High pressure sensor with separate pressure port and housing and method for making the same
AssigneeInvensys Sensor Systems
InventorGregory D. Parker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high pressure sensor is provided with a single-piece pressure port machined from stainless steel and has no internal gaskets or seals. A housing surrounds the pressure port along a portion of its axial length. The housing and pressure port have mating configurations that prevent axial rotation when the pressure port is inserted into the assembled position in the housing. A retaining ring locks the pressure port axially with respect to the housing and is fixed in place by a fixative, such as epoxy.
Claims32
A high pressure sensor comprising:
- a single-piece machined pressure port with a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet at a first end;
- a housing surrounding a portion of the pressure port;
- and
- a biasing element between the pressure port and the housing that axially locks the pressure port with respect to the housing, the housing being further mechanically coupled to the pressure port such that the pressure port is also rotationally locked with respect to the housing.
A pressure sensor comprising:
- a pressure port having first and second ends and a fluid chamber extending through the pressure port and opening at a pressure inlet at the second end of the pressure port and terminating at an integral diaphragm at the first end of the pressure port;
- a housing having a central opening that surrounds the outer circumference of the pressure port along only a portion of the axial length of the pressure port;
- an axially-biasing retaining element between the housing and pressure port that axially locks the pressure port relative to the housing;
- and
- a fixative that covers the retaining element to lock the retaining element in place;
- wherein the pressure port has a first section with an outer circumference configured to mate with the inner circumference of a first section of the central opening of the housing to prevent relative rotation between the pressure port and the housing.
The pressure sensor of clam 17, wherein the pressure port is made of a high strength material and the housing is made of a lower strength material.
A method of forming a high pressure sensor, comprising the steps of:
- forming a pressure port by machining the pressure port from a high strength material stock;
- forming a separate housing from a lower strength material, the housing having a central opening;
- inserting the pressure port through the central opening of the housing with a first section of the pressure port remaining within the central opening and a second section extending externally from the central opening and the housing;
- and
- rotationally and axially locking the pressure port to the housing, including biasing the pressure port axially with respect to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.