US5225643A — Differential pressure switch for stored gas press…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 333 words

A pressure differential switch comprising: first and second diaphragms, each of which has a raised surface and contacting portion, at least, which is electrically conducting, an electrically non-conductive spacer ring having a first side and a second side, and attaching means attaching said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm in sealing relation to said first and second sides, respectively, of said spacer ring thereby forming an hermetically sealed chamber therebetween with said contacting portions thereof in directly opposed relation, wherein said attaching means include first and second protective rings each of which has an aperture therein in a central portion thereof and has a first side and a second side, said first diaphragm being attached in sealing relationship to said first side of said first protective ring symmetrically with respect to the aperture therein, said second diaphragm being attached in sealing relationship to said second side of said second protective ring symmetrically with respect to the aperture therein, with the first side of said first protective ring being disposed in sealing relationship with the first side of said spacer ring and the second side of said second protective ring being disclosed in sealing relationship with the second side of said spacer ring, whereby with said chamber pressurized to a predetermined reference level, in atmospheric environmental conditions the pressurized chamber has higher than atmospheric pressure, causing the said diaphragms to bow away from each other, thus assuring that the contacting portions thereof do not contact each other, whereby with the pressure of the environment external to said chamber higher by a predetermined amount than said predetermined reference level, said diaphragms are pressed together, thus bringing the contacting portions thereof into contact with each other and establishing electrical conductance therebetween, and whereby, if the seal of said chamber fails, the equalization of pressure between the pressure of the environment external to the chamber and the pressure in the chamber causes the said diaphragms to move the contacting portions thereof out of contact with each other.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 333 words

A pressure differential switch comprising: first and second diaphragms, each of which has a raised surface and contacting portion, at least, which is electrically conducting, an electrically non-conductive spacer ring having a first side and a second side, and attaching means attaching said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm in sealing relation to said first and second sides, respectively, of said spacer ring thereby forming an hermetically sealed chamber therebetween with said contacting portions thereof in directly opposed relation, wherein said attaching means include first and second protective rings each of which has an aperture therein in a central portion thereof and has a first side and a second side, said first diaphragm being attached in sealing relationship to said first side of said first protective ring symmetrically with respect to the aperture therein, said second diaphragm being attached in sealing relationship to said second side of said second protective ring symmetrically with respect to the aperture therein, with the first side of said first protective ring being disposed in sealing relationship with the first side of said spacer ring and the second side of said second protective ring being disclosed in sealing relationship with the second side of said spacer ring, whereby with said chamber pressurized to a predetermined reference level, in atmospheric environmental conditions the pressurized chamber has higher than atmospheric pressure, causing the said diaphragms to bow away from each other, thus assuring that the contacting portions thereof do not contact each other, whereby with the pressure of the environment external to said chamber higher by a predetermined amount than said predetermined reference level, said diaphragms are pressed together, thus bringing the contacting portions thereof into contact with each other and establishing electrical conductance therebetween, and whereby, if the seal of said chamber fails, the equalization of pressure between the pressure of the environment external to the chamber and the pressure in the chamber causes the said diaphragms to move the contacting portions thereof out of contact with each other.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said first and second protective rings are each electrically conductive.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 2 wherein said first and said second diaphragms are attached to said first and second protective rings by mechanical bonding.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 2 further including a separate electrical lead attached to each of said first and second protective rings.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 4 wherein said first and second diaphragms each include a bead provided at the contacting portion thereof, said beads being disposed in direct opposition, with one of said beads having a convex surface and the other a flat surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 2 further including a housing therefor, said housing including a base and parallel walls that are spaced to receive said switch over a portion, at least, thereof in a snug fit, with each of said walls having a circular cutout therein to expose a substantial portion of the adjacent protective ring including the aperture therein.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 210 words

A pressure differential switch comprising: first and second diaphragms, each of which has a raised surface and contacting portion, at least, which is electrically conducting, an electrically non-conductive spacer ring having a first side and a second side, and attaching means attaching said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm in sealing relation to said first and second sides, respectively, of said spacer ring thereby forming an hermetically sealed chamber therebetween with said contacting portions thereof in directly opposed relation, whereby with said chamber pressurized to a predetermined reference level, in atmospheric environmental conditions the pressurized chamber has higher than atmospheric pressure, causing the said diaphragms to bow away from each other, thus assuring that the contacting portions thereof do not contact each other, whereby with the pressure of the environment external to said chamber higher by a predetermined amount than said predetermined reference level, said diaphragms are pressed together, thus bringing the contacting portions thereof into contact with each other and establishing electrical conductance therebetween, and whereby, if the seal of said chamber fails, the equalization of pressure between the pressure of the environment external to the chamber and the pressure in the chamber causes the said diaphragms to move the contacting portions thereof out of contact with each other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 210 words

A pressure differential switch comprising: first and second diaphragms, each of which has a raised surface and contacting portion, at least, which is electrically conducting, an electrically non-conductive spacer ring having a first side and a second side, and attaching means attaching said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm in sealing relation to said first and second sides, respectively, of said spacer ring thereby forming an hermetically sealed chamber therebetween with said contacting portions thereof in directly opposed relation, whereby with said chamber pressurized to a predetermined reference level, in atmospheric environmental conditions the pressurized chamber has higher than atmospheric pressure, causing the said diaphragms to bow away from each other, thus assuring that the contacting portions thereof do not contact each other, whereby with the pressure of the environment external to said chamber higher by a predetermined amount than said predetermined reference level, said diaphragms are pressed together, thus bringing the contacting portions thereof into contact with each other and establishing electrical conductance therebetween, and whereby, if the seal of said chamber fails, the equalization of pressure between the pressure of the environment external to the chamber and the pressure in the chamber causes the said diaphragms to move the contacting portions thereof out of contact with each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 7 wherein said diaphragms are mirror symmetrical.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

A pressure differential switch as defined by claim 7 further including a separate electrically conductive lead connected to the contacting portion of each of said first and second diaphragms.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-07-05	1997-01-04	1997-07-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-07-05	2001-01-04	2001-07-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-07-05	2005-01-04	2005-07-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Differential pressure switch for stored gas pressure vessel

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