Abstract
A pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a fluid medium in a measuring chamber is provided. The pressure sensor includes a sensor housing, a first pressure-sensor module for measuring at least one first pressure of the medium in a first measuring chamber, and a second pressure-sensor module for measuring at least one second pressure of the medium in a second measuring chamber. The first pressure-sensor module and the second pressure-sensor module are situated inside the sensor housing. In addition, the pressure sensor has at least one first pressure connection, which is designed for the connection to the first measuring chamber. Moreover, the pressure sensor has at least one second pressure connection, which is developed for the connection to the second measuring chamber. The first pressure connection differs from the second pressure connection.
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a fluid medium in a measuring chamber, comprising: a sensor housing; a first pressure-sensor module for measuring at least one first pressure of the medium in a first measuring chamber; and a second pressure-sensor module for measuring at least one second pressure of the medium in a second measuring chamber, the first pressure-sensor module and the second pressure-sensor module being situated inside the sensor housing; at least one first pressure connection designed to be connected to the first measuring chamber; and at least one second pressure connection designed to be connected to the second measuring chamber, wherein the first pressure connection differs from the second pressure connection.
12. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein the first pressure-sensor module and the second pressure-sensor module are separated from each other.
13. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein the second pressure-sensor module is designed to measure a third pressure of the medium in a third measuring chamber, and the pressure sensor further comprises: a third pressure connection designed to be connected to the third measuring chamber, wherein the third pressure connection differs from the first pressure connection and the second pressure connection.
14. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein the first pressure-sensor module is designed to measure an absolute pressure of the medium.
15. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the first pressure-sensor module is designed to measure the second pressure of the medium, and the first pressure-sensor module is designed to measure a first differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure.
16. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the second pressure-sensor module is designed to measure a second differential pressure between the second pressure and the third pressure.
17. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the sensor housing has a first housing chamber in which the first pressure prevails, a second housing chamber in which the second pressure prevails, and a third housing chamber in which the third pressure prevails, and the first housing chamber, the second housing chamber, and the third housing chamber are separated from one another.
18. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the first pressure-sensor module and the second pressure-sensor module are situated in two different planes on top of each other.
19. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 18, wherein the two planes are situated in parallel with each other, and are stacked one on top of the other.
20. The pressure sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein the first pressure-sensor module and the second pressure-sensor module are situated next to each other.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Additional optional details and features of the present invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments, which are schematically illustrated in the figures.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a pressure sensor according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a basic structure of the pressure sensor.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a simplified illustration of a placement of the pressure sensor.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an engine having the pressure sensor.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a pressure sensor according to a second specific embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0032] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a pressure sensor 10 according to the present invention for measuring a pressure of a fluid medium. The pressure sensor may be a combined pressure-temperature sensor as described in greater detail in the following text. Because the present invention may be used in the automotive sector, in particular, pressure sensor 10 may be installed on different measuring chambers 12, 13, 14 of an internal combustion engine, in particular on a first measuring chamber 12, a second measuring chamber 13, and a third measuring chamber 14 such as an induction pipe, an exhaust-gas line, or an exhaust-gas recirculation line. Pressure sensor 10 has a sensor housing 15, which may be sealed by a housing cover 16. In addition, pressure sensor 10 may have a measuring connector 18, which may be a pressure connector. Measuring connector 18 may protrude into the fluid medium and be exposed to its stream. Measuring connector 18 has a lower end 20 and an upper end 22, which is situated closer to sensor housing 15 than lower end 20. A groove 24 for a sealing ring 26 such as an O-ring, by which sensor housing 15 is able to be sealed from measuring chamber 12, may be provided at upper end 22. Measuring connector 18 is in the form of a cage and has openings 28 through which the streaming fluid medium is able to flow into the interior of measuring connector 18. Openings 28 are at least partially bounded by posts 30.
[0033] As an option, a temperature-sensing element 32 may be accommodated in the interior of measuring connector 18. For example, temperature-sensing element 32 may be developed in the form of an NTC resistor. Temperature-sensing element 32 has a sensor head 34 in the form of a glass or plastic bead having two electrical connections 36 in the form of flexible legs. Measuring head 34, for example, is has a spherical shape and a diameter between 1 mm and 4 mm. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, temperature-sensing element 32 is able to be introduced from a side of sensor housing 15 that is pointing away from measuring connector 18. Accordingly, temperature-sensing element 32 is at least partially inserted into measuring connector 18.
[0034] A first pressure-sensor module 38 is located in the interior of sensor housing 15. First pressure-sensor module 38 is developed for measuring at least one first pressure of the fluid medium. In addition, a second pressure-sensor module 40 is situated in the interior of sensor housing 15. Second pressure-sensor module 40 is developed for measuring at least one second pressure of the fluid medium. In particular, first pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 are situated on top of and separately from each other in sensor housing 15. Second pressure-sensor module 40 is furthermore developed for measuring a third pressure of the fluid medium. First pressure-sensor module 38 is developed for measuring an absolute pressure of the medium. As an alternative, first pressure-sensor module 38 may also be designed for measuring the second pressure of the medium. The first pressure, the second pressure, and/or the third pressure may differ from each other.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic structure of pressure sensor 10. Shown is the placement of first pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 in the interior of sensor housing 15. First pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 are situated in two different planes 42, 44 on top of each other in the interior of sensor housing 15. The two planes 42, 44 extend parallel to each other. First pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 are disposed on top of each other in the form of a stack. Sensor housing 15 therefore has a first housing chamber 46 in which the first pressure prevails, a second housing chamber 48 in which the second pressure prevails, and a third housing chamber 50 in which the third pressure prevails. Separating walls 52, 54 separate first housing chamber 46, second housing chamber 48, and third housing chamber 50 from one another. Pressure sensor 10 has a first pressure connection 56, which is developed to be connected to first measuring chamber 12. To supply the fluid medium into first housing chamber 46, a supply channel, which is not shown in more detail and which allows the fluid medium to be conducted into first housing chamber 46, is developed in the interior of first pressure connection 56. For example, measuring connector 18 is developed as first pressure connection 56. In addition, pressure sensor 10 has a second pressure connection 58, which is to be connected to second measuring chamber 13. To supply the fluid medium into second housing chamber 48, a supply channel, which is not shown in greater detail, is developed in the interior of second pressure connection 58. In addition, pressure sensor 10 has a third pressure connection 60, which is developed to be connected to third measuring chamber 14. To supply the fluid medium to third housing chamber 50, a supply channel, which is not shown in greater detail, is developed in the interior of third pressure connection 60. The diameter of the supply channel of second pressure connection 58 may differ from the diameter of the supply channel of third pressure connection 60.
[0036] First pressure-sensor module 38 may measure a first differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure. For example, first pressure-sensor module 38 is situated in separating wall 52 in such a way that the first pressure in first housing chamber 46 is acting on a topside 62 of first pressure-sensor module 38, and the second pressure in second housing chamber 48 is acting on an underside 64 of first pressure-sensor module 38. Second pressure-sensor module 40 may be designed to measure a second differential pressure between the second pressure and the third pressure. For example, second pressure-sensor module 40 is situated in separating wall 54 in such a way that the second pressure in second housing chamber 48 is acting on a topside 66 of second pressure-sensor module 40, and the third pressure in third housing chamber 50 is acting on an underside 68 of second pressure-sensor module 40.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic system for the pressure measurement of pressure sensor 10. Pressure sensor 10 is able to measure the first pressure, the second pressure, and the third pressure of the fluid medium at different locations. In other words, first measuring chamber 12, second measuring chamber 13, and third measuring chamber 14 may spatially differ from one another. The first pressure, the second pressure, and the third pressure may differ due to installations between first measuring chamber 12, second measuring chamber 13, and third measuring chamber 14. For example, first pressure connection 56 and second pressure connection 58 are connected to first measuring chamber 12 and second measuring chamber 13 on different sides of a first component 70; second pressure connection 58 and third pressure connection 60 are connected to second measuring chamber 13 and third measuring chamber 14 on different sides of a second component 72. Accordingly, the first differential pressure may be a differential pressure over first component 70 and the second differential pressure may be a differential pressure over second component 72. First component 70 and/or second component 72 is/are filters, for example, through which the fluid medium is filtered. As an alternative, first component 70 and/or second component 72 is/are other components over which a pressure drop or a pressure increase takes place, such as throttles or compressors, for example.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a schematic placement of pressure sensor 10 in an engine 74 of an internal combustion engine. Engine 74 has an air filter 76, an exhaust-gas turbocharger 78, an intercooler 80, a combustion chamber 82, a particle filter 84 such as a diesel particle filter, and an exhaust 86. The mentioned components are connected via lines such as flow pipes 88, which form potential measuring chambers 12, 13, 14. In addition, engine 74 has an exhaust-gas recirculation line 90. For example, pressure sensor 10 may be connected via first pressure connector 56 to the first measuring chamber at a point between an exhaust-gas turbine 92 of exhaust-gas turbocharger 78 and particle filter 84. Second pressure connector 58 may be connected to second measuring chamber 13 at a point downstream from particle filter 84. This point is located approximately in the area of a withdrawal point of exhaust-gas recirculation line 90. Third pressure connector 60 may be connected to third measuring chamber 14 at a point upstream from a compressor 94 of exhaust-gas turbocharger 78. This point corresponds approximately to a feed-in point of exhaust-gas recirculation line 90. Since particle filter 84 and exhaust-gas recirculation line 90 are situated in close proximity to each other and the position of the withdrawal point of exhaust-gas recirculation line 90 is identical to the position downstream from particle filter 84, a pressure connector, and thus also a pressure hose, may be saved. Thus, two differential pressures that are normally required for all applications in the region of engine 74, are able to be measured with the aid of pressure sensor 10.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a pressure sensor 10 according to a second specific embodiment of the present invention. In the following text, only the differences from the first specific embodiment are described, and identical components have been provided with identical reference numerals. In pressure sensor 10 of the second specific embodiment, first pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 are situated next to each other inside sensor housing 15. First pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 may be situated in a common plane, which is not shown in greater detail. As an alternative, first pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 are disposed at different height positions within sensor housing 15. The height position is a position that is defined on the basis of a dimension perpendicular to the drawing plane of the illustration of FIG. 5. A placement of first pressure-sensor module 38 and second pressure-sensor module 40 next to each other may make the assembly easier because the individual pressure-sensor modules provide easier access and require less space in terms of height.
