Abstract: A pressure responsive electric switch (10) is shown having an improved flexible diaphragm (28) to extend the useful life of the switch particularly when used with fluid media of a corrosive nature. The flexible diaphragm (28) comprises a base layer (28a) of resin having excellent mechanical properties over a wide range of temperature and a first level of fold endurance capability covered on one or both face surfaces with a protective layer (28b) of resin having excellent corrosion resistance capability and a second level of fold endurance capability at least as great as the first level. In a second embodiment, the flexible diaphragm is composed of biaxially oriented polyphenylene sulfide which can be used without additional protective layers.

Abstract: A diaphragm assembly for movement in response to a pressure increase exerted thereon comprised of a resilient flexible diaphragm having a first surface with a predetermined profile when said diaphragm is in a neutral, unflexed condition, the diaphragm having an opening formed therethrough.A rigid pressure plate is adapted to be positioned against the diaphragm. The plate has a contoured surface for mating engagement with the first surface of the diaphragm. The contoured surface has a recessed sealing surface dimensioned to form an open space between the plate and the diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the neutral, unflexed condition, and to enable the diaphragm to flex into sealing engagement therewith when sufficient pressure is exerted on said diaphragm. A first vent passage communicates the opening in diaphragm with the open space, and a second vent passage communicates the open space with the edge of the pressure plate.

Abstract: A micromachined pressure switch and method of fabrication from silicon wafers using aligned fusion bonding. Pattern etched thermally grown silicon dioxide insulating pads are used to determine the size of silicon pressure membranes on an upper silicon wafer, with the desired switch gap set by the oxide thickness. The silicon membranes are formed by controlled thinning the upper silicon wafers. V-shaped vent grooves are pattern etched into a bottom silicon wafer to form electrodes to which the insulating pads are fusion bonded. The area between the electrodes and the membrane forms wells of specified sizes into which the membranes deflect upon application of pressure. The pressure switch operates when the membrane is deflected to contact the electrodes in the bottom wafer, and closes at the desired pressure threshold for both directions of pressure change with negligible hysteresis. The method of fabrication applies to a single element pressure switch as well as to an array of pressure switches.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a diaphragm pressure switch used to sense paint pressure in an airless, piston-type paint spray gun includes a disc-shaped, deflectable, chemically-inert primary member and a washer-shaped, secondary, resilient member located behind the primary member. The switch includes a hollow body which connects to the spray gun to form a sensing zone therebetween. The switch body houses a spring-biased, linearly displaceable piston with a head which extends through an opening in the body. The primary member of the diaphragm has a first surface exposed to paint in the sensing zone and a second surface with a central region which contacts the piston head. High pressure in the sensing zone deflects the primary member, and deflection of the primary member displaces the piston. The chemically inert primary member withstands the chemically-corrosive effects of solvents in the paint.

Abstract: A spray apparatus includes a spray device which indirectly controls the activation and deactivation of a pump in a remote pumping mechanism. The spray device includes a control assembly which is adapted to control the fluid flow through the device. The control assembly includes a button which is normally biased into engagement with a fluid passage and can be manually manipulated to allow fluid to flow through the passage. The fluid passage in the spray device is connected by a conduit to the pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism includes a pump, a fluid reservoir, and a pressure sensitive switch mounted within a housing. When activated, the pump draws fluid from the reservoir and forces the fluid through the pressure sensitive switch and the conduit to the fluid passage in the spray device. The button in the control assembly can be manually manipulated to selectively allow fluid to flow through the fluid passage and out through a nozzle in the spray device in the form of a stream or spray.

Abstract: A mechanical transducer is disclosed which includes a converter having a plurality of elongate flexible elements, which are joined together at their opposite ends and spaced at intervals around a longitudinal axis of the transducer. The opposite ends of the converter are displaceable toward and away from each other along the axis, which displacement is accompanied by a bowing or straightening of the elongate elements. Thus, an axial force applied to the converter will be converted to a radial force exerted by the elongate elements, or a radial force applied to the elongate elements will be converted to an axial force.

