Elongate sensor having polymeric electrodes filled with conductive particles and having braided sleeves

• US 5,661,405 A
• Filed: 11/06/1995
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: One Plus Corp.
• Original Assignee: One Plus Corp.
• Inventors: Simon, Jay S., Simon, Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vinh P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solis, Jose M.
• Application Number:
  US08/554,433
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 73/304 R, 73/304 C, 340/620, 338/38, 338/44, 174/11 R, 324/697, 324/696, 324/694, 324/690, 324/689
• US Class Current: 324/697
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/181 for cables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/07 Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor

Abstract

An elongate, flexible sensor for sensing an electrically conductive liquid, such as water, has two flexible electrodes extending along the sensor and two flexible sleeves extending therealong and being attached adhesively to each other along the sensor. Each electrode is a ribbon made from a carbon-filled, silicone rubber material. Each sleeve extends around an associated one of the electrodes and is braided from a filamentary, polyester material so as to define multiple apertures enabling such a liquid reaching the sensor to pass through the sleeves so as to cause a short circuit between the electrodes.

Claims

1. An elongate, flexible sensor for sensing an electrically conductive liquid, the sensor comprising two flexible electrodes extending along the sensor, each electrode being made from a rubber-like, polymeric material filled with conductive particles, and two flexible sleeves extending along the sensor and being attached to each other along the sensor, each sleeve extending loosely around an associated one of the electrodes and being made from an electrically non-conductive material, the sleeves having multiple apertures enabling such a liquid reaching the sensor to pass through the sleeves so as to cause a short circuit between the electrodes.

2. The elongate sensor of claim 1 wherein the sleeves are braided from a filamentary material so as to define said apertures.

3. The elongate sensor of claim 2 wherein the sleeves are braided from a polyester material.

4. The elongate sensor of claim 3 wherein the sleeves are attached adhesively to each other along the sensor.

5. An elongate, flexible sensor for sensing an electrically conductive liquid the sensor comprising two electrodes extending along the sensor, each electrode being made from a carbon-filled, silicone rubber material, and two flexible sleeves extending along the sensor and being attached to each other along the sensor, each sleeve extending around an associated one of the electrodes and being braided from a filamentary, electrically non-conductive, polymeric material so as to define multiple apertures enabling such a liquid reaching the sensor to pass through the sleeves so as to cause a short circuit between the electrodes.

6. An elongate, flexible sensor for sensing an electrically conductive liquid, the sensor comprising two electrodes extending along the sensor, each electrode being a ribbon made from a carbon-filled, silicone rubber material, and two flexible sleeves extending along the sensor and being attached to each other along the sensor, each sleeve extending around an associated one of the electrodes and being braided from a filamentary, electrically non-conductive, polymeric material so as to define multiple apertures enabling such a liquid reaching the sensor to pass through the sleeves so as to cause a short circuit between the electrodes.