Pressure gauge

Claim 2

In a gauge that comprises a differential pressure capsule having a flexible diaphragm separating high- and low-pressure chambers, said capsule including a housing in which a helix is journaled for rotation about its axis, with the helix having an indicator connected thereto and a magnet for producing rotational movement of said helix in response to linear movement of said magnet alongside the axis of the helix, and a zero datum adjacent to which the indicator is disposed, the improvement wherein: said magnet is mounted on a leaf spring member, said leaf spring member being anchored to said housing cantilever fashion at one end thereof and including a window adjacent the other end thereof, said leaf spring member being disposed to extend generally transversely of the axis of said helix with said helix aligned with said window, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member adjacent said window in magnetic attraction relation to said helix, said diaphragm being connected to said spring member to shift said magnet substantially parallel to the axis of said helix on changes of pressure in one or more of said chambers, an adjustment device for adjusting the spring rate of said spring member and comprising: a threaded member journaled in said housing in substantially parallel closely spaced relation to said spring member adjacent said one end of said spring member and having a threaded portion of same disposed between said one end thereof and said window, and a slide element threadedly received on said threaded portion of said threaded member and extending transversely of said spring member, said slide element having a length that is at least substantially equal to the width of said spring member, and being formed to define a V-shape ridge engaging said spring member, means for setting the indicator on the zero datum, said setting means comprising: a second threaded member journaled in said housing adjacent the helix and including a threaded portion extending parallel to the helix, a second slide element threadedly received on said second threaded member threaded portion, means for maintaining said second slide element against rotation of said second threaded member, said second threaded member being disposed in substantial alignment with the other end of said spring member, and a tension spring connected between said second slide element and said other end of said spring member, and means for selectively rotating said threaded member.

Claim 3

The improvement set forth in claim 7 wherein: the interior of said housing serves as the low-pressure chamber on one side of the diaphragm, and wherein the high-pressure chamber is defined on the other side of the diaphragm by a dished cover member overlying said diaphragm and secured to said housing.

Claim 4

The improvement set forth in claim 9 wherein: said housing is provided with low- and high-pressure connections on the same side of said diaphragm, said diaphragm having at least one passageway through the rim thereof, one of said connections communicating with the passageway through the diaphragm rim; said diaphragm rim being in fluidtight relationship between said housing and said cover member, and means for communicating said high-pressure chamber with said passageway in said rim including an annular groove in the respective portions of said housing and cover member between which the rim of the diaphragm is clamped, said passageway communicating between said grooves.

Claim 5

The improvement set forth in claim 10 wherein: the annular groove of said cover member is connected by at least one radially directed passageway to said high-pressure chamber.

Claim 6

The improvement set forth in claim 9 wherein: said threaded members are in said low-pressure chamber, and including O-ring seal means about the respective threaded members and in sealing engagement with said housing to seal off said low-pressure chamber at said threaded members.

Claim 7

The improvement set forth in claim 12 wherein: said second threaded member includes a flange thereabout in engagement with an outwardly facing wall of said housing, said flange of said second threaded member and said tension spring serving as the means for journaling said second threaded member in said housing.

Claim 8

In a gauge that includes linear to rotary motion transforming means including a helix journaled for rotation about its axis, with the helix having an indicator connected thereto, a magnet for producing rotational movement of said helix in response to linear movement of the magnet alongside the axis of the helix, and a housing for the helix and magnet, the improvement wherein: said magnet is mounted on a leaf spring member, said leaf spring member being anchored to said housing cantilever fashion at one end thereof, said leaf spring member being disposed to extend generally transversely of the axis of said helix with said helix aligned with said spring member, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member adjacent to and in magnetic attraction relation to said helix, sensing means connected to said spring member to shift said magnet substantially parallel to the axis of said helix and comprising a flexible diaphragm separating high- and low-pressure chambers in the gauge, and an adjustment device for adjusting the spring rate of said spring member and comprising: a threaded member journaled in said housing in substantially parallel closely spaced relation to said spring member adjacent said one end of said spring member and having a threaded portion of same disposed between said one end thereof and said magnet, and a slide element threadedly received on said threaded portion of said threaded member and extending transversely of said spring member, said slide element having a length that is at least substantially equal to the width of said spring member, nd being formed to define a fulcrum engaging said spring member and extending transversely thereof, means for setting the indicator on a zero datum, said setting means comprising: a second threaded member journaled in said housing adjacent the helix and including a threaded portion extending parallel to the helix, means for transforming rotary motion of said second threaded member into movement of said magnet parallel to the axis of said helix to set the indicator on the datum, a wishbone structure having its arms secured to said housing to mount said wishbone structure cantilever fashion to define a projecting end portion, said helix being carried by said wishbone structure adjacent said projecting end portion thereof, said wishbone structure including nut means threadedly engaged with said second threaded member to provide said transforming means, said leaf spring member including an off center extension at the other end thereof, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member extension.

