Method of determining a remaining operating time of a potentiometric measuring probe, apparatus for performing the method, and use of the apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of determining a remaining operating time of a potentiometric measuring probe containing an electrolyte, wherein a primary reference element and a secondary reference element are arranged so that an electrolyte deficiency advancing from an opening of the measuring probe arrives at the secondary reference element before it arrives at the primary reference element, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a potential difference (V12) existing between respective electrical potentials of the primary reference element and the secondary reference element for conformance to a predefined tolerance criterion;
when the tolerance criterion is found to be violated, determining the elapsed operating time from when the measuring probe was put into operation and retaining said elapsed operating time as a base time period (tG);
calculating a remaining operating time (Δ
tR) of the measuring probe from the base time period (tG).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A potentiometric measuring probe contains an electrolyte (110) as well as a primary reference element (106) and a secondary reference element (108) that are arranged so that the front (148) of an electrolyte deficiency advancing from an opening (112) of the measuring probe arrives at the secondary reference element before it arrives at the primary reference element. The potential difference existing between the primary reference element and the secondary reference element is monitored, and when a predefined tolerance criterion is found to be violated, the elapsed operating time from the point when the measuring probe was put into operation is determined and used as a basis for calculating the remaining operating time of the measuring probe.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of determining a remaining operating time of a potentiometric measuring probe containing an electrolyte, wherein a primary reference element and a secondary reference element are arranged so that an electrolyte deficiency advancing from an opening of the measuring probe arrives at the secondary reference element before it arrives at the primary reference element, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a potential difference (V12) existing between respective electrical potentials of the primary reference element and the secondary reference element for conformance to a predefined tolerance criterion;
when the tolerance criterion is found to be violated, determining the elapsed operating time from when the measuring probe was put into operation and retaining said elapsed operating time as a base time period (tG);
calculating a remaining operating time (Δ
tR) of the measuring probe from the base time period (tG). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for determining a remaining operating time of a potentiometric measuring probe, comprising:
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a) a potentiometric measuring probe with an electrolyte and with a primary reference element and a secondary reference element that are arranged so that an electrolyte deficiency advancing from an opening of the measuring probe arrives at the secondary reference element before it arrives at the primary reference element;
b) time-measurement means for measuring the elapsed operating time (t) from when the measuring probe was put into operation;
c) monitoring means for monitoring the potential difference (V12) existing between the primary reference element and the secondary reference element;
d) calculating means for calculating the remaining operating time (Δ
tR) of the measuring probe.
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Specification