SENSORS, COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES, AND RELATED SYSTEMS

• US 20140266744A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CoolIT Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: CoolIT Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Lyon, Geoff Sean, Holden, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 9,052,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/165 by means of cables or similar elongated devices, e.g. tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

Leak detectors can have a sensor configured to detect a presence of a working fluid externally of a liquid-based heat-transfer system. The leak detector can also have an electrical circuit configured to emit a signal responsive to a detected presence of the working fluid externally of the liquid-based heat transfer system. Methods of detecting a leak of a working fluid from a liquid-based heat-transfer system can include sensing a presence or an absence of a working fluid externally of a liquid-based heat-transfer system. The methods can include generating a tachometer signal in correspondence with a sensed absence and a sensed presence of the working fluid. The methods can include monitoring the generated tachometer signal.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

a sensor circuit configured to emit a simulated signal corresponding to a selected physical parameter as a proxy for an observed operational parameter different from the selected physical parameter;

a controller configured to receive the simulated signal and to infer from the simulated signal a state of the observed operational parameter.

2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to emit a command signal responsive to the state of the observed operational parameter.

3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the simulated signal comprises a simulated fan-tachometer signal, wherein the selected physical parameter comprises a fan speed.

4. A control system according to claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a leak detector, and wherein the observed operational parameter comprises a detected presence or a detected absence of a leak by the leak detector.

5. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the simulated signal comprises a simulated reproduction of a waveform emitted by a properly or an improperly operating, or a failed, fan.

6. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the selected physical parameter comprises a rotational fan speed and the observed operational parameter consists of one or more of an indicia of fluid level, an indicia of pressure, an indicia of electrical current, and an indicia of a presence or absence of moisture.

7. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the observed operational parameter comprises an indicia of a presence or absence of a working fluid externally of a liquid-based heat-transfer system, wherein the sensor comprises an electrical circuit configured to emit the simulated signal responsive to the indicia of a presence of the working fluid externally of the liquid-based heat transfer system.

8. A control system according to claim 4, wherein the leak detector comprises a sensitive region, wherein the sensitive region is operatively coupled to a printed circuit board adjacent a component susceptible to wetting by a working fluid if a leak of the working fluid occurs.

9. A control system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit is further configured to emit a simulated tachometer signal responsive to the indicia indicating an absence of the working fluid externally of the liquid-based heat transfer system.

10. A control system according to claim 9, wherein the signal responsive to the indicia indicating a presence of the working fluid externally of the liquid-based heat transfer system comprises an interruption to the simulated tachometer signal.

11. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to interrupt at least one electrical coupling between a pump and a fan header responsive to a predefined state of the observed operational parameter.

12. A control system according to claim 7, wherein the simulated signal comprises an interruption to at least one electrical coupling between the pump and the fan header.

13. A control system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one electrical coupling between a pump and a fan header comprises a first electrical coupling between a first pump and a first fan header and a second electrical coupling between a second pump and a second fan header.

14. A control system according to claim 11, wherein the electrical coupling comprises an electrical current for powering the pump, a PWM signal for controlling the pump, an FG signal for monitoring operation of the pump.

15. A control system according to claim 12, wherein the electrical coupling comprises an electrical current for powering the pump, a PWM signal for controlling the pump, an FG signal for monitoring operation of the pump.

16. A method of detecting a leak of a working fluid from a liquid-based heat-transfer system, the method comprising:

sensing a presence or an absence of a working fluid externally of a liquid-based heat-transfer system;

generating a tachometer signal in correspondence with the sensed absence or the sensed presence of the working fluid; and

monitoring the generated tachometer signal.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising emitting a signal responsive to the monitored tachometer signal corresponding to a sensed presence of the working fluid.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the generated tachometer signal in the sensed absence of the working fluid corresponds to an actual rotational speed of a pump.

19. A method according to 16, wherein the generated tachometer signal in the sensed absence of the working fluid comprises a simulated tachometer signal of the type emitted by an operable fan.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the generated tachometer signal in the sensed presence of the working fluid comprises a simulated tachometer signal of the type emitted by an inoperable fan.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the signal comprises an alert to a system administrator.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the signal comprises a command to a control system.

23. A computer system, comprising:

a fluid conduit configured to convey a therethrough a liquid;

a sensor configured to detect a presence of the working fluid externally of the conduit; and

an electrical circuit operatively coupled to the sensor and being configured to emit a signal responsive to a detected presence of the liquid externally of the conduit.

24. A computer system according to claim 23, wherein the electrical circuit is further configured to emit a simulated tachometer signal absent a detected presence of the liquid externally of the conduit.

25. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein the signal responsive to a presence of the liquid externally of the conduit comprises an interruption to the simulated tachometer signal.

26. A computer system according to claim 23, further comprising a header and a pump electrically coupled to the header, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to interrupt at least one electrical coupling between the pump and the header in response to a detected presence of the liquid externally of the conduit.

27. A computer system according to claim 26, wherein the signal responsive to the detected presence of the liquid externally of the conduit comprises an interruption to the at least one electrical coupling between the pump and the fan header.

28. A computer system according to claim 23, further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the sensor comprises a sensitive region operatively coupled to the printed circuit board at a position adjacent a component susceptible to wetting by the liquid if a leak of the liquid from the conduit occurs.