Patent Application No. 09/080,071 filed May 15,1995 entitled"Pressure Gauge Having a Dampener Mechanism"which issued as United States Patent No. 6,119,525 on September 19,2000.

Field of the Invention The field of art to which the invention pertains comprises pressure gauges having a dampener operative to avoid transmitting shock pulsation or vibration forces from the condition sensitive element to the output indicia.

Background of the Invention Pressure gauges are widely utilized in a myriad of different environments for commercial and industrial applications where measuring and indication of fluid pressure values is required. Values of pressure are usually displayed by a pointer in analog form. The primary sensing element of the gauge typically comprises a Bourdon tube having a free end that incurs a predictable displacement in response to pressure changes to which it is exposed. Typically, tube displacement is translated via a movement or amplifier to a rotatable pointer that is displaced opposite a dial of calibrated pressure values.

The gauge movement impresses the extent of tube deflection upon the indicator element which registers the value of force, pressure or condition.

For accurate measurement, the responsive element must not only be sensitive to very small changes in value of the forces of pressures measured,

but the deflection of the condition responsive element in response to such changes must be sufficiently minute that the indicator will legibly register a precise change in value. Accordingly, when the force or pressure to be measured is subject to rapid or violent pulsations, it can cause the gauge movement and indicator to vibrate or fluctuate. Under these conditions it is very difficult to measure accurately the average mean or peak value of the source as a result of the pulsations being impressed on the condition responsive element. Such vibration makes reading of the gauge difficult and may even cause misalignment of parts, thereby necessitating frequent readjustment. Moreover, it tends to result in excessive strain and wear on the gauge elements, thereby reducing the expectant life of the gauge.

Background of the Prior Art The use of dampeners in gauges are well known as exemplified by the disclosures of U. S. patents 1,664,776; 1,874,765; 2,701,968; 2,796,765 3,335,609; 4,100,812 and 4,413,523. Thus, while various constructions of gauge dampeners are known, they tend to be of a relatively complex construction and therefore relatively costly. Another approach has been to liquid fill the case, but this has proven to be expensive, heavy and troublesome with associated leakage and disposal problems. Despite recognition of the foregoing, a much simpler and more economically feasible construction of gauge dampener has heretofore been unknown.

Obiects of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a novel dampener construction for gauges to dampen undesirable vibration fluctuation forces internally imposed on the gauge.

It is a further object of the invention to effect the previous object with a construction that is economically advantageous compared with previous constructions utilized for that purpose.

It is a still further object of the invention to effect the previous objects with a dampener that functions in a highly efficient manner and yet is substantially maintenance free.

Summary of the Invention This invention relates to pressure gauge apparatus including novel dampener apparatus for eliminating the adverse effects of pulsation, and vibration forces, and the like received by the gauge. More specifically, the invention relates to such a dampener in a pressure gauge that is operative to absorb shock pulsation or vibration forces against being transmitted from the output of the condition responsive element to the output indicia of the gauge, commonly in the form of a pointer opposite a dial plate.

The foregoing is achieved in accordance herewith by means of a one piece housing that snap fits onto the lower tail-like end of an amplifier side leg.

A side aperture in the housing furthest removed from the leg face enables the pointer shaft to transversely extend through and beyond the housing to support the dial pointer. Internally, the housing defines a central cavity functioning as a reservoir in which to contain an engineered dampening agent (EDM) as will be described. The housing is relatively small in size having a total height dimension of about 0.90 inches (2.286 cm). The housing aperture defines a clearance of the pointer shaft of about 0.010 inches (0.254 mm) so as to afford a controlled clearance fit thereabout. The cavity reservoir within the housing has a diameter of about 0.160 inches (4.064 mm) and a lateral depth of about 0.070 inches (1.778 mm). The engineered dampener agent is characterized preferably by a viscosity range of an oil from about 1 million centistokes to a grease consistency number of 144 per ASTM D 1403 (1/4 scale cone penetration test). Optimum consistency is about number 190.

Any surrounding structures about the pointer shaft afford outside clearance of between about 0.009 inches (0. 2286 mm)-0.051 inches (1.2954 mm) with an optimum of about 0.017 inches (0.4318 mm) that is similarly packed with the dampener agent.

