Pressure sensor assembly

• US 20030209080A1
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Romo, Mark G., Sittler, Fred C., Nord, Christina A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0627 Protection against aggressive medium in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/147 Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means

Abstract

A pressure sensor assembly includes an elongate pressure sensor mounted to a sensor mounting block. A protective element covers the elongate pressure sensor to prevent the pressure sensor from contacting process fluid.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor assembly, comprising:

an elongate pressure sensor having a proximal connection end and a distal pressure sensing end;

a sensor mounting block having a first side, an opposed second side and an opening extending therebetween, the elongate pressure sensor extending through the opening;

a seal between the mounting block and the elongate pressure sensor; and

a protective element which covers the seal and at least portions of the elongate pressure sensor to prevent corrosion of the bond due to contact with corrosive material configured to transfer an applied pressure to the pressure sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element comprises a molded material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the molded material is machined to conform to the elongate pressure sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element comprises a metal foil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element comprises an overmolded metal layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal, PTFE, polyethalynes, polypropelynes, Nickel Chromium alloy and Hastalloy.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element includes an electroplated metal layer over the protective element.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protective element comprises a sheath configured to receive the elongate pressure sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including packing material between the sheath and the elongate pressure sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 including a weld which bonds the sheath to the sensor mounting block.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the sheath is sealed with a vacuum.

13. A pressure sensor assembly, comprising:

a corrosion resistant mounting block;

an elongate pressure sensor, the pressure sensor having a proximal connection end and a distal pressure sensing end;

an elongate sheath of a corrosion resistant material open at a proximal end and closed at a distal end carrying the elongate pressure sensor therein, the sheath generally conforming to a shape of the pressure sensor;

a packing material between the sheath and the pressure sensor configured to transfer a pressure applied to the sheath to the pressure sensor; and

a bond coupling the elongate sheath to the mounting block, the bond of a corrosion resistant material.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the bond comprises a weld.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the packing material includes a metal powder.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the metal powder is in a packed state.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the metal powder is sintered.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the packing material seals the sheath.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 including a cap configured to seal the packing material in the sheath.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the packing material includes a binder.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the elongate sheath is selected from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal, PTFE, polyethalynes, polypropelynes, Nickel Chromium alloy and Hastalloy.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the packing material includes a ceramic powder.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the ceramic powder is in a packed state.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the ceramic powder is sintered.

25. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the packing material includes a dielectric powder.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the dielectric powder is in a packed state.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the dielectric powder is sintered.