US3492968A - Fluid actuated visual indicator - Google Patents

Fluid actuated visual indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3492968A
US3492968A US743241A US3492968DA US3492968A US 3492968 A US3492968 A US 3492968A US 743241 A US743241 A US 743241A US 3492968D A US3492968D A US 3492968DA US 3492968 A US3492968 A US 3492968A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
indicator
diaphragm
window
casing
pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US743241A
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English (en)
Inventor
William Workman Jr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gardner Denver Inc
Original Assignee
Gardner Denver Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gardner Denver Inc filed Critical Gardner Denver Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3492968A publication Critical patent/US3492968A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L19/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluent medium insofar as such details or accessories are not special to particular types of pressure gauges
    • G01L19/08—Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
    • G01L19/12—Alarms or signals

Definitions

  • An indicator device comprising a casing divided into two chambers by a flexible diaphragm element.
  • One chamber of the casing comprises a window having a. bowl or hemispherical shape. Under the urging of pressure iluid conducted to the opposing chamber, the flexible diaphragm is forced against the surface of the bowl shaped window to give an omnidirectional visual display.
  • the present invention provides a visual indicator device which is actuated directly by pressure iluid operating on a stretchable diaphragm or the like which comprises an indicia viewable through a bowl shaped or concave window when the indicator is in the on position.
  • a particular advantage of the present invention is the provision of an indicator device having omnidirectional viewing characteristics in a 180 hemispherical lield.
  • the invention also provides for an actauting diaphragm which is stretchable or deformable to conform to the shape of a bulbous or bowl shaped window thereby making the indicator capable of greater visibility than known devices.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid actuated visual indicator comprising a stretchable diaphragm element.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a fluid actuated visual indicator comprising a flexible rolling diaphragm element.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
  • a preferred form of the fluid actuated visual indicator is generally designated by the numeral 10.
  • the indicator 10 comprises a casing member 12 having an externally threaded portion 14 and a circumferential shoulder 16 for making the indicator adaptable to be mounted in an instrument panel 18 or other suitable display module.
  • the indicator 10 is secured to the panel 18 by a nut 20.
  • the external conguration of the casing 12 could be modified to suit other means of mounting,
  • the casing 12 is provided with a partially threaded conduit 22 opening into a cylindrical recess 24 formed in the casing.
  • a flexible diaphragm element 30 Securely clamped within the cylindrical recess 24 between annular rings 26 and 28 is a flexible diaphragm element 30 which divides the space formed by the recess 24 into a chamber 32 in communication with the threaded conduit 22 and a chamber 34.
  • the diaphragm 30' is sealingly clamped by the rings 26 and 28 and against the wall of the recess 24 to prevent pressure iluid admitted to the chamber 32 from leaking into the chamber 34.
  • the assembly of the annular rings 26 and 28 and the diaphragm element 30 is retained in the recess 24 by a cover member 36 which comprises a window 38 having a bulbous or bowl shaped surface geometry.
  • the window 38 is formed integral with a threaded bezel 40 threadedly secured to the casing 12.
  • the window 38 is preferably constructed of impact resistant transparent plastic or other suitable light admitting material. Although the present invention contemplates an indicator in which the viewing window is completely transparent, a translucent or so-called frosted material may be used as in certain prior art devices.
  • the chamber 34 formed between the cover member 36 and the diaphragm element 30 is vented to the ambient pressure via a small orifice 42 in the window 38.
  • a particularly advantageous aspect of the present in- Vention depends on the construction of the Iflexible diaphragm element 30 which in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is formed of a stretchable or distendable material such as latex rubber or the like.
  • the diaphragm element 30 In the relaxed condition shown by the solid lines defining the planar disk shape, the diaphragm element 30 is retracted into the recess 24 of the casing 12 substantially to prevent any appearance from an external point of view that the indicator is on.
  • suitable conduit means not shown
  • pressure forces will stretch the diaphragm element to conform to the shape of the window 38 as shown by the dashed line.
  • the diaphragm element 30 With the distended diaphragm element 30 lying against the inner surface 44 of the window 38, the diaphragm will be clearly viewable and will represent the on condition of the indicator. Venting of pressure iiuid from'the chamber 32 will permit the elastic memory of the diaphragm element 30 to provide for retraction to the off position Where it resumes the planar shape illustrated by the solid lines.
