Eltek S.p.a.

Giorgio Martinengo

Mauro Zorzetto

Paolo Colombo

Marco Bigliati

Fabio Nebbia

Domenico Cantarelli

Daniel Verner Mueller

Costanzo Gadini

A capacitive level-sensor device, for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, is configured for being installed on the outside of the container, in a position substantially resting against a wall of the container that is made at least in part of an electrically insulating material. The circuit support has, in a sensing region thereof, at least one first plurality of first capacitive elements, which comprise at least one first array of first electrodes, preferably set at a distance apart from one another along a level-detection axis, the first electrodes being made of an electrically conductive material and being arranged at least in part in a position corresponding to at least one first side of a supporting structure of the circuit support. The first electrodes are covered with at least one insulation or protection layer made of an electrically insulating and sealing material, which is selected from materials that include silicon, or its derivatives or compounds, and materials that include fluorine derivatives or compounds.

Device for detecting the level of a medium

A pressure-sensor device () comprises: &#x2014;a pressure-sensitive component (), having a sensor body () that includes an elastically deformable membrane part () and at least one detection element () suitable for detecting a deformation of the membrane part (); &#x2014;a structure () for supporting the pressure-sensitive component (), having at least one passageway () for a fluid of which a pressure is to be measured, the supporting structure () comprising: &#x2014;a supporting body () with respect to which the sensor body () is positioned in such a way that its membrane part () is exposed to the fluid exiting the at least one passageway (), the supporting body () having at least one through cavity (), &#x2014;at least one compressible element (), which is configured for compensating possible variations of volume of the fluid and which delimits at least in part at least one respective duct for the fluid () having an inlet end and an outlet end. The supporting body () has a first body portion () comprising a transverse wall () of the through cavity (), defined in which is at least one first passage (-), and the passageway () for the fluid comprises the at least one duct () of the at least one compressible element () and the at least one first passage (-) of the through wall (). The at least one first passage (-) has at least one respective inlet () and at least one respective outlet (), at least one of the at least one inlet () and the at least one outlet () being in fluid communication with the at least one duct (). The at least one inlet () and the at least one outlet () of the at least one first passage (-) are arranged so as to define a tortuous path for the fluid, the at least one inlet () and the at least one outlet () being in particular arranged in positions staggered in a lateral direction.

Sensor device, in particular a pressure sensor

A capacitive level sensor device, for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, comprises a circuit support, which extends longitudinally substantially according to level-detection axis. The circuit support has, in a detection region thereof, at least one first plurality of first capacitive elements, which comprise at least one first array of first electrodes, preferably spaced from one another along the level-detection axis, which are arranged in a position corresponding to at least one first side of a supporting structure of the circuit support. The sensor device has a casing body which comprises an electrically insulating and fluid-tight detection portion, which covers the detection region of the circuit support. The detection portion of the casing body comprises an overmoulded outer coating, made of a first electrically insulating polymeric material, which defines an outer surface of the casing body designed to be in contact with the medium the level of which has to be detected. Between the overmoulded outer coating and the first electrodes there is set at least one intermediate layer made of an electrically insulating material different from the first material. The at least one intermediate layer comprises a layer made of a material selected from among materials that include silicon, or derivatives or compounds thereof, and materials that include fluorine derivatives or compounds.

A capacitive level sensor device, for detecting the level of a medium contained in a container, comprises a circuit support, which extends longitudinally substantially according to level-detection axis. The circuit support has, in a detection region thereof, at least one first plurality of first capacitive elements, which comprise at least one first array of first electrodes (J), preferably spaced from one another along the level-detection axis, which are arranged in a position corresponding to at least one first side of the circuit support. The sensor device has a casing body which comprises an electrically insulating and fluid-tight detection portion, which covers the detection region of the circuit support. The detection portion of the casing body comprises an overmoulded outer coating, made of a first electrically insulating polymeric material, which defines an outer surface of the casing body designed to be in contact with the medium the level of which has to be detected. The first electrodes (J) are enclosed within the supporting structure of the circuit support at least at the detection region thereof, and, at least at the detection region, between the overmoulded outer coating and the supporting structure of the circuit support there is set at least one intermediate layer made of an electrically insulating material different from the first material.