Abstract: A doll includes a hollow head and torso and generally replicates a human infant in appearance. The head portion defines an orifice for the introduction of a liquid such as water through simulated nursing. The water is initially received within the doll interior in a first reservoir which is effectively isolated from a second reservoir within the doll torso by a siphon tube coupling. The siphon tube coupling serves to delay the transfer of liquid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir until a predetermined amount of liquid has been introduced. The second reservoir includes a flexible wall portion which bulges outwardly when filled with water to trigger a switch which enables an internally supported sound generating system to produce crying action. In an alternate embodiment, the first and second reservoirs are combined within a common water tank and interconnected by a siphon passage.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection is provided between a tubular element (10) formed of a thin walled plastic material made conductive (16) and a further contact (18,56) by fluid pressure driving the material to engage the further contact. Positive and negative pressures are contemplated and assemblies (110) of contacts (90) are arranged to become commonly activated to interconnect arrays of contacts between electronic packages.

Abstract: A pressure switch for use in a device for alarming the reduction of pneumatic pressure of vehicle tire is disclosed. The switch comprises a base board, a bellofram secured to the base board and having conductive coating of one electric contact applied to the inner surface and the outer surface thereof and having both bellows and diaphragm characteristic, a housing provided to enclose the bellofram and for defining a hermetic chamber, and a conductor provided at inner portion and outer portion of the bellofram near the center of the diaphragm portion thereof and for forming another electric contact. A back pressure is applied to the inner portion or outer portion of the bellofram against the pneumatic pressure of a vehicle tire.

Abstract: A normally open pressure responsive switch having upper and lower housings with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The housings each include a body with a hollow center portion and the lower housing has a contact in the center portion extending externally of the member. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally out of engagement with the contact. When pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. An elastomeric sealing member is mounted in the upper housing and has a neck portion received in the hollow center portion, an integrally attached flange biased against the electrically conductive member and lower housing and an integrally attached lobe extending above the upper housing to seal off the hollow center portion when the switch is mounted at a switch receiving seat.

Abstract: A diaphragm-type inertia switch for sensing deceleration places the inertial mass in the chamber that contains the contacts. The other chamber has a thin concave-convex shape that gives the switch a low profile. The switch has a molded plastic base containing a test coil for attracting the inertial mass to test the switch. A mechanism for calibrating the switch is also included.

Abstract: A pressure switch for monitoring a tire pressure of a motor vehicle tire is fastened to a wheel rim and is actuated by the inflating pressure in the tire. The pressure switch comprises a reference pressure chamber which is sealed off by an electrically conductive switching diaphragm in the direction of the tire, and carries a contact pin interacting with this diaphragm. The switching diaphragm has a mass which is controlled as a function of centrifugal force in response to tire rotation such that the switching point of the pressure switch can be changed automatically as a function of vehicle speed.

Abstract: A pressure responsive control device having a pressure housing assembly defining a pressure chamber, an actuable controller fixed to the housing assembly and, a pressure transducer hermetically closing the pressure chamber. The transducer includes plural duplicate snap acting pressure responsive diaphragms, a diaphragm control plate hermetically bonded to the diaphragms and a support member hermetically joined between the control plate and the housing assembly. The diaphragms each are formed from thin sheets of spring metal and includes a central dome section having a surface finish less than 6 microinches A.A. on both sides. The diaphragms are nested together so that confronting faces of the dished sections are engaged when the diaphragms flex.

Abstract: A bellows device having a plurality of recesses and ridges in the direction of expansion and contraction is used for a movable part of a vacuum switch tube. The thickness of an middle part in the direction of expansion and contraction is 1.2 times or more than the thickness of a part placed adjacent the middle part. The middle part has three or more ridges.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to thermal control apparatus wherein a change in temperature is transmitted from a sensing bulb through a capillary to a control device. More particularly this invention is related to a novel, fail-safe control device for use in conjunction with a temperature sensing bulb, capillary, and control device in an oven or other heating facility whereby a loss of pressure within the bulb, capillary, control device system will cause the heating device to be shut off and thus will prevent the oven or other heating facility from being overheated.

Abstract: Temperature limit control having a normally closed contact switch secured to a formed cup with vacuum operated formed diaphragm seal to cup bottom, contacts open on reduced vacuum as by boiling thermal fluid in the linear capillary tube welded to the cup below the diaphragm or boiling of fluid in a sensor bulb welded to the capillary tube end for remote temperature control, with vacuum leakage within lower cup, diaphragm, capillary tube and, or, sensor bulb releasing diaphragm from its pulled down position against inward formed dimples between the cup side and central outlet likewise opening contacts providing fail safe operation.

