Patent US5550790A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5550790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic transducer for level measurement in corrosive chemical environments
Assignee: Kistler-Morse Corp
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Filing: 1995-02-10
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Granted: 1996-08-27
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Expires: 2015-02-10
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound transducer includes a resonant driving assembly having an ultrasound radiating surface covered with a propagation disc of impedance matching material. The resonant driving assembly and propagation disc are housed in a polymeric or stainless steel enclosure. All exposed surfaces of the enclosure, resonant driving assembly, and disc are covered with a coating of polyparaxylylene to make the transducer substantially impervious to industrial chemicals.
Inventors
- 👤 Sesh Velamoor
- 👤 Kai P. Mesterton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A chemically insensitive ultrasound transducer for measuring the level of industrial chemicals, said transducer system comprising: a piezoelectric driving assembly having an acoustic radiating surface; a low-loss acoustic propagation disc covering and being acoustically coupled to the radiating surface of said piezoelectric driving assembly; an enclosure surrounding said piezoelectric driving assembly and propagation disc; and a coating of polyparaxylylene having a thickness of between 0.0001 inch and 0.001 inch covering all externally exposed surfaces of said piezoelectric driving assembly, propagation disc, and enclosure to make said transducer system substantially impervious to said industrial chemicals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A chemically insensitive ultrasound transducer for measuring the level of industrial chemicals, said transducer system comprising: a piezoelectric driving assembly having an acoustic radiating surface; a low-loss acoustic propagation disc covering and being acoustically coupled to the radiating surface of said piezoelectric driving assembly; an enclosure surrounding said piezoelectric driving assembly and propagation disc; and a coating of polyparaxylylene having a thickness of between 0.0001 inch and 0.001 inch covering all externally exposed surfaces of said piezoelectric driving assembly, propagation disc, and enclosure to make said transducer system substantially impervious to said industrial chemicals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The transducer of claim 1, further including a coupling of fluoroplastic material attached to an end of said enclosure opposite the radiating surface of said piezoelectric driving assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transducer of claim 1, further including a disc coating of a material suitable for said polyparaxylylene coating to bond covering an externally exposed surface of said acoustic propagation disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transducer of claim 3 wherein said disc coating is a polymeric material having a thickness of between 0.001 inch and 0.01 inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The transducer of claim 3 wherein said disc coating is a foil of stainless steel having a thickness of between 0.001 inch and 0.005 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical enclosure is fabricated from a polymeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical enclosure is fabricated from stainless steel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of making an ultrasound transducer substantially impervious to industrial chemical degradation, said method comprising coating all externally exposed surfaces of said transducer with a coating of polyparaxylylene having a thickness of between 0.0001 inch and 0.001 inch.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of making an ultrasound transducer substantially impervious to industrial chemical degradation, said method comprising coating all externally exposed surfaces of said transducer with a coating of polyparaxylylene having a thickness of between 0.0001 inch and 0.001 inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said ultrasound transducer has an acoustic radiating surface, and wherein said method further includes the step of coating said acoustic radiating surface with a material to which said polyparaxylylene can readily bond prior to coating said transducer with said polyparaxylylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said material is a foil of stainless steel having a thickness of between 0.001 inch and 0.05 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said material is a layer of polymeric material having a thickness of between 0.001 inch and 0.01 inch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-27 | 2000-02-26 | 2000-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-27 | 2004-02-26 | 2004-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-27 | 2008-02-26 | 2008-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |