Pressure sensor

摘要

Disclosed is a passive, in-situ pressure sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element having a ferromagnetic metal and a tension inducing mechanism coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The tension inducing mechanism is operable to change a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal based on a change in pressure in the sensing element. Changes in pressure are detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal when subjected to an alternating magnetic field caused by the change in the tensile stress. The sensing element is embeddable in a closed system for detecting pressure changes without the need for any penetrations of the system for power or data acquisition by detecting changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the tensile stress.

主权项

1. A pressure sensor comprising:
a housing; a ferromagnetic metal disposed in the housing; a tension inducing mechanism coupled to the ferromagnetic metal, the tension inducing mechanism operable to change a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal based on a change in pressure in the housing; and a twisting mechanism operable to twist the ferromagnetic metal in relation to the housing.