Integrated Pressure Temperature Sensor with Protruding Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pressure and temperature sensors for mediums in internal combustion engines and other applications face challenges in being compact, lightweight, and cost-effective due to complex production processes and high media resistance, especially when exposed to aggressive chemicals and extreme conditions.

Innovation Solution

A pressure and temperature sensor design with a simplified production process, featuring a socket process connection that protrudes into the medium, a thin separating membrane, and a separate temperature sensor sleeve, reducing mechanical connections and complexity, while maintaining media-tight separation and high sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the separating membrane and sleeve have very small wall thicknesses of less than 0.5 mm for best possible transmission of pressure and temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and production costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure and temperature transmissionVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the separating membrane and the temperature sensor sleeve into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the need for separate production and assembly processes for these two elements, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the required thin wall thicknesses for accurate pressure and temperature transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the separating membrane for pressure transmission and the sleeve for temperature sensing. This multi-functionality reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, addressing the manufacturing complexity issue while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the sleeve protrudes through a hole in the separating membrane into the feed channel and medium, then temperature transmission is improved, but mechanical connection complexity and production rejects increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature transmissionVSAvoidmechanical connection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the temperature sensor sleeve directly into the separating membrane structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate mechanical connections between these components. The sleeve becomes an inherent part of the membrane, simplifying production and reducing rejects while maintaining effective temperature transmission to the sensor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If the sensor is designed with compact dimensions and reduced weight, then adaptability to small engine spaces is improved, but structural strength and media-tight separation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor external dimensionsVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a thin separating membrane that is sufficiently flexible to transmit pressure accurately while maintaining structural integrity and media-tight separation. This thin film approach enables compact sensor dimensions without compromising the essential function of separating the measurement medium from the sensor components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor is designed with modular segmentation, where the integrated membrane-sleeve component is precisely engineered to provide the necessary strength and sealing in a compact form. This segmented design allows optimization of each component's thickness and structure to balance compactness with structural requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design results in a sensor with reduced external dimensions, lower weight, and lower production costs, while maintaining high sensitivity and resistance to aggressive media, addressing the need for compact and lightweight sensors in demanding environments.

Implementation Method 1

The separating membrane transmits the pressure of the medium to the pressure sensor module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The sleeve transmits the temperature of the medium to the temperature sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3236222B1Pressure and temperature sensor
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 KISTLER HLDG AG
  • EP3236222B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3236222B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3236222B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a pressure and temperature sensor (1) comprising a pressure sensor module (2) for detecting the pressure of a medium; a separating membrane (3) for a media-tight separation of the medium from the pressure sensor module (2) and for transmitting the pressure from the medium to the pressure sensor module (2); a process connection (4) having a feed channel (41); the feed channel (41) is designed to supply medium to the separating membrane (3); the pressure sensor module (2) is arranged on a side of the separating membrane (3) facing away from the feed channel (41); a temperature sensor (5) for detecting the temperature of the medium; a sleeve (51) for a media-tight separation of the medium from the temperature sensor (5) and for transmitting the temperature from the medium to the temperature sensor (3); a first end of the sleeve (31) is designed to project into the medium;The temperature sensor (5) is arranged in the sleeve (51), with a second end of the sleeve (51) being mechanically connected to the process connection (4).