Abstract: A pressure switch for detecting and controlling small pressure gradients in fluid circulation systems includes a containing body having first and second channels formed therein, and an elastically deformable diaphragm. The diaphragm is supported at its edges by the body and separates the first and second channels from each other. A small disc formed of an electrically conductive material cooperatingly engages a portion of one of the faces of the diaphragm. Electrical contacts are supported by the body and disposed adjacent the small disc. The diaphragm is provided with a working portion that is disposed outwardly from the periphery of the small disc and is relatively thin. The pressure switch further includes an annular supporting plug projecting from the containing body and engaging the diaphragm close to the edge of the disc.

Abstract: A sealed pressure-responsive switch is manually resettable and trip-free. The switch has a separate snap-acting, bistable, dished metal disc or disc element disposed between a sealed snap-acting pressure-responsive diaphragm and a spring-biased switch arm. The disc moves to an inverted dished configuration with snap action to move the switch arm to a trip position against the arm bias when the diaphragm moves in response to application of a selected fluid pressure. The disc remains in its inverted shape to releasably hold the arm in tripped position until the switch is manually reset even when the diaphragm returns to its original position after removal of the selected fluid pressure from the diaphragm.

Abstract: A relatively low cost, high performance pressure responsive switch device comprises a base, switch means mounted on the base, and a discrete pressure-responsive unit which is separately testable for predetermining its pressure response characteristics and which is then mounted on the base for moving the switch means between selected switch positions in response to the application of a selected fluid pressure. The discrete pressure-responsive unit is particularly adapted for achieving long unit cycle life under high operating pressure conditions and for actuating the switch means incorporated in the device to achieve long cycle life as well.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for actuating a desired device, such as a switch controlling a pump, in response to a predetermined pressure condition in a selected environment of varying pressure, such as closed vessel. A tube having a flattened segment of deformable material is disposed in fluid communication with the selected environment and a flattened segment of the tube is inserted between a tube support surface and a movable tube segment compression member. When the flattened tube segment expands in response to an increased pressure condition within the monitored environment, the tube segment compression member moves to actuate the device.The flattened tube segment unexpectedly improves the precision and consistency in actuating the device exactly at the predetermined pressure condition.

Abstract: A control device has a housing with an electrical circuit therethrough, and at least a pair of switch means are operable between a pair of switching modes for controlling the electrical circuit. Resistor means are connected in series circuit relation with one of the switch means in one of the switching modes thereof and in parallel circuit relation with the other of the switch means in one of the switching modes thereof. Means is provided for sequentially operating the switching means to the one switching modes thereof, respectively, to energize the resistor means in the series circuit relation with the one switching means prior to the connection of the resistor means in the parallel circuit relation with the other of the switching means.A method of making the control device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An airless paint or material spray system having a pressure sensor and regulator for controlling the pressure of paint flowing from a paint pump to an airless spray gun. The pressure sensor and regulator includes three contiguous flexing diaphragms in a material chamber in the outlet flow line of the pump with the outermost diaphragm in direct contact with material being constructed of a thin plastic impervious to attack by common painting or coating materials. The two other diaphragms are rubber coated fabric diaphragms that axially position a precision steel rod movably mounted in a low clearance bore in a regulator housing. The axial movement of the precision rod is converted to rotational movement by an adjustably spring biased, pivotally mounted member in the housing having a universal connection with the precision rod. A normally closed snap action switch in the housing is actuated after a predetermined axial travel of the precision rod by an amplifier bar connected to the pivotally mounted member.

Abstract: An electrical switch construction having a housing carrying an electrical switch and an actuator for actuating an operating plunger of the electrical switch, the construction having a flexible diaphragm seal disposed against the electrical switch to seal the same to a part of the housing and define a chamber with that part of the housing so that the electrical switch is sealed therein. The diaphragm seal has a portion thereof disposed between the plunger and the actuator. The diaphragm seal has means for preventing a pressure increase in the chamber thereof that would adversely act across the portion of the diaphragm seal when there is an increase in the volume of fluid in the chamber regardless of whether the increase in volume is caused by a change in temperature and/or an out gasing of the plastic parts of the switch.

Abstract: A transport hose floating on the sea surface and transporting petroleum or like fluid from a tanker to an oil reservoir installation on land or vice versa, comprising a leak detector operative in response to the presence of a leak fluid to indicate that portion of the transport hose at which a leak failure occurs.

Abstract: An improved low voltage, high current D.C. vacuum switch is provided by disposing an arcing shield annularly about the arcing contact area within the vacuum switch. The arcing shield prevents disposition of conductive contact material on the insulator body wall of the switch and also shields the flexible corrugated annular member which permits switch contact movement to open and close the switch. The arcing shield may be floating electrically, or connected to the electrically positive side of the switch contacts.

