Pressure sensor, pressure sensor attachment / detachment system, and use of pressure sensor

Abstract

To provide a pressure sensor for pressure measurement of fluid medium.SOLUTION: The pressure sensor includes a fitting apparatus, a sensor device, and a seal element. The fitting apparatus holds the sensor device and can be fitted into a fitting hole in a wall part. The sensor device includes a film and a sensor element. A fluid medium is in direct contact with a film of the pressure sensor fitted in the fitting hole through the fitting hole. Pressure acts on the sensor element through the film of the pressure sensor fitted in the fitting hole. The sensor element generates a measurement signal related to deformation relying on pressure of the film. The seal element of the pressure sensor fitted in the fitting hole seals, in first sealing, the fitting hole on a sensor device surface of the sensor device. The seal element of the pressure sensor fitted in the fitting hole seals, in second sealing, the fitting hole on a wall surface of the wall part. The seal member has a trunnion and the sensor device has a receptacle. The receptacle permanently holds the trunnion by shape fitting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure sensor according to the preamble of the independent claim. The invention also relates to a system for attaching and detaching a pressure sensor and to the use of the pressure sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 presents a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of fluid media such as fuel and air in an internal combustion engine. When fuel burns with atmospheric oxygen, pressures of 200 MPa or more are generated in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. In order to operate the internal combustion engine as efficiently as possible, the pressure in the combustion chamber is measured and used as a parameter for controlling or regulating the combustion of fuel with atmospheric oxygen.

[0003] To attach and detach the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1 to the combustion chamber, the wall of the combustion chamber is provided with a mounting hole with an internal thread. The pressure sensor includes a hollow mounting screw and a sensor device. The hollow mounting screw has a cavity for holding the sensor device and an external thread for screwing into the internal thread. The pressure sensor thus attached to the internal thread of the wall via the external thread comes into direct contact with the fluid medium.

[0004] The sensor device of Patent Document 1 includes a sensor housing, a membrane, a sealing surface, and a sensor element. The sensor housing, membrane, and sealing surface are integrally formed. The sensor housing has a hollow cylindrical shape with a channel extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the sensor housing. At the first end toward the mounting hole, the channel is open so that the fluid medium can enter the channel. A membrane is disposed at the second end opposite the mounting hole. The membrane is thin and deformable. A sensor element is disposed on the side of the membrane opposite the channel. The sensor element is a strain gauge. The membrane deforms under the influence of the pressure of the fluid medium, and the strain gauge generates a measurement signal of the pressure-dependent deformation of the membrane.

[0005] To prevent the fluid medium from leaking from the combustion chamber through the mounting hole, the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1 has a disk-shaped seal element with first and second seal element surfaces. The seal element is placed on the sealing surface of the mounting hole with its first seal element surface. When the pressure sensor is installed, the first seal element surface is pressed against the sealing surface of the mounting hole, and the sealing surface of a sensor device disposed at the first end of the sensor housing is pressed against the second seal element surface.

[0006] Due to the high temperatures inside the combustion chamber, the sensor element of the patent document 1 is placed as far away as possible from the combustion chamber at the second end of the channel, where the temperature is relatively low. However, the sealing surface of the sensor device is placed at the first end of the channel, closer to the combustion chamber. The disadvantage of this is that the pressure inside the channel can generate acoustic vibrations that can corrupt the measurement signal.

[0007] Each time the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1 is installed or removed from a mounting hole, there is a risk of damage to both the sealing element surface of the sealing element and the sealing surface of the mounting hole and the sensor device. This is because the tool applied to the hollow mounting screw to screw the external threads of the hollow mounting screw into or out of the internal threads of the wall may tilt, generating an excessively high clamping force on the sealing surface. The excessively high clamping force then causes plastic deformation of the sealing surface, resulting in an irreversible loss of the airtightness of the seal of the pressure sensor in the mounting hole.

[0008] In the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1, the sensor housing, membrane, and sealing surface of the sensor device, as well as the disk-shaped sealing element, are in direct contact with the fluid medium and are made of metallic materials. If the fluid medium contains hydrogen, hydrogen from the fluid medium can penetrate the metallic material, causing hydrogen embrittlement in the metallic material. Hydrogen embrittlement is a change in the ductility and strength of metallic materials. Hydrogen embrittlement can lead to cracks and failure of the pressure sensor due to brittle fracture. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 1146326 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensor that is inexpensive to manufacture, measures pressure as accurately as possible, is easily and quickly attached to and detached from a mounting hole, reduces the risk of damage to the seal within the mounting hole during attachment and detachment, and has improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] At least one of these objects is solved by the features of the independent claims.

