Fluid sensor

• US 5,877,411 A
• Filed: 05/16/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Yukihisa, Shibata, Kazuyoshi, Nakao, Shigeki, Namerikawa, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIGGINS, JOHN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/857,337
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 73/64.53, 73/61.49, 73/64.42, 73/61.73, 73/54.41, 73/592, 73/597, 73/599, 73/721, 73/727, 310/311, 310/313 R, 310/330, 310/324, 310/337
• US Class Current: 73/64.53
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0008 using vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/16 by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/015 Attenuation, scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02818 Density, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/036 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/222 Constructional or flow details for analysing fluids optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/002 using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis G01N9/34 takes precedence

Abstract

A fluid sensor includes a base body 2 having a vibrating portion 7, a piezoelectric element 3 which is fixed onto one surface of the vibrating portion 7 and has a piezoelectric film 4 and at least a pair of electrodes 5a, 5b which are disposed in contact with the piezoelectric film 4, an electrode terminal 6 which is disposed on the surface of the base body 2 and electrically connected to the pair of electrodes 5a, 5b, a coating material 8 which is disposed on the surface of the base body 2 in the periphery of the electrode terminal 6; pressure plates 14a, 14b, and a sealing member 12 which is held between the base body 2 and the pressure plates 14a, 14b and formed so as to surround the electrode terminal 6, wherein the electrode terminal 6 is held gas-tightly and/or liquid-tightly with respect to a fluid to be measured by holding the sealing member 12 between the coating material 8 and the pressure plates 14a, 14b.

Claims

1. A fluid sensor, comprising:

a base body having a vibrating portion;

a piezoelectric element which is fixed onto one surface of said vibrating portion and has a piezoelectric film and at least a pair of electrodes which are disposed in contact with said piezoelectric film;

an electrode terminal which is disposed on the surface of said base body and electrically connected to said pair of electrodes;

a coating material which is disposed on the surface of said base body in the periphery of said electrode terminal;

a presser plate; and

a sealing member which is held between said base body and said presser plate and formed so as to surround said electrode terminal where said pressure plate applies pressure to said sealing member against said coating material;

wherein said electrode terminal is held gas-tightly and/or liquid-tightly with respect to a fluid to be measured by holding said sealing member between said coating material and said presser plate.

2. A fluid sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lead wire that penetrates said presser plate;

and an electrode connection member disposed on a top of said lead wire;

wherein said electrode connection member and said electrode terminal are in contact with each other.

3. A fluid sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base body is in the form of a flat plate comprising ceramic material.

4. A fluid sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing member is in the form of an O-ring.

5. a fluid sensor, comprising:

a base body having a vibrating portion;

a piezoelectric element which is fixed onto one surface of said vibrating portion and has a piezoelectric film and at least a pair of electrodes which are disposed in contact with said piezoelectric film;

an electrode terminal which is disposed on the surface of said base body and electrically connected to said pair of electrodes;

a coating material disposed on the surface of said base body;

a presser plate; and

a sealing member which is held between said coating material and at least said pressure plate where said pressure plate applies pressure to said sealing member against said coating material,

wherein said electrode terminal is held gas-tightly and/or liquid-tightly with respect to a fluid to be measured by holding said sealing member between said coating material and said presser plate.