Process pressure transmitter with polymer seal

• US 10,378,984 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Li, Baogang
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Andre J
• Application Number:
  US15/500,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20180245998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 73723, 73756, 73820
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0007 Fluidic connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/003 using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0046 using isolation membranes G01L13/026 and G01L19/0645 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/14 Housings G01L19/0007, G01L19/0084, G01L19/0092, G01L19/04, G01L19/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/147 Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/00 Measuring steady of quasi-steady pressure of fluid or fluent solid material by electric or magnetic pressure-sensitive elements G01L11/004 takes precedence; Transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements, used to measure the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or fluent solid material, by electric or magnetic means measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0041 Transmitting or indicating the displacement of flexible diaphragms

Abstract

A process pressure transmitter system includes a process pressure transmitter housing and a process pressure sensor in the process pressure transmitter housing. A metal flange is configured to mount to a process vessel which carries a process fluid. An isolation diaphragm attaches to the metal flange and is exposed to the process fluid through an opening in the process vessel. The isolation diaphragm comprises a polymer diaphragm bonded to a metal face of the metal flange. A capillary passageway carries a fill fluid from the isolation diaphragm to thereby convey a process pressure to the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A process pressure transmitter system, comprising:

a process pressure transmitter housing;

a process pressure sensor in the process pressure transmitter housing;

a metal flange configured to mount to a process vessel which carries a process fluid; and

an isolation diaphragm attached to the metal flange and exposed to the process fluid through an opening in the process vessel, the isolation diaphragm comprising a polymer diaphragm gasket surface area bonded to a structured joining zone on a metal face of the metal flange;

a capillary passageway which carries a fill fluid from the isolation diaphragm to thereby convey a process pressure to the pressure sensor.

2. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the metal flange comprises a remote seal.

3. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm is welded to the face of the metal flange.

4. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm is bonded to the metal face using a laser bond.

5. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 4 wherein the laser bond comprises a laser transmission bond.

6. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 4 wherein the laser bond comprises a laser heat conduction bond.

7. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm is bonded to the metal face of the metal flange by an ultrasonic bond.

8. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm is bonded to the metal face of the metal flange by an induction bond.

9. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the structured region is configured to promote bonding between the polymer diaphragm and the metal face.

10. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 9 wherein the structured joining region is fabricated by a microstructure treatment.

11. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 10 wherein the microstructure treatment comprises a laser treatment.

12. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 9 wherein the structured region comprises a laser structured region.

13. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the laser structure comprises microstructures.

14. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm has a thickness which varies.

15. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the polymer diaphragm is thinner near a central region of the polymer diaphragm and thicker proximate an edge region of the polymer diaphragm.

16. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 14 wherein the polymer diaphragm comprises a laminated polymer diaphragm.

17. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 15 wherein the polymer diaphragm comprises a multilayer composite diaphragm.

18. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm is coated with a metal film.

19. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the metal film is coated onto on at least one side of the polymer diaphragm.

20. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 17, wherein the metal film comprises a sputtered layer.

21. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 17 wherein the metal film comprises gold.

22. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the polymer diaphragm includes a barrier layer.

23. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 1 wherein the fill fluid conveys the process pressure to a second diaphragm coupled to the pressure sensor through a second fill fluid.

25. The process pressure transmitter system of claim 9 wherein the structured joining region comprises a laser structured region.

24. A method of coupling a process pressure transmitter to a pressure of an industrial process fluid, comprising:

obtaining a metal flange configured to couple to a process vessel, the metal flange including a structured joining region;

obtaining a polymer diaphragm having a gasket surface area;

attaching the gasket surface area of the polymer diaphragm to the structured joining region of the metal flange;

applying a pressure of a process fluid carried in the process vessel to the polymer diaphragm;

coupling the pressure applied to the polymer diaphragm to a pressure sensor using a capillary passageway; and

measuring the process pressure using the pressure sensor.