Pressure sensor, and a method for mounting it

• US 6,658,940 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Inventors: Kastner, Bernd, Burczyk, Dietfried, Flögel, Karl, Woest, Wolfgang, Velten, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/987,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 737/06, 737/15, 737/18, 737/08, 737/27, 737/56
• US Class Current: 73/715
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/003 using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/14 Housings G01L19/0007, G01L19/0084, G01L19/0092, G01L19/04, G01L19/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/147 Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means

Abstract

A pressure sensor element for mounting in a connecting element comprises an isolator body with a laterally projecting membrane. The laterally projecting membrane covering an opening of a passage through which the pressure present at the surface of the membrane is conveyed to a pressure transducer element by means of a hydraulic fluid. In order to mount the pressure sensor element, it is secured in a mounting aperture of the connecting element. The projecting perimeter of the membrane is secured to the surface surrounding the mounting aperture of the connecting element by means of a continuous seam. A membrane type ring in combination with a conventional membrane may be substituted for the projecting membrane, wherein the membrane type ring covers the gap between the pressure sensor element and the adapter element.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor element for mounting in a connecting element, comprising:

a pressure transducer element for outputting a pressure-dependent signal; and

an isolator member, said isolator member having;

an end face, an outer edge defined by said end face, a first opening in said end face, a second surface, a second opening in said second surface, a passage extending perpendicular to the mounting direction of the pressure sensor element from said first opening to said second opening, said pressure transducer element being connected to said passage though said second opening, a diaphragm which seals said first opening, said diaphragm extends radially outward beyond said outer edge of said end face, and a transmission medium in said passage for the purpose of transmitting the pressure present at said diaphragm to said pressure transducer element.

2. The pressure sensor element as defined in claim 1, wherein said isolator member further having:

an axially symmetrical lateral surface with reference to the mounting direction.

3. The pressure sensor as defined in claim 1, wherein said diaphragm is a metal diaphragm.

4. A pressure sensor element for mounting in a connecting element, comprising:

a pressure transducer element for outputting a pressure-dependent signal;

an isolator member, said isolator member having;

an end face, an outer edge defined by said end face, a first opening in said end face, a second surface, a second opening in said second surface, a passage extending perpendicular to the mounting direction of the pressure sensor element from said first opening to said second opening, said pressure transducer element being connected to said passage through said second opening, a diaphragm which seals said first opening, said diaphragm extends radially outward beyond said outer edge of said end face, and a transmission medium in said passage for the purpose of transmitting the pressure present at said diaphragm to said pressure transducer element; and

a pressure sensor element, wherein said diaphragm is connected to said end face along an inherently closed seam of said isolator member.

5. The pressure sensor as defined in claim 4, wherein said inherently closed seam comprises one of:

a welding seam, a soldering seam and a bonding seam.

6. The pressure sensor as defined in claim 4, wherein said isolator member further has a cutout defined by said end face, which cutout is completely enclosed by said inherently closed seam.

7. The pressure sensor as defined in claim 4, wherein outwardly of said inherently closed seam, said diaphragm has at least one of:

an inherently closed reinforcing fin, a groove and a bulge which surrounds said inherently closed seam.

8. A pressure sensor arrangement, comprising:

a pressure sensor element having;

a pressure transducer; and

an isolator member;

said isolator member having an end face; and

a connecting element defining a surface with an edge region and an opening extending from said surface, wherein;

said pressure sensor element being fixed in said opening in such a way that said end face lies in a plane with said edge region and about said opening,

a projecting region of said diaphragm is connected to said edge region along an inherently closed connecting seam about said opening.

9. The pressure sensor arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said connecting seam comprises one of:

a welding seam, a soldering seam and an adhesive seam.

10. The pressure sensor arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein:

said opening defines an inner wall and said isolator member defines a lateral surface, both of which have threads which are mutually complementary threads.

11. The pressure sensor arrangement as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

at least one anti-rotation means which prevents rotation of the mounted pressure sensor in said opening.

12. The pressure sensor arrangement as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

at least one welded connection between said pressure sensor element and said connecting element, said welded connection being located in a section of said opening remote from said end face.

13. A pressure sensor arrangement, comprising:

a pressure sensor element, having;

a pressure transducer element for outputting a pressure-dependent signal; and

an isolator member, said isolator member having;

an end face, an outer edge defined by said end face, a first opening in said end face, a second surface, a second opening in said second surface, a passage extending from said first opening to said second opening, said pressure transducer element being connected to said passage through said second opening, a diaphragm fastened on said end face along an inherently closed seam, said diaphragm sealing said first opening, and a transmission medium in said passage for the purpose of transmitting the pressure present at said diaphragm to said pressure transducer element;

a connecting element defining a surface and an opening extending from said surface of said connecting element for holding said pressure sensor element; and

a diaphragm ring defining an inner edge region and an outer edge region, wherein;

said pressure sensor element is fixed in said opening of said connecting element in such a way that said end face lies in a plane with said edge region and about said opening, and

said inner edge region of said diaphragm ring is fastened on said end face by means of an inherently closed seam and said outer region being fastened on said surface of said connecting element by means of an inherently closed seam and about said opening.

14. The pressure sensor arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein said diaphragm ring is made of the same material as said diaphragm.

15. A method for mounting a pressure sensor element to a connecting element, the pressure sensor element having an isolator member defining an end face and an outer edge of the end face, and a diaphragm arranged on the end face of the isolator member which extends radially outward beyond the outer edge of the end face, comprising the steps of:

inserting the pressure sensor element into an opening in the connecting element such that the end face of the isolator member and the surface of the connecting element in the region of the connecting element surrounding the opening lie in the same plane; and

fastening the diaphragm to the surface of the connecting element in the region of the connecting element surrounding the opening by an inherently closed seam surrounding the opening.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the seam is formed by one of:

welding, soldering and bonding with an adhesive.

17. The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

precalibrating the pressure sensor element; and

mounting the precalibrated pressure sensor element such that said precalibration is maintained.