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:
Aug. 24, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2005
Nobuo Fujita, Toyota, JP;
Nobuo Fujita, Toyota, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
As a freezing judgment mechanism, comprised in a gas-liquid separator are electrodes and, an iron core, a magnetic absorption substance located within the water, and guides and for controlling the operation of the magnetic absorption substance. The control unit applies a voltage to the electrodes, changing the iron core to an electromagnet by the magnetic field generated between the electrodes. When not frozen, the electromagnet and the magnetic absorption substance are pulled together, the contact points A and B close, and a conductive state is achieved. When frozen, even if the electromagnet and the magnetic absorption substance are pulled together, ice exists between the two items, so it is difficult for the magnetic absorption substance to float upward. After voltage is applied to the electrodes, the control unit judges the water Wa within the gas-liquid separator to be frozen when a conductive state is not detected even after a specified time has elapsed.