Amorphous Quartz Pressure Transducer Eliminates Hysteresis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Bourdon tubes made of metal materials exhibit hysteresis due to retained deformations and adhesive materials, leading to measurement errors in pressure transducers.

Innovation Solution

A pressure transducer comprising a flexible amorphous quartz Bourdon tube mechanism and a crystalline quartz sensor coupled without adhesive materials, using molecular bonding techniques such as heat, water, solvents, or additives like salt to reduce hysteresis and improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal Bourdon tubes are used, then the structure is strong and durable, but hysteresis occurs due to retained deformations and adhesive materials causing measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidhysteresis
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to amorphous quartz, fundamentally altering the physical and chemical properties of the Bourdon tube. This material substitution eliminates hysteresis effects while maintaining the necessary mechanical flexibility for pressure sensing applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes adhesive materials from the coupling process by implementing direct molecular bonding between amorphous quartz components. This extraction of the adhesive layer eliminates the source of hysteresis that would otherwise be introduced by bonding materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If adhesive materials are used to bond components, then assembly is simplified, but hysteresis is introduced affecting true measurement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes adhesive materials from the coupling process by implementing direct molecular bonding between amorphous quartz components. This extraction of the adhesive layer eliminates the source of hysteresis that would otherwise be introduced by bonding materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical/adhesive bonding systems with molecular-level bonding between amorphous quartz surfaces. This substitution eliminates the need for adhesive materials while maintaining strong structural integrity through direct molecular connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If crystalline quartz sensor is coupled without adhesive, then hysteresis is minimized, but molecular bonding requires specialized techniques

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidbonding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the bonding interface parameters by using amorphous quartz surfaces that can form direct molecular bonds with crystalline quartz sensors. This material parameter change enables adhesive-free coupling while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled bonding processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution minimizes hysteresis and enhances measurement precision by maintaining the crystalline sensor in tension over the entire operating range, providing linear pressure translation and reducing errors caused by thermal changes.

Implementation Method 1

the amorphous quartz of the flexible member and the crystalline quartz sensor are coupled together at the molecular level

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMolecular bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The bonding may be encouraged by the application of one or more of heat, water, solvents, and additives

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy: Heating

Implementation Method 3

The frequency at which the resonant sensor resonates due to the force is indicative of the pressure in the tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 4

Bourdon tubes are tubes that flex radially, by coiling and uncoiling, in response to pressure changes between the tube and its surrounding environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3276322B1Amorphous quartz pressure transducer
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 FLUKE CORP
  • EP3276322B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3276322B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3276322B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A pressure transducer comprising a flexible member made of amorphous quartz and a crystalline quartz sensor are coupled together without an adhesive material. Instead, the amorphous quartz and the crystalline quartz sensor are coupled together at the molecular level. In some embodiments, the crystalline quartz sensor remains in compression or tension during the entire operating range of the pressure transducer. In one embodiment, the crystalline quartz sensor is pre-stressed in either compression or tension when the pressure transducer is exposed to atmospheric pressure. In one embodiment, pressure transducer is located in pressure stabilizing system.