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:
Feb. 21, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 08, 2008
Eugene Tokhtuev, Duluth, MN (US);
Christopher J. Owen, Duluth, MN (US);
Anatoly Skirda, Hermantown, MN (US);
Viktor Slobodyan, Duluth, MN (US);
Anna Pilipchenko, Duluth, MN (US);
Eugene Tokhtuev, Duluth, MN (US);
Christopher J. Owen, Duluth, MN (US);
Anatoly Skirda, Hermantown, MN (US);
Viktor Slobodyan, Duluth, MN (US);
Anna Pilipchenko, Duluth, MN (US);
Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An acoustic sensor detects presence and/or absence of fluid in a fluid delivery medium. The acoustic sensor detects fluid absence based on the difference of the speed of sound between air and a fluid. For example, the acoustic sensor may detect fluid absence based on a phase shift between acoustic signals transmitted through the fluid delivery medium when fluid is present as compared to acoustic signals transmitted through the fluid delivery medium when fluid is absent, e.g., when air or bubbles are present in the fluid delivery medium.