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:
Jul. 26, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 13, 2002
Atsushi Koike, Ageo, JP;
Kiyoshi Yamagishi, Ageo, JP;
Takayuki Takahata, Ageo, JP;
Toshimi Nakamura, Ageo, JP;
Toshiaki Kawanishi, Ageo, JP;
Atsushi Koike, Ageo, JP;
Kiyoshi Yamagishi, Ageo, JP;
Takayuki Takahata, Ageo, JP;
Toshimi Nakamura, Ageo, JP;
Toshiaki Kawanishi, Ageo, JP;
Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A device placed in a tank and used for detecting a leakage of liquid in the tank. Vertical measurement tube passages () into which the liquid in the tank is introduced have a measurement tube () and a measurement thin tube (). The measurement thin tube () communicates with the measurement tube and is located lower than the measurement tube. The measurement thin tube has a cross-sectional area that is equal to or smaller than {fraction (1/50)} of that of the measurement tube. A thermal flow sensor () used for measuring a liquid flow rate is attached to the measurement thin tube (). There is provided leakage detecting means () for detecting a leakage of liquid in the tank according to the flow rate value measured by the sensor. The leakage detecting means generates a leakage detection signal when a flow rate value measured by the sensor is within a range greater than 0 and smaller than the flow rate value obtained when liquid is added to the tank or when the liquid in the tank is taken out. Thus, even a leakage of a very small amount is detected easily and accurately without stopping the use of the tank.