Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for checking the formation of scale, and water-carrying appliance

US7162896B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by

35References

8Claims

0Family size

Assignee

BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH · DE

Inventors

Rudiger Eiermann · Staufen, DE
Helmut Jerg · Giengen an der Brenz, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 26, 2004
Grant date	Jan 16, 2007
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 26, 2024

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01N21/552
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus allows monitoring the formation of scale. The apparatus makes it possible to determine the degree of water hardness or a tendency of the degree of water hardness to change over time and to take measures for adjusting the desired degree of water hardness accordingly. A translucent or transparent element has two end surfaces, at least one element emitting an optical signal, and at least one element receiving an optical signal. The element emitting the optical signal and the element receiving the optical signal are directly adjacent to the end surfaces of the transparent element, and the end surfaces are disposed such that they remain free of scale build-up at all times.

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