Composite base for a pressure transducer

• US 5,014,557 A
• Filed: 06/06/1990
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Acustar, Inc. (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Lawless, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/534,580
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 73/756, 73/431, 73/706, 73/707, 73/708, 73/115, 73/719, 73/720, 73/721, 73/DIG. 4, 73/725, 73/726, 73/727, 73/182, 73/754, 338/4, 338/42, 361/283, 310/338
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/143 Two part housings

Abstract

An oil pressure transducer with an improved composite base portion for mounting the transducer to a vehicle engine or the like to receive pressurized oil. The composite base has a skeletal component with a particularly effective configuration to permit sealing with an encircling molded elastomeric portion. In this manner, a highly leak resistant transducer base is produced having a metal portion for convenient threading into a threaded aperture of a vehicle engine and having an elastomeric portion adapted for ready attachment to a remaining portion of the transducer.

Claims

1. An improved composite base for a pressure transducer used to sense the pressure of a fluid, comprising:

a thin walled metal component having a generally cup-shaped configuration with a cylindrical shaped end portion, a midportion and an opposite open ended portion;

means associated with the cylindrical end portion to attach the transducer to a source of pressurized fluid;

the metal component including a radially outwardly projecting flange which extends about the open end creating an annularly shaped structure, the flange having a substantially continuous edge extending in the circumferential direction;

an elastomeric plastic component of the base being hot molded about the metal component, a relatively thick portion of the plastic component located radially outwardly about the edge whereby as the plastic component cools subsequent to being hot molded about the edge, a substantial radially inwardly directed force is produced by the relatively thick portion of the plastic component on the edge for generating a leak resistant seal between plastic and metal.

2. The improved composite base as set forth in claim 1 in which the elastomeric plastic material is a thermosetting type.

3. The improved composite base as set forth in claim 1 in which the edge has a generally rounded configuration in cross-section.

4. The improved composite base as set forth in claim 1 in which the midportion of the metal component is configured with an irregular shape with radially inwardly and outwardly directed portions so that molding of the plastic component thereabout produces a connection therebetween able to transmit significant torque loads between the plastic component and the metal component.

5. An improved composite base for a transducer used to sense pressure of a fluid, comprising:

a thin walled metal member having a generally cup-shaped configuration with a cylindrical end portion, a midportion and an open ended portion;

means associate with the cylindrical end portion for connecting the base to a source of pressurized fluid;

the open ended portion formed by a radially outwardly extending flange portion thus creating an annularly shaped end, the flange defining a substantially continuous edge in the circumferential direction;

an elastomeric plastic member of the composite base hot molded about the midportion and open ended portion of the metal component, a relatively thick band of the plastic material encircling the edge whereby as the hot plastic cools subsequent to being molded about the edge, a strong radially inwardly directed force of plastic against metal is produced against the edge to generate a substantial sealing engagement therebetween for preventing fluid leakage between plastic and metal.

6. The improved composite base as set forth in claim 5 in which the elastomeric plastic material is a thermosetting type.

7. The improved composite base as set forth in claim 5 in which the edge has a generally rounded configuration in cross-section.

8. The improved composite base as set forth in claim 5 in which the midportion of the metal component is configured with an irregular shape with radially inwardly and outwardly directed portions so that molding of the plastic component thereabout produces a connection therebetween able to transmit significant torque loads between the plastic component and the metal component.

9. An improved composite base component for a transducer used to sense pressure of a fluid, comprising:

a thin walled metal member having a generally cup-shaped configuration with a cylindrical end portion, a midportion and an open ended portion;

means associated with the cylindrical end portion for connecting the base to a source of pressurized fluid;

the open ended portion being formed by a radially outwardly extending flange thus creating an annularly shaped end, the flange defining a substantially continuous edge in the circumferential direction;

an irregularly configured midportion characterized by alternately inwardly and outwardly directed features in the circumferential direction;

an elastomeric plastic component of the composite base being hot molded about the midportion and open ended portion of the metal component, a relatively thick band of plastic material encircling the edge whereby as the hot plastic cools subsequent to molding, a strong radially inward force is developed between the plastic and the edge thereby forming a good fluid leak resistant seal;

plastic material further being molded about the irregularly shaped midportion so that plastic extends between the inwardly and outwardly directed features whereby a strong mechanical connection is formed between the plastic and metal able to transmit significant torque loads between plastic and metal components.