High-temperature pressure sensor

• US 5,488,868 A
• Filed: 05/31/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagase, Kazuyoshi, Ootake, Seiichirou, Hatanaka, Makoto, Ozaki, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Application Number:
  US08/251,688
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 73/723, 73/715, 73/35, 73/115, 73/721, 73/754, 73/708, 73/727, 73/DIG. 4, 310/338
• US Class Current: 73/708
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0681 Protection against excessive heat
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/18 by resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0052 of piezoresistive elements circuits therefor G01L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/006 of metallic strain gauges fixed to an element other than the pressure transmitting diaphragm

Abstract

A diaphragm portion 20 causes deflection, when high-temperature fluid pressure acts on the pressure sensing surface A of the diaphragm portion 20. This deflection is transmitted via pressure transmitting members 7, 8 to a deflection sensing member 6 which generates an electric signal in response to a pressure received.

The diaphragm portion 20 has a recess portion 21 at its center. The recess portion 21 is symmetrical about a central axis of the diaphragm portion 20. A tip end of the pressure transmitting member 7 is brought into contact with the recess portion 21 at a central point. A tapered portion 2d of the diaphragm 20 has a thickness of t₃ which is not larger than the thickness t₁ of an outer peripheral portion 2b or t₂ of a central bottom portion 2c. Furthermore, a heat insulating plate can be provided on the diaphragm to protect the surface A of the diaphragm portion from heat radiation of high-temperature fluid.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor comprising:

a housing having a bore defined by a cylindrical wall;

a diaphragm portion closing an opening of said bore, said diaphragm portion having a peripheral edge portion fixed to said cylindrical wall and a pressure acting surface deflectable in an axial direction of said cylindrical wall, wherein said diaphragm portion is configured to be self-compensating for thermal expansion;

a deflection sensing element provided in said bore; and

a pressure transmitting member interposed between said diaphragm portion and said deflection sensing element for transmitting deflection of said pressure acting surface to said deflection sensing element;

wherein said diaphragm portion is a single element and includes a central bottom portion and an outer peripheral portion connected to said central bottom portion by an annular tapered portion therebetween, wherein said central bottom portion is recessed into said bore relative to said outer peripheral portion located therearound, wherein a thickness of said tapered portion is no greater than a thickness of said central bottom portion and said outer peripheral portion.

2. The high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central bottom portion and outer peripheral portion have surfaces parallel with each other.

3. The high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central bottom portion is symmetrical about a central axis of said diaphragm portion.

4. The high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pressure transmitting member is brought into contact with said central bottom portion at a point.

5. The high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 1, further comprises a heat insulating member for shielding said pressure acting surface of said diaphragm portion.

6. A high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 5, wherein said heat insulating member is a disk-shaped plate connected to and extending parallel to said pressure acting surface.

7. A high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 5, wherein said heat insulating member is a cup having a cylindrical wall with a plurality of openings and coupled with said peripheral end of the diaphragm portion.

8. A high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 5, wherein said heat insulating member is a heat insulating layer coated on said pressure acting surface.

9. A high-temperature pressure sensor comprising:

a housing having a bore surrounded by a cylindrical wall;

a diaphragm portion closing an opening of said bore, said diaphragm portion having a peripheral edge portion fixed to said cylindrical wall and a pressure acting surface deflectable in an axial direction of said cylindrical wall, wherein said diaphragm portion is configured to be self-compensating for thermal expansion;

a deflection sensing element provided in said bore;

a pressure transmitting member interposed between said diaphragm portion and said deflection sensing element for transmitting deflection of said pressure acting surface to said deflection sensing element; and

a heat insulating member, independent of said diaphragm portion, for shielding said pressure acting surface of said diaphragm portion,

wherein said diaphragm portion is a single element and includes a central bottom portion and an outer peripheral portion connected to said central bottom portion by an annular tapered portion therebetween, wherein said central bottom portion is recessed into said bore relative to said outer peripheral portion located therearound, wherein a thickness of said tapered portion is no greater than a thickness of said central bottom portion and said outer peripheral portion.

10. A high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 9, wherein said heat insulating member is a disk-shaped plate connected to and extending parallel to said pressure acting surface.

11. A high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 9, wherein said heat insulating member is a cup having a cylindrical wall with a plurality of openings and coupled with said peripheral end of the diaphragm portion.

12. A high-temperature pressure sensor in accordance with claim 9, wherein said heat insulating member is a heat insulating layer coated on said pressure acting surface.

13. A high-temperature pressure sensor comprising:

a housing having a bore defined by a cylindrical wall;

a diaphragm portion closing an opening of said bore, said diaphragm portion having a peripheral edge portion fixed to said cylindrical wall and a pressure acting surface deflectable in an axial direction of said cylindrical wall, said diaphragm portion including a central bottom portion and an outer peripheral portion disposed around said central bottom portion, said central bottom portion being recessed relative to said outer peripheral portion;

a deflection sensing element provided in said bore;

a pressure transmitting member interposed between said diaphragm portion and said deflection sensing element for transmitting deflection of said pressure acting surface to said deflection sensing element;

a heat insulating member for shielding said pressure acting surface of said diaphragm portion, said heat insulating member being a disk-shaped plate extending parallel to said pressure acting surface and spaced from said pressure acting surface via a shaft portion provided at a center of said pressure acting surface.

14. A high-temperature pressure sensor comprising:

a housing having a bore defined by a cylindrical wall;

a diaphragm portion closing an opening of said bore, said diaphragm portion having a peripheral edge portion fixed to said cylindrical wall and a pressure acting surface deflectable in an axial direction of said cylindrical wall;

a deflection sensing element provided in said bore;

a pressure transmitting member interposed between said diaphragm portion and said deflection sensing element for transmitting deflection of said pressure acting surface to said deflection sensing element; and

a heat insulating member for shielding said pressure acting surface of said diaphragm portion, said heat insulating member being a disk-shaped plate extending parallel to said pressure acting surface and spaced from said pressure acting surface via a shaft portion provided at a center of said pressure acting surface of said diaphragm portion.