Corrosion indicator
First Claim
1. A corrosion indicator for use in a fluid flow system having metallic passages through which the fluid flows and wherein the fluid comprises a balanced solution of water and an inhibitor to retard corrosion in the system, water being the primary fluid in the solution, said corrosion indicator comprising:
- switch means having electrical contacts for connection to signal means;
means including a metallic component normally holding said contacts in one of two conditions, open or closed, but including means for moving said contacts to the other of said two conditions;
a housing for said switch means having means for connection thereof into a fluid flow system; and
means on said housing maintaining said switch means against contact with the fluid solution when said housing is mounted in a fluid flow system;
said metallic component in said second mentioned means being exposed for contact with said fluid solution when said housing is mounted in a fluid flow system and subject to an undesirable amount of corrosion which may occur in the system as a result of an imbalance occuring in the fluid solution to self-destruct by corrosion after a period of time permitting the contacts to be returned to the other of said two conditions thereby to actuate signal means to indicate the undesirable corrosive condition in the system.
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Abstract
In fluid flow systems corrosion of the fluid flow passages occur as a result of the action of the fluid on the passage walls as it flows through the system. The present invention provides a corrosion indicator for use in such systems and which includes among other things a novel switch having a member which is responsive to a corrosive condition within the system to self-destruct thereby to cause actuation of a signal to indicate the condition at a time to alert the user that remedial attention to the system is necessary.
54 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A corrosion indicator for use in a fluid flow system having metallic passages through which the fluid flows and wherein the fluid comprises a balanced solution of water and an inhibitor to retard corrosion in the system, water being the primary fluid in the solution, said corrosion indicator comprising:
- switch means having electrical contacts for connection to signal means;
means including a metallic component normally holding said contacts in one of two conditions, open or closed, but including means for moving said contacts to the other of said two conditions; a housing for said switch means having means for connection thereof into a fluid flow system; and
means on said housing maintaining said switch means against contact with the fluid solution when said housing is mounted in a fluid flow system;said metallic component in said second mentioned means being exposed for contact with said fluid solution when said housing is mounted in a fluid flow system and subject to an undesirable amount of corrosion which may occur in the system as a result of an imbalance occuring in the fluid solution to self-destruct by corrosion after a period of time permitting the contacts to be returned to the other of said two conditions thereby to actuate signal means to indicate the undesirable corrosive condition in the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- switch means having electrical contacts for connection to signal means;
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5. In a fluid flow system having metallic passages through which the fluid flows and wherein the major portion of the fluid is water to which a corrosion inhibitor has been added in solution to prevent an undesirable amount of corrosion in the said passages and wherein an undesirable amount of such corrosion may occur as a result of a deterioration occuring in the solution by depletion of the corrosion inhibitor in the solution as it is flowing through the system:
- said system comprising;
signal means; means in said system including a metallic component of the same metal as the said passages and subject to an undesirable amount of corrosive action to self-destruct by reason of such corrosion as a result of a deterioration of the said corrosion inhibitor in said fluid solution as it flows through the passages; and means responsive to the self-destruction of said metallic component to actuate said signal means thereby to indicate the undesirable corrosive condition in said system. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- said system comprising;
Specification