Texas Instruments Corporation

Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Bryan J Dague

Steven Beringhause

Alan G Amore

Robert P Bishop

Douglas B Strott

Daniel Morin

Richard A Stander

Robert Louis Bartosh

John E Brennan

Richard T Gordon

Adam M Haag

John M Armacost

Peter J Tavilla

Richard J Balcarek

A pressure responsive electric switch is described having an elongated base containing an electrical switch and terminals. The base is attached to a sensor assembly which actuates and de-actuates the electric switch in response to pressure to be measured. The sensor assembly has a composite actuator member comprising a plurality of stacked snap-acting disc members which includes at least one snap-acting disc member of a chosen low coefficient of thermal expansion and at least one snap-acting disc member of chosen high coefficient of thermal expansion material so as to provide precise pressure activation/deactivation points over a wide temperature range. In a second embodiment, the composite actuator member includes a thermal adjustment member.

Fluid pressure responsive electric switch

A combined pressure responsive electrical switch and temperature sensor device ( ) is shown comprising a base member ( ) mounting an electrical switch actuatable by a pressure responsive snap-acting disc ( ) attached to a port fitting ( ) having an elongated temperature sensing portion ( &prime;) extending from the fitting within a threaded bore of the fitting adapted to be inserted in the bore of a fluid pressure source nipple ( ). A thermistor ( ) is disposed at the distal end ( &prime;) of the temperature sensing portion and is electrically connected to terminals ( ) of the base member.

Combined pressure responsive electrical switch and temperature sensor device

A pressure responsive electric switch (10) is shown having an improved flexible diaphragm (28) to extend the useful life of the switch particularly when used with fluid media of a corrosive nature. The flexible diaphragm (28) comprises a base layer (28a) of resin having excellent mechanical properties over a wide range of temperature and a first level of fold endurance capability covered on one or both face surfaces with a protective layer (28b) of resin having excellent corrosion resistance capability and a second level of fold endurance capability at least as great as the first level. In a second embodiment, the flexible diaphragm is composed of biaxially oriented polyphenylene sulfide which can be used without additional protective layers.

Pressure switch with biaxially oriented thermoplastic diaphragm

A fluid pressure sensor particularly useful for measuring pressure up to approximately 2000 psi has a hexport (12, 112, 212, 312) formed with a stop surface (26, 326) in a bottom wall (18) circumscribing a fluid pressure inlet (16). A pressure sensing module (22) is received on the stop surface and a distal end (40) of a wall (20, 120, 320) of the hexport is crimped to lock the pressure sensing module onto the stop surface with the stop surface limiting the amount of compression of an O-ring (30) disposed contiguous to and inboard of the stop surface. In one embodiment the crimp is placed directly on a metal ring (38) attached to a plastic connector (32) which in turn transfers the crimping force to the pressure sensing module. In other embodiments (FIGS. 2, 3) the crimp is placed directly in the pressure sensing module to form a subassembly. In one embodiment, a separate sleeve (142) member connects the subassembly to the plastic connector while in another embodiment the connector is provided with an extended skirt which snaps over the hexport to connect the connector to the subassembly. In yet another embodiment, the plastic connector (332) is formed with a strengthening flange (334) received around the pressure sensing module and the crimp is formed directly on the plastic connectors to reduce contact stresses in the crimp and compensate for crimp wall springback.

High pressure sensor apparatus with low cost compact packaging system

A housing member (100, 100', 100', 100'') used to interface with a coupling of a fluid pressure source and to house a pressure sensing assembly is shown having a metallic tubular sidewall with a cylindrical first portion (102), a non-cylindrical second portion (108, 108') and intermediate third portion (112, 112',112') with a plastic body member (114, 114', 114') disposed, as by insert molding, within the tubular sidewall. The plastic body member has a base wall portion (116) extending across the sidewall at the intermediate, third portion (112) and has an elongated portion (120, 120') with a threaded bore. The second portion of the sidewall extends along a longitudinal axis at least as far as the elongated portion of the plastic body member. In one embodiment a metallic insert (152) forms a continuation of the molded plastic thread and in another embodiment inwardly extending groove (160) of second portion (108') of the tubular sidewall reinforces the molded plastic thread. The housing member is adapted to receive a pressure sensing mechanism within the first portion (102) which portion is attached to a connector or the like by clamping the outer distal end (106) thereto.

Condition responsive electrical apparatus having improved low cost

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Norton, MA, United States of America

Bryan J Dague