Pressure sensor

• US 6,070,469 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Naohiro, Katayama, Shuichi, Hori, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AW MUSSE, ABDULLAHI H
• Application Number:
  US09/149,114
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 73/721, 73/720, 73/715, 73/754, 73/756
• US Class Current: 73/720
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0038 being part of the housing other details about the housing G01L19/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0084 to the outside of the housing other details about the housing see G01L19/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0609 Pressure pulsation damping arrangements

Abstract

A pressure sensor includes a body, a pressure inlet tube housed in the body and having a pressure inlet opening defined therein for introducing oil pressure, and a pressure sensor unit affixed to a proximal end surface of the pressure inlet tube covering the pressure inlet opening to convert the oil pressure to an electrical signal. An oil flow decelerating structure is disposed to a distal end side of the pressure inlet tube for reducing the flow rate of oil.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor comprising:

a body;

a pressure inlet tube housed in said body and having a pressure inlet opening defined therein for introducing oil having an oil pressure, said pressure inlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to each other;

a pressure sensor unit affixed to a surface of said proximal end of said pressure inlet tube and covering said pressure inlet opening to convert the oil pressure to an electrical signal; and

a decelerating device positioned at a distal end side of said pressure inlet tube and comprising a communication wall and a bushing, said communication wall having a stepped cross-section said decelerating device reducing a flow rate of the oil.

2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein said bushing has a hole offset from a center axis of said pressure inlet opening, and said communication wall connects said pressure inlet opening and said hole with each other.

3. The pressure sensor according to claim 2, further comprising a metal filter received in said pressure inlet opening to reduce the flow rate of the oil.

18. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, said pressure inlet opening being in constant fluid communication with a chamber being measured.

4. A pressure sensor comprising:

a body;

a pressure inlet tube accommodated in said body and having a pressure inlet opening defined therein for introducing an oil pressure of a fluid medium;

a pressure sensor unit affixed to a proximal end surface of said pressure inlet tube and covering said pressure inlet opening to convert the oil pressure to an electrical signal; and

an elastic transmission gel accommodated in said pressure inlet opening and in contact with the fluid medium at only one end of said pressure inlet opening for transmitting oil pressure to said pressure sensor unit;

wherein a pressure inlet path defined in said pressure inlet opening narrows progressively toward said pressure sensor unit, and said pressure sensor unit detects the oil pressure through said transmission gel in said pressure inlet path.

5. The pressure sensor according to claim 4, wherein said transmission gel is a silicone gel containing silicone.

19. The pressure sensor according to claim 4, said pressure inlet opening being constant in fluid communication with a chamber being measured.

6. A pressure sensor comprising:

a case;

a sensor unit housed in said case for converting pressure of a fluid mediumn to an electrical signal;

a pressure inlet tube housed in said case for introducing the fluid medium; and

an instantaneous high pressure buffering device disposed inside said pressure inlet tube and comprising a filter that allows the fluid medium to flow therethrough, said device buffering an instantaneous high pressure applied by the fluid medium to said sensor unit,

wherein said pressure inlet path narrows progressively through a stepped cross section towards said pressure unit.

7. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said filter is formed of sintered metallic particles and is disposed inside said pressure inlet tube.

8. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said filter is disposed inside said pressure inlet tube and comprises a metal rod having a knurled surface.

9. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said filter is disposed inside said pressure inlet tube, said filter comprising a metal rod with a plurality of longitudinal grooves on a surface of said rod.

10. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said filter is disposed inside said pressure inlet tube, said filter comprising a metal rod with a screw thread on a surface of said rod.

11. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said filter is disposed inside said pressure inlet tube, said filter is formed by rolling and compressing a metal mesh into a rod shape.

12. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a communication tube having a first end, to which said pressure inlet tube is inserted, and a second end opposite to said first end, and a bushing having an offset hole offset from a center axis of said pressure inlet tube, said bushing being fit to said second end of said communication tube with at least one end thereof held in contact with said filter.

13. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a securing member press fit into said pressure inlet tube for preventing removal of said filter, said securing member being of a tubular shape with a bottom in which a hole is provided for passing said fluid medium.

14. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a securing member press fit into said pressure inlet tube for preventing removal of said filter, said securing member having a flat body and a plurality of tabs integrally formed therewith so as project radially outwardly therefrom.

15. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a securing member having substantially a C-ring shape and being inserted to and engaged with an engaging groove for preventing removal of said filter, said engaging groove being formed in an inside wall of said pressure inlet tube.

16. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said case has an insertion hole defined therein to which said pressure inlet tube is inserted, and said pressure inlet tube is welded around substantially an entire circumference of one end thereof to said case at an opening to said insertion hole.

17. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein said case has an insertion hole defined therein to which said pressure inlet tube is inserted, and said pressure inlet tube is soldered around substantially an entire circumference of one end thereof to said case at an opening to said insertion hole.

20. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, said pressure inlet tube having an opening that is in constant fluid communication with a chamber being measured.