PRESSURE INDICATOR

• US 3,703,879 A
• Filed: 04/06/1971
• Issued: 11/28/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles K. Jr. Huthsing
• Original Assignee: Charles K. Jr. Huthsing
• Inventors: Huthsing, Charles K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capozi, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/131,821
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 116/34,65,70,114 169/31 73/390,406,409,299,388 340/366,373
• US Class Current: 116/270
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/086 with optical transmitting or indicating means

Abstract

A device for indicating pressure within a pressure vessel comprises a housing having a depression forming interior sidewalls and a bottom wall, window pane means closing an open end of the depression, an elastomeric diaphragm fitted within the housing depression and sealed between the window pane means and the bottom wall to define with the window pane a sealed chamber containing air to form air spring means urging the diaphragm away from the window. Passage-way means direct a pressure source to be measured to a side of the diaphragm opposite the air spring. Upon a sufficient increase in pressure of the source, the elastomeric diaphragm flexes toward the window pane to operate indicating means in the sealed chamber to move the indicating means to a position visible through the window pane, thereby indicating an increase in pressure.

Claims

1. A pressure indicating device in pressure communication with a pressure vessel, said device comprising a housing having a depression forming a bottom wall and interior side walls;

a window pane means closing the open end of said housing;

a resilient diaphragm fitted within said housing depression, said diaphragm being sealed between said window pane means and said bottom wall and defining a first sealed chamber with said window pane means and said interior side walls;

a spacer means mounted within said chamber operable to keep said diaphragm in predetermined spaced relation with said window pane means;

passageway means providing said pressure communication between said pressure vessel and one side of said diaphragm opposite said first chamber;

an indicating means in said first chamber acted on by said diaphragm in response to a change in pressure within said vessel and movable to a position where, in cooperation with said spacing means, it is visible through said window pane means to indicate pressure within the vessel.

2. A device for indicating pressure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said indicating means including fluid contained within, and partially filling, said first chamber and moving upwardly along an inside wall surface of said window pane means in response to action by said diaphragm in response to a change in pressure within said vessel.

3. A device for indicating pressure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said indicating means including a frosted surface formed on said window pane means and confronting said resilient diaphragm;

and wherein said spacing means and said indicating means includes raised portions on said diaphragm projecting toward said frosted surface and movable by changes in pressure within the vessel into contact therewith to be visible through said window pane means.

4. A device for indicating pressure as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said pane means having a substantially transparent, outwardly domed central portion;

and indicia means on said domed portion to indicate pressure levels.

5. A device for indicating pressure as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said spacing means forming a foraminous member interposed between said diaphragm and said window pane means in a manner to prevent said diaphragm from flexing into contact with said window pane means.

6. A pressure indicator device in pressure communication with a pressure vessel, said device comprising a housing means having a closed chamber means therein, said chamber means being bounded in part by a translucent viewing means and in part by a first side surface of a resilient diaphragm;

said resilient diaphragm having a second side surface in said pressure communication with said pressure vessel and subject to the pressure in said vessel;

a spacer means mounted within said chamber operable to keep saiD first side surface of said diaphragm in predetermined spaced relation with said viewing means;

an indicating means in said chamber being acted on by said diaphragm in response to a change in pressure within said vessel to move to a position where it visibly indicates a change of pressure within said vessel.

7. A pressure indicating device according to claim 6 wherein said indicating means includes fluid within said first chamber which is movable in response to movement of said diaphragm to a position where it is visible through said viewing means.

8. A pressure indicating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said spacer means includes a foraminous member in said chamber interposed between said diaphragm and said viewing means in a spaced relation with said viewing means to prevent said diaphragm from flexing into contact with said viewing means.

9. A pressure indicating device according to claim 6 wherein said viewing means has a frosted interior surface and wherein said spacing means and said indicating means includes a raised portion on said first side surface of said diaphragm and raised portion being movable in response to an increase in pressure within said vessel into contact with said frosted surface so as to be clearly visible through said viewing means.

10. A pressure indicating device according to claim 9 wherein said raised portion has a frosted surface contacting legible indicia configuration.

11. A pressure indicating device in pressure communication with a pressurized vessel, said device comprising a housing having a closed chamber means therein, said chamber means being bounded in part by a viewing means and in part by a first side surface of a resilient diaphragm, said viewing means having an inside frosted surface, said resilient diaphragm having a second side surface in pressure communication with a pressure vessel and subject to the pressure in said vessel, said first side surface of said resilient diaphragm having raised indicia means thereon whereby when said diaphragm is acted on by said pressure in said vessel and said indicia means is brought into contact with said frosted surface said indicia means will be clearly visible through said viewing means.

12. A pressure indicating device according to claim 11 wherein said frosted surface is coated with a silicone grease means.

13. A pressure indicating device according to claim 11 wherein said chamber is sealed and has therein a spring means.

14. A pressure indicating device in pressure communication with a pressurized vessel, said device comprising a housing having a closed chamber means therein, said chamber means being bounded in part by a viewing means and in part by a first side surface of a resilient diaphragm, said viewing means having an inside frosted surface, said resilient diaphragm having a second side surface in pressure communication with a pressure vessel and subject to the pressure in said vessel, said first side surface of said resilient diaphragm having indicia means thereon, said indicia means comprising indentations in said first side surface whereby when said diaphragm is acted on by said pressure in said vessel to flex it into engagement with said frosted surface the indented portions will appear frosted and the surrounding areas will be visible through the viewing means so that the indicia will be clearly visible.