Patent · US Expired

Method for detecting and locating an electrolyte

US5049247A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
20References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 1989
Grant dateSep 17, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC02F2001/46133
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for monitoring for the presence of an electrolyte and for locating the electrolyte upon its presence uses a system comprising an electrically conductive locating member and an electrically conductive source member, between which an electrical connection is made upon the presence of the electrolyte. The locating member and/or the source member comprises (i) an electrode and (ii) an ion exchange material which is in electrical and physical contact with and substantially entirely surrounds all surfaces of the electrode; the ion exchange material having an ionic resistance which depends upon the concentration of a chemical species in the electrolyte. Upon the presence of the electrolyte, a connection to the locating member is made effective at a first point whose location is defined by the presence of the electrolyte. An electrochemical reaction takes place at that first point at interface of the ion exchange material and the electrode contacted thereby, generating an ionic species, substantially all the ionic species so generated passing through the ion exchange material. The making of the connection enables the formation of a test circuit which comprises (a) the connection, …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.