Capacitance probe

Claim 2

A capacitance probe assembly for insertion into a sealed container, comprising: disc means; a center conductor passing through said disc means and extending substantially normal therefrom, said disc means surrounding a central portion of said conductor; a gland fitting including a first central opening receiving an end of said center conductor; deformable insulator means enclosing said end of said center conductor for providing insulation interspaced between said gland fitting and said center conductor; compression means axially receiving internally thereof the other end of said center conductor, said compression means being in turn axially received in press fit engagement in said gland fitting to a preselected level of compression; insulative washer means interspaced between said disc means and said gland fitting and between said disc means and said compression means for electrically insulating and transferring compressive and shear forces therethrough; and sealing means operatively connected for compression to said compression means and interposed in said first central opening between said gland fitting and said insulator means for deforming therebetween and closing leakage paths thereacross.

Claim 3

A capacitance probe according to claim 1 wherein: said ends of said center conductor join across a reduced diameter section forming a peripheral groove; and said disc means is a shoulder washer having a central opening receiving said reduced diameter section of said center conductor, said opening being surrounded by shoulders formed on the surfaces of said washer swaged into said peripheral groove.

Claim 4

A capacitance probe according to claim 2 wherein: said gland fitting further includEs a second central opening formed in one end thereof in substantial axial alignment with said first central opening, said second central opening being received in press fit engagement with said compression means; and said first central opening includes a first tapered section converging to conform with the outside dimensions of said insulator means proximate the other end of said gland fitting.

Claim 5

A capacitance probe according to claim 3, wherein: said sealing means includes a substantially annular seal of deformable insulative material shaped to conform on the exterior thereof with said tapered section of said first central opening and conforming on the interior thereof with said insulator means.

Claim 6

A capacitance probe according to claim 4, further including: a retainer interposed between said insulative washer means and said annular seal.

Claim 7

A capacitance probe assembly for insertion into a sealed container, comprising: disc means; a center conductor passing through said disc means and extending substantially normal therefrom, said disc means surrounding a central portion of said conductor; compression means axially receiving one end of said center conductor within one end thereof and extending to surround on the other end thereof said disc means and the other end of said center conductor; a tubular retainer interspaced between said other end of said conductor and said compression means conformed on the exterior thereof for press fit engagement with said compression means; a gland fitting including a first central opening axially receiving said one end of said conductor and said one end of said compression means; deformable insulator means enclosing said one end of said center conductor for providing insulation interspaced between said center conductor, said gland fitting and said compression means; insulative washer means interspaced between said disc means and said tubular retainer and between said disc means and said compression means for electrically insulating and transferring compressive and shear forces therethrough; and sealing means operatively connected for compression to said compression means and interposed in said first central opening between said gland fitting and said insulator means for deforming therebetween and closing leakage paths thereacross.

Claim 8

A capacitance probe assembly for insertion into a sealed container, comprising: disc means; a center conductor passing through said disc means and extending substantially normal therefrom, said disc means surrounding a central portion of said conductor; compression means axially receiving one end of said center conductor within one end thereof and extending to surround on the other end thereof said disc means and the other end of said center conductor; a tubular retainer interspaced between said other end of said conductor and said compression means conformed on the exterior thereof for press fit engagement with said compression means; a gland fitting including a first central opening axially receiving said one end of said conductor and said one end of said compression means; deformable insulator means enclosing said one end of said center conductor for providing insulation interspaced between said center conductor, said gland fitting and said compression means; insulative washer means interspaced between said disc means and said tubular retainer and between said disc means and said compression means for electrically insulating and transferring compressive and shear forces therethrough; and sealing means operatively connected for compression to said compression means and interposed in said first central opening between said gland fitting and said insulator means for deforming therebetween and closing leakage paths thereacross.

Claim 9

A capacitance probe according to claim 6, wherein: said compression means includes a central cylindrical extension forming a central cavity receiving said insulative means on the interior thereof and having peripheral grooves on the exterior thereof; and said sealing means includes a deformable annular seal bonded on the interior thereof to the grooves exterior of said central cylindrical extension and formed on the exterior thereof to conform with said central opening.

Claim 10

A capacitance probe according to claim 7, wherein: said annular seal includes a tapered section extending distal of said compression means at a taper converging to the exterior dimensions of said insulator means.

Claim 11

A capacitance probe according to claim 8, wherein: said deformable annular seal includes a sleeve consisting of fluorinated ethylene propylene bonded to said grooves exterior of said cylindrical extension.

Claim 12

A capacitance probe according to claim 9 wherein: said compression means includes a peripheral flange tapered to a conical annular surface on the upper exterior periphery thereof for engaging the upper edge of said gland fitting.