[0012] The present invention relates to a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of a fluid medium, the pressure sensor comprising a mounting device, a sensor device, and a sealing element, the mounting device holds the sensor device and is mountable in a mounting hole in a wall, the sensor device comprises a membrane and a sensor element, the fluid medium is in direct contact with the membrane of the pressure sensor mounted in the mounting hole via the mounting hole, pressure acts on the sensor element via the membrane of the pressure sensor mounted in the mounting hole, the sensor element generates a measurement signal related to the pressure-dependent deformation of the membrane, the sealing element of the pressure sensor mounted in the mounting hole seals the mounting hole with a sensor device face of the sensor device at a first seal, and the sealing element of the pressure sensor mounted in the mounting hole seals the mounting hole with a wall face of the wall at a second seal, the sealing member has a trunnion, the sensor device comprises a socket, and the socket permanently holds the trunnion by form-fitting.

[0013] In contrast to Patent Document 1, in the present invention, the sealing element is permanently retained by the sensor device. The adjective "permanent" means that the formed form-fit lasts for the life of the pressure sensor. Therefore, the sealing element can be attached and detached together with the pressure sensor in the mounting hole, simplifying the attachment and detachment of the pressure sensor. Furthermore, the first seal formed by the sealing element and the surface of the sensor device is not removed during attachment and detachment of the pressure sensor. This ensures consistent quality of the first seal over time, since each time the seal is replaced, the sealing surface may be damaged, compromising the seal's airtightness. When using a pressure sensor to measure the pressure of a hydrogen-containing fluid medium, the absence of removal of the first seal and the resulting airtightness of the first seal can also prevent hydrogen from leaking from the hydrogen-containing fluid medium.

[0014] Advantageous refinements of the pressure sensor according to the invention are recited in the dependent claims.

[0015] In one advantageous refinement, the sealing element has a first sealing element surface, which is formed on the trunnion and the sensor device surface is formed in the socket.

[0016] This has the advantage that the first seal formed by the surface of the first sealing element and the surface of the sensor device occurs at a position of form-fit between the sealing element and the sensor device, which form-fit ensures consistent quality of the first seal over time.

[0017] In one advantageous refinement, the pressure sensor has a longitudinal axis and the trunnion is inserted axially into the socket.

[0018] The pressure sensor and wall are rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. Axial insertion of the trunnion into the socket facilitates forming a form fit between the socket and the trunnion.

[0019] In one advantageous refinement, the socket comprises a sensor device mounting portion and the trunnion comprises a sealing element mounting portion, the sealing element mounting portion and the sensor device mounting portion being guide means for inserting the trunnion into the socket.

[0020] These guide means also facilitate the formation of a form fit between the socket and the trunnion.

[0021] In one advantageous refinement, the socket comprises a socket base, the trunnion comprises a deformable trunnion head, and when the undeformed trunnion head is inserted into the socket, a trunnion head offset exists between the undeformed trunnion head and the socket base, and the trunnion head offset is eliminated by deforming the undeformed trunnion head into a deformed trunnion head, which abuts flatly against the socket base and forms a permanent form fit with the socket base.

[0022] Thus, a form fit is created by the deformable trunnion head being inserted into the socket by deforming the deformable trunnion head. The force required for this purpose can be easily generated during installation of the pressure sensor by screwing the pressure sensor through the external thread of the mounting device into the internal thread of the wall.

[0023] In one advantageous refinement, the deformed trunnion head is plastically deformed.

[0024] The plastic deformation of the deformed trunnion head is not reversible. That is, the permanent form fit between the deformed trunnion head and socket base can only be reseparated by damaging or destroying the trunnion head and socket base. Therefore, the permanent form fit is very durable, allowing for multiple insertion and removal of the pressure sensor within the mounting hole.

[0025] In one advantageous refinement, the first sealing element surface is deformable, and when the undeformed first sealing element surface is inserted into the socket, there is a first angular offset between the surface of the undeformed first sealing element and the sensor device surface, and the first angular offset is eliminated by deforming the undeformed first sealing element surface into a deformed first sealing element surface, which abuts flatly against the sensor device surface.

