Mechanical oscillator activated or deactivated by a predetermined condition
US7721605B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2008 |
| Grant date | May 25, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N17/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is a mechanical oscillator for detection and measurement of corrosive foreign materials. The elements include a mechanical oscillator that is mechanically excited, wherein the mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. A fuse fixed to the oscillator to change oscillator amplitude to and from essentially zero to resonance amplitude. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork where one region is compatible with the service fluid and the other region is incompatible with the service fluid or other contaminant. The sensor alarms when a measured amount of the incompatible material has been removed or the physical strength of the material has been compromised.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.