  • the visibility of the indicator is particularly enhanced by the provision of the bulbous or bowl shaped window 38 having a 180 hemispherical field of view.
  • the shape of the window itself can be such as to maximize the viewing angle of the indicator.
  • the visibility of the indicator 10 can, of course, be further enhanced by the choice of color of the diaphragm element 38, and uorescent type paint or other highly reflective coatings may also be used. Suitable indicia in the form of numbers or lettering may also be embossed on the diaphragm for specific applications of the indicator.
  • FIG. 2 An alternate embodiment of a fluid actuated visual indicator is illustrated by the sectional view of FIG. 2 and the perspective view of FIG. 3 and is generally designated by the numeral 50.
  • the indicator 50 comprises a casing 52 having an externally threaded portion 54 for threadedly attaching the indicator 50 to a panel, tool, or machine element (not shown) in a complementary threaded bore.
  • the casing S2 comprises a cylindrical recess 56 communicating with the exterior of the indicator 50 by way of the threaded conduit 58.
  • the cylindrical recess 56 is divided into chamber 60 and 62 by a eXible diaphragm element 64 commonly known as a rolling diaphragm.
  • the diaphragm element 64 is sealingly clamped between the end face 66 of the casing 52 and a flange portion 68 of a cover member comprising Ia modified bulbous window 70 which in turn is secured to the casing 52 by a threaded retaining nut 72.
  • the window 70 is preferably formed of the same transparent material as the window 38 of the indicator 10 shown in FIG. 1.
  • the generally bulbous surface goemetry of the window 70 is modified, however, to more readily provide for complete conforming of the rolling diaphragm element 64 against the inner surface 82 of the window in the indicator on position represented by the dashed line.
  • the diaphragm element 64 is suitably made of a flexible material such as neoprene but is not required to be stretchable or distendable in the sense that the diaphragm 30 is. Retr-action of the diaphragm 64 into the recess 56 to be in the indicator off position is provided by resilient means such as the coil spring 74 attached to the diaphragm 64 at the tab 76 and to the casing 52 by way of the spring retainer plate 78 which is threadedly retained in the conduit S8.
  • the diaphragm 64 may also be molded with an elastic -memory tending to bias the diaphragm in the retracted or off position whereby the spring 74 could be eliminated.
  • Actuation of the indicator 50 to turn on is similar to the indicator 10 of FIG. 1. Pressure fluid admitted to the chamber 60 by way of the conduit 58 and the openings 80 in the plate 78 will force the diaphragm 64 to conform to the inner surface 82 of the window 70. Venting of the chamber 60 by suitable means (not shown) in the fluid system to which the indicator is connected will permit the spring 74 to retract the diaphragm 64 into the recess 56 corresponding to the off position. The chamber 62 is vented to the ambient pressure by way of the orifice 84 in the window 70.
  • the indicator 50 also presents a greater field of view than prior art devices due to the diaphragm 64 being conformable to the shape of window 70 which has a 180 hemispherical field of view.
  • suitable high visibility indicia may be placed on the diaphragm 64 using light reective substances to further enhance the effectiveness of the indicator 50v
  • the indicators 10 and 50 are basically operable to turn on in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm elements, and in response to no difference in pressure across the diaphragms to turn off It can therefore be readily appreciated that rather than venting the chambers 34 and 62 on the respective indicator 10 and 50 to atmosphere as the preferred embodiments disclose that, as in certain prior art devices, suitable conduit means could be provided t0 be in communication with any point in a fluid system where it would be desired to give indication of a change in pressure. Therefore, the indicators could readily be modified for use in any iiuid system where differential pressures are present and indication of the same is desired.
  • the pressure sensitivity of the indicator 10 can be varied by altering the thickness of the diaphragm 30 and in the indicator 50 by substituting various retraction springs for the spring 74.
  • a visual indicator comprising:
  • a casing including a recessed portion
  • a cover member mounted on said casing over said rccess, said cover member comprising a window having a light admitting surface of substantially bulbous configuration
  • a fiexible rolling diaphragm comprising indicia means mounted within said recess and forming therewith a chamber;
  • conduit means in said casing in communication with said chamber for admitting pressure iiuid thereto to exert pressure force on said rolling diaphragm;
  • said rolling diaphragm being operable in response to pressure force exerted thereon to conform to said light admitting surface of said window whereby said indicia means is viewable from at least a hemispherical field of view.
  • said rolling diaphragm is of a iiexible material formable to have an elastic memory, and said diaphragm is formed with an elastic memory operable to retract said diaphragm away from said window and into said recess in said casing in response to the venting of pressure fluid from said chamber.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
US743241A 1968-07-08 1968-07-08 Fluid actuated visual indicator Expired - Lifetime US3492968A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US74324168A 1968-07-08 1968-07-08

Publications (1)

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US3492968A true US3492968A (en) 1970-02-03

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US743241A Expired - Lifetime US3492968A (en) 1968-07-08 1968-07-08 Fluid actuated visual indicator

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US (1) US3492968A (show.php)
DE (1) DE1934236B2 (show.php)
FR (1) FR1597023A (show.php)
GB (1) GB1178200A (show.php)

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3624721A (en) * 1970-06-26 1971-11-30 William Workman Jr Signal-transmitting coupling for pneumatic tool
US3703879A (en) * 1971-04-06 1972-11-28 Charles K Huthsing Jr Pressure indicator
US3834346A (en) * 1972-09-15 1974-09-10 Leesona Corp Fluid circuit indicator
US3939457A (en) * 1974-11-07 1976-02-17 Richard Donald Nelson Air filter restriction indicating device
US4020783A (en) * 1975-06-19 1977-05-03 Donaldson Company, Inc. Air cleaner with restriction indicator
EP0001120A3 (en) * 1977-09-14 1979-04-04 Amerace Corporation Fluid pressure indicator
US4620500A (en) * 1985-08-12 1986-11-04 Condon James R Pressure loss indicator
US4729337A (en) * 1986-07-16 1988-03-08 Edgar Schopp Air pressure indicator
WO1988007663A1 (en) * 1987-03-31 1988-10-06 Ltj Enterprises, Inc. Visual indicator
US4798589A (en) * 1987-06-15 1989-01-17 Fisher Scientific Group Inc. Diaphragm pump cassette
US4799383A (en) * 1986-09-19 1989-01-24 Ltj Enterprises, Inc. Visual indicator
DE4214804A1 (de) * 1992-05-04 1993-11-11 Wabco Westinghouse Fahrzeug Einrichtung zur optischen Anzeige des Druckes eines Mediums
US5386794A (en) * 1993-03-01 1995-02-07 Philip J. Milanovich Tire pressure indicator
WO1995031346A1 (en) * 1994-05-13 1995-11-23 Milanovich Philip J Tire pressure indicator
US5604338A (en) * 1995-11-16 1997-02-18 Morton International, Inc. Temperature adjusting low pressure sensor
US5670720A (en) * 1996-01-11 1997-09-23 Morton International, Inc. Wire-wrap low pressure sensor for pressurized gas inflators
US5738372A (en) * 1996-05-15 1998-04-14 Morton International, Inc. Device for pressure relief during bonfire and tell-tale of compressed gas
US5792959A (en) * 1996-05-06 1998-08-11 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Pressure detection method and device
US5803282A (en) * 1996-12-13 1998-09-08 Chen; Pao Ting Vacuum indicator for a bottle
CN103185171A (zh) * 2011-12-30 2013-07-03 泰思康公司 用于可视化指示从安全阀泄漏的装置
US20150027361A1 (en) * 2013-07-26 2015-01-29 Western/Scott Fetzer Company Indicating assembly for a pressurized container
US20170259093A1 (en) * 2015-08-13 2017-09-14 Choon Lye Tan A fire extinguisher with checking function
US20180149310A1 (en) * 2015-04-29 2018-05-31 Graco Minnesota Inc. Diaphragm seal injector
WO2019193521A1 (en) 2018-04-04 2019-10-10 Lake Products Limited A sealing device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102014103310A1 (de) * 2014-03-12 2015-09-17 Frank Plastic Ag Druckmittler, insbesondere Membrandruckmittler
CN104019277B (zh) * 2014-05-07 2016-08-24 合肥江航飞机装备有限公司 一种机载氧气系统氧气释放指示器

