Abstract An apparatus is provided for determining the internal pressure of a fluid conduit in line with which the apparatus is inserted. Fluids transported through the conduit are caused to pass through a thin-walled inner tubular member which expands and contracts in response to increases and decreases in fluid pressure. Surrounding the thin-walled conduit is a layer of piezo-conductive material which is in turn surrounded by a snugly fitting, relatively inelastic outer tube. Pressure inside the thin-walled inner conduit causes the piezo-conductive material to be compressed between the thin-walled conduit and the outer inelastic tube thereby producing a change in the conductance of the piezo-conductive material. A conductance analog of pressure is thereby produced between electrodes attached to the thin-walled inner conduit and the inelastic outer tube. The device may be rendered in very high current, low conductance forms for use in direct modulation of high current circuits.
Inventors
👤 Kendall L. Dinwiddie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-25 11:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A device for producing a response proportional to pressure within a fluid-transporting conduit comprising: a conductive inner tubular member having an inlet and an outlet adapted at the inlet and outlet to connect to the fluid transporting conduit; a coating of piezo-conductive material applied to the exterior surface of the inner tubular member; and a conductive outer tubular member closely fitting and contacting the coating of piezo-conductive material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A device for producing a response proportional to pressure within a fluid-transporting conduit comprising: a conductive inner tubular member having an inlet and an outlet adapted at the inlet and outlet to connect to the fluid transporting conduit; a coating of piezo-conductive material applied to the exterior surface of the inner tubular member; and a conductive outer tubular member closely fitting and contacting the coating of piezo-conductive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the piezo-conductive coating is Aquadag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the piezo-conductive coating is PITEL PR.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the inner and outer tubular members are uniform and regular in cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the inner and outer tubular members are circular in cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the inner tubular member is thin-walled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the inner tubular member is relatively elastic and the outer tubular member is relatively inelastic.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A device for producing a response proportional to pressure within a fluid transporting conduit, comprising: an inner tubular member having an inlet and an outlet adapted at the inlet and outlet to connect to the fluid-transporting conduit; a coating of piezo-conductive material applied to the exterior surface of the inner tubular member; two electrically conductive members held in contact with the coating of piezo-conductive material; restraining means for holding the two electrically conductive members in contact with the inner tubular member such that expansion of the inner tubular member will cause the piezo-conductive material to be compressed between the exterior wall of the inner tubular member and the electrically conductive members.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
111 words
A device for producing a response proportional to pressure within a fluid transporting conduit, comprising: an inner tubular member having an inlet and an outlet adapted at the inlet and outlet to connect to the fluid-transporting conduit; a coating of piezo-conductive material applied to the exterior surface of the inner tubular member; two electrically conductive members held in contact with the coating of piezo-conductive material; restraining means for holding the two electrically conductive members in contact with the inner tubular member such that expansion of the inner tubular member will cause the piezo-conductive material to be compressed between the exterior wall of the inner tubular member and the electrically conductive members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the inner tubular member is non-conductive.