Low-cost stainless steel pressure sensor assembly for a pneumatic valve

• US 6,769,308 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies Ip Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pitzer, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US09/667,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 737/15, 737/17, 737/27, 737/56, 731/46, 737/14, 737/06, 338/39, 338/42, 137/226, 137/240
• US Class Current: 73/715
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/14 Housings G01L19/0007, G01L19/0084, G01L19/0092, G01L19/04, G01L19/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0051 using variations in ohmic resistance

Abstract

An improved low-cost pressure sensor assembly incorporates a stainless steel sensor element welded to an outboard face of a stainless steel insert captured in a low-cost metal pressure port adapted for attachment to a pneumatic valve. The pressure port includes outboard and inboard cavities separated by neck portion; the stainless steel insert is captured in the outboard cavity, while the inboard cavity is adapted for attachment to the pneumatic valve. The stainless steel insert includes a base portion that seats against an O-ring in a floor of the outboard cavity, and a stem portion within the O-ring that extends axially through the neck portion of the pressure port and into its inboard cavity. The insert has a first bore that extends axially from its outboard face into, but not through, the stem portion, and a second bore that intersects the first bore and opens into the inboard cavity of the pressure port. When the pressure port is attached to the pneumatic valve, the stem portion of the insert depresses a spring-biased plunger that opens the valve, and fluid (gas or liquid) escaping through the open valve is placed in direct communication with the sensor element via the first and second bores of the stainless steel insert.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor assembly for attachment to a pneumatic valve having a depressible plunger, comprising:

a pressure port having outboard and inboard cavities coupled by a central axial passage, the inboard cavity having an internal threaded surface for attachment to an exterior periphery of said pneumatic valve;

an O-ring disposed in said outboard cavity;

a stainless steel insert captured within said outboard cavity and sealed against a floor of said outboard cavity by said O-ring, a stem portion that extends through said axial passage and into said inboard cavity, depressing the plunger of said pneumatic valve, a first bore extending axially from an outboard face of said insert into, but not through, said stem portion, and a second bore intersecting the first bore and opening into said inboard cavity; and

a stainless steel pressure sensor element welded to the outboard face of said insert, placing an interior periphery of the pneumatic valve in direct communication with the sensor element by way of the first and second bores of the stainless steel insert.

2. The pressure sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the second bore is perpendicular to the first bore.

3. The pressure sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said O-ring is disposed in a central annular recess in the floor of said outboard cavity, and the stem portion of said insert extends through said O-ring.