Method and apparatus for forming a reference pressure within a chamber of a capacitance sensor
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a reference pressure within a reference chamber of a capacitive pressure transducer assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a pressure transducer assembly having an aperture;
providing an aperture cover;
depositing a sealing material on at least one of a sealing area that surrounds the aperture and a sealing area of the aperture cover;
positioning the aperture cover in a space that is defined by a guide;
coupling the guide to a portion of the transducer assembly that is adjacent to the aperture;
placing the pressure transducer assembly, the aperture cover and the guide in a pressure chamber of a housing, the aperture providing a fluid pathway between the reference chamber of the pressure transducer assembly and the pressure chamber of the housing;
generating a pressure in the pressure chamber;
rotating the transducer assembly and the guide so that gravity moves the aperture cover towards the aperture;
melting the sealing material; and
allowing the sealing material to cool.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed at methods and apparatuses for facilitating the establishment of a reference pressure within a reference chamber of a pressure transducer. The transducer has a housing and a cover, the housing defining a reference chamber and an aperture. A meltable sealing material is disposed on at least one of the cover and the housing. The apparatus includes a pressure chamber that is rotatable between a first position and a second position, a pressure source that is connected to the pressure chamber, a guide that is attachable to the transducer near the aperture, and a heater for selectively heating the pressure chamber to a temperature sufficiently high to melt the sealing material. The cover is positioned in an internal space of the guide. The guide is attached to the transducer near the aperture. The transducer, cover and guide are placed in the pressure chamber, the pressure chamber is rotated to the first position and a pressure is generated in the pressure chamber via the pressure source. After a reference pressure has been established in the reference chamber, the pressure chamber is rotated to the second position. Gravity causes the cover to move within the space towards the aperture when the pressure chamber is rotated to the second position. The heater then heats the pressure chamber to melt the sealing material. Upon cooling, the sealing material forms a seal that seals the reference pressure in the reference chamber of the transducer.
150 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a reference pressure within a reference chamber of a capacitive pressure transducer assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a pressure transducer assembly having an aperture; providing an aperture cover; depositing a sealing material on at least one of a sealing area that surrounds the aperture and a sealing area of the aperture cover; positioning the aperture cover in a space that is defined by a guide; coupling the guide to a portion of the transducer assembly that is adjacent to the aperture; placing the pressure transducer assembly, the aperture cover and the guide in a pressure chamber of a housing, the aperture providing a fluid pathway between the reference chamber of the pressure transducer assembly and the pressure chamber of the housing; generating a pressure in the pressure chamber; rotating the transducer assembly and the guide so that gravity moves the aperture cover towards the aperture; melting the sealing material; and allowing the sealing material to cool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for facilitating the establishment of a reference pressure within a reference chamber of a capacitive pressure transducer assembly, the apparatus comprising:
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a pressure housing that defines an air-tight pressure chamber, the pressure housing comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, a pressure port and a rotation pin; a support assembly, the support assembly comprising a support bracket having a hole that can accommodate the rotation pin of the pressure housing; a guide frame having a closed distal end and an open proximal end and an internal cavity that extends therebetween; wherein a pressure transducer assembly having an aperture and a reference chamber can be secured in the pressure chamber of the pressure housing and an aperture cover can be disposed in the internal cavity towards the proximal end of the guide frame, the aperture providing a fluid pathway between the reference chamber of the pressure transducer assembly and the pressure chamber of the housing; wherein a sealing material can be deposited on at least one of a sealing area that surrounds the aperture and a sealing area of the aperture cover; wherein a proximal end of the guide frame can be coupled to a portion of the transducer assembly that is adjacent to the aperture; wherein a pressure line connected to a pressure source can be coupled to the pressure port, the pressure source being capable of establishing a pressure condition in the pressure chamber via the pressure line and the pressure port; wherein when the rotation pin is engaged with the hole, the pressure housing can be rotated from a first position to a second position; and wherein a gap exists between the aperture cover and the aperture when the pressure housing is in the first position and wherein the aperture cover moves towards the aperture when the pressure housing is rotated to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for facilitating the establishment of a reference pressure within a reference chamber of a capacitive pressure transducer assembly, the apparatus comprising:
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a vacuum housing that defines an air-tight vacuum chamber, the vacuum housing comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, a vacuum port and a rotation pin; a support assembly, the support assembly comprising a support bracket having a hole that can accommodate the rotation pin of the pressure housing; a guide having a closed distal end and an open proximal end and an internal cavity that extends therebetween; wherein a pressure transducer assembly having an aperture and a reference chamber can be secured in the vacuum chamber of the vacuum housing and an aperture cover can be disposed in the internal cavity towards the proximal end of the guide, the aperture providing a fluid pathway between the reference chamber of the pressure transducer assembly and the vacuum chamber of the housing; wherein a sealing material can be deposited on at least one of a sealing area that surrounds the aperture and a sealing area of the aperture cover; wherein a proximal end of the guide can be coupled to a portion of the transducer assembly that is adjacent to the aperture; wherein a vacuum line connected to a vacuum source can be coupled to the vacuum port, the vacuum source being capable of establishing a vacuum pressure condition in the vacuum chamber via the vacuum line and the vacuum port; wherein when the rotation pin is engaged with the hole, the vacuum housing can be rotated from a first position to a second position; and wherein a gap exists between the aperture cover and the aperture when the vacuum housing is in the first position and wherein the aperture cover moves towards the aperture when the pressure housing is rotated to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for use in constructing a pressure transducer, the transducer having a housing and a cover, the housing defining a reference chamber and an aperture, a meltable sealing material being disposed on at least one of the cover and the housing, the apparatus including:
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a chamber, the chamber being rotatable between a first position and a second position, the chamber being sufficiently large to house the transducer; a vacuum pump connected to the chamber, the vacuum pump being capable of establishing a vacuum in the chamber; a guide disposed within the chamber, the guide being attachable to the transducer near the aperture, the guide defining an interior space sufficiently large for housing the cover, gravity causing the cover to move within the space away from the aperture when the chamber is in the first position, gravity causing the cover to move within the space towards the aperture when the chamber is in the second position; and a heater for selectively heating the chamber to a temperature sufficiently high to melt the sealing material. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for establishing a pressure within a reference chamber of a capacitive pressure transducer assembly, the reference chamber defining an interior volume, an aperture, and a sealing area around the aperture, the method comprising:
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providing an aperture cover; depositing a sealing material on at least one of the sealing area and a portion of the aperture cover; positioning the aperture cover in a space defined by a guide; placing the reference chamber, the aperture cover and the guide in a housing, the aperture providing a fluid pathway between the interior volume and the housing; generating a pressure in the housing; moving the transducer assembly and the guide so that gravity tends to pull the aperture cover and the aperture together; melting the sealing material; and allowing the sealing material to cool. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An apparatus for facilitating the establishment of a reference pressure in a reference chamber of a capacitive pressure transducer assembly, the reference chamber defining an aperture and a sealing area around the aperture, a meltable sealing material being disposed on at least a portion of at least one of an aperture cover and the sealing area, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a substantially air-tight pressure chamber, the housing being moveable between a first position and a second position, the housing being sufficiently large to house the transducer assembly; a guide disposed within the housing for guiding the movement of the aperture cover, gravity tending to cause the aperture cover and the reference chamber to separate when the housing is in the first position, gravity tending to cause the aperture cover and the reference chamber to be brought together when the housing is in the second position; and a heater for selectively heating the housing to a temperature sufficiently high to melt the sealing material. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for establishing a pressure within an enclosure, the method comprising:
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providing the enclosure defining an aperture, a sealing area around the aperture, and an interior volume; providing an aperture cover; depositing a sealing material on at least one of the sealing area and a portion of the aperture cover; positioning the aperture cover in a space defined by a guide; placing the enclosure, the aperture cover, and the guide in a housing, the aperture providing a fluid pathway between the interior volume and the housing; generating a pressure in the housing; moving the enclosure and the guide so that gravity tends to pull the aperture cover and the aperture together; melting the sealing material; and allowing the sealing material to cool. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An apparatus for facilitating the establishment of a pressure in an enclosure, the enclosure defining an aperture and sealing area around the aperture, a meltable sealing material being disposed on at least a portion of at least one of an aperture cover and the sealing area, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a substantially air-tight pressure chamber, the housing being moveable between a first position and a second position, the housing being sufficiently large to house the enclosure; a guide disposed within the housing for guiding movement of the aperture cover, gravity tending to cause the aperture cover and the enclosure to separate when the housing is in the first position, gravity tending to cause the aperture cover and the enclosure to be brought together when the housing is in the second position; and a heater for selectively heating the housing to a temperature sufficiently high to melt the sealing material. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification