Apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid

• US 5,463,377 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Kronberg, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/133,299
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/573, 340/592, 340/593, 340/603, 340/604, 340/384.1
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/045 with electrical detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid in a region, including an electrically passive sensor adapted for contacting the liquid, and an electrically active detector. The sensor is a circuit with a pair of spaced-apart terminals connected to a switch that closes in the presence of the liquid. The detector carries an alternating current with a resonant frequency. When the sensor is placed in a region and liquid is present in the region, the circuit of the sensor is closed. By bringing the detector close to the sensor, an alternating current is induced in the sensor that will, in turn, alter the resonant frequency of the detector. The change in the resonant frequency is signaled by a transducer. The switch can operate by a change in conductivity of a material between the terminals of the sensor or by expansion of a liquid absorber that pushes the two terminals together, or by a change in the conductivity of the space between the terminals as a result of the presence of the liquid. The detector generates an audible or visible signal, or both, in response to the change in current.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid in a region, said apparatus comprising:

a first electrically conducting circuit;

a second electrically conducting circuit spaced apart from said first circuit and having a first terminal and an opposing, spaced-apart second terminal;

a switch for connecting said first and second terminals of said second circuit, said switch completing said second circuit when exposed to said liquid;

means electrically connected to said first circuit for generating a first alternating current having a first resonant frequency in said first circuit, said first alternating current inducing a second alternating current in said second circuit when said second circuit is placed in said region, said first circuit is brought close to said second circuit and said switch is closed, said second alternating current causing a change in said first resonant frequency of said first circuit to a second resonant frequency; and

means for indicating closure of said switch by exposure to said liquid, said indicating means indicating said change from said first resonant frequency to said second resonant frequency.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating means further comprises an oscillator circuit for generating said first alternating current.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch comprises means positioned between said first and said second terminals for absorbing said liquid, said absorbing means expanding upon absorption of said liquid and pushing said first and second terminals into contact, thereby closing said second circuit.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch comprises an absorbent material positioned between said first and said second terminals, said absorbent material being substantially electrically nonconducting when said material has not absorbed said liquid and substantially electrically conducting when said material absorbs said liquid, said material conducting said second alternating current between said first and said second terminals, thereby closing said second circuit, when said material has-absorbed said liquid and not conducting between said first and said second terminals when said material has not absorbed said liquid.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first terminal and said second terminal are in the form of a plurality of conductors interleaved with but spaced apart from each other, separated by said switch, said switch comprising a material that is substantially nonconducting when not exposed to said liquid and that is substantially conducting when exposed to said liquid, said material conducting said second alternating current between said first and said second terminals when said material is exposed to said liquid, thereby closing said second circuit.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said indicating means further comprises a transducer in operative connection with said second circuit, said transducer producing a first signal in response to said first frequency and a second signal in response to said second frequency.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said indicating means further comprises a transducer in operative connection with said second circuit, said transducer producing an audible signal in response to said second frequency.

8. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid in a region, said apparatus comprising:

a first electrically conducting coil;

a second electrically conducting coil spaced apart from said first coil and having a first terminal and an opposing, spaced apart second terminal;

a switch for connecting said first and second terminals of said second coil, said switch completing said second coil when closed by exposure to said liquid;

means electrically connected to said first coil for generating a first alternating current having a first resonant frequency in said first coil, said first alternating current inducing a second alternating current in said second coil when said second coil is placed in said region, said first coil is brought proximate to said second coil and said switch is closed by said liquid, said induction of said second alternating current causing a change in said first resonant frequency of said first coil to a second resonant frequency; and

a transducer responsive to said change from said first resonant frequency to said second resonant frequency to indicate closure of said switch by the presence of said liquid.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said transducer gives an audible signal to indicate closure of said switch.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said transducer gives a visual signal to indicate closure of said switch.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said generating means comprises an oscillator circuit for generating said first alternating current.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said switch comprises means positioned between said first and said second terminals for absorbing said liquid, said absorbing means expanding upon absorption of said liquid and pushing said first and second terminals into contact, thereby closing said second coil.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said switch comprises an absorbent material positioned between said first and said second terminals, said absorbent material being substantially electrically nonconducting when said material has not absorbed said liquid and substantially electrically conducting when said material absorbs said liquid, said material conducting said second alternating current between said first and said second terminals, thereby closing said second coil, when said material has absorbed said liquid and not conducting between said first and said second terminals when said material has not absorbed said liquid.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said first terminal and said second terminal are in the form of a plurality of conductors interleaved with but spaced apart from each other, separated by said switch which further comprises a material that is substantially nonconducting when not exposed to said liquid and that is substantially conducting when exposed to said liquid, said material conducting said second alternating current between said first and said second terminals when said material is exposed to said liquid, thereby closing said second circuit.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said first and second coils are made of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, copper, gold, palladium, platinum, silver, stainless steel, and alloys thereof.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said first and second coils has between approximately 5 and 100 turns.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising a substantially nonreactive, water-impermeable housing having an outer surface, said first coil contained within said housing, said switch attached to said outer surface of said housing and in electrical communication with said first coil.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said first terminal and said second terminal are in the form of a plurality of conducting fingers interleaved with but spaced apart from each other.