Systems and methods for detecting and communicating moisture leaks in fluid conduits
First Claim
1. A system for detecting moisture leaking from a fluid conduit of the type comprising a fitting configured to mate with the fluid conduit, the fitting including an outer surface including an outer edge portion that is enclosed within the fluid conduit when positioning the fluid conduit over at least a portion of the outer surface, the system comprising:
- a sensor for detecting moisture, the sensor being positioned proximate to the outer edge portion of the fitting, the sensor includinga wrapped portion configured to extend around a circumference of the outer surface of the fitting at the outer edge portion of the fitting,an extended portion extending coupled to and extended from the wrapped portion toward an end of the fitting opposite the fluid conduit, andan RFID device coupled to the extended portion and configured to generate a signal representing a result of moisture detection detected by the wrapped portion; and
a receiver remote from the RFID device of the sensor, the receiver being configured to receive the signal generated by the RFID device of the sensor,wherein the wrapped portion has a capillary layer, two conductive traces disposed on the capillary layer, the two conductive traces extending around an entire circumference of the wrapped portion, and a substrate layer configured to bond the wrapped portion of the sensor to the outer edge portion of the fitting.
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Abstract
A system for detecting and communicating moisture leaking from a fluid conduit of the type comprising a fitting configured to mate with the fluid conduit, the fitting including an outer surface including an outer edge portion that is enclosed within the fluid conduit when positioning the fluid conduit over at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the system includes a sensor for detecting moisture, the sensor being positioned proximate to the outer edge portion of the fitting and configured to generate a signal representing a result of moisture detection, and a receiver configured to receive the signal generated by the sensor. The system may include a communication circuit to provide wired or wireless communication between the sensor and the receiver. Other systems and method for detecting and communicating moisture leakage are further disclosed herein.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for detecting moisture leaking from a fluid conduit of the type comprising a fitting configured to mate with the fluid conduit, the fitting including an outer surface including an outer edge portion that is enclosed within the fluid conduit when positioning the fluid conduit over at least a portion of the outer surface, the system comprising:
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a sensor for detecting moisture, the sensor being positioned proximate to the outer edge portion of the fitting, the sensor including a wrapped portion configured to extend around a circumference of the outer surface of the fitting at the outer edge portion of the fitting, an extended portion extending coupled to and extended from the wrapped portion toward an end of the fitting opposite the fluid conduit, and an RFID device coupled to the extended portion and configured to generate a signal representing a result of moisture detection detected by the wrapped portion; and a receiver remote from the RFID device of the sensor, the receiver being configured to receive the signal generated by the RFID device of the sensor, wherein the wrapped portion has a capillary layer, two conductive traces disposed on the capillary layer, the two conductive traces extending around an entire circumference of the wrapped portion, and a substrate layer configured to bond the wrapped portion of the sensor to the outer edge portion of the fitting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting moisture leaking from a fluid conduit of the type comprising a fitting configured to mate with the fluid conduit, the fitting including an outer surface including an outer edge portion that is enclosed within the fluid conduit when positioning the fluid conduit over at least a portion of the outer surface, the method comprising:
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detecting moisture with a sensor positioned proximate to the outer edge portion of the fitting, the sensor including a wrapped portion configured to extend around a circumference of the outer surface of the fitting at the outer edge portion of the fitting, an extended portion extending coupled to and extended from the wrapped portion toward an end of the fitting opposite the fluid conduit, and an RFID device coupled to the extended portion and configured to generate a signal representing a result of moisture detection detected by the wrapped portion; generating a signal with the RFID device of the sensor, the signal representing a result of moisture detection; and receiving the signal generated by the sensor with a receiver, wherein the wrapped portion has a capillary layer, two conductive traces disposed on the capillary layer, the two conductive traces extending around an entire circumference of the wrapped portion, and a substrate layer configured to bond the wrapped portion of the sensor to the outer edge portion of the fitting. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification