Fluid sensor assembly

• US 20070062306A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Beckwith, Tim, Johnson, Duane, Krause, Jeffrey, Bias, John, Sciulli, Mark, Morrison, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.520
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0023 for flowthrough systems having a flexible pressure transmitting element

Abstract

A fluid sensor assembly is provided for sensing a fluid property in-line. The assembly includes a body with a port for connecting the body to a fluid line and internal passage connecting the first port to a second port. The assembly also includes a sensor interface portion attached to the body and a fluid sensor that interfaces with the sensor interface portion. The fluid sensor includes a sensing element that communicates with the internal passage via the second port. The sensor and the body are fixably attached by an attaching portion to form a single, integrated part.

Claims

1. A fluid sensor assembly comprising:

a body including a first port adapted to connect to a fluid line and an internal passage connecting the first port to a second port;

a sensor interface portion attached to the body;

a fluid sensor adapted to interface with the sensor interface portion, the fluid sensor including a sensing element in communication with the internal passage via the second port; and

an attaching portion for fixably attaching the fluid sensor to the sensor interface portion to form a single, integrated part.

2. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the attaching portion is an attaching ring.

3. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the attaching portion is an adhesive.

4. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the body includes a third port adapted to connect to a fluid line, the third port being in communication with the first and second ports.

5. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sensor interface portion includes a first flange and the fluid sensor includes a second flange adapted to mate with the first flange.

6. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sensor interface portion is integral to the body.

7. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an adapter attached to the body, the adapter including the sensor interface portion and a through bore, wherein the sensor communicates with the internal passage via the through bore.

8. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 7 wherein the adapter attaches to the body via a counterbore.

9. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fluid sensor is a pressure sensing device.

10. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fluid line is a pressurized air line.

11. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the body is formed by plastic injection molding.

12. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first port includes a push-to-connect fitting for facilitating the fluid line connecting with the first port.

13. A sensor assembly for measuring in-line air pressure, the assembly comprising:

a body having a first port and a second port, the first port adapted to connect to a pressurized air line and the second port connected to the first port by an internal passage; and

a pressure sensor fixably attached to the body by an attaching portion, the pressure sensor being in communication with the internal passage via the second port.

14. The sensor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the first port includes a push-to-connect fitting for facilitating the air line connecting with the first port.

15. The sensor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the sensor and body form a single, integrated part.

16. The sensor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the attaching portion is an attaching ring.

17. The sensor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the body is formed as a tee fitting.

18. The sensor assembly according to claim 13 further comprising an adapter attached to the body, the adapter including flange and a through bore, wherein the sensor attaches to the flange and communicates with the internal passage via the through bore.

19. A fluid sensor assembly comprising:

a body having a first port and a second port, the first port adapted to connect to a pressurized air line and the second port connected to the first port by an internal passage;

a sensor interface portion attached to the body;

a fluid sensor adapted to interface with the sensor interface portion, the fluid sensor including a sensing element in communication with the internal passage via the second port; and

an attaching portion having a first end portion that is deformed to hold the fluid sensor and body together as a single, integrated part.

20. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 19 wherein the attaching portion further comprises a second end portion molded into the sensor interface portion.

21. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 19 wherein the attaching portion further comprises a second end portion, the first end portion being deformed to engage the sensor and the second end portion being deformed to engage the sensor interface portion.

22. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 19 wherein the body includes a third port adapted to connect to a fluid line, the third port being in communication with the first and second ports.

23. A fluid sensor assembly comprising:

a body including a first port adapted to connect to a fluid line and a second port connected to the first port by an internal passage;

a fluid sensor adapted to interface with the body, the fluid sensor being in communication with the internal passage via the second port; and

a means for attaching the fluid sensor to the body to form a single, integrated part.

24. The sensor assembly according to claim 23 wherein the means for attaching the fluid sensor to the body is an attaching ring deformed to hold the sensor and body together.

25. The sensor assembly according to claim 23 wherein the body includes a plurality of ports adapted to connect to a fluid line.

26. The fluid sensor assembly according to claim 23 wherein the fluid line is a pressurized air line and the fluid sensor is a pressure sensing device.

27. A method of sensing a property of a fluid in-line, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a body with a first port for connecting to a fluid line and a second port connected to the first port by an internal passage;

interfacing a fluid sensor with the second port such that the fluid sensor is in communication with the internal passage; and

fixably attaching the fluid sensor to the body to create a single, integrated part.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising the steps of:

connecting a fluid line to the first port such that the fluid line fluidly communicates with the internal passage; and

outputting the sensor signal.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the step of connecting a fluid line to the first port comprises the steps of:

inserting a quick connect fitting into the first port; and

inserting the fluid line into the quick connect fitting.

30. The method according to claim 27 wherein the step of fixably attaching the sensor to the body comprises the steps of:

providing an attaching ring;

positioning the attaching ring over the junction between the sensor and the body;

deforming the attaching ring to hold the sensor and body together.