Pressure-sensitive switch assembly

Claim 2

A fluid pressure-sensitive switch assembly for measuring pressure of a fluid material in a sealed container and comprising, a body having an enlarged head with a recess formed therein, said head also having a radial flange defining a sealing surface for sealed contact with said container a flexible diaphragm sealingly mounted across said recess for sealingly enclosing said recess, a rod in said body and extending into said recess and rigidly secured at one end to said diaphragm, an electric switch mounted on said body, means whereby said electric switch is engageable for operation by the other end of said rod, and means for mounting said body with said diaphragm in said sealed container and in direct contact with the fluid material to be measured; whereby when said switch assembly is mounted in said sealed contact with said container, said diaphragm flexes in one direction due to pressure of the fluid material, and said rod moves with said diaphragm and engages said switch.

Claim 3

The assembly set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said diaphragm is of corrugated metal construction.

Claim 4

The assembly claimed in claim 2 further characterized in that said rod is welded to the diaphragm.

Claim 5

The assembly set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said switch is encapsulated in said body with an epoxy.

Claim 6

The assembly set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said switch is encapsulated in said body with an epoxy.

Claim 7

The assembly set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said switch is encapsulated in said body with an epoxy.

Claim 8

An assembly as recited in claim 2 including a spring mounted on said rod and acting between said body and said diaphragm for urging said diaphragm outwardly from said recess.

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said body includes a threaded portion, and means threadably engagable on said threaded portion whereby said body can be inserted through a wall for being secured thereto with said head on one side of said wall and said means is located on the other side of said wall.

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said body includes a threaded portion, and means threadably engagable on said threaded portion whereby said body can be inserted through a wall for being secured thereto with said head on one side of said wall and said means is located on the other side of said wall.

Claim 11

An assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said body includes a threaded portion, and means threadably engagable on said threaded portion whereby said body can be inserted through a wall for being secured thereto with said head on one side of said wall and said means is located on the other side of said wall.

Claim 12

An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said body includes a threaded portion, and means threadably engagable on said threaded portion whereby said body can be inserted through a wall for being secured thereto with said head on one side of said wall and said means is located on the other side of said wall.

Claim 13

In a continuous freezer having a sealed freezing cylinder which can be pressurized to thereby force the product in the cylinder out of a serving valve, a pump for intermittently pumping material into said cylinder for being frozen, an electric circuit including an electric motor for actuating said pump intermittently to thereby pump material into said cylinder and build up pressure in said cylinder, an electric on-off switch in said circuit and electrically connected with said motor and for operating said pump, a pressure switch assembly in said circuit for measuring the fluid pressure within said sealed cylinder, said assembly comprising; a body having an enlarged head with a recess formed therein, said head also having a radial flange defining a sealing surface for sealing contact with a wall of said cylinder, a flexible diaphragm sealingly mounted across said recess for sealingly enclosing said recess, a rod in said body and extending into said recess and rigidly secured at one end to said diaphragm, an electric switch mounted on said body, means whereby said last mentioned switch is engagable for operation by the other end of said rod, and means mounting said body in the wall of said cylinder and with said diaphragm in direct contact with the fluid in the interior of said cylinder; whereby when said on-off switch is on to operate said pump and when pressure in said cylinder reaches a predetermined value, then said diaphragm flexes in one direction due to said pressure in said cylinder and said rod moves with said diaphragm and engages said rod-engageable switch to turn off said pump.

Claim 14

In a continuous freezer having a sealed freezing cylinder which can be pressurized to thereby force the product in the cylinder out of a serving valve, a pump for intermittently pumping material into said cylinder for being frozen, an electric circuit including an electric motor for actuating said pump intermittently to thereby pump material into said cylinder and build up pressure in said cylinder, an electric on-off switch in said circuit and electrically connected with said motor and for operating said pump, a pressure switch assembly in said circuit for measuring the fluid pressure within said sealed cylinder, said assembly comprising; a body having an enlarged head with a recess formed therein, said head also having a radial flange defining a sealing surface for sealing contact with a wall of said cylinder, a flexible diaphragm sealingly mounted across said recess for sealingly enclosing said recess, a rod in said body and extending into said recess and rigidly secured at one end to said diaphragm, an electric switch mounted on said body, means whereby said last mentioned switch is engagable for operation by the other end of said rod, and means mounting said body in the wall of said cylinder and with said diaphragm in direct contact with the fluid in the interior of said cylinder; whereby when said on-off switch is on to operate said pump and when pressure in said cylinder reaches a predetermined value, then said diaphragm flexes in one direction due to said pressure in said cylinder and said rod moves with said diaphragm and engages said rod-engageable switch to turn off said pump.

Claim 15

The assembly set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said diaphragm is of corrugated metal construction.

Claim 16

The assembly claimed in claim 13 further characterized in that said rod is welded to the diaphragm.

Claim 17

The assembly set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said rod engageable switch is encapsulated in said body with an epoxy.

Claim 18

The assembly set forth in claim 13 further characterized in that said rod-engageable switch is encapsulated in said body with an epoxy.

Claim 19

The assembly set forth in claim 14 further characterized in that said rod-engageable switch is encapsulated in said body with an epoxy.

Claim 20

An assembly as recited in claim 13 including a spring mounted on said rod and acting between said body and said diaphragm for urging said diaphragm outwardly from said recess.

Claim 21

An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said body includes a threaded portion, and means threadably engagable on said threaded portion whereby said body is inserted through the wall of said cylinder and being secured thereto with said head located within said cylinder and said means is located on the outside of said cylinder.