Pressure transducer

{
  "publication_number": "US9607596B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Pressure transducer",
  "abstract": "The hammer union pressure transducer engages with a cinch nut of a hammer union coupling to cinch a nose end toward an internal sealing surface of a male component of the hammer union coupling. The transducer includes a connection end removably threaded to the nose end. An anti-rotation device engages the connection end and the nose end, inhibiting inadvertent unthreading. The anti-rotation device is removable or shearable, allowing unthreading of the connection end from the nose end as desired. A recess may be formed on the external sealing surface of the nose end and an insert may be disposed in the recess. The insert, if used, may be formed of a material that is different from a material of the nose end. An upgrade kit may also be employed and includes an adapter plate to connect to the nose end.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A hammer union pressure transducer, comprising: a housing comprising: a nose end having a surface adapted to engage an internal sealing surface of a male component of a hammer union coupling, a separate connection end removably threaded to the nose end along a mounting thread axis, a shoulder formed on the housing, the shoulder adapted to be engaged by a cinch nut of the hammer union coupling to cinch the housing toward the male component such that the sealing surface of the nose end sealingly engages the internal sealing surface of the male component, and an anti-rotation device engaging the connection end and the nose end to inhibit inadvertent unthreading of the connection end from the nose end, wherein the anti-rotation device is constructed and is arranged in the housing to be at least one of removable and shearable thereby allowing unthreading of the connection end from the nose end; and a pressure sensor disposed in the nose end.",
    "2. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation device comprises at least one screw.",
    "3. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 2, wherein the at least one screw comprises a set screw.",
    "4. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 3, wherein a further screw is adapted to back the set screw to prevent inadvertent unthreading of the set screw.",
    "5. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the connection end includes a recessed cavity at an end opposite the nose end.",
    "6. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 5, wherein the recessed cavity includes an electrical connection mounting surface, and wherein the hammer union pressure transducer further comprises an electrical connection mounted on the electrical connection mounting surface, the electrical connection being connected to the pressure sensor.",
    "7. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 5, wherein the anti-rotation device comprises at least one set screw disposed in a corresponding at least one threaded bore formed in the recessed cavity.",
    "8. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 7, further comprising a grounding screw threaded into the threaded bore, with the grounding screw adapted to connect an electrical ground connection to the housing and with the grounding screw obscuring the set screw from view.",
    "9. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 8, wherein a second set screw is threaded in the threaded bore and is adapted to back the set screw to prevent inadvertent unthreading of the set screw.",
    "10. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation device comprises at least one shear pin.",
    "11. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 10, wherein the at least one shear pin comprises at least one spring loaded shear pin.",
    "12. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation device comprises at least one spring loaded pin.",
    "13. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the nose end comprises a sensing end and an adapter ring coupled to the sensing end, wherein the adapter ring is threaded to the connecting end.",
    "14. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the nose end comprises a sensing end and an adapter ring coupled to the sensing end, wherein the hammer union pressure transducer further comprises an adapter plate coupled to the adapter ring, wherein the adapter plate is threaded to the connecting end.",
    "15. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, further comprising a seal between the connecting end and the nose end.",
    "16. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the nose end comprises an insert recess and wherein an insert formed of a material that is different from a material of the nose end is disposed in the insert recess.",
    "17. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 16, wherein the insert is formed of a nickel-chromium alloy.",
    "18. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 16, wherein the insert is press fit into the insert recess.",
    "19. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 6, wherein the connection end includes at least one drain opening in a side wall extending between the recessed cavity and an outside surface of the side wall.",
    "20. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 19, wherein the recessed cavity includes a sloping surface extending from the at least one drain opening to the electrical connection mounting surface, the sloped surface adapted to aid with drainage toward the at least one drain opening.",
    "21. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 9, wherein the recessed cavity includes an electrical connection mounting surface, and wherein the hammer union pressure transducer further comprises an electrical connection mounted on the electrical connection mounting surface, the electrical connection being connected to the pressure sensor.",
    "22. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 21, wherein the connection end includes at least one drain opening in a side wall extending between the recessed cavity and an outside surface of the connecting end.",
    "23. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 22, wherein the recessed cavity includes a sloping surface extending from the at least one drain opening to the electrical connection mounting surface, the sloped surface adapted to aid with drainage toward the at least one drain opening.",
    "24. An upgrade kit for a hammer union pressure transducer, the kit comprising: an adapter plate adapted to connect to a nose end of the hammer union pressure transducer, the nose end having a surface adapted to engage an internal sealing surface of a male component of a hammer union coupling, with the nose end having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by a cinch nut of the hammer union coupling to cinch the housing toward the male component such that the sealing surface of the nose end sealingly engages the internal sealing surface of the male component, and with a pressure sensor disposed in the nose end; and a connection end removably threaded to the adapter plate along a mounting thread axis.",
    "25. The upgrade kit according to claim 24, wherein the adapter plate is adapted to be welded to the nose end.",
    "26. The upgrade kit according to claim 24, wherein the nose end comprises a sensing end and an adapter ring coupled to the sensing end, with the adapter plate adapted to couple to the adapter ring.",
    "27. The upgrade kit according to claim 24, further comprising an anti-rotation device engaging the connection end and the adapter plate to inhibit inadvertent unthreading of the connection end from the adapter plate, wherein the anti-rotation device is constructed and is arranged to be at least one of removable and shearable thereby allowing unthreading of the connection end from the nose end.",
    "28. The upgrade kit according to claim 24, wherein the connection end includes a recessed cavity at an end opposite the adapter plate.",
    "29. The upgrade kit according to claim 28, wherein the connection end includes at least one drain opening in a side wall extending between the recessed cavity and an outside surface of the side wall.",
    "30. The upgrade kit according to claim 29, wherein the recessed cavity includes a sloping surface extending from the at least one drain opening to the electrical connection mounting surface, the sloped surface adapted to aid with drainage toward the at least one drain opening.",
    "31. The upgrade kit according to claim 28, wherein the set screw is disposed in a threaded bore disposed in the recessed cavity.",
    "32. The upgrade kit according to claim 31, further comprising a grounding screw threaded into the threaded bore, with the grounding screw adapted to connect an electrical ground connection to the housing and with the grounding screw obscuring the set screw from view.",
    "33. The upgrade kit according to claim 32, wherein a second set screw is threaded in the threaded bore and is adapted to back the set screw to prevent inadvertent unthreading of the set screw.",
    "34. The upgrade kit according to claim 33, wherein the recessed cavity includes an electrical connection mounting surface, and wherein the upgrade kit further comprises an electrical connection mounted on the electrical connection mounting surface, the electrical connection being connectable to the pressure sensor.",
    "35. The upgrade kit according to claim 34, wherein the connection end includes at least one drain opening in a side wall extending between the recessed cavity and an outside surface of the connecting end.",
    "36. The upgrade kit according to claim 35, wherein the recessed cavity includes a sloping surface extending from the at least one drain opening to the electrical connection mounting surface, the sloped surface adapted to aid with drainage toward the at least one drain opening.",
    "37. A hammer union pressure transducer adapted to be engaged by a cinch nut of a hammer union coupling to cinch the hammer union pressure transducer toward a male component of the hammer union coupling, the hammer union pressure transducer comprising: a nose end comprising: a body, a pressure sensor disposed in the body, an external sealing surface adapted to engage an internal sealing surface of the male component of a hammer union coupling, an insert recess formed into the external sealing surface, and an insert disposed in the insert recess, the insert being formed of a material that is different from a material of the body; and a separate connection end removably threaded to the nose end along a mounting thread axis.",
    "38. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 37, wherein the insert is formed of a nickel-chromium alloy.",
    "39. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 38, wherein the body is formed of stainless steel.",
    "40. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 37, wherein the insert is press fit into the insert recess.",
    "41. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 37, wherein the connection end includes a recessed cavity at an end opposite the nose end.",
    "42. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 41, wherein the connection end includes at least one drain opening in a side wall extending between the recessed cavity and an outside surface of the side wall.",
    "43. The hammer union pressure transducer according to claim 42, wherein the recessed cavity includes a sloping surface extending from the at least one drain opening to the electrical connection mounting surface, the sloped surface adapted to aid with drainage toward the at least one drain opening."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field\n\nAspects relate generally to pressure transducers and more particularly to hammer union pressure transducers.\n\n2. Discussion of Related Art\n\nA well-known quick connect between pipes and the like is known as a union and comprises a male thread on a male component that cooperates with a female thread on a collar to provide a quick connect/disconnect coupling. A more specialized quick connect/disconnect coupling is known as a hammer union, shown in FIG. 1. The hammer union coupling 10 includes a male component 12 with threads 14 on the exterior surface, an internal sealing surface 16, and a coupling component 18 having a smooth nose 20 abutting the sealing surface 16. An additional seal 22 between the male component 12 and the coupling component 18 may or may not be employed. A hammer nut 24 having female threads 26 on the interior surface is threaded to the male threads 14. Ears 28 are formed on the exterior surface of the nut 24. The hammer nut 24 includes a ledge 30 that engages shoulders 32 formed on the coupling end to cinch the coupling end to the male end as the nut is tightened. Hammer unions take their name from the fact that ears on the hammer nut may be struck with a hammer to cinch up the coupling.\n\nHammer union pressure transducers have been developed to sense the pressure within the pipe. Typical hammer union pressure transducers replace the coupling component 18 of the hammer union and couple directly with the male component 12 via the nut 24. The transducers include the same or similar smooth nose to abut the internal sealing surface of the male component.",
  "cpc": [
    "G10K 11/004",
    "G01L 19/003",
    "G01L 19/0038",
    "G01L 19/144"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G10K 11/00",
    "G01L 19/00",
    "G01L 19/14",
    "G01V 1/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Viatran Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Surinder Sood",
    "Matthew D. Miles",
    "John R. Biagioni",
    "Joel D. Neri"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-08-20",
  "publication_date": "2017-03-28",
  "grant_date": "2017-03-28",
  "priority_date": "2013-05-06",
  "application_number": "US-201313970789-A",
  "family_id": "50639317",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}