The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 01, 1993
James E Lynch, Elmira, NY (US);
Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation, Horseheads, NY (US);
Abstract
A fluid detector (20) has an enclosure (32) defining an internal chamber (33). The enclosure has a frangible wall portion (34). A sensor (46) is arranged within the chamber. The sensor has a hygroscopic portion (48), the electrical resistance of which changes depending upon whether the sensor portion is wet or dry. The chamber is normally filled with a dry fluid, such as nitrogen. The outer surface of the enclosure is exposed to another fluid containing water. When the pressure differential across the frangible wall portion exceeds a predetermined minimum value, the frangible wall portion ruptures to permit the sensor portion to become wetted. An ammeter (31) is arranged to determine the change in the electrical resistance of the sensor and to indicate the presence of the water-containing fluid within the chamber. The detector is particularly useful in determining the fluid-tight sealed integrity of a closed-end thimble having a portion inserted into a pressurized water reactor.