[0026] Thus, the first seal of the first sealing element surface with the sensor device surface is formed in situ by deforming the deformable first sealing element surface by molding it to the shape of the sensor device surface. The deformable first sealing element surface therefore precisely conforms to the shape of the sensor device surface. Furthermore, the pressure sensor mounting force can be easily generated by screwing the pressure sensor through the external thread of the mounting device into the internal thread of the wall.

[0027] In one advantageous refinement, the second seal element surface is deformable, and when the undeformed second seal element surface abuts the wall surface there is a second angular offset between the undeformed second seal element surface and the wall surface, and the second angular offset is eliminated by deforming the undeformed second seal element surface into a deformed second seal element surface, which abuts the wall surface in a planar manner.

[0028] The formation of the second seal between the sealing element and the wall is achieved in situ by deforming the first deformable sealing element surface, thereby forming the second deformable sealing element surface to the shape of the wall. The second deformable sealing element surface therefore precisely conforms to the shape of the wall. The force required for this purpose can be easily generated by mounting the pressure sensor. This force can be generated by screwing the pressure sensor through the external thread of the mounting device into the internal thread of the wall.

[0029] In another advantageous refinement, the sensor device comprises a sensor housing, the membrane comprises a hinge by means of which the membrane is deformable, the membrane comprises a flange, the flange forms a material bond with the sensor housing, and the socket is formed in the flange.

[0030] Therefore, the membrane and the sensor housing are manufactured in multiple parts and joined together by material bonding, unlike the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1, which is inexpensive to manufacture.

[0031] In another advantageous refinement, the flange absorbs the clamping force generated when the pressure sensor is mounted in the mounting hole, the clamping force acting from the wall to the sealing element and via the trunnion to the flange.

[0032] Therefore, the clamping force is absorbed by the membrane flange and does not reach the membrane joint. The membrane flange has a thickness equivalent to that of the sensor housing to form a material bond with the sensor housing. Meanwhile, the joint is thinner than the flange. Typically, the flange is an order of magnitude thicker than the joint. Therefore, the clamping force is absorbed by the thickness of the mechanically stable material of the sensor device and does not damage the thin, mechanically sensitive material of the joint.

[0033] In another advantageous refinement, the membrane and the sensor housing are made of a metallic material, the material bond being formed as a weld line, the weld line being located on the side opposite the mounting holes of the first seal and the second seal.

[0034] Compared to the metallic structure of the sensor housing and membrane, hydrogen in the fluid medium can penetrate the metallic material through the weld line very quickly and easily, potentially causing hydrogen embrittlement. However, because the weld line is located on the opposite side of the mounting holes for the first and second seals, hydrogen in the fluid medium cannot reach the weld line and therefore cannot penetrate the metallic material through the weld line.

[0035] In another advantageous refinement, the fluid medium is located in a container, the container has a wall that closes the container, the mounting hole has an inlet, through which the fluid medium enters the mounting hole from the inside of the container, and the membrane of the pressure sensor mounted in the mounting hole is the end of the pressure sensor facing the inlet.

[0036] While the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1 has a membrane located at the end of a channel in the sensor housing, the membrane of the present invention is located at the very front end of the pressure sensor, so there is no channel and therefore no acoustic vibrations that could corrupt the measurement signal.

[0037] In another advantageous refinement, only the membrane and the sealing element of the pressure sensor mounted in the mounting hole are in direct contact with the fluid medium via the mounting hole.

[0038] Therefore, only two components of the pressure sensor are in direct contact with the fluid medium, not the sensor housing, which is particularly important for hydrogen-containing fluid media, as only the membrane and sealing element materials need to be hydrogen-resistant, allowing the pressure sensor to be manufactured at low cost.

[0039] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] 1 shows a longitudinal section of a part of a pressure sensor 1 with a sensor device 3 and a sealing element 5 in a wall 11. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pressure sensor 1 according to FIG. 1 in the region of the sensor device 3 and the sealing element 5 before deformation of the trunnion head 58 and the first sealing element surface 52. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pressure sensor 1 according to FIG. 2 in the region of the sensor device 3 and the sealing element 5 after deformation of the trunnion head 58 and the first sealing element surface 52. FIG. [Figure 4]2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pressure sensor 1 according to FIG. 1 in the area of ​​the sealing element 5 and the wall 11 before deformation of the second sealing element surface 56. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pressure sensor 1 according to FIG. 4 in the area of ​​the sealing element 5 and the wall 11 after deformation of the second sealing element surface 56. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] In the drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals.

[0042] The pressure sensor 1 shown in longitudinal section in FIG. 1 is used to measure the pressure P of a fluid medium M. The fluid medium M can be gas or liquid. The pressure P can be up to 1000 bar. The fluid medium M may contain hydrogen. In the following, a hydrogen-containing fluid medium M is understood to be a fluid medium M containing at least 1 volume percent (vol%) of hydrogen.

[0043] The fluid medium M is located within a vessel 10. The vessel 10 may be a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, a pressure vessel, etc. The vessel 10 comprises a wall 11, which closes the vessel 10. The wall 11 is pressure-resistant and gas-tight, i.e., during the life of the vessel 10 and under the permissible operating conditions of the vessel 10, the wall 11 is able to withstand pressure P and allows only negligible amounts of the fluid medium M to leak. For the purposes of the present invention, a gas-tight wall 11 is defined as a wall 11 with respect to helium. -6 It has a leak rate of less than mbar·l / s. The wall 11 is made of a durable material such as stainless steel or fiber reinforced plastic.

[0044] The pressure sensor 1 and wall 11 are shown with respect to a longitudinal axis 103 and a cross section 104 perpendicular thereto. The pressure sensor 1 and wall 11 are rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis 103. In the following, the components of the pressure sensor 1 will be described axially along the longitudinal axis 103 and radially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 103.

[0045] The wall 11 comprises a mounting hole 100. The mounting hole 100 is a through-hole. The mounting hole 100 comprises an inlet 101 through which the fluid medium M enters the mounting hole 100 from the interior of the container 10. The inlet 101 is located in the region of the mounting hole 100 close to the container. The mounting hole 100 has a wall surface 106. The wall surface 106 is also located in the region of the mounting hole 100 close to the container. Further away from the container 10, the wall surface 106 enters a mounting section 105. In the mounting section 105, the mounting hole 100 comprises an internal thread 107. The internal thread 107 is used to mount the pressure sensor 1 in the mounting hole 100. The mounting hole 100 therefore extends axially from the interior of the container 10 to the pressure sensor 1 mounted in the mounting hole 100. By mounting the pressure sensor 1 in the mounting hole 100, the mounting hole 100 forms a mounting gap 102 in the area of ​​the mounting section 105. The end of the pressure sensor 1 facing the inlet 101 is exposed to the fluid medium M and pressure P in the mounting hole 100, while the end of the pressure sensor 1 opposite the inlet 101 is in the environment 0 of the vessel 10, in which atmospheric pressure prevails. The vessel 10 and the pressure sensor 1 mounted in the mounting hole 100 form a system 1000.

[0046] The pressure sensor 1 comprises a mounting device 2 and a sensor device 3 .

[0047] The mounting device 2 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of a durable metal material, such as pure metal, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy, or iron alloy. The mounting device 2 may also be a hollow mounting screw, as known from Patent Document 1. The mounting device 2 holds the sensor device 3. Thus, the mounting device 2 can hold the sensor device 3 via a form fit. The mounting device 2 has an external thread 27 for fastening within the internal thread 107. To mount the pressure sensor 1 in the mounting hole 100, the external thread 27 is screwed into the internal thread 107, thereby generating a clamping force. The mounting of the pressure sensor 1 in the mounting hole 100 is reversible, i.e., the mounted pressure sensor 1 can be removed from the internal thread 107 via the external thread 27.

[0048] The sensor device 3 includes a membrane 31 and a sensor housing 35. The sensor housing 35 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The membrane 31 is disk-shaped. The membrane 31 and the sensor housing 35 are made of a durable metallic material, such as a pure metal, a nickel alloy, a cobalt alloy, or an iron alloy. Preferably, the membrane 31 and the sensor housing 35 are joined to each other by a material bond. In the longitudinal cross-section of FIG. 1, the material bond is formed as a weld line 41 extending 360° around the longitudinal axis 103.

[0049] The membrane 31 of the pressure sensor 1 that is mounted in the mounting hole 100 is the end of the pressure sensor 1 that faces the inlet 101. The membrane 31 is therefore in direct contact with the fluid medium M in the mounting hole 100.

[0050] The surface of the membrane 31 facing the inlet 101 is located within the transverse plane 104. The transverse plane 104 limits the sensor device 3 of the pressure sensor 1 mounted in the mounting hole 100 in the direction toward the inlet 101. In the longitudinal cross-sectional views of Figures 1 to 3, the mounting hole 100 is located above the transverse plane 104 in the axial direction, and the components of the sensor device 3 are located below the transverse plane 104 in the axial direction.

[0051] The membrane 31 and the sensor housing 35 surround the recess 30. The sensor housing 35 is located radially outward of the membrane 31 and axially below the membrane 31. The membrane 31 is supported on the sensor housing 35. The recess 30 is therefore separated from the fluid medium M in the mounting hole 100 by the membrane 31 and the sensor housing 35.

[0052] The sensor device 3 comprises a sensor element 33, which serves to generate a measurement signal for the pressure P to be measured. The sensor element 33 is arranged in the recess 30. The sensor element 33 can be a piezoelectric or piezoresistive sensor element.

[0053] Pressure P acts on the sensor element 33 via the membrane 31. The membrane 31 is thin and deformable in certain areas. It comprises a punch 36, a joint 39, and a flange 40. In the area of ​​the longitudinal axis 103, the membrane 31 is formed as a punch 36. This punch 36 functions to uniformly introduce the pressure 5 to be measured into the sensor element 33. To this end, the punch 36 forms a material that thickens in the axial direction, thereby compensating for pressure peaks that act locally on the membrane 31 on its way to the sensor element 33. In the radial direction, the punch 36 enters the joint 39. The joint 39 allows deformation of the membrane 31. Therefore, the joint 39 is formed thin in the axial direction. The joint 39 may have an axial thickness of less than 200 μm. The joint 39 is located at a certain radial distance from the longitudinal axis 103 and extends 360° around the punch 36 at this radial distance. Radially, the joint 39 enters the flange 40 in a region opposite the punch 36. The flange 40 is where this weld seam 41 and the sensor housing 35 are welded. The flange 40 therefore forms a material with an axial thickness. The flange 40 may have an axial thickness of more than 2 mm. The flange 40 is therefore an order of magnitude thicker in the axial direction than the joint 39. As a result, the flange 40 has a thickness equivalent to that of the sensor housing 35, so that when the weld seam 41 is welded, the flange 40 and the sensor housing 35 absorb an equal amount of heat, without either of them being overheated, which would be detrimental to the life of the weld seam 41.

[0054] The sensor element 33 is arranged on the face of the membrane 31 opposite the inlet 101 on the longitudinal axis 103 of the punch 36. Under the influence of pressure P, the membrane 31 deforms in the region of the joint 39, causing the punch 36 to press the sensor element 33 axially. During this deformation, the joint 39 is supported on the sensor housing 35 via a flange 40.

[0055] The sensor element 33 generates a measurement signal which is related to the pressure-dependent deformation of the membrane 31. The measurement signal is proportional to the applied pressure P. A piezoelectric sensor element generates a quantity of charge as the measurement signal. A piezoresistive sensor element generates a voltage as the measurement signal.

[0056] The pressure sensor 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical sealing element 5. The sealing element 5 of the pressure sensor 1 is mounted in the mounting hole 100 and serves to prevent the fluid medium M from leaking from the container 10 through the mounting hole 100 into the environment 0 of the container 10. The sealing element 5 is arranged on the side of the membrane 31 facing the inlet 101 on the longitudinal axis 103 between the sensor device 3 and the wall 11. The sealing element 5 comprises a supply 50 in the region of the longitudinal axis 103. This supply 50 is a through-hole. The supply 50 extends axially from the inlet 101 to the membrane 31. The fluid medium M passes from the inlet 101 through the supply 50 to the membrane 31. The sealing element 5 is made of a durable metallic material, for example, a pure metal, a nickel alloy, a cobalt alloy, an iron alloy, or the like.

[0057] The sensor device 3 permanently holds the sealing element 5 by form-fitting. For this purpose, the sensor device 3 comprises a socket 34 and the sealing element 5 comprises a trunnion 54. The trunnion 54 confines the sealing element 5 towards the sensor device 3. The trunnion 54 is inserted axially into the socket 34.

[0058] Preferably, the socket 34 is formed in the flange 40. Radially, the socket 34 is formed in the flange 40 on the outside of the punch 36. Axially, the socket 34 is formed below the cross-section 104. The socket 34 is disposed within the flange 40 at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis 103 and extends 360° around the membrane 31 at this radial distance.

[0059] Preferably, the socket 34 is groove-shaped and includes a sensor device mounting portion 37, a socket base 38, and a sensor device surface 32. The socket base 38 is formed radially outward of the sensor device mounting portion 37, and the sensor device surface 32 is formed radially outward of the socket base 38. In the longitudinal cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 to 3, the socket base 38 has a shape of a circular arc of 135°±10°. An end of the socket base 38 that is radially inward with respect to the longitudinal axis 103 enters the sensor device mounting portion 37, and an end of the socket base 38 that is radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis 103 enters the sensor device surface 32. The sensor device mounting portion 37 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 103, and the sensor device surface 32 is conical. The sensor device surface 32 extends at an angle of 45°±10° with respect to the longitudinal axis 103.

[0060] A trunnion 54 is formed on the sealing element 5 radially outward of the supply portion 50. The trunnion 54 is disposed at a fixed radial distance from the longitudinal axis 103 and preferably extends 360° around the supply portion 50 at this radial distance.

[0061] The trunnion 54 preferably includes a seal element mounting portion 57, a trunnion head 58, and a first seal element surface 52. The trunnion head 58 is formed radially outward of the seal element mounting portion 57, and the first seal element surface 52 is formed radially outward of the trunnion head 58. In the longitudinal cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 to 3, the trunnion head 58 has the shape of an arc of 135°±10°. The end of the trunnion head 58 that is radially inward with respect to the longitudinal axis 103 enters the seal element mounting portion 57, and the end of the trunnion head 58 that is radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis 103 enters the first seal element surface 52. The seal element mounting portion 57 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 103, and the first seal element surface 52 is conical. The first seal element surface 52 extends at an angle of 45°±10° relative to the longitudinal axis 103 .

[0062] The sealing element mounting portion 57 and the sensor device mounting portion 37 function as guide means when the trunnion 54 is inserted into the socket 34. For this purpose, the sealing element mounting portion 57 and the sensor device mounting portion 37 abut against each other in a planar manner in the longitudinal cross-sectional views of Figures 1 to 3.

[0063] The material of the sealing element 5 has a lower compressive strength compared to the material of the membrane 31. Additionally, the shapes of the interacting components of the sealing element 5 and membrane 31 are selected such that the shape of the trunnion head 58 is less resistant to deformation than the shape of the socket base 38, and the shape of the first sealing element face 52 is less resistant to deformation than the shape of the sensor device face 32.

[0064] The trunnion head 58 is therefore deformable. In the longitudinal section views of FIGS. 1 and 2, the undeformed trunnion head 58 is inserted into the socket 34, and according to FIG. 2, a trunnion head offset 51 exists between the trunnion head 58 and the socket base 38. The trunnion head 58 of the trunnion 54 inserted into the socket 34 is located below the transverse plane 104 in the axial direction. The trunnion head offset 51 is a gap in which the undeformed trunnion head 58 does not abut flatly against the socket base 38. Only after the undeformed trunnion head 58 is deformed into the deformed trunnion head 58' according to FIG. 3 does the deformed trunnion head 58' abut flatly against the socket base 38. The force required to form the deformed trunnion head 58' occurs during the installation of the pressure sensor 1. Advantageously, this force is generated by screwing the pressure sensor 1 into the internal thread 107 via the external thread 27. The deformed trunnion head 58' is plastically deformed, i.e., the deformation is not reversible and the deformation of the deformed trunnion head 58' persists when the pressure sensor 1 is removed. The deformed trunnion head 58' forms a permanent form fit with the socket base 38, and this form fit can only be separated again by damaging or destroying the trunnion head 58 and the socket base 38.

[0065] The first sealing element surface 52 and the sensor device surface 32 form a first seal 5' of the mounting hole 100 against the mounting gap 102, preventing the fluid medium M from leaking from the mounting hole 100 through the supply line 50 into the mounting gap 102 and into the environment 0 of the container 10. The first sealing element surface 52 is also deformable. In the longitudinal cross-sections of FIGS. 1 and 2, the undeformed first sealing element surface 52 and the sensor device surface 32 are in contact with each other, while according to FIG. 2 there is a first angular offset 53 between the undeformed first sealing element surface 52 and the sensor device surface 32. The first angular offset 53 is a gap in which the undeformed first sealing element surface 52 does not abut the sensor device surface 32 in a planar manner. Only after the undeformed first sealing element surface 52 has been deformed into the deformed first sealing surface 52' according to FIG. 3 does the deformed first sealing element surface 52' abut planarly against the sensor device surface 32 and form the first seal 5'. The deformation of the undeformed first sealing element surface 52 occurs in situ, so that the deformable first sealing element surface 52 precisely adapts to the shape of the sensor device surface 32. The force required to form the deformed first sealing element surface 52' occurs during the installation of the pressure sensor 1. Advantageously, this force is generated by screwing the pressure sensor 1 into the internal thread 107 via the external thread 27. The deformed first sealing element surface 52' is plastically deformed, i.e., its deformation is not reversible and persists when the pressure sensor 1 is removed from the internal thread 107 via the external thread 27.

[0066] The sealing element 5 comprises a second sealing element surface 56. The second sealing element surface 56 confines the sealing element 5 in a direction towards the wall 11. The second sealing element surface 56 cooperates with a wall surface 106. The second sealing element surface 56 and the wall surface 106 are conical. The second sealing element surface 56 and the wall surface 106 form a second seal 5'' of the mounting hole 100 against the mounting gap 102, preventing the fluid medium M from leaking from the mounting hole 100 into the mounting gap 102 and into the environment 0 of the container 10.

[0067] The second seal element surface 56 is also deformable. In the longitudinal cross-sections of FIGS. 1 and 4, the undeformed second seal element surface 56 and the wall surface 106 abut against one another, and according to FIG. 4, there is a second angular offset 55 between the undeformed second seal element surface 56 and the wall surface 106. The second angular offset 55 is a gap in which the undeformed second seal element surface 56 does not abut planarly against the wall surface 106. Only after the undeformed second seal element surface 56 is deformed to form the deformed second seal element surface 56' according to FIG. 5 does the deformed second seal element surface 56' abut planarly against the wall surface 106, forming the second seal 5''. The deformation of the undeformed second seal element surface 56 occurs in situ, so that the deformable second seal element surface 56 precisely adapts to the shape of the wall surface 106. The force required to form the deformed second sealing element surface 56' is generated during installation of the pressure sensor 1. Advantageously, this force is generated by screwing the pressure sensor 1 into the internal thread 107 via the external thread 21. The deformed second sealing element surface 56' is plastically deformed, i.e., the deformation is not reversible and the deformation of the deformed second sealing element surface 56' persists even after the pressure sensor 1 is removed from the internal thread 107 via the external thread 27.

[0068] The flange 40 also absorbs a clamping force K that is generated when the pressure sensor 1 is mounted in the mounting hole 100 and that acts on the flange 40 via the trunnion 54. In the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , the clamping force acts from the wall surface 106 of the wall portion 11 to the second seal element surface 56 of the seal element 5 and is transmitted to the trunnion 54 within the seal element 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 0 environment 1 Pressure Sensor 2 Mounting device 27 Male thread 3 Sensor device 30 recess 31 Membrane 32 Sensor device surface 33 Sensor element 34 sockets 35 Sensor housing 36 Punch 37 Sensor device installation section 38 Socket Base 39 Joint 40 flange 41 Welding Line 5 sealing elements 5' First seal 5'' Second Seal 50 Supply section 51 Trunnion head offset 52 undeformed first seal element surface 52' deformed first seal element surface 53 First Angle Offset 54 Trunnion 55 Second Angle Offset 56 Undeformed second seal element surface 56' Deformed second seal element surface 57 Seal element installation section 58 Undeformed trunnion head 58' Deformed trunnion head 10 containers 11 Wall 100 mounting holes 101 Entrance 102 Mounting gap 103 Longitudinal axis 104 Cross Section 105 Mounting part 106 Wall 107 Female thread 1000 systems K clamping force M Fluid medium P pressure

Claims

1. A pressure sensor (1) for measuring the pressure (P) of a fluid medium (M), comprising: The pressure sensor (1) comprises a mounting device (2), a sensor device (3), and a sealing element (5), The mounting device (2) holds the sensor device (3) and is mountable within a mounting hole (100) in a wall portion (11); The sensor device (3) comprises a membrane (31) and a sensor element (33), The fluid medium (M) is in direct contact with the membrane (31) of the pressure sensor (1) attached to the mounting hole (100) through the mounting hole (100); The pressure (P) acts on the sensor element (33) through the membrane (31) of the pressure sensor (1) attached to the attachment hole (100), the sensor element (33) generates a measurement signal related to the pressure-dependent deformation of the membrane (31); a sealing element (5) of the pressure sensor (1) mounted in the mounting hole (100) seals the mounting hole (100) with a sensor device surface (32) of the sensor device (3) at a first seal (5'); The pressure sensor (1), wherein the sealing element (5) of the pressure sensor (1) mounted in the mounting hole (100) seals the mounting hole (100) with the wall surface (106) of the wall portion (11) at a second seal (5''), The sealing element (5) has a trunnion (54), The sensor device (3) comprises a socket (34), A pressure sensor (1) characterized in that the socket (34) is adapted to permanently hold the trunnion (54) by form-fitting.

