Pressure sensing vessel adapted to be preloaded against a sensor
First Claim
1. In a segment for fluid flow, a pressure vessel for interfacing with a sensor having a sensor surface for pressing against the pressure vessel and establishing a pre-load with the pressure vessel and for transferring fluid pressure of the segment to the sensor, the pressure vessel comprising:
- a hollow crown for engaging the sensor, having a cylindrical side wall, a closed upper end for pressing against the sensor surface and an open lower end formed of a flexible material, within which the fluid pressure is received, the crown portion adapted to be pre-loaded against the sensor surface so that both positive and negative pressures of the fluid pressure within the segment will be communicated to the sensor; and
a membrane peripheral region connected to and extending away from the open lower end of said hollow crown, the peripheral portion suspending the crown so that the crown moves in response to fluid pressure and biasing the crown into contact with the sensor surface to establish the pre-load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pumping segment for incorporation into a fluid delivery system, the segment having a dome-shaped pressure vessel with an optimal shape for interfacing with a pressure sensing element, and which is capable of uniformly distributing pressure across its interfacing structure and being optimally pre-loaded against the pressure sensing element. The pumping segment including a lateral restraint to inhibit rupture of the unloaded pressure vessel when experiencing high internal pressures.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a segment for fluid flow, a pressure vessel for interfacing with a sensor having a sensor surface for pressing against the pressure vessel and establishing a pre-load with the pressure vessel and for transferring fluid pressure of the segment to the sensor, the pressure vessel comprising:
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a hollow crown for engaging the sensor, having a cylindrical side wall, a closed upper end for pressing against the sensor surface and an open lower end formed of a flexible material, within which the fluid pressure is received, the crown portion adapted to be pre-loaded against the sensor surface so that both positive and negative pressures of the fluid pressure within the segment will be communicated to the sensor; and a membrane peripheral region connected to and extending away from the open lower end of said hollow crown, the peripheral portion suspending the crown so that the crown moves in response to fluid pressure and biasing the crown into contact with the sensor surface to establish the pre-load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pressure vessel, in fluid communication with a conduit, for transferring pressure of a fluid contained within the conduit to a sensor having a sensor surface that presses against the pressure vessel to establish a predetermined pre-load so that both reduced and increased pressures of the fluid in the conduit can be detected by the sensor, the pressure vessel comprising:
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a hollow crown shaped for direct contact with the sensor surface and disposed so that the hollow portion receives fluid pressure of the fluid contained within the conduit, the hollow crown having a closed top for direct contact with the sensor surface and a side wall; and a resiliently deformable peripheral region extending from a bottom portion of the side wall of the hollow crown that suspends the crown such that the crown is movable toward and away from the sensor surface in response to the fluid pressure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 10. The pressure vessel of claim herein the peripheral region biases the crown towards the sensor surface to establish the predetermined pre-load.
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21. A pressure vessel, in fluid communication with a conduit, for transferring pressure of a fluid contained within the conduit to a sensor having a sensor surface that presses against the pressure vessel to establish a predetermined pre-load so that both reduced and increased pressures of the fluid in the conduit can be detected by the sensor, the pressure vessel comprising:
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a hollow crown shaped for direct contact with the sensor surface and disposed so that the hollow portion receives fluid pressure of the fluid contained within the conduit, the hollow crown having a closed top for direct contact with the sensor surface and a cylindrical side wall perpendicular to the closed top; a resiliently deformable peripheral region extending radially outwardly from a bottom portion of the side wall of the hollow crown that suspends the crown such that the crown is movable toward and away from the sensor surface in response to the fluid pressure, and that biases the crown toward the sensor surface; a lateral restraint disposed outwardly from the crown by a distance selected to prevent engagement between the crown and the lateral restraint during exposure of the crown to a predetermined range of pressures of the fluid but to engage and support the crown when the pressure of the fluid exceeds the predetermined range; wherein the size of the side wall and the amount of bias provided by the peripheral region are selected to establish a pre-load with the sensor surface that exceeds a predetermined maximum lift-off force that may be generated by reduced pressure existing within the conduit and wherein the cylindrical side wall is sufficiently stiff to prevent it from buckling while undergoing the predetermined pre-load with the sensor surface and while undergoing the predetermined range of increased and reduced pressures of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification