Pressure transducer with flow-through measurement capability

Abstract

A transducer measures the pressure of a fluid within a hollow conduit, typically one with a circular cross-section, having a central region that is deformed to a non-circular cross-section. This non-circular portion of the conduit displaces radially and repeatably without hysteresis in response to the pressure of the fluid in the conduit in a manner that corresponds to the pressure. A variable capacitor assembly, or a set of strain gauges mounted on the exterior of the non-circular portion, produce an electrical signal proportional to the radial displacement or to the strain, respectively. In one capacitive form, a pair of electrodes are mounted on opposite sides of the non-circular portion formed as free end portions of metallic sheet members with a central channel. In another capacitive form, electrodes are mounted at one or both ends of lever arms which in turn are coupled to the non-circular portion with a set of flexure plates to produce a mechanical amplification of the radial displacement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.