Pressure sensors with plugs for cold weather protection and methods for manufacturing the plugs

• US 10,488,289 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Inventors: Liu, Luzhao, Hu, Xuan, Li, Yang, Wang, Lei
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Andre J
• Application Number:
  US15/389,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20170292890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/02 Arrangements for preventing, or for compensating for, effects of inclination or acceleration of the measuring device; Zero-setting means for aneroid barometers G01L7/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/04 Means for compensating for effects of changes of temperature , i.e. other than electric compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0672 Leakage or rupture protection or detection

Abstract

A pressure sensor including a housing with a sensing element therein. A communication passageway is formed in the housing. The sensing element is in fluid communication with an outside of the housing through the communication passageway. The pressure sensor is further provided with a compensating structure, so that when a contact force is increased due to occurrence of a volume expansion of a liquid passed into the housing through the communication passageway, the compensating structure is used to compensate the volume expansion. A plug may also be used with the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is such that when the liquid within the pressure sensor has an increased volume due to being frozen, such increased volume can be compensated, so as to prevent the components of the pressure sensor from being damaged.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor comprising:

a housing defining a communication passageway;

a sensing element disposed in the housing, the sensing element being in fluid communication with an outside of the housing through the communication passageway; and

a compensating structure coupled to the housing so that when a contact force is increased due to occurrence of a volume expansion of a liquid passed into the housing through the communication passageway, the compensating structure accommodates the volume expansion for protection of the sensing element,

wherein the compensation structure comprises a second compensating structure configured to control the freezing sequence of the liquid passed into the pressure sensor so that the liquid adjacent to the sensing element is frozen prior to the liquid away from the sensing element.

2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the compensating structure comprises a first compensating structure configured to increase a volume of the communication passageway.

3. The pressure sensor according to claim 2, wherein the housing forms a pressure tube surrounding a portion of the communication passageway and the first compensating structure includes a plug fitted in the pressure tube of the housing.

4. The pressure sensor according to claim 3, wherein the plug is formed with a through-hole or through-channel on a perimeter of the plug which constitutes a portion of the communication passageway.

5. The pressure sensor according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the plug can be deformed elastically to change a volume of the communication passageway.

6. The pressure sensor according to claim 5, wherein an interior of the plug is formed with an enclosed chamber to facilitate deformation.

7. The pressure sensor according to claim 3, wherein the housing defines a groove on an inner wall of the pressure tube so that the groove cooperates with the plug to constitute a portion of the communication passageway.

8. The pressure sensor according to claim 7, wherein a chamber cover is disposed at an end of the chamber adjacent to the sensing element and the chamber cover is configured to assist in fitting the plug into the pressure tube of the housing.

9. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second compensating structure includes a cavity formed between the sensing element and the pressure tube of the housing, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with the communication passageway.

10. The pressure sensor according to claim 9, wherein the cavity has a surface area to volume ratio greater than that of the communication passageway.

11. The pressure sensor according to claim 10, wherein a ratio of the surface area to volume ratio of the cavity and the surface area to volume ratio of the communication passageway is in a range from 1.25:

1 to 3;

1 and the ratio of the surface area to volume ratio of the cavity and the surface area to volume ratio of the communication passageway is about 2;

1.

12. The pressure sensor according to claim 9, wherein a first material used to form the cavity has an average thermal conductivity greater than that of a second material used to form the communication passageway.

13. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the housing forms a pressure tube surrounding a portion of the communication passageway and the first compensating structure includes a plug fitted in the pressure tube of the housing and

the second compensating structure includes a flange radially inwardly extending from the pressure tube, the flange being positioned between the sensing element and the communication passageway to at least partially cover the plug so that a cavity adjacent the sensing element freezes before the communication passageway by virtue of material selection of the flange and the plus, the flange defining a communication hole used to constitute a portion of the communication passageway.

14. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the compensating structure includes a third compensating structure configured to elastically deform to maintain a liquid volume within the pressure sensor, the third compensating structure comprising a mounting member, which is disposed on an outer side surface of the housing, the mounting member being elastic and configured to elastically deform to maintain the liquid volume within the pressure sensor when a force is applied to the pressure sensor due to the liquid volume expansion.

15. A plug for use with a pressure sensor having a housing formed with a pressure tube and a sensing element disposed within the housing, wherein a communication passageway is formed in the pressure tube and the sensing element is in fluid communication with an outside through the communication passageway, the plug comprising:

a body that forms a portion of the communication passageway, wherein the body deforms to compensate a volume expansion when a contact force is increased due to occurrence of the volume expansion of a liquid passed into the housing through the communication passageway, wherein

an interior of the plug is formed with an enclosed chamber;

an annular boss is formed at an end of the plug adjacent to the sensing element, wherein the annular boss is extended outwardly from the plug around the through-hole;

a plurality of ribs are formed in the chamber, wherein the plurality of ribs are extended in an axial direction and in a radial direction of the plug;

a chamber cover is disposed at an end of the chamber adjacent to the sensing element, the chamber cover being configured to assist in fitting the plug into the pressure tube of the housing; and

the through-hole, the through-channel or the groove is elongated.

16. The plug according to claim 15, wherein the plug is removably fitted in the pressure tube of the housing and formed with a through-hole which constitutes at least a portion of the communication passageway;

or the perimeter of the plug is formed with an elongated through-channel which constitutes at least a portion of the communication passageway.

17. A pressure sensor comprising:

a housing defining a communication passageway;

a sensing element disposed in the housing, the sensing element being in fluid communication with an outside of the housing through the communication passageway; and

a compensating structure coupled to the housing so that when a contact force is increased due to occurrence of a volume expansion of a liquid passed into the housing through the communication passageway, the compensating structure accommodates the volume expansion for protection of the sensing element,

wherein the compensating structure includes a second compensating structure configured to elastically deform to maintain a liquid volume within the pressure sensor, the second compensating structure comprising a mounting member, which is disposed on an outer side surface of the housing, the mounting member being elastic and configured to elastically deform to maintain the liquid volume within the pressure sensor when a force is applied to the pressure sensor due to the liquid volume expansion.