WO2000052660A1 - Systeme passif automoteur de detection et de notification a distance de la presence d'un liquide - Google Patents

Systeme passif automoteur de detection et de notification a distance de la presence d'un liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000052660A1
WO2000052660A1 PCT/US2000/005360 US0005360W WO0052660A1 WO 2000052660 A1 WO2000052660 A1 WO 2000052660A1 US 0005360 W US0005360 W US 0005360W WO 0052660 A1 WO0052660 A1 WO 0052660A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
transmitter
alloy
liquid
power source
water
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/005360
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alvin A. Snaper
Original Assignee
Snaper Alvin A
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Snaper Alvin A filed Critical Snaper Alvin A
Priority to AU37147/00A priority Critical patent/AU3714700A/en
Publication of WO2000052660A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000052660A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/04—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
    • G01M3/042—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point by using materials which expand, contract, disintegrate, or decompose in contact with a fluid
    • G01M3/045—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point by using materials which expand, contract, disintegrate, or decompose in contact with a fluid with electrical detection means

Definitions

  • a self-powered passive system which requires no stored or accessory source of power such as a battery or a connection to an external electrical system to detect a liquid and remotely to inform its presence and location.
  • This invention utilizes a type of alloy which will frequently be referred to herein as an "alloy power source".
  • This power source whose energy is depleted during use, must be distinguished from a galvanic stored power supply in which energy is stored in a charged battery, which releases its energy by transfer of ions from one plate to another plate.
  • Such galvanic devices characterized by any kind of battery, involve the problems of corrosive electrolytes and deterioration of the battery through long-term current leakage from plate to plate.
  • the power source of this invention does utilize two conductive terminals, one of which is the alloy, and another which is spaced apart from it. A circuit between them is completed by water which will contain at least some electrolyte by conductivity of the generated current. Almost literally any water will do, from distilled through muddy. The only water which will not function is triple-distilled water. This shows that for any realistic installation, any stray water will function as an effective circuit-bridge between the two _ terminals .
  • the alloy used as a power source is passive and requires nothing in the way of a stored accumulation of energy between two terminals . Merely wetting it will release its energy into a circuit. It has two other useful features.
  • the voltage it generates is unique to the particular alloy. When wet and in a circuit its voltage is constant, whatever the area of it surface which is wetted. The current is different. It is a function of the area which is wetted. The larger the wetted area, the larger the current.
  • a system for detecting liquid, especially water, giving notice, and if desired an alarm relative to the event and its location includes a sensor which includes an alloy power source that is passive when dry, but which sel f-generates a voltage and current when wetted. It powers a transmitter that transmits a signal, which is coded to the identity and if necessary also to the location of the sensor, to a receiver and an alarm.
  • the sensor is a self-generator of the necessary power needed to detect and to transmit, and is independent of any other power supply.
  • Fig. 1 is an axial cross-section and partially schematic showing of the presently-preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a partly schematic cross-section showing a detector installed in a roof
  • Fig. 4 is a plan view of a grid assembly of detectors
  • Fig. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of power source.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit utilizing this invention. Detailed Description of the Invention
  • Fig. 1 The presently-preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1. It can readily be packaged for independent and carefree installation where it can be expected to remain in service for an indefinite length of time. The only requisites are that it be provided with means to notify its identity. Of course its location will be one where the presence of a liquid, usually water, will be of concern, and the location of the sensor will be known from its identity from a code it transmits. The detection and notifying of this event is the purpose of this device.
  • Detector 10 includes for its base structure a housing 11.
  • This housing may conveniently be a cylindrical cup 12. If desired, a cap 13 may be provided for a closure.
  • the cup has an exterior wall 14 around which an alloy power source 15 is wrapped.
  • the alloy power source itself comprises an alloy layer 16 ⁇ of an alloy to be described below, a porous layer 17 wound around the alloy, and a layer of conductive metal electrode 18, usually a corrosion-resistant stainless steel, wound around the porous layer. This order may be reversed if desired.
  • the ends of the porous layer are exposed so as to be contacted by liquid.
  • holes 19 may be formed through the electrode to give additional access to the porous layer.
  • the porous layer may extend well above and below the electrode so as to provide more area for contact with water.
  • the purpose of the porous layer is to move liquid into the region between the electrode and the alloy layer. Porous wettable materials such as blotter paper, or even porous plastic material with open cells are useful to provide a liquid path between the alloy layer and the electrode so long as they act as a wick.
  • the alloy layer may be separately formed and then applied to the outer wall as a ring or wrapped layer.
  • Housing is preferably waterproof. It forms an internal cavity 25 in which a transmitter 26 is placed. With a cap on the cup the transmitter is secure from any water, but the cap will be made of a radio frequency transparent material . The material of the cup must, of course, also be transparent to the signal emitted by the transmitter.
  • An antenna 27 may if desired project outside the housing. Leads 28, 29 respectively from the alloy
