SENSOR PORT INSERT APPARATUS

• US 20130219707A1
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Sui, Lei, Mollo, Nicholas Joseph, McDonald, Benjamin Edward, Nguyen, Toan Huu, Feldman, Solomon, Barsukov, Mykhaylo, Hobbs, Nicholas Anderson, Devkar, Ganesh, True, John Austin
• Granted Patent: US 8,844,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/729
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/14 Casings, e.g. of special material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3662 With gauge or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49007 Indicating transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

An insert apparatus for installing a transducer assembly in a sensor port of a flow cell is disclosed. The transducer assembly is installed in the cavity of the insert body without the use of glues or adhesives to bond the transducer assembly to the cavity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for installing a transducer assembly in a sensor port of a flow cell comprising:

an insert body configured for insertion into the sensor port, the insert body defines a cavity having a opening located at a first end of the insert body and an ultrasonic buffer at a second end of the insert body;

a transducer assembly located in the cavity of the insert body, the transducer assembly comprises a housing having a first end, a second end proximate to the ultrasonic buffer opposite of the first end of the housing, and a piezoelectric crystal located in the second end of the housing;

a holding nut located in the cavity proximate to the first end of the housing applying a compressive force to the housing to keep the second end of the housing proximate to the ultrasonic buffer;

a coupling material in fluid form located in an area between the second end of the housing and the ultrasonic buffer; and

a first o-ring located in the cavity proximate to the housing to assist in preventing the leakage of the coupling material from the area between the housing and the ultrasonic buffer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first o-ring is located between the second end of the housing and the ultrasonic buffer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first o-ring wraps around the second end of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first o-ring is located in a groove in the second end of the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a groove in the cavity on the ultrasonic buffer, wherein the first o-ring is located in the groove.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a groove in the cavity proximate to the second end of the housing, wherein the first o-ring is located in the groove.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a groove in the cavity proximate to the first end of the housing, wherein the first o-ring is located in the groove.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first o-ring is located between the holding nut and the first end of the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling material is a liquid or a gel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling material is a composition including a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicon.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second o-ring between the holding nut and the first end of the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a disc spring between the holding nut and the first end of the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the disc spring is a Belleville washer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the housing comprises a back stem.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding nut comprises an external surface that includes threads designed to be engaged with an interior threaded surface of the insert body.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert body has an external surface comprising threads designed to be engaged with an interior threaded surface of the sensor port.

17. An apparatus for installing a transducer assembly in a sensor port of a flow cell comprising:

an insert body configured for insertion into the sensor port, the insert body defines a cavity having a opening located at a first end of the insert body and an ultrasonic buffer at a second end of the insert body;

a transducer assembly located in the cavity of the insert body, the transducer assembly comprises a housing having a first end, a second end having an exterior surface in contact with an interior surface of the ultrasonic buffer opposite of the first end of the housing, and a piezoelectric crystal located proximate to the interior surface of the second end of the housing; and

a holding nut located in the cavity proximate to the first end of the housing applying a compressive force to the housing to keep the second end of the housing in contact with the ultrasonic buffer,

wherein the exterior surface of the second end of the housing and the interior surface of the ultrasonic buffer are polished to eliminate voids between the exterior surface of the second end of the housing and the interior surface of the ultrasonic buffer when the exterior surface of the second end of the housing is in contact with the interior surface of the buffer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a second o-ring between the holding nut and the first end of the housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a disc spring between the holding nut and the first end of the housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the disc spring is a Belleville washer.