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DE275467C (show.php) *
US1846311A (en) * 1931-04-24 1932-02-23 Aylmer W Clare Valve cap air leak detector
US1893473A (en) * 1930-05-15 1933-01-03 Trico Products Corp Fuel pump
US2417449A (en) * 1945-03-21 1947-03-18 Rubin Paul Tire inflation indicator valve cap
US2424801A (en) * 1946-03-11 1947-07-29 Phoenix Metal Cap Company Closure means for containers
US2563786A (en) * 1949-03-18 1951-08-07 Fram Corp Relief valve and signal for fluid filters
US2618977A (en) * 1948-03-06 1952-11-25 Penn Controls Pressure gauge
US2669707A (en) * 1950-04-29 1954-02-16 Bowser Inc Filter signal
US2827122A (en) * 1956-07-23 1958-03-18 Gen Detroit Corp Fire extinguisher
US2948151A (en) * 1958-12-12 1960-08-09 Astl Jaromir Differential pressure gauge
US3066527A (en) * 1959-11-20 1962-12-04 Bacharach Ind Instr Company Air filter gauge
US3075615A (en) * 1959-07-27 1963-01-29 Auto Research Corp Lubrication
US3111930A (en) * 1960-04-04 1963-11-26 Walter J Zipper Tire pressure indicator
US3134445A (en) * 1962-05-31 1964-05-26 United Aircraft Corp Blade inspection system
US3200787A (en) * 1963-12-18 1965-08-17 Michigan Dynamics Inc Sub-atmospheric pressure indicator
US3241514A (en) * 1964-10-12 1966-03-22 Geotechnical Corp Pneumatic pressure indicator
US3246624A (en) * 1965-02-05 1966-04-19 Novo Ind Corp Pressure indicating device
US3335694A (en) * 1964-09-04 1967-08-15 Dwyer Mfg Co F W Bistable magnetic pressure indicator

Patent Citations (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE275467C (show.php) *
US1893473A (en) * 1930-05-15 1933-01-03 Trico Products Corp Fuel pump
US1846311A (en) * 1931-04-24 1932-02-23 Aylmer W Clare Valve cap air leak detector
US2417449A (en) * 1945-03-21 1947-03-18 Rubin Paul Tire inflation indicator valve cap
US2424801A (en) * 1946-03-11 1947-07-29 Phoenix Metal Cap Company Closure means for containers
US2618977A (en) * 1948-03-06 1952-11-25 Penn Controls Pressure gauge
US2563786A (en) * 1949-03-18 1951-08-07 Fram Corp Relief valve and signal for fluid filters
US2669707A (en) * 1950-04-29 1954-02-16 Bowser Inc Filter signal
US2827122A (en) * 1956-07-23 1958-03-18 Gen Detroit Corp Fire extinguisher
US2948151A (en) * 1958-12-12 1960-08-09 Astl Jaromir Differential pressure gauge
US3075615A (en) * 1959-07-27 1963-01-29 Auto Research Corp Lubrication
US3066527A (en) * 1959-11-20 1962-12-04 Bacharach Ind Instr Company Air filter gauge
US3111930A (en) * 1960-04-04 1963-11-26 Walter J Zipper Tire pressure indicator
US3134445A (en) * 1962-05-31 1964-05-26 United Aircraft Corp Blade inspection system
US3200787A (en) * 1963-12-18 1965-08-17 Michigan Dynamics Inc Sub-atmospheric pressure indicator
US3335694A (en) * 1964-09-04 1967-08-15 Dwyer Mfg Co F W Bistable magnetic pressure indicator
US3241514A (en) * 1964-10-12 1966-03-22 Geotechnical Corp Pneumatic pressure indicator
US3246624A (en) * 1965-02-05 1966-04-19 Novo Ind Corp Pressure indicating device

Cited By (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3624721A (en) * 1970-06-26 1971-11-30 William Workman Jr Signal-transmitting coupling for pneumatic tool
US3703879A (en) * 1971-04-06 1972-11-28 Charles K Huthsing Jr Pressure indicator
US3834346A (en) * 1972-09-15 1974-09-10 Leesona Corp Fluid circuit indicator
US3939457A (en) * 1974-11-07 1976-02-17 Richard Donald Nelson Air filter restriction indicating device
US4020783A (en) * 1975-06-19 1977-05-03 Donaldson Company, Inc. Air cleaner with restriction indicator
EP0001120A3 (en) * 1977-09-14 1979-04-04 Amerace Corporation Fluid pressure indicator
US4620500A (en) * 1985-08-12 1986-11-04 Condon James R Pressure loss indicator
US4729337A (en) * 1986-07-16 1988-03-08 Edgar Schopp Air pressure indicator
US4799383A (en) * 1986-09-19 1989-01-24 Ltj Enterprises, Inc. Visual indicator
WO1988007663A1 (en) * 1987-03-31 1988-10-06 Ltj Enterprises, Inc. Visual indicator
US4829820A (en) * 1987-03-31 1989-05-16 Ltj Enterprises, Inc. Visual indicator
AU613633B2 (en) * 1987-03-31 1991-08-08 Ltj Enterprises, Inc. Visual indicator
US4798589A (en) * 1987-06-15 1989-01-17 Fisher Scientific Group Inc. Diaphragm pump cassette
DE4214804A1 (de) * 1992-05-04 1993-11-11 Wabco Westinghouse Fahrzeug Einrichtung zur optischen Anzeige des Druckes eines Mediums
US5339764A (en) * 1992-05-04 1994-08-23 Wabco Standard Gmbh Device for optically indicating the pressure of a medium
US5386794A (en) * 1993-03-01 1995-02-07 Philip J. Milanovich Tire pressure indicator
WO1995031346A1 (en) * 1994-05-13 1995-11-23 Milanovich Philip J Tire pressure indicator
US5604338A (en) * 1995-11-16 1997-02-18 Morton International, Inc. Temperature adjusting low pressure sensor
US5670720A (en) * 1996-01-11 1997-09-23 Morton International, Inc. Wire-wrap low pressure sensor for pressurized gas inflators
US5792959A (en) * 1996-05-06 1998-08-11 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Pressure detection method and device
US5738372A (en) * 1996-05-15 1998-04-14 Morton International, Inc. Device for pressure relief during bonfire and tell-tale of compressed gas
US5803282A (en) * 1996-12-13 1998-09-08 Chen; Pao Ting Vacuum indicator for a bottle
JP2015503719A (ja) * 2011-12-30 2015-02-02 テスコム・コーポレーション 安全弁からの漏れを視覚的に示すための装置
WO2013101635A1 (en) * 2011-12-30 2013-07-04 Tescom Corporation Apparatus to visually indicate a leak from a relief valve
CN103185171A (zh) * 2011-12-30 2013-07-03 泰思康公司 用于可视化指示从安全阀泄漏的装置
US9109711B2 (en) 2011-12-30 2015-08-18 Tescom Corporation Apparatus to visually indicate a leak from a relief valve
AU2012362668B2 (en) * 2011-12-30 2017-02-02 Tescom Corporation Apparatus to visually indicate a leak from a relief valve
RU2621434C2 (ru) * 2011-12-30 2017-06-06 Теском Корпорейшн Устройство для визуального показа течи из предохранительного клапана
US20150027361A1 (en) * 2013-07-26 2015-01-29 Western/Scott Fetzer Company Indicating assembly for a pressurized container
US9417148B2 (en) * 2013-07-26 2016-08-16 Western/Scott Fetzer Company Indicating assembly for a pressurized container
US20180149310A1 (en) * 2015-04-29 2018-05-31 Graco Minnesota Inc. Diaphragm seal injector
US10711943B2 (en) * 2015-04-29 2020-07-14 Graco Minnesota Inc. Diaphragm seal injector
US20170259093A1 (en) * 2015-08-13 2017-09-14 Choon Lye Tan A fire extinguisher with checking function
WO2019193521A1 (en) 2018-04-04 2019-10-10 Lake Products Limited A sealing device
EP3775632A4 (en) * 2018-04-04 2022-01-05 Lake Products Limited SEALING DEVICE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1934236A1 (de) 1970-01-15
GB1178200A (en) 1970-01-21
FR1597023A (show.php) 1970-06-22
DE1934236B2 (de) 1971-12-23

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