Visually indicating corrosion sensing
First Claim
1. A corrosion sensor, comprising:
- a support;
a power source contained on the support;
a visual indicator contained on the support and coupled to the power source; and
a corrodable electrode having an electrical resistance contained on the support and coupled to the power source and the visual indicator;
wherein changes in the resistance due to corrosion of the electrode facilitate a display on the visual indicator selected from the group consisting of changes in color and changes in brightness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Corrosion sensors and methods of their use for monitoring corrosion of a material of interest. The corrosion sensors are adapted to be placed in the environment containing the material of interest during the period when corrosion is taking place. The corrosion sensors include a power source, a visual indicator and an electrode contained on a support. Changes in the electrical resistance of the electrode facilitate a display on the visual indicator including changes in color or brightness. Some corrosion sensors have power sources activated by directing a light source or other electromagnetic radiation source at the corrosion sensor. Some corrosion sensors have visual indicators containing thermochromic or electrochromic materials that are responsive to changes in voltage drop or current flow across the visual indicator. Some corrosion sensors have tracking devices to provide tracking information about the corrosion sensor. Some corrosion sensors have proximity sensors to inhibit the display on the visual indicator when not in proximity of a trigger.
49 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A corrosion sensor, comprising:
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a support;
a power source contained on the support;
a visual indicator contained on the support and coupled to the power source; and
a corrodable electrode having an electrical resistance contained on the support and coupled to the power source and the visual indicator;
wherein changes in the resistance due to corrosion of the electrode facilitate a display on the visual indicator selected from the group consisting of changes in color and changes in brightness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of monitoring corrosion of a material of interest, comprising:
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placing a corrosion sensor in an environment containing the material of interest, wherein the corrosion sensor comprises;
a support;
a power source contained on the support;
a visual indicator contained on the support and coupled to the power source; and
a corrodable electrode having an electrical resistance contained on the support and coupled to the power source and the visual indicator;
wherein changes in the resistance due to corrosion of the electrode facilitate a display on the visual indicator selected from the group consisting of changes in color and changes in brightness; and
monitoring changes in the display on the visual indicator, wherein the changes in the display on the visual indicator are indicative of corrosion of the material of interest. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A corrosion sensor, comprising:
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a support;
a power source contained on the support, wherein the power source comprises a supply source selected from the group consisting of a battery and a photoelectric cell;
a visual indicator contained on the support and coupled to the power source, wherein the visual indicator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermochromic materials and electrochromic materials; and
a corrodable electrode having an electrical resistance contained on the support and coupled to the power source and the visual indicator, wherein the corrodable electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys;
wherein changes in the resistance due to corrosion of the electrode facilitate a display on the visual indicator selected from the group consisting of changes in color and changes in brightness. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of monitoring corrosion of a material of interest, comprising:
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placing a corrosion sensor in an environment containing the material of interest, wherein the corrosion sensor comprises;
a support;
a power source contained on the support, wherein the power source comprises a supply source selected from the group consisting of a battery and a photoelectric cell;
a visual indicator contained on the support and coupled to the power source, wherein the visual indicator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermochromic materials and electrochromic materials; and
a corrodable electrode having an electrical resistance contained on the support and coupled to the power source and the visual indicator, wherein the corrodable electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys;
wherein changes in the resistance due to corrosion of the corrodable electrode facilitate a display on the visual indicator selected from the group consisting of changes in color and changes in brightness; and
monitoring changes in the display on the visual indicator, wherein the changes in the display on the visual indicator are indicative of corrosion of the material of interest.
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17. A method for sensing corrosion comprising:
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passing current through a corrodable electrode; and
visually indicating the amount of corrosion of the corrodable electrode based on the amount of current passing through the corrodable electrode.
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18. A corrosion sensor comprising:
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a power source;
a visual indicator;
a corrodable electrode, pluggably connectable to the power source and the visual indicator wherein the visual indicator indicates the amount of corrosion of the electrode in response to the change in the resistance of the corrodable electrode due to corrosion.
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Specification