By virtue of a relatively simple construction, satisfactory dampening in a pressure gauge can be obtained without the structural complexity normally associated with dampener constructions of the prior art.

The above noted features and advantages of the invention as well as other superior aspects thereof will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description that follows in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a pressure gauge of the prior art; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary upside isometric view illustrating the dampener apparatus of the instant invention; FIGURE 3 is a partially exploded fragmentary front side isometric view of the dampener apparatus hereof; FIGURE 4 is an exploded isometric view of the dampener housing assembly per se; FIGURE 5 is a front side elevation of the dampener housing; FIGURE 6 is a sectional view as seen substantially along the lines 6-6 of Figure 5; FIGURE 7 is an interior isometric view of the dampener housing ; and FIGURE 8 is a sectional view as seen substantially along the lines 8-8 of Figure 2.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals respectively.

The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and in certain views, parts may have been exaggerated for purposes of clarity.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a pressure gauge designated 11 that may for example, be of a type disclosed in U. S. Patent 4,055,085 incorporated herein by reference. The instrument includes an amplifier 10, a stem or socket 12 in which fluid pressure to be monitored is received at an inlet 13 and includes threads 14 for connecting the gauge to a system with which it is to be employed. Fluid pressure received at inlet 13 is communicated to a Bourdon tube 18 that is subject to arcuate motion displacement in a well known manner in response to incremental pressure changes received at inlet 13.

The motion of Bourdon tube 18 is conducted to amplifier 10 to produce an amplified and correlated motion for operating a pointer 19 relative to pressure values 20 on dial face 21. Except for stem 12, each of the foregoing components comprise the operating mechanism that is substantially contained within enclosed gauge housing 24. The gauge housing consists of a cup shape shell-like backing secured via screws to stem 12 and bezel 27 telescopically fit onto the backing to secure a crystal 28 for viewing the pointer position relative to pressure values 20 on face 21.

Amplifier 10, includes a centrally upright U-shaped carriage or frame 32 integrally formed to include symmetrically spaced apart side legs 33 and 34.

Frame 32 is preferably of a hard metal such as brass and of a relatively thin cross section. Bracket 35 is permanently secured to the end of the Bourdon tube as by welding, soldering, brazing or the like.

Installed between carriage legs 33 and 34 are a pair of longitudinally displaced rotatable shafts 39 and 40. Shaft 39 provides a hinge support for a geared sector arm 41 secured thereto as by staking while shaft 40 represents the output drive shaft supporting pointer 19. Rotation of shaft 40 for positioning pointer 19 is effected by pinion 64 secured thereto and meshing with sector gearing 47 of arm 41.

To effect dampening in accordance herewith in order to offset any sudden shock, pulsation or vibration forces as might otherwise be transmitted from the Bourdon tube 18 to pointer 19, there is provided in accordance with the invention hereof a dampener, designated 46, as best seen in FIGURES 2-7.

Dampener 46 is comprised of a die-cast housing 48 which at its underside defines an inlet groove 50 beneath opposite side lips 51 and 53.

The groove is adapted to receive the lower tail end 52 of amplifier side leg 33 for slidable or snap on placement thereon. Integrally formed on a front face of the housing is an annular concentric boss 54 that includes an aperture 56 to receive the extension of pointer shaft 40. For these purposes, aperture 56 when housing 48 is properly positioned on tail end 52 is axially coincident with the location of key-shaped aperture 58 in housing leg 33. The underside of groove 50 includes a locating bump 60 to enable correct positioning of housing. Defined within the housing 48 is a cavity 62 serving as a reservoir in which a predetermined quantity of dampening agent 66 can be contained and supplied via aperture 68.

By the above description there is disclosed a novel and simple construction for dampening the adverse effects of imposed shock or vibration that might otherwise cause fluctuations in the positioning of pointer 19. By a relatively simple and expedient construction comprising the simplest of components, an otherwise adverse problem encountered in the operation of such pressure gauges is readily and inexpensively overcome. It is especially worthy to note that the reservoir retains the EDM that remains in intimate contact with the pointer shaft and avoids migration that might otherwise occur.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely differ embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the drawings and specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.