Differential pressure transducer

A differential pressure transducer for measuring a pressure differential between a first pressure source and a second pressure source, the first pressure source having a first pressure and the second pressure source having a second pressure, the differential pressure transducer comprising:

• a displacement element having a first end and a second end the displacement element being constructed and arranged to move in a linear direction in response to the pressure differential between the first and second pressure sources when the first and second ends are subjected to the first and second pressures;
• a sensing element coupled to the displacement element, the sensing element being constructed and arranged to be deflected by the displacement element and to provide a signal that is proportional to the movement of the displacement element;
• and
• a force transfer beam connected to the displacement element and the sensing element, the force transfer beam being constructed and arranged to deflect the sensing element in response to the movement of the displacement element;
• wherein the sensing element includes first and second sensing beams having first and second ends, the force transfer beam interconnecting the first and second sensing beams intermediate the first and second ends, the first and second sensing beams being constructed and arranged to be deflected by the force transfer beam.

A differential pressure transducer for measuring a pressure differential between a first pressure source and a second pressure source, the first pressure source having a first pressure and the second pressure source having a second pressure, the differential pressure transducer comprising:

• a body having first and second plenums, the body being constructed and arranged to be fluidly coupled to the first and second pressure sources so that the first plenum is at the first pressure and the second plenum is at the second pressure;
• a displacement element movably supported between the first and second plenums, the displacement element having first and second ends, the first end being disposed adjacent the first plenum and the second end being disposed adjacent the second plenum, the displacement element being constructed and arranged to move along a displacement axis relative to the body in response to the first and second pressures;
• a deflectable sensing element affixed to an external portion of the body;
• a force transfer beam connected to the displacement element and the sensing element, the force transfer beam being constructed and arranged to deflect a portion of the sensing element in response to the movement of the displacement element;
• and
• a sensor mounted on the sensing element to detect the deflection of the sensing element and to provide a signal in proportion to the pressure differential.

A differential pressure transducer for measuring a pressure differential between a first pressure source and a second pressure source, the first pressure source having a first pressure and the second pressure source having a second pressure, the differential pressure transducer comprising:

• a body having first and second plenums, the body being constructed and arranged to be fluidly coupled to the first and second pressure sources so that the first plenum is at the first pressure and the second plenum is at the second pressure;
• a displacement element disposed between the first and second plenums, the displacement element having first and second ends, the first end being disposed adjacent the first plenum and the second end being disposed adjacent the second plenum, the displacement element being constructed and arranged to move along a single axis relative to the body in response to the first and second pressures;
• and
• a displacement sensing unit connected to the displacement element, the displacement sensing unit being constructed and arranged to respond to the movement of the displacement element to provide a signal in proportion to the pressure differential;
• wherein the displacement sensing unit includes:
• a first sensing beam having first and second ends;
• a second sensing beam having first and second ends;
• and
• a cross beam connected to the first and second sensing beams intermediate the first and second ends and connected to the displacement element, the cross beam being constructed and arranged to move along the single axis with the displacement element and to deflect the first and second sensing beams.

A displacement sensing unit for use in a pressure transducer that includes a housing and a displacement element supported in the housing for movement in response to a differential pressure, the displacement sensing unit comprising:

• at least one sensing beam having opposing first and second ends that are to be connected to the housing;
• and
• a cross beam connected to the at least one sensing beam intermediate the first and second ends, the cross beam to be connected to the displacement element to deflect the at least one sensing beam in a first direction when the cross beam is moved in the first direction by the displacement element,
• each of the at least one sensing beam and the cross beam extending along a respective axis that is transverse to the first direction.

A displacement sensing unit for use in a pressure transducer, the displacement sensing unit comprising:

• a first sensing beam having first and second ends;
• a second sensing beam having first and second ends;
• and
• a cross beam connected to the first and second sensing beams intermediate the first and second ends, the cross beam being constructed and arranged to deflect the first and second sensing beams when the cross beam is moved in response to pressure.

A differential pressure transducer for measuring a pressure differential between a first pressure source and a second pressure source, the differential pressure transducer comprising:

• a housing constructed and arranged to be fluidly coupled to the first and second pressure sources;
• displacement means for transforming the pressure differential into a linear displacement proportional to the pressure differential;
• deflection means for converting the linear displacement to a deflection, the deflection means being connected to the displacement means and to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the deflection means is affixed to an external portion of the housing;
• and
• sensing means for sensing the deflection of the deflection means, the sensing means being disposed on the deflection means.

A differential pressure transducer for measuring a pressure differential between a first pressure source and a second pressure source, the differential pressure transducer comprising:

• a housing constructed and arranged to be fluidly coupled to the first and second pressure sources;
• displacement means for transforming the pressure differential into a linear displacement proportional to the pressure differential;
• deflection means for converting the linear displacement to a deflection, the deflection means being connected to the displacement means and to the housing;
• and sensing means for sensing the deflection of the deflection means, the sensing means being disposed on the deflection means, wherein the sensing means is disposed in a liquid-free portion of the housing.