one characteristic of the fluid substance, the sensitive optical part comprising an emitter and a receiver of an optical radiation,
• wherein the detection portion comprises an interface wall which is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation and has at least one outer surface in contact with the fluid substance contained or flowing in the fluid-tight space, to form therewith a reflection interface,
• wherein the emitter and the receiver of the sensitive optical part are optically coupled to an inner surface of the detection portion,
• wherein the interface wall is shaped to contribute to propagation of the optical radiation by reflection at the reflection interface, from the emitter to the receiver, the optical radiation from the emitter being at least in part propagated through the interface wall as far as the reflection interface, to be reflected by the reflection interface and further propagated through the interface wall towards the receiver, such that the optical radiation is reflected at least in part by the reflection interface with an angle that is variable as a function of the at least one characteristic of the fluid substance,
• wherein the optical sensor comprises an arrangement for protection of the at least one detection portion and/or of at least one part of the device body, the protection arrangement comprising at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation element configured for preventing damage to the device deriving from possible increases in volume or pressure of the fluid substance,
• wherein the device body has a first body part and a second body part coupled to each other in a fixed position and in a fluid-tight way, in a stationary position relative to each other, to delimit therebetween at least one part of the fluid-tight space, and
• wherein the at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation element is permanently mounted inside the fluid-tight space, in a mounting position which is fixed relative to the first body part and the second body part, in such a way that the body of the at least one compensation element is deformed or compressed by the fluid substance which is being contained or flowing into the fluid-tight space upon occurrence of an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance, and
• wherein, upon occurrence of an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance, the at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation element undergoes a compression in a direction opposite to the interface wall.

An optical sensor device for detecting at least one characteristic of a fluid substance, the optical sensor device comprising a device body having a fluid-tight space for containment or flow of the fluid substance, and a detection portion, mounted at which is a sensitive optical part configured for detecting the at least one characteristic of the fluid substance, the sensitive optical part comprising at least one of an emitter and a receiver of an optical radiation,

• wherein the device body has a first body part and a second body part coupled to each other in a fixed position and in a fluid-tight way, in a stationary position relative to each other, to delimit therebetween at least one part of the fluid-tight space,
• wherein the detection portion comprises an interface wall which is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation, and has at least one outer surface in contact with the fluid substance,
• wherein the optical sensor device comprises a protection arrangement including at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation body, configured for preventing possible damage, or deformation, or failure of the at least one detection portion caused by an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance, and wherein the at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation body is permanently mounted inside the fluid-tight space, in a mounting position which is fixed relative to the first body part and the second body part, in such a way that the at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation body is deformed or compressed by the fluid substance which is being contained or flowing into the fluid-tight space, upon occurrence of an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance;
• wherein the interface wall is made of a material selected from cyclo-olefin copolymers or a polysulphone or a polypropylene or a high-density polyethylene or a glass or silica or a material containing silicon;
• wherein the elastically deformable or compressible compensation body comprises an elastomer material or an elastic and/or compressible polymer, having:
• a bulk modulus comprised between 0.1 MPa and 1 Gpa, and/or
• a hardness of between 5 Shore A and 100 Shore A;
• and/or
• a silicone material or a silicone elastomer or a liquid silicone rubber or fluoro liquid silicone rubber;
• and/or
• a polymer co-moulded with, or overmoulded on, at least one part of the device body
• and wherein the first body part forms a bottom of the fluid-tight space, which is opposite to the outer surface of the detection portion, with the at least one elastically deformable or compressible compensation body resting on said bottom, in such a way that the elastically deformable or compressible compensation body undergoes compression towards said bottom upon occurrence of an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance.

An optical sensor device for detecting at least one characteristic of a fluid substance, the optical sensor device comprising a device body having a fluid-tight space for containment or flow of the fluid substance,

• wherein the device body has a first body part and a second body part coupled to each other in a fixed position and in a fluid-tight way, in a stationary position relative to each other, to delimit therebetween at least one part of the fluid-tight space,
• wherein the second body part has a detection portion, mounted at which is a sensitive optical part configured for detecting the at least one characteristic of the fluid substance, the sensitive optical part comprising at least one of an emitter and a receiver of an optical radiation,
• wherein the detection portion is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation and has an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface being in contact with the fluid substance and the inner surface being isolated from the fluid substance,
• wherein the at least one of the emitter and the receiver of the sensitive optical part is optically coupled to the inner surface of the detection portion, in such a way that the optical radiation is at least in part propagated through the detection portion,
• wherein the optical sensor device comprises a protection arrangement, configured for preventing possible deformations of the detection portion or of the device body caused by an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance,
• wherein the protection arrangement comprises at least one compensation element having a body that is elastically deformable or compressible, and is configured for compensating thereby a possible increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance,
• wherein the body of the at least one compensation element is permanently mounted inside the fluid-tight space, in a mounting position which is fixed relative to the first body part and the second body part, in such a way that the body of the at least one compensation element is deformed or compressed by the fluid substance which is being contained or flowing into the fluid-tight space upon occurrence of an increase in volume or pressure of the fluid substance, and
• wherein the body of the at least one compensation element has a cavity for passage of the fluid substance.