Proximity sensing probe
First Claim
1. A conductive device for use in a corrosive and atmosphere environment to apply an electrical voltage for detecting the presence of a target media, comprisinga target zone comprising an ambient media to receive such a target media, the ambient media having electrical characteristics different than the electrical characteristics of the target media,and a sensing probe adjacent to the target zone and comprising a substantially rigid elongate sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and having a portion directly exposed to the target zone, a substantially rigid tubular sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and embracing the elongate sensing element, the tubular sensing element also having a portion directly exposed to the target zone, and electrically insulating means comprising plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and disposed between said sensing elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitive proximity monitoring device for corrosive atmosphere environments comprising a capacitance field element or sensing element disposed in such a corrosive atmosphere environment and being made of conductive plastic resistant for such a corrosive atmosphere environment. The field element may be a functional part of a functional device that performs a function with respect to the presence of the liquid being sensed; and in some cases the field element is nonfunctional with respect to the liquid, but functional and sensing the capacitance and determining the presence or absence of liquid.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A conductive device for use in a corrosive and atmosphere environment to apply an electrical voltage for detecting the presence of a target media, comprising
a target zone comprising an ambient media to receive such a target media, the ambient media having electrical characteristics different than the electrical characteristics of the target media, and a sensing probe adjacent to the target zone and comprising a substantially rigid elongate sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and having a portion directly exposed to the target zone, a substantially rigid tubular sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and embracing the elongate sensing element, the tubular sensing element also having a portion directly exposed to the target zone, and electrically insulating means comprising plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and disposed between said sensing elements.
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4. A conductive device for applying an electrical voltage to produce a measurable current, comprising
a corrosive atmosphere environment having a portion defining a target zone comprising an ambient gaseous media, a target media movable into the target zone and replacing a portion of the ambient media, the target media having electrical characteristics different than the electrical characteristics of the ambient media, and a sensing probe comprising a sensing portion to which the voltage may be applied, the sensing portion being adjacent to the target zone and comprising a substantially rigid elongate sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and having a portion directly exposed to the target zone, the sensing portion also comprising a substantially rigid tubular sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment, said tubular sensing element surrounding the elongate sensing element and also having a portion directly exposed to the target zone, the voltage applied to the sensing probe producing current which is affected by the target media when moved into the target zone, and electrically insulating means comprising plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment and disposed between said sensing elements.
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7. A conductive device applying an electrical voltage into a target zone of a corrosive atmosphere environment and transmitting measurable current which perceptibly varies as the target zone is alternately partially occupied by an ambient media and a target media, comprising
a sensing probe comprising a substantially rigid rod-shaped sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of a the corrosive atmosphere environment, a substantially rigid tubular sensing element comprising electrically conductive plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of corrosive atmosphere environment, said tubular sensing element surrounding the rod-shaped sensing element in substantially concentric relation, the rod-shaped sensing element protruding endways from the tubular sensing element whereby to expose the transverse periphery of the rod-shaped sensing element to the ambient media and target media in the target zone, and an insulating and tubular spacer comprising an insulating plastic resistant to the deteriorating effects of the corrosive atmosphere environment, said spacer being disposed between said rod shaped sensing element and said tubular sensing element and surrounding the rod-shaped element in concentric relation.
Specification