Sealed replaceable sensor

• US 6,475,439 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BRK Brands Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BRK Brands Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodesiler, Jack David, Molina, Joe G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUDLOW, JAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/481,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 42/98, 42/83, 429/96, 73/310.2, 73/310.5, 204/403, 204/431, 340/628, 340/632
• US Class Current: 422/98
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence

Abstract

A gas detector having a sealed sensor assembly is only exposed to the ambient atmosphere when the detector is to be placed in the service. The detector is placed in the service by removing an elongated planar adhesive backed sealing member. The gas sensor also incorporates a replaceable biomemetic sensing material which is carried within a housing within the detector. The housing contains an internal region wherein the gas sensing material is located. The internal region is sealed where the housing is attached to a printed circuit board on one hand and by the removable sealing planar member on the other hand so as to protect the gas sensitive material from contamination or exposure to the atmosphere until the unit is placed into service.

Claims

1. A detector comprising:

a planar mounting member comprising a printed circuit board;

an ambient condition sensor having an enclosure with a first opening and a second opening and first and second seals wherein said first seal surrounds said first opening and said second seal is arranged to close said second opening, and wherein said sensor comprises an electrical connection to said circuit board located within a perimeter of said first seal, wherein the sensor is attached to the printed circuit board with said first seal located adjacent to both the printed circuit board and the enclosure, and wherein the second seal is carried on the enclosure so as to preclude ambient fluids from entering the sensor

including a housing having a region for ingress and egress of ambient atmosphere and wherein the mounting member and sensor are carried within the housing.

2. A detector as in claim 1 wherein the enclosure defines an internal region which has first and second open ends wherein one of the ends is located adjacent to the planar mounting member and is sealed from the ambient atmosphere by the first seal.

3. A detector as in claim 2 wherein the second seal removably covers the other end whereby the internal region is isolated from the ambient atmosphere at least until the second seal has been removed.

4. A detector as in claim 3 which includes a replaceable sensing element carried in the internal region.

5. A detector as in claim 4 wherein the sensing element is restrained by a removable retainer.

6. A detector as in claim 5 wherein the retainer comprises a deformable metal clip.

7. A detector as in claim 3 wherein the enclosure carries at least one mounting element for attachably engaging the planar mounting member.

8. A detector as in claim 3 which includes a control circuit carried by the mounting member and coupled to the sensor via the one end.

9. A detector as in claim 8 wherein the control circuit is located outside the enclosure.

10. A detector as in claim 8 wherein said sensor comprises a sensing circuit carried within the enclosure.

11. A detector as in claim 8 wherein an energy source is carried within the enclosure, coupled to the control circuit.

12. A detector as in claim 2 wherein the other end is displaced from the mounting member and is covered by the second seal.

13. A detector as in claim 12 wherein the one seal comprises an annular compressed seal and wherein the second seal is planar, without apertures therein and not compressed.

14. A detector as in claim 1 comprising a housing having a region for ingress and egress of ambient atmosphere and wherein said printed circuit board and said sensor are carried within the housing.

15. A detector as in claim 1 comprising electrical circuitry carried within the housing and at least in part in said sensor.

16. A detector as in claim 15 including a source of radiant energy in said sensor.

17. A detector comprising:

a planar mounting member comprising a printed circuit board;

an ambient condition sensor having an enclosure with a first opening and a second opening and first and second seals wherein said first seal surrounds said first opening and said second seal is arranged to close said second opening, and wherein said sensor comprises an electrical connection to said circuit board located within a perimeter of said first seal, wherein the sensor is attached to the printed circuit board with said first seal located adjacent to both the printed circuit board and the enclosure, and wherein the second seal is carried on the enclosure so as to preclude ambient fluids from entering the sensor;

a housing having a region for ingress and egress of ambient atmosphere and wherein said printed circuit board and said sensor are carried within the housing;

wherein a portion of the second seal extends outside the housing to facilitate removal of said second seal.

18. A detector as in claim 17 wherein said second seal comprises an elongated, planar flexible member.

19. A detector comprising:

a planar mounting member;

a sealed ambient condition sensor having first and second seals wherein the sensor is attached to the mounting member with one seal located adjacent to both the mounting member and the sensor, and wherein the second seal is carried on the sensor so as to preclude ambient fluids from entering the sensor;

a housing having a region for ingress and egress of ambient atmosphere and wherein the mounting member and sensor are carried within the housing; and

wherein a portion of the second seal extends from the housing to facilitate removal of same.

20. A detector as in claim 19 wherein the second seal comprises an elongated, planar flexible member.