Abstract: An adjustable pressure control device relies on the change of shape or position of a control hose portion responsive to internal pressure of fluid being transmitted therethrough to control the fluid pressure produced by a pump. One embodiment of the device utilizes a short piece of high pressure hose in the fluid line which is adjustably deformed. As pressure builds up in the hose, the hose tends to return to its original shape, thereby actuating a suitable control instrumentality for the pump, such as an electric switch which opens the circuit to an electric clutch or to an electric drive motor for the pump, thereby temporarily stopping the pumping action. Another embodiment, to accomplish the same function, relies on the change of the arcuate position of a control hose due to variations in fluid pressure therein.

Abstract: A pressure sensing switch for transducing the change of pneumatic pressure to an electrical signal comprises a diaphragm made of a material having a Young's modulus E of 1.0.times.10.sup.4 -2.1.times.10.sup.4 kg/mm.sup.2, a Poisson's ratio V of 0.3, a thickness t of 0.02-0.2mm, a diameter d measured at a radially inner edge of a side wall portion being 5-10mm, a ratio of a radius or curvature R measured at a deflectable portion to a diameter d measured at the radially inner edge of the side wall portion being 2.

Abstract: An electrical switch contact member consists of a resilient electrically conductive domed diaphragm of a predetermined shape. The diaphragm includes a frusto-conical region linking a central region of the diaphragm with a peripheral region. The frusto-conical region includes an inwardly turned or bent transition portion at its smaller end, and an outwardly turned transition portion at its larger end, and is dimensioned to function as a Belleville spring. The diaphragm may also comprise a plurality of co-axial similarly oriented frusto-conical regions each of which is inwardly turned at its smaller end, outwardly at its larger end, and which is also dimensioned to function as a Belleville spring.

Abstract: The keyswitch pad includes a plurality of keyswitches on a common backing member, each of the keyswitches including a fluid filled bag underneath a key cap. The bags of the keyswitches are interconnected and the system of bags is closed so as to be of limited volume so that only one keyswitch at a time can be depressed. Several different types of keyswitches can be used in any one switch pad and several types of switching, latching, and display mechanisms are disclosed for the keyswitches.

Abstract: An air pressure instrument embodying a base receptacle adapted to be mounted to an instrument panel and to be connected to air and electric lines at the panel and a plug-in receptacle containing a pressure-responsive element and switch operable thereby adapted by plugging into the base receptacle to automatically connect the pressure-responsive element to the pressure line and the switch to the electric line.

Abstract: An oil pressure switch comprising a housing having an inlet end connectable to an oil pressure line to admit oil from the line within the housing. A flexible membrane is secured in the housing and having opposed surfaces. One of these opposed surfaces is in contact with the oil admitted to the housing while the other of the surfaces is in engagement with a spring biased electrical contact. The spring biased electrical contact is in abutting engagement with a stationary electrical contact. Connection means is provided for each of the electrical contacts. The membrane is displaced by pressure in the oil line whereby the spring biased contact is caused to be displaced against its spring biased direction to cause disengagement with the stationary electrical contact.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of a contaminating fluid in other, normal fluids. In one embodiment the system detects the presence of hydrocarbons in a liquid which is normally water. A barrier which is soluble in hydrocarbons but insoluble in water has one side in contact with the liquid. A liquid sensitive switch is positioned on the other side of the barrier. If hydrocarbons are present, they will dissolve the barrier and close the switch which will set off an alarm. In a second embodiment wherein water is the possible contaminant in hydrocarbons, a barrier which is soluble in water but insoluble in hydrocarbons is utilized.

Abstract: A pressure sensing means having a housing provided with a chamber therein. A double wall fluid operated device is disposed in the chamber of the housing and is carried by the same, the walls of the device defining a chamber therebetween that is interconnected to the exterior of the housing by a passage. A charge of pressure fluid is sealed in the chamber of the housing to initially hold the walls of the device in flat abutting relation in a manner to prevent an adverse permanent set thereof. Subsequently, the chamber of the double wall fluid operated device is interconnected to the pressurized chamber of a container means for a vehicular air bag safety system whereby the pressure sensing means can subsequently detect loss or gain of pressure differential across at least one of the walls of the double wall operated device for detection purposes or the like.This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 321,648, filed Jan. 8, 1973, now abandoned.