Claim 9

In a gauge that includes linear to rotary motion transforming means including a helix journaled for rotation about its axis, with the helix having an indicator connected thereto, a magnet for producing rotational movement of said helix in response to linear movement of the magnet alongside the axis of the helix, and a housing for the helix and magnet, the improvement wherein: said magnet is mounted on a leaf spring member, said leaf spring member being anchored to said housing cantilever fashion at one end thereof, said leaf spring member being disposed to extend generally transversely of the axis of said helix with said helix aligned with said spring member, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member adjacent to and in magnetic attraction relation to said helix, sensing means connected to said spring member to shift said magnet substantially parallel to the axis of said helix and comprising a flexible diaphragm separating high- and low-pressure chambers in the gauge, and an adjustment device for adjusting the spring rate of said spring member and comprising: a threaded member journaled in said housing in substantially parallel closely spaced relation to said spring member adjacent said one end of said spring member and having a threaded portion of same disposed between said one end thereof and said magnet, and a slide element threadedly received on said threaded portion of said threaded member and extending transversely of said spring member, said slide element having a length that is at least substantially equal to the width of said spring member, nd being formed to define a fulcrum engaging said spring member and extending transversely thereof, means for setting the indicator on a zero datum, said setting means comprising: a second threaded member journaled in said housing adjacent the helix and including a threaded portion extending parallel to the helix, means for transforming rotary motion of said second threaded member into movement of said magnet parallel to the axis of said helix to set the indicator on the datum, a wishbone structure having its arms secured to said housing to mount said wishbone structure cantilever fashion to define a projecting end portion, said helix being carried by said wishbone structure adjacent said projecting end portion thereof, said wishbone structure including nut means threadedly engaged with said second threaded member to provide said transforming means, said leaf spring member including an off center extension at the other end thereof, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member extension.

Claim 10

The improvement set forth in claim 7 wherein: the interior of said housing serves as the low-pressure chamber on one side of the diaphragm, and wherein the high-pressure chamber is defined on the other side of the diaphragm by a dished cover member overlying said diaphragm and secured to said housing.

Claim 11

The improvement set forth in claim 8 wherein: said housing is provided with low- and high-pressure connections on the same side of said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a peripheral rim and at least one paSsageway through the rim thereof, one of said connections communicating with the passageway through the diaphragm rim, said diaphragm rim being in fluidtight relationship between said housing and said cover member, and means for communicating said high-pressure chamber with said one passageway in said rim including annular grooves in the respective portions of said housing and cover member between which the rim of the diaphragm is clamped, said one passageway communicating with said high pressure chamber between said grooves.

Claim 12

The improvement set forth in claim 8 wherein: said threaded members are in said low-pressure chamber, and including O-ring seal means about the respective threaded members and in sealing engagement with said housing to seal off said low-pressure chamber at said threaded members.

Claim 13

The improvement set forth in claim 9 wherein: the annular groove of said cover member is connected by at least one radially directed passageway to said high-pressure chamber.

Claim 14

In a differential pressure sensitive device wherein a flexible diaphragm is mounted in a housing with means to apply low pressure on one side of the diaphragm and high pressure on the other side, with the housing including top and bottom members, and the diaphragm including a rim in circumambient relation thereabout, the improvement comprising: high-pressure and low-pressure connections to one of said housing members on the same side of the diaphragm, said diaphragm having at least one passageway through said rim thereof, means for clamping said diaphragm rim between said top and bottom housing members in fluid tight relationship therebetween, means for communicating the space on the side of the diaphragm opposite the side on which said connections are located, with said one passageway in said diaphragm rim, said communicating means including annular grooves defined by said rim and the respective surfaces of the top and bottom housing members between which said rim of the diaphragm is clamped, with said grooves being disposed on either side of said diaphragm, a passageway from one of said connections communicating with the groove of said grooves that is on said same side of said diaphragm, said diaphragm passageway communicating between said grooves, means connecting the other of said connections to said same side of said diaphragm, and means for connecting the other groove of said grooves to the other side of said diaphragm,