  • the alloy power source does not supply an electrical voltage or current.
  • the electrode with the porous layer also wetted it will generate a voltage and supply a current which will energize the transmitter and cause it to emit a signal respective to the presence of water, and of its own identity.
  • Fig. 3 there is shown a section view of a commercial roof which is to be monitored for leaks by detecting and alarming for the presence of water at a number of spaced-apart of locations. It is generally not necessary to wait for a pool of water to form for a leak to be detected.
  • Most roofs have layers of porous or fibrous material for insulation which themselves have a wicking action that spreads moisture throughout that layer rather quickly. Such moisture is enough to wet the wick and actuate the alloy power source.
  • FIG. 3 an upper roof layer 40 is spaced from a ceiling layer 41 by fibrous or porous insulation 42.
  • a detector 10 may simply be "buried” in this insulation. When insulation of this type becomes wet, it acts as a wick and the water spreads through
  • sensors 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are disposed in a grid-like pattern of rows and columns, so that the location of each is known.
  • Each transmitter will be set to transmit a code- either its number, or its location on the grid as preferred.
  • the sensor When the sensor is wetted, its signal will be transmitted, without wires, to a central receiver 36 that receives it, identifies the sensor by decoding its signal, and gives an audible or visual alarm, or both.
  • the sensors are free standing, without physical linkage to any external power source or to a battery.
  • the sensor may simply be installed as shown in Fig. 3, by being laid in or on a layer of insulation or fastened to some structure where water is to be sensed. It will remain there, passive and ready for service, without maintenance.
  • the wick layer can be eliminated, provided that the alloy layer and electrode are spaced apart in a location where they will be bridged by an aqueous electrolyte when liquid to be detected is present.
  • Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 5, where an alloy plate 50 is spaced from an electrode 51 by
  • insulating spacers 52 are connected to a _ transmitter 55. Both of these items may be loosely connected to one another, or may be separately mounted to any desired support. In this type of installation the transmitter itself will be housed in a leak-proof case. In all examples, there must be no impediment to the transmission of the signal from the transmitter to the receiver.
  • FIG. 6 A schematic circuit diagram for a useful circuit is given in Fig. 6.
  • An alloy power source 65 is connected to an encoder 66 and a radio frequency transmitter 67.
  • Link 66 provides power to the transmitter.
  • Link 68 provides power to the encoder which via link 69 provides a coded signal to the transmitter and to the encoder.
  • the encoder is encoded with information about the identity of the power source. Its location may be incorporated into the code, but generally its location will be known in advance.
  • the signal from the transmitter is sent from antenna 70 to a receiver 71 that includes a decoder which via link 72 causes alarm 73 to provide any suitable notification or alarm regarding the event .
  • Any person skilled in the art can readily supply a transmitter responsive to current and voltage from a power source with the disclosed output. Any suitable receiver may also be selected .
  • the alloy may be any one of the class which, when its
  • the alloy also contains amounts of up to about 0,1% of copper, and/or up to about 0.19% of samarium, ruthenium, vanadium, or selenium, the preferred range being between about 0.001% and 0.1% of copper and/or one of said samarium, ruthenium, vanadium, or selenium.
  • the alloy depending on its composition can reliably generate between about .75 and 1.45 volts and between about 3 and 6 milliamps , all sufficient to power a suitable solid- state transmitter for transmitting a signal intended to be intercepted at distances as far as about 300 yards (300 meters) . This is ample for practical systems, because the receiver itself can if desired amplify or re-transmit the signal it receives from the sensor.
  • the exact weight or amount of the power alloy is of little consequence in this invention.
  • the duty cycle and intended duration of active generation is infrequent and short.
  • the duty cycle may extend from once in a few years to never.
  • a roof leak is detected, for example, the surrounding roof will be repaired, usually displacing the device, and requiring a new one.
  • a relatively thin structurally reliable band perhaps 0.10 inches (2.5 mm) thick and 1/4 inches (6.3 mm) wide will be sufficient.
  • alloys having the disclosed properties are known which respond only to water. However, in the future, alloys that respond to different liquids may and probably will become known.
  • This invention includes all power supplying alloys, regardless of whether the liquid is water, or some other liquid to which the alloy is responsive.
  • liquid be pure or even clear water.
  • Triple-distilled water which is devoid of electrolyte, will not activate these alloys. The presence of extremely small amounts of electrolytes will suffice, and additives will not destroy the function.
  • this device can function to notify about the interface between a layer containing water and one which does not.
  • Other uses for this device are to sense presence of water on roadways, and snow levels.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil autonome (10) de détection et de notification de la présence d'un liquide. L'appareil comprend une source d'énergie en alliage autogénérée (15) comprenant un alliage du type passif à sec mais qui est activé et génère une tension et un courant électriques lorsque, de même qu'une électrode (16) qui en est espacée, il est mouillé par un liquide conducteur qui entre en contact avec les deux ; et un émetteur (26) uniquement associé à la source d'énergie et qui reçoit de l'énergie provenant de la source lorsque la source est mouillée pour fonctionner et émettre un signal haute fréquence reconnu comme étant associé au détecteur.
PCT/US2000/005360 1999-03-03 2000-03-01 Systeme passif automoteur de detection et de notification a distance de la presence d'un liquide WO2000052660A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU37147/00A AU3714700A (en) 1999-03-03 2000-03-01 Self-powered passive system to detect and remotely inform the presence of liquid

