Air-in-line sensor
US5177993A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/13
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An air-in-line sensor is provided comprising an adapter for insertion in the fluid line and a sensor housing. The adapter is semi-compliant and includes convex-shaped acoustic coupling surfaces for engaging the straight and rigid transducer sensing walls of the housing. The convex surfaces of the adapter have a larger diameter than the distance between the housing sensing walls and an interference fit results. Due to this interference fit, the shape of the coupling surfaces, the varying thicknesses of the adapter walls and the difference in compliance of the materials of the adapter and the housing, a more uniform contact pressure profile is provided. The upper part of each sensing channel wall in the housing includes a ledge which wipes contaminants from the coupling surfaces of the adapter as it is inserted into the sensor channel of the housing. The inner passage of the adapter in the sensing section is tapered and this shape resists bubbles which may otherwise tend to adhere to the interior surface of the adapter and be detected by the transducers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.