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:
Nov. 15, 2011
Filed:
May. 31, 2008
Elizabeth D Garvin, Jupiter, FL (US);
William S Walsh, Port St. Lucie, FL (US);
Elizabeth V Stein, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (US);
Alex Pinera, Jupiter, FL (US);
Elizabeth D Garvin, Jupiter, FL (US);
William S Walsh, Port St. Lucie, FL (US);
Elizabeth V Stein, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (US);
Alex Pinera, Jupiter, FL (US);
Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc., Jupiter, FL (US);
Abstract
A hydrocarbon presence sensor used to detect for the presence of a fuel in a buffer cavity of an inter-propellant seal. A sensor is formed on a rotor shaft in the buffer cavity and an optical imaging device is used to view a change in appearance of the sensor when a hydrocarbon forms on the surface. In one embodiment, the sensor is a coating of porous silicon. In other embodiments, the sensor can be a mirrored or frosted surface on the shaft. A white light source or a laser is reflected off of the sensor and an optical imaging device reads the reflected light to detect for a change in color or intensity of the light to indicate if a hydrocarbon is present on the sensor surface.