Liquid-sensing apparatus and method
US5691466A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2341/0681
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for detecting the presence of liquid in a flow of gas has a heated temperature sensor mounted on a heated member in thermal contact with the gas and an unheated temperature sensor in thermal contact with the gas, but thermally isolated from the heated temperature sensor. Liquid in the gas flow evaporates by absorbing heat from the heated member and therefore reduces the temperature of the heated temperature sensor. The reduction in temperature is used to detect the presence of liquid. The device is suitable for detecting liquid at the output of an evaporator in a heat transfer system, and may be used as part of a control system which reduces the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator when liquid is detected at the output, so avoiding damage caused by liquid entering the compressor of the heat transfer system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.