Patent · US Expired

Sensors for detecting and locating fluids

US5101657A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
26References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 7, 1990
Grant dateApr 7, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 7, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/165
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Devices for detecting and obtaining information about an event, for example the presence of a liquid, which comprise (1) a swellable member which swells upon occurrence of the event and (2) a restraining member which, when the swellable member swells, restricts movement of the swellable member and thus causes the impedance of the device to change. In a preferred embodiment the device comprises two elongate conductors helically wrapped around a support core, a swellable, conductive polymer member surrounding the conductors. Occurrence of an event causes the swellable material to swell and form a conductive bridge between the conductors.

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