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26192399A 1999-03-03 1999-03-03
US09/261,923 1999-03-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000052660A1 true WO2000052660A1 (fr) 2000-09-08

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AU (1) AU3714700A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000052660A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005119195A1 (fr) * 2004-06-04 2005-12-15 Sensible Solutions Ab Systeme de detection d'humidite
US7449614B2 (en) 2006-08-29 2008-11-11 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Absorbent articles including a monitoring system powered by ambient energy
DE102018006950A1 (de) * 2018-09-03 2020-03-05 Ewald Dörken Ag Feuchtesensor
US10672252B2 (en) 2015-12-31 2020-06-02 Delta Faucet Company Water sensor

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3199095A (en) * 1960-10-05 1965-08-03 Ashida Hiroo Absorbed-moisture alarm utilizing electrolytic action by special galvanic couple
US4013924A (en) * 1970-03-19 1977-03-22 A/S E. Rasmussen Methods and means for detecting the presence of moisture adjacent insulated pipes
US4598273A (en) * 1984-08-16 1986-07-01 Bryan Jr Bynum O Leak detection system for roofs
US4845472A (en) * 1986-11-06 1989-07-04 Hkg Industries, Inc. Leak sensing alarm and supply shut-off apparatus
US4891574A (en) * 1987-12-23 1990-01-02 Mitchell Instruments Ltd. Hygrometer with plural measuring bones and redundancy system circuit
US5101657A (en) * 1985-06-12 1992-04-07 Raychem Corporation Sensors for detecting and locating fluids
US5418522A (en) * 1990-10-15 1995-05-23 Tekmar Angewandte Elektronik Gmbh System for indicating and signaling the presence of snow and ice
US5818340A (en) * 1996-03-25 1998-10-06 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Roof moisture sensing system and method for determining presence of moisture in a roof stucture
US5881762A (en) * 1997-12-17 1999-03-16 Janesky; Lawrence M. Base-surround retrofit enclosure assemblies for containing leakage

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3199095A (en) * 1960-10-05 1965-08-03 Ashida Hiroo Absorbed-moisture alarm utilizing electrolytic action by special galvanic couple
US4013924A (en) * 1970-03-19 1977-03-22 A/S E. Rasmussen Methods and means for detecting the presence of moisture adjacent insulated pipes
US4598273A (en) * 1984-08-16 1986-07-01 Bryan Jr Bynum O Leak detection system for roofs
US5101657A (en) * 1985-06-12 1992-04-07 Raychem Corporation Sensors for detecting and locating fluids
US4845472A (en) * 1986-11-06 1989-07-04 Hkg Industries, Inc. Leak sensing alarm and supply shut-off apparatus
US4891574A (en) * 1987-12-23 1990-01-02 Mitchell Instruments Ltd. Hygrometer with plural measuring bones and redundancy system circuit
US5418522A (en) * 1990-10-15 1995-05-23 Tekmar Angewandte Elektronik Gmbh System for indicating and signaling the presence of snow and ice
US5818340A (en) * 1996-03-25 1998-10-06 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Roof moisture sensing system and method for determining presence of moisture in a roof stucture
US5881762A (en) * 1997-12-17 1999-03-16 Janesky; Lawrence M. Base-surround retrofit enclosure assemblies for containing leakage

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005119195A1 (fr) * 2004-06-04 2005-12-15 Sensible Solutions Ab Systeme de detection d'humidite
US7449614B2 (en) 2006-08-29 2008-11-11 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Absorbent articles including a monitoring system powered by ambient energy
US10672252B2 (en) 2015-12-31 2020-06-02 Delta Faucet Company Water sensor
US11217082B2 (en) 2015-12-31 2022-01-04 Delta Faucet Company Water sensor
DE102018006950A1 (de) * 2018-09-03 2020-03-05 Ewald Dörken Ag Feuchtesensor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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