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Contamination capacitance probe system

  • US 5,125,265 A
  • Filed: 10/09/1990
  • Issued: 06/30/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A contamination capacitance probe system for indicating that at least two fluids having different dielectric constants that should be kept separated have been mingled, comprising:

  • a capacitor constituted by first and second capacitor plates of preselected dimensions and spaced-apart a preselected dimension that are selected such that the capacitor exhibits a first capacitance whenever the plates thereof are subjected in a first predetermined manner to a nominal one of the two or more fluids having different dielectric constants and exhibits a second capacitance different from the first capacitance whenever the plates thereof are subjected in a second predetermined manner to an undesired at least one of the two or more fluids having different dielectric constants after having been subjected to said nominal one of the two or more fluids and in such a way as to render negligible any residual effect that the nominal fluid had on the plates in their having been first subjected to the nominal fluid, said nominal fluid being oil and said undesired fluid being seawater, said preselected dimensions of said first and second capacitor plates and said preselected dimension by which the first and second capacitor plates are spaced apart being selected to render negligible the effect of residual coating of the first and second plates by the oil upon their being subjected to the seawater, said plates being about ten (10) centimeters by ten (10) centimeters in size and being spaced apart about one and one forth centimeters (1.25); and

    means coupled to said capacitor and responsive to said first capacitance to provide a signal indication that the first and second plates are being subjected to the nominal fluid and responsive to said second capacitance to provide a signal indication that the first and second plates are being subjected to said undesired fluid.

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