Double Housing Pressure Sensor for Electrical Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure sensors face challenges in safely operating in water-bearing environments due to the need for expensive sealing measures to protect against electric shocks, and they often require additional insulation to prevent electrical hazards.
Innovation Solution
A pressure sensor design featuring a double housing with the signal pickup and other live components isolated within an inner housing, providing double insulation from the medium being measured, which includes a signal generator between the two housings and a membrane on the outer housing for direct contact with the medium, ensuring protection even if the outer housing is pierced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor uses a single housing with membrane contact with the medium, then the structure is simple, but water can contact current-carrying components causing electrical hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into an outer housing and an inner housing, creating a double insulation barrier. The outer housing contacts the medium while the inner housing protects the signal pickup, dividing the protective function into separate structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner housing is nested within the outer housing, with the signal pickup located inside the inner housing. This nested configuration provides double insulation while maintaining a compact overall structure.
2Reliability
If the sensor implements double insulation with inner and outer housings, then electrical safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal pickup is integrated into the inner housing as a unified component, and the membrane is arranged as a housing closure on the outer housing. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while achieving double insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner housing serves multiple functions: it acts as a protective barrier for the signal pickup, provides structural support, and enables the double insulation configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components.
3Reliability
If the signal pickup is isolated in an inner housing, then protection from water contact is improved, but the space for signal transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The signal transmission function is moved from a spatial arrangement to a field-based interaction. The signal pickup generates electromagnetic fields that can penetrate the housing walls, eliminating the need for physical signal transmission openings and maintaining isolation while enabling signal transmission.
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
This design effectively prevents water from contacting current-carrying components, eliminating the need for additional isolating transformers and allowing the sensor to be used in protection class 2 devices, reducing costs and enabling safe operation in water-bearing environments like washing machines.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (7) which is arranged in and/or on the housing (6) and can be brought into contact with the medium (3)... generating a measurement signal for the medium (3)
Implementation Method 2
the signal generator (8) consists of a permanent magnet and the signal receiver (9) consists of a Hall sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a measurement device (1), particularly a sensor, such as a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, or the like, having a housing (6) and one or more membranes (7) disposed in and/or on the housing (6). A signal transmitter (8) is in an operative connection to the membrane (7). A signal receiver (9) interacting with the signal transmitter (8) is located in the interior of the housing (6). The current- and/or voltage-conducting parts of the signal receiver (9) are electrically insulated twofold against the exterior of the housing (6).