PRESSURE SENSOR HAVING A COMPRESSIBLE ELEMENT

• US 20140013853A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDK Electronics AG (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Epcos AG (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Wohlgemuth, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/716
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/025 using diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/06 Means for preventing overload or deleterious influence of the measured medium on the measuring device or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0618 Overload protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection

Abstract

The invention relates to a pressure sensor (1) comprising a housing (2) and a chamber (3, 31, 32) which is closed off from the exterior and filled with a fluid medium (5, 51, 52). At least one compressible element (6, 7) for overpressure protection is arranged inside the chamber (3, 31, 32).

Claims

1. A pressure sensor comprising:

a housing which has a chamber which is closed off from the outside and is filled with a fluid medium,

wherein at least one compressible element for protecting against excess pressure is arranged in the chamber.

2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is closed off from the outside by a membrane.

3. The pressure sensor according to claim 2, wherein the housing has a stop for limiting the deflection of the membrane.

4. The pressure sensor according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compressible element is designed to lower a maximum pressure that prevails in the chamber when the membrane bears against the stop.

5. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the total volume of the compressible elements arranged in the chamber is at least 50% of the volume of the fluid medium.

6. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein a sensor element having a pressure-sensitive region is arranged in the chamber.

7. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein the distance of the compressible element from the sensor element is less than or equal to 1000 μ

m.

8. The pressure sensor according to claim 7, wherein the pressure-sensitive region is in the form of a membrane.

9. The pressure sensor according to claim 5, wherein the sensor element has a sensor housing in which a pressure line for directing a pressure onto the pressure-sensitive region is formed.

10. The pressure sensor according to claim 9, wherein the sensor housing has an inner wall which is lined with the compressible element.

11. The pressure sensor according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the pressure line leads through the compressible element.

12. The pressure sensor according to claim 9, wherein the pressure line extends vertically toward the pressure-sensitive region.

13. The pressure sensor according to claim 9, wherein the pressure line extends at an inclination angle toward the pressure-sensitive region.

14. The pressure sensor according to claim 9, wherein the pressure line has sections which have different diameters.

15. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

two chambers which are closed off from the outside and are each filled with a fluid medium,

wherein at least one compressible element is arranged in each chamber, and

wherein the compressible elements are designed such that they decrease their volume when the medium freezes.