Seal for pressure transmitter for use in industrial process

• US 9,103,739 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Broden, David Andrew, Schwartz, Daniel Ronald, Koehler, Jonathan Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirkland, III, Freddie
• Application Number:
  US14/038,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 737/06
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/06 with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/025 using diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0038 being part of the housing other details about the housing G01L19/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0663 Flame protection; Flame barriers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 2009/0066 Mounting arrangements of diaphragm transducers; Details thereof, e.g. electromagnetic shielding means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/082 construction or mounting of diaphragms of semiconductive diaphragms G01L9/0042
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit

Abstract

A pressure transmitter system for measuring a pressure of a process fluid in an industrial process includes a pressure transmitter having a pressure sensor. A process fluid passageway having a circular opening is configured to couple pressure of the process fluid to the pressure sensor. A concentric seal support structure extends around the circular opening comprising an annular recess. An annular stress riser is positioned radially inward from the annular recess. A seal material fills the annular recess and contacts at least a portion of the annular stress riser.

Claims

1. A pressure transmitter system for measuring a pressure of a process fluid in an industrial process, comprising:

a pressure transmitter having a pressure sensor;

a process fluid passageway having a circular opening configured to couple pressure of the process fluid to the pressure sensor;

a concentric seal support structure which extends around the circular opening comprising;

an annular recess;

an annular stress riser positioned radially inward from the annular recess; and

a seal material which fills the annular recess and contacts at least a portion of the annular stress riser.

2. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the concentric seal support structure includes an annular inner recess positioned radially inward from the annular stress riser and wherein the seal material fills at least a portion of the annular inner recess.

3. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the stress riser applies a preload force to the circular opening.

4. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the stress riser is fabricated by removing material from the concentric seal support structure.

5. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the annular stress riser is formed by a bevel in the concentric seal support structure.

6. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the seal material comprises Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

7. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the seal material comprises graphite.

8. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the concentric seal support structure is formed in a weld ring mounted to a face of the pressure transmitter.

9. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the concentric seal support structure is formed in a face of a process component.

10. The pressure transmitter system of claim 9, wherein the process component comprises a coupling used to couple the pressure transmitter to the process fluid.

11. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the seal support structure is configured to reduce cold flow of the seal material.

12. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the annular stress riser is configured to increase a force per unit area applied to the seal material.

13. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the concentric seal support structure is welded to a body of the pressure transmitter.

14. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, wherein the annular stress riser comprises serrations configured to reduce cold flow of the seal material.

15. The pressure transmitter system of claim 1, including an outer annular stress riser positioned radially outward from the annular recess.

16. The pressure transmitter system of claim 15, wherein the outer annular stress riser comprises serrations configured to reduce cold flow of the seal material.

17. A method of sealing a process variable transmitter having a pressure sensor to a process fluid, comprising:

providing an annular stress riser extending around a process coupling;

providing an annular recess around the stress riser positioned radially outward from the annular stress riser;

placing a seal material in the annular recess and between the stress riser and a process face; and

applying a pre-load force which urges the seal material against the process face.

18. The method of claim 17, including fabricating the annular stress riser using a material removal process.

19. The method of claim 17, including forming the annular stress riser using a beveling process.