Claim 15

In a differential pressure sensitive device wherein a flexible diaphragm is mounted in a housing with means to apply low pressure on one side of the diaphragm and high pressure on the other side, with the housing including top and bottom members, and the diaphragm including a rim in circumambient relation thereabout, the improvement comprising: high-pressure and low-pressure connections to one of said housing members on the same side of the diaphragm, said diaphragm having at least one passageway through said rim thereof, means for clamping said diaphragm rim between said top and bottom housing members in fluid tight relationship therebetween, means for communicating the space on the side of the diaphragm opposite the side on which said connections are located, with said one passageway in said diaphragm rim, said communicating means including annular grooves defined by said rim and the respective surfaces of the top and bottom housing members between which said rim of the diaphragm is clamped, with said grooves being disposed on either side of said diaphragm, a passageway from one of said connections communicating with the groove of said grooves that is on said same side of said diaphragm, said diaphragm passageway communicating between said grooves, means connecting the other of said connections to said same side of said diaphragm, and means for connecting the other groove of said grooves to the other side of said diaphragm,

Claim 16

A differential pressure sensitive device in accordance with claim 12 in which the other annular groove of said grooves is connected by at least one passageway to the space between the diaphragm and said other housing member to form the second mentioned connecting means.

Claim 17

A differential pressure sensitive device in accordance with claim 13 in which: the rim of the diaphragm is clamped in fluidtight relationship between the top and bottom housing members inwardly of the location of said passageway in the diaphragm rim.

Claim 18

In a gauge that includes linear to rotary motion transforming means including a helix journaled for rotation about its axis, with the helix having an indicator connected thereto, a magnet for producing rotational movement of said helix in response to linear movement of the magnet alongside the axis of the helix, and a housing for the helix and magnet, the improvement wherein: said magnet is mounted on a leaf spring member, said leaf spring member being anchored to said housing cantilever fashion at one end thereof and a mounting plate on the other end including a window therein, said leaf spring member being disposed to extend generally transversely of the axis of said helix with said helix aligned with said window, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member adjacent to and in magnetic attraction relation to said helix, sensing means connected to said spring member to shift said magnet substantially parallel to the axis of said helix, and an adjustment device for adjusting the spring rate of said spring member and comprising: a threaded member journaled in said housing in substantially parallel closely spaced relation to said spring member adjacent said one end of said spring member and having a threaded portion of same disposed between sad one end thereof and said window, and a slide element threadedly received on said threaded portion of said threaded member and extending transversely of said spring member, said slide element having a length that is at least substantially equal to the width of said spring member, and being formed to define a V-shaped ridge engaging said pring member, means for setting the indicator on a zero datum, said setting means comprising: a screw member journaled in said housing adjacent the helix and including a threaded portion extending parallel to the helix, and means for transforming rotary motion of said screw member into movement of said magnet parallel to the axis of said helix to set the indicator on the datum, a wishbone structure having its arms secured to said housing to mount said wishbone structure cantilever fashion to define a projecting end portion, said helix being carried by said wishbone structure adjacent said end portion thereof, said wishbone structure including net means threadedly engaged with said screw member to provide said transforming means.

Claim 19

In a gauge that includes linear to rotary motion transforming means including a helix journaled for rotation about its axis, with the helix having an indicator connected thereto, a magnet for producing rotational movement of said helix in response to linear movement of the magnet alongside the axis of the helix, and a housing for the helix and magnet, the improvement wherein: said magnet is mounted on a leaf spring member, said leaf spring member being anchored to said housing cantilever fashion at one end thereof and a mounting plate on the other end including a window therein, said leaf spring member being disposed to extend generally transversely of the axis of said helix with said helix aligned with said window, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring member adjacent to and in magnetic attraction relation to said helix, sensing means connected to said spring member to shift said magnet substantially parallel to the axis of said helix, and an adjustment device for adjusting the spring rate of said spring member and comprising: a threaded member journaled in said housing in substantially parallel closely spaced relation to said spring member adjacent said one end of said spring member and having a threaded portion of same disposed between sad one end thereof and said window, and a slide element threadedly received on said threaded portion of said threaded member and extending transversely of said spring member, said slide element having a length that is at least substantially equal to the width of said spring member, and being formed to define a V-shaped ridge engaging said pring member, means for setting the indicator on a zero datum, said setting means comprising: a screw member journaled in said housing adjacent the helix and including a threaded portion extending parallel to the helix, and means for transforming rotary motion of said screw member into movement of said magnet parallel to the axis of said helix to set the indicator on the datum, a wishbone structure having its arms secured to said housing to mount said wishbone structure cantilever fashion to define a projecting end portion, said helix being carried by said wishbone structure adjacent said end portion thereof, said wishbone structure including net means threadedly engaged with said screw member to provide said transforming means.

Claim 20

The improvement set forth in claim 15 wherein: said leaf spring member includes an off center extension at the other end thereof, said magnet being mounted on said leaf spring extension.