Heated pressure transducer assembly
First Claim
1. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
- (A) an external enclosure defining an interior cavity;
(B) a pressure sensor, disposed in one portion of said interior cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port;
(C) controller means, disposed in another portion of said interior cavity, for sensing the parameter value and for generating in response thereto an output signal representative of the pressure at said input port;
(D) first temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said sensor;
(E) second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said controller means; and
(F) thermal control means for controlling said first temperature control means to control the temperature of said sensor at a first preselected temperature, and for controlling said second temperature control means to control the temperature of said controller means at a second preselected temperature different from the first preselected temperature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed heated pressure transducer includes an external enclosure, a first thermal shell housed within the external enclosure, and a sensor housed within the first thermal shell. The transducer further includes a heater for heating the first thermal shell and a control unit for controlling the heater. A tube couples the sensor to a source of heated, pressurized gas and the transducer may further include a tube-heater that is controlled by the control unit for applying heat to the tube. The transducer may also include a second thermal shell housed within the external enclosure with at least a portion of the control unit being housed within the second thermal shell. A heater that is controlled by the control unit may be disposed proximal to the second thermal shell for heating that shell. An auxiliary heater disposed within the first thermal shell for heating the sensor may also be included. Two thermistors may also be included for measuring the temperature of the sensor and the first thermal shell.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an external enclosure defining an interior cavity; (B) a pressure sensor, disposed in one portion of said interior cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port; (C) controller means, disposed in another portion of said interior cavity, for sensing the parameter value and for generating in response thereto an output signal representative of the pressure at said input port; (D) first temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said sensor; (E) second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said controller means; and (F) thermal control means for controlling said first temperature control means to control the temperature of said sensor at a first preselected temperature, and for controlling said second temperature control means to control the temperature of said controller means at a second preselected temperature different from the first preselected temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an enclosure defining an interior cavity; (B) a first heater and a second heater; (C) a pressure sensor, disposed in one portion of said interior cavity proximal to said first heater and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port; and (D) a control unit, disposed in another portion of said interior cavity proximal to said second heater, including signal conditioning means for sensing the parameter value and for generating in response thereto an output signal representative of the pressure at said input port and said control unit including thermal control means for controlling said first heater so as to control the temperature of said sensor at a first preselected temperature, and for controlling said second heater so as to control the temperature of said control unit at a second preselected temperature different from the first preselected temperature.
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16. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an external enclosure, including an aperture, for defining an interior cavity; (B) a pressure sensor, disposed in said interior cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port; (C) a tube for defining a conduit for the vapor or gas to said input port of said sensor, said tube extending through said aperture and having a first end coupled to the input port of the sensor and a second end positioned outside the enclosure; (D) first temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said sensor; (E) second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said tube, said second temperature control means including means, proximal to and in thermal contact with at least a portion of the section of the tube extending between said first end and said aperture, for providing heat transfer with said tube; and (F) controller means for controlling said first and second temperature control means, said controller means being disposed within said interior cavity. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an enclosure, including an aperture, for defining an interior cavity; (B) a pressure sensor, disposed in said interior cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port; (C) a tube for defining a conduit for the vapor or gas to said input port of said sensor, said tube extending through said aperture and having a first end coupled to the input port of the sensor and a second end positioned outside the enclosure, said tube being smaller than said aperture so that there is a gap between said tube and said aperture and so that said tube does not contact said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an external enclosure defining an interior cavity; (B) a thermal shell, disposed within said interior cavity, for defining a sensor cavity; (c) a pressure sensor, disposed within said sensor cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of said gas or vapor at said input port; (D) means for coupling pressurized gas or vapor to said input port; (E) temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said thermal shell, said temperature control means including means disposed proximal to said thermal shell for providing heat transfer with said thermal shell; and (F) auxiliary heater means disposed in said sensor cavity proximal to said sensor for heating said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an enclosure defining an interior cavity; (B) a thermal shell, disposed within said interior cavity, for defining a sensor cavity; (C) a pressure sensor, disposed in said sensor cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at said input port; (D) means for coupling a source of said gas or vapor to said input port; (E) first temperature sensitive means for measuring the temperature of said thermal shell; (F) second temperature sensitive means for measuring the temperature of said sensor; and (G) controller means, responsive to said first and second temperature sensitive means, for controlling the temperature of said thermal shell as a function of the temperature of said thermal shell and the temperature of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an external enclosure defining an interior cavity; (B) a pressure sensor, disposed in one portion of said interior cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port; (C) controller means, disposed in another portion of said interior cavity, for sensing the parameter value and for generating in response thereto an output signal representative of the pressure at said input port; (D) first temperature control means for maintaining said sensor substantially in thermal equilibrium at a first preselected temperature; and (E) second temperature control means for maintaining at least a portion of said controller means substantially in thermal equilibrium at a second preselected temperature different from the first preselected temperature. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) an external enclosure, including an aperture, for defining an interior cavity; (B) a pressure sensor, disposed in said interior cavity and including an input port for receiving a gas or vapor, for sensing the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port as a function of a parameter value that varies according to the pressure of the gas or vapor at the input port; (C) a tube for defining a conduit for the vapor or gas to said input port of said sensor, said tube extending through said aperture and having a first end coupled to the input port of the sensor and a second end positioned outside the external enclosure; (D) first temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said sensor; (E) second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said tube, said second temperature control means including means, proximal to and in thermal contact with at least a portion of the tube, for providing heat transfer with said tube; and (F) controller means for controlling said first and second temperature control means, said controller means being disposed within said interior cavity.
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Specification