A pressure-sensor device () comprises: a pressure-sensitive component (), having a sensor body () that includes an elastically deformable membrane part () and at least one detection element () suitable for detecting a deformation of the membrane part (); a supporting structure () for supporting the pressure-sensitive component (), having a passageway () for a fluid of which a pressure is to be measured. The supporting structure () comprises: a supporting body () with respect to which the sensor body () is positioned in such a way that its membrane part () is exposed to the fluid exiting the passageway (), the supporting body () having at least one through cavity (), a compressible body (), which is configured for compensating possible variations of volume of the fluid. The supporting body () has a first body portion () comprising a transverse wall () of the through cavity (), defined in which is at least one first passage (-) and at least one second passage (), the at least one first passage (-) belonging to the passageway () for the fluid. The compressible body () is an element over-moulded with respect to the supporting body (), that has respective opposite portions () which extend in positions corresponding to opposite sides of the transverse wall (), and which are connected to one another via at least one intermediate portion () of the compressible body () that that extends through the at least one second passage (). The first body portion () is shaped to define at least one step or one projection or one relief () which determines at least one of: a cross-sectional narrowing of the at least one second passage (), configured to define a corresponding cross-sectional reduction of the at least one intermediate portion () of the compressible body (), and a development of the at least one intermediate portion () of the compressible body () which is generally tortuous or comprises a number of stretches substantially angled to each other.

A pressure sensor device comprises a casing () defining a chamber () and an inlet passage () of the chamber. Accommodated in the chamber () is a pressure sensor () having a sensor body with a cavity and a membrane capable of deformation under pressure action of a fluid present in the inlet passage (). The device further comprises a circuit arrangement () to which the pressure sensor () is electrically connected, the circuit arrangement including a circuit support at least partially accommodated in the chamber (). The sensor body is not rigidly associated to the casing () and/or to other parts of the device (), i.e. it is mounted elastically or in a moveable manner with respect to the casing () and/or to said other parts () inside the chamber ().

Pressure sensor device

A pressure sensor device comprises: &#x2014;a casing () defining a cavity () with an inlet passage (), &#x2014;a pressure sensor () having a body accommodated in the cavity (), for detecting the pressure of a fluid present in the inlet passage (), &#x2014;a circuit arrangement including a circuit support () at least partially accommodated in the cavity () according to a respective laying plane, the pressure sensor () being mounted on the circuit support (). Associated to the circuit support () is a protection body () surrounding the pressure sensor (), the protection body () externally defining a seat for positioning a respective seal member (), in particular a radial seal gasket, intended to cooperate with an internal surface of the casing ().

A pressure-sensor device () comprises: &#x2014;a pressure-sensitive component () having a body, defined in which is a blind cavity, and having a membrane portion (), operatively associated to which is a detection element (R); and &#x2014;a connection structure (), which has a duct in communication with the cavity of the pressure-sensitive component () and is to receive a fluid, a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure () comprises a supporting body () of the pressure-sensitive component (), which defines a respective passage (), and a compressible element () that is designed to be in contact with the fluid and is configured for compensating possible variations of volume thereof. The compressible element () is positioned at least in part within the cavity () of the pressure-sensitive component () and/or in a stretch of the passage () of the supporting body () that is close to the cavity () of the pressure-sensitive component ().

Pressure-sensor device

A pressure sensor device () comprises: a pressure sensor () having a sensor body () defined in which is a cavity () with a bottom surface () belonging to a membrane portion () of the body itself, a detection element operatively being associated to the membrane portion (), a connection structure () having a duct () in communication with the abovementioned cavity (), designed to receive a fluid a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure comprises a body () for supporting the pressure sensor (), defining at least one respective passage (), and one compressible element () designed to be in contact with the fluid and configured to compensate possible volume variations thereof, the compressible element () being positioned at least partially within the cavity (), in such a manner to substantially divide it into two opposite regions. The device () is provided with connection passages () for maintaining different regions of the cavity () in fluid communication, i.e. equilibrate in pressure.

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Casale Monferrato, Italy

Giorgio Martinengo