Universal sensor fitting for process applications
AssigneePendoTECH
InventorsJames F. Furey, Dustin James Rekow
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Abstract
A universal fitting for in-line fluid measurement in a process application. The fitting includes an inlet and outlet port and also has a body with a fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the ports. A sensor housing is provided that extends outwardly away from a wall of the body, wherein the housing is sized to receive a sensor assembly, which assembly measures at least one characteristic of the fluid. A base of each housing integrally formed with the wall and including a sensor seat for receiving a portion of the sensor assembly. A probe aperture receives a probe portion of the sensor assembly, each housing having the probe aperture disposed in the wall and extending from the fluid passage through its respective sensor seat.
Claims39
A universal sensor apparatus for in-line fluid measurement in a process application, the apparatus comprising:
- an integrally formed fitting body comprising:
- (i) an inlet port for in-line coupling to the process application;
- (ii) an outlet port opposite the inlet port;
- (iii) a tubular wall extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (iv) a sensor housing extending outwardly away from the outer surface, the sensor housing together with a portion of the outer surface of the tubular wall defining a housing interior;
- (v) the portion of the outer surface forming a recessed sensor seat within said housing interior, the recessed seat having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, the length dimension being longer than the width dimension, the passage extends along an axis and wherein the length dimension is parallel to the axis along which the passage extends;
- and
- (vi) the tubular wall forming at least one probe aperture extending from the fluid passage to the sensor seat;
- and
- a sensor assembly seated within the seat and including a probe portion extending into the aperture, the probe portion including a sensing surface that is exposed to the passage.
A universal sensor apparatus for in-line fluid measurement in a process application, the apparatus comprising:
- an integrally formed fitting body comprising:
- (i) an inlet port for in-line coupling to the process application;
- (ii) an outlet port opposite the inlet port;
- (iii) a tubular wall extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- (iv) a sensor housing extending outwardly away from the outer surface, the sensor housing together with a portion of the outer surface of the tubular wall defining a housing interior;
- (v) the portion of the outer surface forming a recessed sensor seat within said housing interior;
- and
- (vi) the tubular wall forming at least one probe aperture extending from the fluid passage to the sensor seat;
- and
- a sensor assembly seated within the seat and including a probe portion extending into the aperture, the probe portion including a sensing surface that is exposed to the passage, the sensor assembly is ultrasonically welded to the fitting body.
A universal sensor apparatus for in-line fluid measurement in a process application, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor assembly including a first surface and a probe portion, the first surface having a first length dimension, the probe portion extending from the first surface along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the first length dimension;
- an integrally formed fitting body comprising:
- (i) an inlet port for in-line coupling to the process application;
- (ii) an outlet port opposite the inlet port;
- (iii) a wall extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a tubular fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, the fluid flow passage having a second length dimension between the inlet port and the outlet port, portions of the outer surface at different locations along the second length dimension defining different diameter dimensions, a first portion of the wall located to one side of the fluid flow passage and along a central portion of the first length dimension forming a recessed sensor seat having a width dimension and a third length dimension, the width dimension smaller than the third length dimension, the wall further forming at least one probe aperture extending from the fluid passage to the sensor seat;
- wherein, the sensor assembly is received at least in part within the recessed sensor seat with the first surface abutting the sensor seat with the first length dimension aligned with the second length dimension and the second length dimension aligned with the third length dimension and with the probe portion extending into the aperture to a distal end proximate the fluid flow passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.