Leak detection device, and fluid vessel assembly comprising same
First Claim
1. A leak monnotoring fluid storage and dispensing apparatus comprising:
- (a) a portable vessel having contents which comprise a hazardous gas; and
(b) a leak detection device secured to the vessel and arranged to detect leakage of said hazardous gas therefrom, said leak detection device comprising;
(i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the hazardous gas; and
(ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicating the change in the monitorable characteristic.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A leak detection device securable in detection proximity to a fluid vessel. The leak detection device includes a sensor element and a monitoring assembly. The sensor element has a monitorable characteristic, and the monitorable characteristic changes upon contact, immerson or in exposure to the fluid contained in the vessel. The monotoring assembly is responsive to the monitorable characteristic and produces an changing electrical output in response to change in the monitorable characteristic. The vessel and leak detection device may form an assembly including a shroud or cover over the detection device and a leak-susceptible portion of the vessel, to provide a microenvironment in which the detection device is operated.
58 Citations
75 Claims
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1. A leak monnotoring fluid storage and dispensing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a portable vessel having contents which comprise a hazardous gas; and (b) a leak detection device secured to the vessel and arranged to detect leakage of said hazardous gas therefrom, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the hazardous gas; and (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicating the change in the monitorable characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27)
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25. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a vessel; and (b) a leak detection device secured in detection proximity to the vessel, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having at least one monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel, wherein said sensor element is selected from the group consisting of;
quartz crystal microbalance;
SAW resonator;
sorbent material absorber; and
piezoelectric crystal; and(ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic, the self-contained monitoring unit comprising a power supply and electronic circuitry constructed and arranged to operate in an intermittently active mode, and in a power-down mode between successive active mode events. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 74, 75)
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51. A leak monitoring fluid storage and dispensing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a portable vessel; and (b) a leak detection device mounted to the vessel, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having at least one monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the fluid content of the vessel, wherein said sensor element is selected from the group consisting of;
a quartz crystal microbalance;
a SAW resonator;
a piezoelectric crystal; and
a sorbent material absorber, and wherein said monitorable characteristic is selected from the group consisting of;
resonant frequency, color, texture, chemical resistance, magnetic state, density, and chemical composition; and(ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicating the change in the monitorable characteristic, the self-contained monitoring unit comprising a power supply and electronic circuitry constructed and arranged to operate in an intermittently active mode, and in a power-down mode between successive active mode events. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. A leak detection device securable in detection proximity to a vessel, said leak detection device comprising:
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(a) a sensor element comprising a mass-sensitive piezoelectric device having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (b) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic, said unit comprising an oscillator/mixer coupled in frequency response-generating relationship to the piezoelectric device, said oscillator/mixer being coupled to a low-pass filter to produce an output frequency response signal, and a signal-processing microprocessor arranged in receiving relationship to the output frequency response signal, producing said output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic, wherein said monitorable characteristic comprises frequency response of the piezoelectric device. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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57. A leak detection device constructed and arranged for securement to a neck portion of a gas cylinder, beneath a manual valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator of a high pressure gas cylinder, said leak detection device comprising:
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(a) a sensor clement having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (b) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic.
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58. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a vessel; and (b) a leak detection device secured in detection proximity to the vessel, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element comprising a mass-sensitive piezoelectric device having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic, the self-contained monitoring unit comprising a power supply and electronic circuitry constructed and arranged to operate in an intermittently active mode, and in a power-down mode between successive active mode events. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61)
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62. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a vessel; and (b) a leak detection device secured in detection proximity to the vessel, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element comprising a mass-sensitive piezoelectric device having a frequency response that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the frequency response of the mass-sensitive piezoelectric device, by producing an output indicative of the change in the frequency response of the mass-sensitive piezoelectric device; (iii) an oscillator/mixer coupled in frequency response-generating relationship to tile piezoelectric device, said oscillator/mixer being coupled to a low-pass filter to produce an output frequency response signal; and (iv) a signal-processing microprocessor arranged in receiving relationship to the output frequency response signal, producing said output indicative of the change in the frequency response of the mass-sensitive piezoelectric device. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a high pressure gas cylinder; and (b) a leak detection device secured to a neck portion of the cylinder, beneath a manual valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic.
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65. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a vessel; (b) a leak detection device secured in detection proximity to the vessel, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic; and (c) a shroud overlying a valve assembly of the vessel, said shroud defining therein an enclosed volume, with said leak detection device disposed in said interior volume. - View Dependent Claims (66)
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67. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a high pressure gas cylinder and a valve head assembly including a valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator; and (b) a self-contained leak detection device secured is secured to the valve head and underlying said manual valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (ii) a monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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69. A leak monitoring fluid storage and dispensing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a fluid-containing vessel gas cylinder with a valve head assembly including a valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator; and (b) a leak detection device secured to the valve head in detection proximity to a mechanical interconnection of the vessel, and underlying the manual valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that changes upon exposure to the fluid content of the vessel; and (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicating the change in the monitorable characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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71. A leak detection device securable in detection proximity to a vessel, said leak detection device comprising:
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(a) a sensor element comprises a mass-sensitive piezoelectric device having frequency response that changes upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (b) a self-contained monitoring unit; (i) operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the frequency response of the mass-sensitive piezoelectric device, by producing an output indicative of the change in frequency response of the mass-sensitive piezoelectric device; (ii) comprising an oscillator/mixer coupled in frequency response-generating relationship to the piezoelectric device and coupled to a low-pass filter to produce an output frequency response signal; and (iii) comprising a signal-processing microprocessor arranged to receive the output frequency response signal and to produce the output indicative of the change in the frequency response of the mass-sensitive piezoelectric device. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73. A vessel assembly, comprising:
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(a) a high pressure gas cylinder; and (b) a leak detection device secured in detection proximity to a neck portion of the cylinder, beneath a manual valve hand wheel or pneumatic valve operator, said leak detection device comprising; (i) a sensor element having a monitorable characteristic that chances upon exposure to the content of the vessel; and (ii) a self-contained monitoring unit operatively coupled to the sensor element and arranged to respond to a change in the monitorable characteristic of the sensor element, by producing an output indicative of the change in the monitorable characteristic.
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Specification