Safety device for monitoring a conduit

• US 7,821,411 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DiversiTech Corporation (DiversiTech Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DiversiTech Corporation (DiversiTech Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ward, Charles Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/673,166
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 340/616, 340/608, 340/606, 340/603, 340/620, 340/686.684, 340/540, 340/500, 738/611.2, 733/04.R, 733/04.C, 731/120.1, 73/542.4, 324/661, 324/629, 324/690
• US Class Current: 340/616
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/227 Condensate pipe for drainage of condensate from the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/266 measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes

Abstract

A noninvasive security device for detection of blocked fluid flow within a conduit includes clamping body that may be affixed to the conduit and a safety overflow circuit mounted to the clamping body. The safety overflow circuit includes first and second sensor pads that act as the metal plates of a capacitor. The sensor pads are connected to the clamping body and positioned proximate the conduit to measure the capacitance within the conduit. The capacitance will be low when water is freely flowing through the conduit, since the dielectric constant will be similar to that of air. However, when the water level increases in the conduit, the dielectric constant will increase as will the capacitance, such that a pulse signal is generated to notify the user of the occlusion and to further disable the source of the water to the conduit.

Claims

1. A noninvasive security device for detection of blocked fluid flow within a conduit, said security device comprising:

a clamping body to affix substantially around the conduit; and

a safety overflow circuit affixed to said clamping body, said safety overflow circuit including a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are positioned proximate the conduit to measure the capacitance within the conduit.

2. The security device as described in claim 1 wherein said first sensor and said second sensors are plates having a contour substantially corresponding to the shape of the conduit.

3. The security device as described in claim 1 wherein said safety overflow circuit comprises:

a hysteresis oscillator;

a capacitance bridge connected to said hysteresis oscillator and said first sensor, said capacitance bridge generating a reference pulse and a variable pulse;

a phase detector connected to said capacitance bridge to compare the phase of said reference pulse and said variable pulse; and

a pulse detector connected to said phase detector, said pulse detector receiving a signal from said phase detector when said reference pulse fluctuates from said reference pulse.

4. The safety device as described in claim 3, said capacitance bridge comprising:

a first inverter having an input connected with one said sensor and said hysteresis oscillator and an output connected to said phase detector;

a second inverter having an input connected to said hysteresis oscillator and an output;

a third inverter having an input connected to said output of said second inverter and an output connected to said phase detector;

wherein said output from said first inverter is compared to said output of said third inverter at said phase detector.

5. The safety device as described in claim 4 wherein said phase detector comprise:

a first diode connected to the output of said first inverter; and

a second diode connected to the output of said third inverter.

6. The safety device as described in claim 3 wherein said safety overflow circuit further comprises:

a power source connected to safety overflow circuit;

a pulse amplifier connected to said phase detector, said pulse amplifier amplifying said signal from said phase detector;

a silicon-controlled rectifier in electrical connection with said power source and said pulse amplifier, said pulse amplifier activating said silicon-controlled rectifier with said amplified pulse; and

alerting means for notifying the user when said silicon-controlled rectifier is activated by said amplified pulse.

7. The safety device as described in claim 6 wherein said alerting means comprises a light emitting diode.

8. A method for monitoring the level of a fluid in a conduit comprising the steps of:

a) providing a clamping body supporting a pair of sensors connected to a safety overflow circuit;

b) affixing said clamping body to the conduit with said sensors proximate the conduit;

c) monitoring a capacitance within the conduit using said sensors;

d) determining if said capacitance exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to an excessive level of fluid in the conduit with said safety overflow circuit; and

e) notifying the user of the excessive level of fluid in the conduit.

9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein prior to step a), comprising the step of providing arcuate sensor plates corresponding to the contour of the conduit with said clamping body.

10. The method as described in claim 8 wherein step b) further comprises:

securing said clamping body to the conduit so that said sensors abut the conduit.

11. The method as described in claim 8 wherein step d) further comprises

transmitting a signal from a hysteresis oscillator to a capacitance bridge;

generating a reference pulse and a variable pulse with said capacitance bridge;

comparing said reference pulse with said variable pulse using a phase detector; and

selectively transmitting a pulse from said phase detector to a pulse amplifier when said reference pulse is offset from said variable pulse; and

transmitting an amplified pulse from said pulse amplifier to disconnect the safety circuit from a power source.

12. The method as described in claim 11, wherein the step of transmitting an amplified pulse further comprises the steps of:

activating a silicon-controlled rectifier with said amplified pulse; and

creating a short between the connections of the safety overflow circuit to said power supply.

13. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said step of generating a reference pulse and a variable pulse further comprises:

transmitting said variable pulse to a first inverter having an input connected to said hysteresis oscillator and to one of said sensors;

transmitting said reference pulse to a second inverter having an input connected to said hysteresis oscillator;

transmitting said reference pulse from said second inverter to a third inverter; and

comparing the output of said first inverter with the output of said third inverter at said phase detector.

14. The method as described in claim 8, wherein step e) comprises the step of:

illuminating an status light according to said sensors.

15. The method as described in claim 8, wherein step e) comprises the steps of:

electrically connecting said safety overflow circuit to a compressor; and

stopping the operation of the compressor if the capacitance measured between said sensors reaches a predetermined value.

16. A noninvasive security device for detection of blocked fluid flow within a drainpipe, said security device connected to a power source and comprising:

a clamping body to engage the drainpipe;

noninvasive sensor means for measuring a capacitance within the conduit, said sensor means positioned proximate the conduit; and

a safety overflow circuit connected to said sensor means to measure the capacitance within the conduit, said safety overflow circuit including means for notifying a user of blocked fluid flow within the drainpipe.

17. The security device as described in claim 16, wherein said sensor means comprises:

a first sensor plate having a contour substantially corresponding to the shape of the conduit; and

a second sensor plate having a contour substantially corresponding to the shape of the conduit.

18. The security device as described in claim 17, said safety overflow circuit comprising:

a hysteresis oscillator;

a capacitance bridge connected to said hysteresis oscillator and said first sensor plate, said capacitance bridge generating a reference pulse and a variable pulse;

a phase detector connected to said capacitance bridge to compare the phase of said reference pulse and said variable pulse; and

a pulse detector connected to said phase detector, said pulse detector receiving a signal from said phase detector when said reference pulse fluctuates from said reference pulse.

19. The safety device as described in claim 18 wherein said safety overflow circuit further comprises:

a pulse amplifier connected to said phase detector;

a silicon-controlled rectifier in electrical connection with said power source and said pulse amplifier; and

alerting means for notifying the user when the fluid flow within the conduit is obstructed, said alerting means in electrical connection with said silicon-controlled rectifier.

20. The safety device as described in claim 19 wherein said alerting means comprises a light emitting diode.