Sensor for detecting hydrocarbon in a static drain line
US9709458B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J3/50
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hydrocarbon leak detection sensor having a hydrocarbon indicator paint applied to a surface exposed to a flow in which the presence of a hydrocarbon is detected. The sensor is located at a low point in a static drain line that is connected to a main fuel line of a liquid propellant rocket engine between a main fuel valve and a fuel injector of a combustion chamber. The sensor includes a housing with a flow inlet port and a flow outlet port with an optical device opposed to a removable plug that secures a target disk with a hydrocarbon indicator paint applied to an exposed surface. A light source is used to illuminate the hydrocarbon indicator that changes color from white to red in the presence of a hydrocarbon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.