Teledyne Hastings Instruments Blog

In cryogenic applications, especially those mounted on trucks, railcars, and ISO containers, vessels face some of the harshest mechanical and environmental conditions in industry. Because these tanks are in motion, often over uneven terrain or long rail routes, the vacuum sensor must be reliable and remain accurate despite constant vibration. Vibration, shock, temperature swings, and outdoor exposure all place immense demands on sensors tasked with delivering reliable vacuum measurements.

Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ DV-6S Thermocouple Gauge Tube was purpose-built to thrive in these environments. Below is a deep dive into what makes the DV-6S uniquely suited for mobile cryogenic vessels.

Engineered for Extreme Ruggedness

Photo courtesy of NCEE Labs (Nebraska Center for Excellence in Electronics)

The DV-6S isn’t just a more durable version of our DV-6R ruggedized vacuum gauge tube. It was specifically designed and tested to extensive MIL-STD levels to withstand severe shock and vibration consistent with road vibration, rail line harmonics, and loading/unloading impacts.

• Mechanical Shock: MIL-STD 202 Method 213 (>2,000g for 6 ms duration)
• Random Vibration: MIL-STD 202 Method 214
  (23.9 grms)
• Sinusoidal Vibration: MIL-STD 202 Method 204
  (30g at 3,000 Hz)

These specifications exceed what real-world applications encounter, making the DV-6S ideal for equipment subjected to continuous road, rail, or ship movement.

Corrosion Resistant for Harsh Outdoor Installations

In transport environments, moisture and debris can compromise vacuum sensor performance and reduce lifespan. The DV-6S combats this with:

• Rugged stainless steel housing built for outdoor environments
• Protective O-ring-sealed aluminum cap to:
  • Prevent moisture ingress and reduce corrosion of electrical pins
  • Protect pins and feedthroughs from foreign object damage
• Steel lanyard to prevent cap loss during field servicing

These design elements support long-term reliability even when the gauge is exposed to weather conditions typical of transportation applications.

Performance and Compatibility

Cryogenic vessels rely on vacuum jacketed insulation to maintain extremely low temperatures. A vacuum sensor like the DV-6S helps operators:

• Verify integrity of the vacuum jacket
• Detect insulation degradation in early stages
• Ensure safe transport of cryogenic liquids such as LNG, LN₂, LOX, LH₂, LAr, LCO₂ and other liquified gases

Despite the extremely robust design, the DV-6S maintains the same trusted measurement performance as other DV-6 series vacuum gauge tubes:

• Measurement range: 0.001 to 1 Torr (1 to 1000 mTorr) which is the standard DV-6 Series measurement range
• Fully compatible with Teledyne’s DV-6 Series Instruments like the portable handheld HPM 4/5/6 gauge and others such as the DCVT, DVT, VT-6A, and DAVC.
• 1/8" male NPT connection is standard with options available for KF-25, KF-16, KF-10, and ¼ VCR.

This ensures operators can incorporate the DV-6S into existing systems without redesign, making fleet-wide adoption simple and cost effective.

The Clear Choice

The Teledyne Hastings Instruments’ DV-6S stands out as a purpose engineered solution for mobile cryogenic vessels. It’s the go-to vacuum sensor for LNG fuel tanks on gas powered trucks. With its extreme shock and vibration performance, rugged outdoor ready design, and precise vacuum measurement capabilities, it delivers reliability in environments where other sensors fail.

For cryogenic equipment manufacturers and fleet operators alike, the DV-6S offers confidence, safety, and long-term durability – everything needed to keep critical cryogenic systems performing during transport.

Note: A DV-5 Series version is also available. The DV-5S offers the same extreme protective features as the DV-6S but covers the DV-5 Range of 0.0001 to 0.1 Torr (0.1 to 100 mT). It’s also compatible with the handheld HPM 4/5/6 vacuum gauge.

Visit https://www.teledyne-hi.com/en-us/what-we-do/dv6-series to learn more about the DV-6S vacuum gauge tube.

If you have questions about vacuum gauges or vacuum controllers, feel free to contact us by phone (+1-757-723-6531 or 1-800-950-2468), email Hastings_Instruments@Teledyne.com, or via Live Chat on our website www.teledyne-hi.com.

Vibration test photo provided by NCEE Labs (Nebraska Center for Excellence in Electronics): nceelabs.com : Tel 402-323-6233