Fluid detector

• US 4,823,116 A
• Filed: 11/30/1987
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Lubrication and Fuel Consultants
• Original Assignee: International Lubrication and Fuel Consultants
• Inventors: McCleery, Neil B., Builes, Eduardo, Kitchen, George H. III, Kitchen, Nancy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stewart J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, HEZRON
• Application Number:
  US07/126,903
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602, 340/603, 340/604, 340/605, 73/49.2, 73/40.5 R, 73/40, 73/863.23, 73/864.51, 73/864.73, 73/23
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/045 with electrical detection means

Abstract

A fluid detector that senses fluids, activates an alarm and preserves a sample of the fluid for laboratory or on-site testing. The fluid detector includes a first container having a sealable cap and a fluid-passing portion, a second container disposable within the first container for collecting and storing a sample of the fluid. The detector can contain a fluid-responsive material which undergoes a change upon contact with the fluid. The change in the fluid-responsive material causes the second container to be sealed. The second container can contain a fluid collector so that the fluid can be analyzed.

Claims

1. A fluid detector for detecting a fluid of a selected substance comprising:

first container means comprising a body which comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, and at least one sealable cap comprising a fluid passing portion disposed on said lower portion of said body;

second container means positionable within said first container means comprising a receptacle, said receptacle comprising a mouth;

a receptacle lid;

receptacle lid attracting and moving means for attracting and moving said receptacle lid place on said receptacle mouth to cover and seal said receptacle; and

receptacle lid positioning means for positioning said receptacle lid adjacent to but spaced from said receptacle mouth, said receptacle lid positioning means being responsive to the fluid of said selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping some of the fluid within said receptacle.

2. The fluid detector of claim 1 wherein said fluid-passing portion of said first container means comprises at least one fritted area.

3. The fluid detector of claim 1 wherein said first container means is a tube placeable within a fluid-passing pipe housing, when provided.

4. The fluid detector of claim 3 wherein said tube further comprises a donut upon which the bottom of said tube rests within said fluid-passing pipe housing.

5. The fluid detector of claim 1 further comprising circuit and switch means responsive to movement of said receptacle lid for initiating a signal indicating the presence of fluid within said detector.

6. The fluid detector of claim 1 wherein said receptacle comprises a glass jar.

7. The fluid detector of claim 1 wherein an amount of preselected fluid collector, when provided, is disposed within said receptacle for collecting and storing at least one selected substance to be detected.

8. The fluid detector of claim 7 wherein said preselected fluid collector comprises a least one member selected from the group consisting of materials adsorbent to said fluid and materials absorbent to said fluid.

9. The fluid detector of claim 1 useful for detecting vapors wherein said fluid-passing portion is a vapor-passing portion, said preselected fluid collector is a vapor collector and said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive to a vapor of the selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing some of the vapor within said receptacle.

10. The fluid detector of claim 1 wherein said receptacle lid attracting and moving means comprises a magnetic material and a magnetically-responsive material.

11. The fluid detector of claim 10 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetic material and said receptacle comprises magnetically-responsive material.

12. The fluid detector of claim 10 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetically-responsive material and said receptacle comprises magnetic material.

13. The fluid detector of claim 1 wherein said receptacle lid positioning means comprising a fluid-responsive material being responsive to the fluid of said selected substance, whereby the fluid acts on said fluid-responsive material to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing some of the fluid within said receptacle.

14. The fluid detector of claim 13 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means changes in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

15. The fluid detector of claim 14 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means undergoes a chemical change in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

16. The fluid detector of claim 14 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means undergoes a mechanical change in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

17. The fluid detector of claim 16 wherein said fluid responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive to hydrocarbons.

18. The fluid detector of claim 17 wherein said fluid-responsive material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, polyphenylene ether, polyethylene, polymethylpentene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polysulfone, paraffin, and other waxes.

19. The fluid detector of claim 13 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ceresin wax, para-ter-butylphenol acetylene resin, polyvinyl stearate, and methyl cerotate.

20. The fluid detector of claim 5 wherein said circuit and switch means comprises testing means for testing the operability of the fluid detector.