2. The sealing element (5) comprises a first sealing element surface (52); The first sealing element surface (52) is formed on the trunnion (54); 2. Pressure sensor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor device face (36) is formed in the socket (34).

3. The pressure sensor (1) has a longitudinal axis (103), 3. The pressure sensor (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the trunnion (54) is inserted axially into the socket (34).

4. The socket (34) includes a sensor device mounting portion (37), The trunnion (54) is provided with a sealing element mounting portion (57); 4. The pressure sensor (1) according to claim 3, wherein the sealing element mounting portion (57) and the sensor device mounting portion (37) are guide means when inserting the trunnion (54) into the socket (34).

5. The socket (34) comprises a socket base (38); The trunnion (54) comprises a deformable trunnion head (58); When the undeformed trunnion head (58) is inserted into the socket (34), a trunnion head offset (51) exists between the undeformed trunnion head (58) and the socket base (38); 4. The pressure sensor (1) of claim 3, wherein the trunnion head offset (51) is eliminated by deforming the undeformed trunnion head (58) into a deformed trunnion head (58'), which comes into surface contact with the socket base (38) and forms a permanent form fit with the socket base (38).

6. 6. The pressure sensor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the deformed trunnion head is plastically deformed.

7. the first sealing element surface (52) is deformable; a first angular offset (53) exists between the undeformed first sealing element surface (52') and the sensor device surface (32) when the undeformed first sealing element surface (52') is inserted into the socket (34); 7. The pressure sensor (1) of claim 3, 5 or 6, wherein the first angular offset (53) is eliminated by deforming the undeformed first sealing element surface (52') into a deformed first sealing element surface (52), and the deformed first sealing element surface (52) is in surface contact with the sensor device surface (32).

8. The sealing element (5) includes a second sealing element surface (56), the second sealing element surface (56) being a boundary of the sealing element (5) in a direction towards the wall (11), the second sealing element surface (56) cooperating with the wall surface (106), the second sealing element surface (56) being deformable, a second angular offset (55) exists between the undeformed second sealing element surface (56) and the wall surface (106) when the undeformed second sealing element surface (56) abuts the wall surface (106); 7. The pressure sensor (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second angular offset (55) is eliminated by deforming the undeformed second sealing element surface (56) into a deformed second sealing element surface (56'), and the deformed second sealing element surface (56') is in surface contact with the wall surface (106).

9. The sensor device (3) comprises a sensor housing (35); The membrane (31) has a joint (39) that allows the membrane (31) to deform; the membrane (31) comprises a flange (40), the flange (40) forming a material bond with the sensor housing (35); Pressure sensor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the socket (34) is formed in the flange (40).

10. the membrane (31) and the sensor housing (35) are made of a metallic material; 10. The pressure sensor (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the material bond is formed as a weld line (41), the weld line (41) being arranged on the side of the first seal (5') and the second seal (5'') opposite the mounting hole (100).

11. 10. The pressure sensor (1) of claim 9, wherein the flange (40) absorbs a clamping force (K) generated when the pressure sensor (1) is mounted in the mounting hole (100), the clamping force (K) acting on the sealing element (5) from the wall portion (11) and on the flange (40) via the trunnion (54).

12. The pressure sensor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that only the membrane (31) and the sealing element (5) of the pressure sensor (1) mounted in the mounting hole (100) are in direct contact with the fluid medium (M) via the mounting hole (100).

13. The fluid medium (M) is located inside a container (10), the container (10) having a wall (11), the wall (11) closing the container (10), The mounting hole (100) has an inlet (101) through which a fluid medium (M) enters the mounting hole (100) from the interior of the container (10); The pressure sensor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the membrane (31) of the pressure sensor (1) mounted in the mounting hole (100) is the end of the pressure sensor (1) facing the inlet (101).

14. A system (1000) for attaching and detaching a pressure sensor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: The system (1000) comprises a container (10) having a wall (11), The wall portion (11) closes the inside of the container (10) in a pressure-tight and airtight manner, the fluid medium (M) is located in the interior of the vessel (10) under the pressure (P); The wall (11) is provided with a mounting hole (100), The system (1000) is characterized in that the pressure sensor (1) is attached to the mounting hole (100) in the wall (11) and is detachable.

15. Use of a pressure sensor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fluid medium (M) comprises hydrogen.

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