Pressure sensor with a substantially flat overpressure stop for the measuring diaphragm
First Claim
1. A transducer for sensing a magnitude of a first pressure and having a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber for sensing at least the magnitude of the first pressure comprising:
- a housing;
center stop means on the housing and having a substantially flat first face for providing a portion of the first pressure chamber and a substantially flat second face for providing a portion of the second pressure chamber, respectively.first sensor diaphragm means open and responsive to said first pressure supported on the center stop means for enclosing, with the first face, the first pressure chamber, said first diaphragm means having a substantially flat surface contacting the flat first face at a substantially unstressed condition;
second sensor diaphragm means supported on the center stop means for enclosing, with the second face, the second pressure chamber;
passageway means provided in the center stop means for fluidically coupling the first pressure chamber to the second pressure chamber such that when the magnitude of a first pressure exceeds a predetermined magnitude the first sensor diaphragm is supported by the first face of the center stop means;
a filling of substantially noncompressible fluid in the passageway means and in both the first and second chambers to bow both the first and second sensing diaphragm means away from the respective first and second faces with substantially equal external pressures on the first and second diaphragm means; and
sensing means for sensing the deflection of at least one of the diaphragm means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer for sensing pressure has a first and a second pressure chamber for sensing pressure and a center stop which has two substantially flat faces, each face cooperating with an associated sensor diaphragm which forms the first and the second pressure chamber. The two chambers are fluidically coupled together. Each of the diaphragms is responsive to a pressure P1 or P2 respectively and the transducer is easily configured to sense differential, gage or absolute pressure. When the pressure to be sensed exceeds a predetermined value the affected sensing diaphragm is supported by the respective substantial flat face of the center stop.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A transducer for sensing a magnitude of a first pressure and having a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber for sensing at least the magnitude of the first pressure comprising:
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a housing; center stop means on the housing and having a substantially flat first face for providing a portion of the first pressure chamber and a substantially flat second face for providing a portion of the second pressure chamber, respectively. first sensor diaphragm means open and responsive to said first pressure supported on the center stop means for enclosing, with the first face, the first pressure chamber, said first diaphragm means having a substantially flat surface contacting the flat first face at a substantially unstressed condition; second sensor diaphragm means supported on the center stop means for enclosing, with the second face, the second pressure chamber; passageway means provided in the center stop means for fluidically coupling the first pressure chamber to the second pressure chamber such that when the magnitude of a first pressure exceeds a predetermined magnitude the first sensor diaphragm is supported by the first face of the center stop means; a filling of substantially noncompressible fluid in the passageway means and in both the first and second chambers to bow both the first and second sensing diaphragm means away from the respective first and second faces with substantially equal external pressures on the first and second diaphragm means; and sensing means for sensing the deflection of at least one of the diaphragm means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A pressure transducer comprising:
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a plate having oppositely facing generally flat surfaces and an outer peripheral edge portion; a first sensor diaphragm sealingly fastened at its edges to the edge portion of the plate and overlying one of the oppositely facing surfaces, the first diaphragm initially being configured to have a flat face which, when fastened to the plate is substantially contiguous with such one surface; a second diaphragm sealingly fastened at its edges to the edge portions of the plate on the opposite surface of the plate and overlying a fluid passageway defined in the plate said fluid passageway extending between the oppositely facing surfaces of the plate within the space defined by the edges of the first and second diaphragms; a filling of substantially noncompressible fluid filling the passageway and of volume to move both of the diaphragms away from their respective surfaces of the plate to form fluid filled chambers; a housing overlying the first diaphragm and including means to introduce a pressure to be sensed into the housing to tend to deflect the first diaphragm toward the plate which deflection is resisted by the second diaphragm through the incompressible fluid between the diaphragms; and means to permit sensing deflection of at least the first diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification