Magnetic pressure indicator for a container

Claim 1

In a pressurized fluid container system subject to temperature variations having a temperature compensated pressure indicator for determining any fluidic leaks from a pressurized storage container of a first fluid such as fire extinguisher fluid in an aircraft and a primary pressure chamber connected to the first fluid pressure in the storage container, the improvement comprising: a housing having a secondary pressure chamber adjacent the primary pressure chamber and containing a quantity of a second fluid having substantially the same pressure temperature response characteristics as the first fluid in the storage container, the secondary pressure chamber housing primarily formed from a material having a high thermal conductivity capable of transmitting thermal changes in the first fluid of approximately 150° F per minute to the second fluid within the secondary pressure chamber whereby the pressure temperature response characteristics of both fluids will be substantially the same; a movable metal bellows formed of welded metal rings sealed in the housing between the primary and secondary pressure chambers and repetitively responsive to their relative pressure changes throughout a temperature range of at least 68° F to a minus 65° F; a magnetic member operatively connected to the metal bellows; and switch means operatively controlled by the movement of said magnetic member and fluidically isolated from the primary and secondary pressure chambers, including a hollow guide post member attached to the housing and a relatively movable and replaceable switch assembly positioned within the hollow guide post member, the switch assembly including a pair of cantilevered electrodes, the switch means responsive to a predetermined strength of the magnetic force field for moving the cantilevered electrodes to provide a signal representative of any pressure differential in the primary and secondary pressure chambers indicating a leak in the storage container, wherein the metal bellows connected between the primary and secondary pressure chambers includes a post member movably mounted around the guide post member.