Amperometric sensor system
First Claim
1. A sensor system for measuring at least one parameter of water, comprising:
- an electronics subsystem;
a sensor housing electrically and mechanically coupled to the electronics subsystem, the sensor housing comprising;
a chamber that receives water via at least one inlet and that releases water via at least one outlet;
at least one sensor having at least one electrode exposed to water in the chamber; and
a flow generator, positioned within the housing, that draws water into the at least one inlet and that causes water to flow through the chamber and to exit via the at least one outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system that measures at least one parameter of water includes an electronics subsystem and includes a sensor housing electrically and mechanically coupled to the electronics subsystem. The sensor housing encloses a chamber that receives water via at least one inlet and that releases water via at least one outlet. At least one sensor has at least one electrode exposed to water in the chamber. A flow generator causes water to flow through the chamber. A plurality of objects within the chamber move in response to the water flow and abrasively clean the at least one electrode. Preferably, the sensor system includes a chlorine sensor having at least two electrodes. The electronics subsystem applies a first differential voltage between the two electrodes during a measurement interval and then applies a second differential voltage between the two electrodes during an interval following the measurement interval.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sensor system for measuring at least one parameter of water, comprising:
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an electronics subsystem; a sensor housing electrically and mechanically coupled to the electronics subsystem, the sensor housing comprising; a chamber that receives water via at least one inlet and that releases water via at least one outlet; at least one sensor having at least one electrode exposed to water in the chamber; and a flow generator, positioned within the housing, that draws water into the at least one inlet and that causes water to flow through the chamber and to exit via the at least one outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of cleaning an amperometric sensor having a plurality of electrodes positioned on the face of a sensor body, each of the plurality of electrodes having a surface exposed to water having at least one parameter to be measured by the plurality of electrodes, the method comprising:
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confining a plurality of movable objects in a cavity that comprises a volume of water exposed to the surfaces of the plurality of electrodes; operating a flow generator within the sensor body to cause water to be drawn into the cavity, to cause the water to flow through the cavity across the surfaces of the plurality of electrodes, and to cause the water to flow out of the cavity; and circulating the plurality of movable objects within the cavity to cause the plurality of movable objects to impinge on the surfaces of the plurality of electrodes as the water flows through the cavity, the plurality of movable objects abrading the surfaces of the plurality of electrodes to thereby clean the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for reducing build-up of contamination on a sensor, comprising
positioning a surface of a sensor in an enclosure having at least one inlet to allow water to enter the enclosure and having at least two outlets to allow water to exit the enclosure, the enclosure containing a plurality of movable particles, the movable particles having dimensions selected to prevent the movable particles from passing out of the enclosure via the outlets; - and
operating a flow generator within the enclosure to cause water to be drawn into the enclosure via the at least one inlet, to cause the water to flow within the enclosure from the at least one inlet to the outlets and to cause the water to flow over the surface of the sensor, the flow of the water causing at least some of the movable particles to impinge on the surface of the sensor to dislodge contamination from the surface of the sensor, the outlets oriented with respect to a direction of flow of the water to inhibit the movable particles from blocking the at least two outlets.
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24. An apparatus, comprising
an enclosure that houses a surface of a sensor adapted to measure a characteristic of water, the enclosure having at least one inlet to allow water to enter the enclosure and having at least two outlets to allow water to exit the enclosure, the enclosure containing a plurality of movable particles, the movable particles having dimensions selected to prevent the movable particles from passing out of the enclosure via the outlets; - and
a flow generator within the enclosure that draws water into the enclosure via the at least one inlet and that causes a flow of water within the enclosure from the at least one inlet to the outlets to cause the water to flow over the surface of the sensor, the flow of the water causing at least some of the movable particles to impinge on the surface of the sensor to inhibit build-up of contaminates on the surface, the outlets oriented with respect to the flow of the water to inhibit the movable particles from blocking the outlets. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification