Floating water detector

• US 4,325,060 A
• Filed: 12/17/1979
• Issued: 04/13/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack L. Purtell, Rufus J. Purtell
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Purtell, Rufus J. Purtell
• Inventors: Purtell, Rufus J., Purtell, Jack L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myer, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US06/104,146
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602, 340/604, 340/605, 340/620, 340/623, 340/624, 340/625, 340/693, 340/384 E, 310/324, 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 200/61.06
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A moisture detector comprises a shell adapted to float with an anode and cathode on the bottom portion thereof. The anode may be of sacrificial metal which is electrolyzed to increase the conductivity of moisture contacting the electrodes. Also, a water soluble electrolyte may be placed either on the electrodes or close thereto. A plug on the shell may provide for a pair of remote electrodes. A piezoelectric transducer system of improved design involves shaping of the chambers in said shell.

Claims

1. A water detector comprising:

a. an enclosure in the form of a shell,

b. said shell including a top and a hull having a flat bottom forming a base of the shell and thus a base of the water detector,

c. a pair of spaced electrodes extending through and exposed on the bottom of the hull, so that the water detector is adapted to rest upon the base of the shell and thus the electrodes,

d. a sonic housing mounted in the shell,

e. an alarm including

i. a piezoelectric transducer driven by

ii. an oscillator, and having

iii. two power supply terminals,

f. said alarm in said sonic housing,

g. a battery having two battery terminals in said shell, and

h. circuit connectors consisting of;

i. one of the battery terminals solely connected to one of the electrodes,

ii. the other electrodes solely connected to one of the power supply terminals on the alarm, and

iii. the other power supply terminal solely connected to the other battery terminal,

j. so that the alarm is activated upon bridging the space between the electrodes by moisture.