Patent · US Expired

Leak detection apparatus for a liquid circulation cooling system

US6826948B1 · kind B1 · utility

154Cited by
22References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 9, 2003
Grant dateDec 7, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/045
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A leak detection apparatus includes one or more detection devices that envelope the various pipe joints of a liquid circulation cooling system. In one approach, the detection devices include a pair of conductors separated by a wicking material impregnated with a crystalline salt that provides a low resistance electrical path between the conductors in the presence of a leak. In another approach, the detection devices include a pair of dissimilar metal mesh electrodes separated by an electrolyte-impregnated wicking material to form a water-activated battery that energizes an alarm in the presence of a leak. In either case, the electrodes and wicking material may be encased with a water-activated sealing material that hardens in the presence of a leak to contain the leakage.

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