21. A fluid detector for detecting a fluid of a selected substance comprising:

first container means comprising a body, at least one sealable cap, and at least one fluid-passing portion;

second container means positionable within said first container means comprising a receptacle, said receptacle comprising a mouth;

a receptacle lid;

receptacle lid attracting and moving means comprising a magnetic material and a magnetically responsive material for attracting and moving said receptacle lid into place on said receptacle mouth to cover and seal receptacle; and

receptacle lid positioning means for positioning said receptacle lid adjacent to but sapaced from said receptacle mouth, said receptacle lid positioning means being responsive to the fluid of said selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping some of the fluid within said receptacle.

22. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetic material and said receptacle comprises magentically-responsive material.

23. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetically-responsive material and said receptacle comprises magnetic material.

24. The fluid detector of claim 21 further comprising circuit and switch means responsive to movement of said receptacle lid for initiating a signal indicating the presence of fluid within said detector.

25. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said fluid-passing portion of said first container means comprises at least one fritted area.

26. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said fluid-passing portion is positioned on said cap.

27. The fluid detector of claim 26 wherein said cap is fritted.

28. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said first container means is a tube placeable within a fluid-passing pipe housing, when provided.

29. The fluid detector of claim 28 wherein said tube comprises a lower cap comprising a fluid-passing portion.

30. THe fluid detector of claim 28 wherein said tube further comprises a donut upon which the bottom of said tube rests within said fluid-passing pipe housing.

31. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said receptacle comprises a glass jar.

32. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein an amount of preselected fluid collector, when provided, is disposed within said said receptacle for collecting and storing at least one selected substance to be detected.

33. The fluid detector of claim 32 wherein said preselected fluid collector comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of materials absorbent to said fluid and materials absorbent to said fluid.

34. The fluid detector of claim 32 useful for detecting vapors wherein said fluid-passing portion is a vapor-passing portion, said preselected fluid collector is a vapor collector and said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive to a vapor of the selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing one of the vapor within said receptacle.

35. The fluid detector of claim 21 wherein said receptacle lid positioning means comprising a fluid-responsive material being responsive to the fluid of said selected substance, whereby the fluid acts on said fluid-responsive material to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing some of the fluid within said receptacle.

36. The fluid detector of claim 35 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means changes in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

37. The fluid detector of claim 36 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means undergoes a chemical change in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

38. The fluid detector of claim 36 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means undergoes a mechanical change in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

39. The fluid detector of claim 35 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive of hydrocarbons.

40. The fluid detector of claim 39 wherein said fluid-responsive material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, polyphenylene ether, polyethylene, polymethylpentene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polysulfone, paraffin, and other waxes.

41. The fluid detector of claim 35 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ceresin wax, para-ter-butylphenol acetylene resin, polyvinyl stearate and methyl cerotate.

42. The fluid detector of claim 24 wherein said circuit and switch means comprises testing means for testing the operability of the fluid detector. PG,31

43. A fluid detector for detecting a fluid of a selected substance comprising:

first container means comprising a body, at least one sealable cap and at least one fluid-passing portion;

second container means positionable within said first container means comprising a receptacle, said receptacle comprising a mouth;

a receptacle lid;

receptacle lid attracting and moving means for attracting and moving said receptacle lid into place on said receptacle mouth to cover and seal said receptacle; and

receptacle lid positioning means for positioning said receptacle lid adjacent to but spaced from said receptacle mouth, said receptacle lid positioning means comprising a fluid-responsive material which mechanically changes in the presence of the fluid of said selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attractive and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping some of the fluid within said receptacle.

44. The fluid detector of claim 43 further comprising circuit and switch means responsive to movement of said receptacle lid for initiating a signal indicating the presence of fluid within said detector.

45. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said fluid-passing portion of said first container means comprises at least one fritted area.

46. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said fluid-passing portion is positioned on said cap.

47. The fluid detector of claim 46 wherein said cap is fritted.

48. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said first container means is a tube placeable within a fluid-passing pipe housing, when provided.

49. The fluid detector of claim 48 wherein said tube comprises a lower cap comprising a fluid-passing portion.

50. The fluid detector of claim 48 wherein said tube comprises a donut upon which the bottom of said tube rests within said fluid-passing pipe housing portion.

51. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said receptacle comprises a glass jar.

52. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein an amount of preselected fluid collector, when provided, is disposed within said receptacle for collecting and storing at least one selected substance to be detected.

53. The fluid detector of claim 52 wherein said preselected fluid collector comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of materials adsorbent to said fluid and materials absorbent to said fluid.

54. The fluid detector of claim 52 useful for detecting vapors wherein said fluid-passing portion is a vapor-passing portion, said preselected fluid collector is a vapor collector and said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive to a vapor of the selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing some of the vapor within said receptacle.

55. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said receptacle lid attracting and moving means comprises a magnetic material and a magnetically-resposive material.

56. The fluid detector of claim 55 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetic material and said receptacle comprises magnetically-responsive material.

57. The fluid detector of claim 55 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetically-responsive material and said receptacle comprises magnetic material.

58. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive to hydrocarbons.

59. The fluid detector of claim 58 wherein said fluid-responsive material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, polyphenylene ether, polyethylene, polymethylpentene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polysulfone, paraffin, and other waxes.

60. The fluid detector of claim 43 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means comprises at least one member selected from the gropu consisting of ceresin wax, para-ter-butylphenol acetylene resin, polyvinyl stearate, and methyl cerotate.

61. The fluid detector of claim 44 wherein said circuit and switch means comprises testing means for testing the operability of the fluid detector.

62. A fluid detector for detecting a hydrocarbon fluid comprising:

first container means comprising a body, at least one sealable cap and at least one fluid-passing portion;

second container means positionable within said first container means comprising a receptacle, said receptacle comprising a mouth;

a receptacle lid;

receptacle lid attracting and moving means for attracting and moving said receptacle lid into place on said receptacle mouth to cover and seal said receptacle;

receptacle lid positioning means for positioning said receptacle lid adjacent to but spaced from said receptacle mouth, said receptacle lid positioning means comprising a fluid-responsive material being responsive to the hydrocarbon fluid to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping some of the fluid within said receptacle, said fluid-responsive material comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, polyphenylene ether, polyethylene, polymethylpentene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polysulfone, paraffin, and other waxes.

63. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said fluid-responsive material is a combination of paraffin and low-density polyethylene.

64. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ceresin wax, para-ter-butylphenol acetylene resin, polyvinyl stearate an methyl cerotate.

65. The fluid detector of claim 62 for detecting a hydrocarbon fluid further comprising circuit and switch means responsive to movement of said receptacle lid for initiating a signal indicating the presence of fluid within said detector.

66. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said fluid-passing portion of said first container means comprises at least one fritted area.

67. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said fluid-passing portion is positioned on said cap.

68. The fluid detector of claim 67 wherein said cap is fritted.

69. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said first container means is a tube placeable within a fluid-passing pipe housing, when provided.

70. The fluid detector of claim 69 wherein said tube comprises a lower cap comprising a fluid-passing portion.

71. The fluid detector of claim 69 wherein said tube further comprises a donut upon which the bottom of said tube rests within said fluid-passing pipe housing.

72. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said receptacle comprises a glass jar.

73. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein an amount of preselected fluid collector, when provided, is disposed within said receptacle for collecting and storing at least one selected substance to be detected.

74. The fluid detector of claim 73 wherein said preselected fluid collector comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of materials adsorbent to said fluid and materials absorbent to said fluid.

75. The fluid detector of claim 73 useful for detecting vapors wherein said fluid-passing portion is a vapor-passing portion, said preselected fluid collector is a vapor collector and said receptacle lid positioning means is responsive to a vapor of the selected substance to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing some of the vapor within said receptacle.

76. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said receptacle lid attracting and moving means comprises a magnetic material and a magnetically-responsive material.

77. The fluid detector of claim 76 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetic material and said receptacle comprises magnetically-responsive material.

78. The fluid detector of claim 76 wherein said receptacle lid comprises magnetically-responsive material and said receptacle comprises magnetic material.

79. The fluid detector of claim 62 wherein said receptacle lid positioning means comprising a fluid-responsive material being responsive to the fluid of said selected substance, whereby the fluid acts on said fluid-responsive material to allow said receptacle lid attracting and moving means to cause said receptacle lid to cover said receptacle mouth, thereby trapping and sealing some of the fluid within said receptacle.

80. The fluid detector of claim 79 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means changes in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

81. The fluid detector of claim 80 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means undergoes a chemical change in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

82. The fluid detector of claim 80 wherein said fluid-responsive material of said receptacle lid positioning means undergoes a mechanical change in the presence of the fluid to allow said receptacle lid to move into place on said receptacle mouth.

83. The fluid detector of claim 65 wherein said circuit and switch means comprises testing the operability of the fluid detector.