Gasket having a fiber-optic pressure sensor assembly

• US 7,322,247 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gause, Charles B., Rice, Trevor, Boyd, Clark D., Vicari, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J.
• Application Number:
  US11/224,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 737/05, 737/06, 737/17, 737/53, 737/291, 737/292, 361/283.1
• US Class Current: 73/729.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 23/16 by photoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0039 using photoelectric means

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a stainless steel tubular housing. Within the housing is a polyetheretherketone tube and a sensor. An optical fiber joins the sensor to a transmission cable and is fixedly positioned within the tube. A first end of the housing includes a pressure transmission device or bellows and the second end of the housing is crimped about the tube to fixedly position the tube and the sensor within the housing. The sensor assembly is positioned within a channel of a gasket to obtain pressure data from a combustion chamber. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A gasket comprising:

at least a first layer and a second layer mated to each other wherein at least one of said layers includes a channel formed on a mating surface of said layer;

a sensor assembly received in said channel to collect data;

wherein said sensor assembly includes a sensor positioned within a tube and said tube positioned within a housing, said housing having a first end of a pressure transmission device and a second end sealed about said tube.

2. A gasket, as in claim 1, wherein said gasket is a cylinder head gasket and said sensor assembly collects pressure data from a combustion chamber.

3. A gasket, as in claim 2, wherein said at least first layer and second layer each include cooperating channels for receiving said sensor assembly.

4. A gasket, as in claim 2, wherein said gasket includes an opening and said pressure transmission device of said sensor assembly is positioned at a periphery of said opening.

5. A gasket, as in claim 2, wherein said tube is a thermoplastic tube of polyetheretherketone and said housing is a stainless steel tube housing.

6. A gasket, as in claim 2, wherein said sensor assembly further includes a fluid within said housing for suspending said sensor within said housing.

7. A gasket, as in claim 2, wherein said second end sealed about said tube fixedly positions said tube within said housing and impacts said tube to fixedly position said sensor within said tube.

8. A gasket comprising:

a first layer and a second layer mated to each other wherein at least one of said layers includes a channel formed on a mating surface of said layer;

a fiber-optic sensor assembly received in said channel to collect data;

wherein said sensor assembly includes a fiber-optic sensor positioned within said channel, said fiber-optic sensor assembly includes a transmission device in communication with said fiber-optic sensor.

9. The gasket of claim 8, wherein said gasket is a cylinder head gasket and said sensor assembly collects pressure data from a combustion chamber.

10. The gasket of claim 8, wherein said first layer and said second layer each include cooperating channels for receiving said fiber-optic sensor assembly.

11. The gasket of claim 8, wherein said gasket includes an opening and said transmission device of said sensor assembly is positioned at a periphery of said opening.

12. The gasket of claim 8, wherein said fiber-optic sensor is at least partially disposed within a metallic housing.

13. The gasket of claim 12, wherein said fiber-optic sensor assembly includes a thermoplastic tube of polyetheretherketone sealed to said metallic housing.

14. The gasket of claim 12, wherein said fiber-optic sensor assembly further includes a fluid within said housing for suspending said fiber-optic sensor within said housing.

15. A cylinder bead gasket for an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber comprising:

a first layer disposed proximate a second layer wherein at least one of said layers includes a channel formed on a mating surface of said layer;

a fiber-optic sensor assembly received at least partially in said channel adapted to collect combustion chamber data; and

wherein said sensor assembly includes at least one fiber-optic sensor positioned within said channel, said fiber-optic sensor assembly includes a transmission device proximate the combustion chamber, said fiber-optic sensor is at least partially disposed inside a metallic housing.

16. The gasket of claim 15, wherein said at least first layer and second layer each include cooperating channels for receiving said fiber-optic sensor assembly.

17. The gasket of claim 15, wherein said gasket includes an opening and said transmission device of said sensor assembly is positioned generally at a periphery of said opening.

18. The gasket of claim 15, wherein said fiber-optic sensor includes a Thermoplastic tube of polyetheretherketone disposed at least partially inside said metallic housing.

19. The gasket of claim 15, wherein said fiber-optic sensor assembly further includes a fluid within said metallic housing for suspending said sensor within said housing.