Patent ID: 7784353

Claim:
Pressure gauge adapter for use in connection with a sanitary conduit through which a liquid product flows whose pressure is to be monitored, the conduit having a flanged tubular stub formed on said conduit to mount a sanitary pressure gauge and to permit communication of pressure to said gauge from said fluid; and wherein said pressure gauge has a body portion and a flanged circular mounting foot adapted to seat onto the flange of said tubular stub, and having a pressure transmitting diaphragm disposed on a surface of the mounting foot that faces said conduit; the adapter comprising a lower flange member of a diameter to mate with the flange of said tubular stub; lower seal means disposed between said lower flange member and the flange of said tubular stub; clamp means for removably holding said lower flange member in sealed engagement with said tubular stub; a cylinder having a hollow cylindrical interior wall rising from said flange member, the cylindrical interior wall having a lower cylindrical portion, an annular shoulder, and an upper cylindrical portion above said shoulder with a diameter greater than that of said lower cylindrical portion; an upper flange member disposed at an upper end of said cylinder and being of a diameter to mate with the flanged circular mounting foot of said sanitary pressure gauge; upper seal means disposed between said upper flange member and said flange flanged circular mounting foot; a piston fitted within said cylinder, having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower cylindrical portion to mate with the upper and lower cylindrical portions of said cylinder, respectively, and an annular step defined between the upper and lower cylindrical portions of said piston adapted to rest upon said annular shoulder; a seal ring seated in an annular groove in the lower cylindrical portion of said piston; and a pad disk formed of a durable and firm resilient material, and disposed atop said piston, the pad being adapted to contact said diaphragm and to transfer pressure from said piston to the pressure gauge; wherein said cylinder has an aperture therethrough at a position above said seal ring, for providing a visual indication of leakage in the case of failure of either said seal ring or said diaphragm.