Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for detecting the presence of water in aircraft fuel comprising a probe having two electrodes, reservoir means in fluid communication with a portion of an aircraft fuel system, said reservoir means positioned below said portion, means locating said probe so that said two electrodes are exposed in said reservoir means, an electrically activatable warning device, a DC source of power, an electronic inverter including output terminals and having an output between 300 to 30,000 Hz., a transformer having two windings, a load resistor, means connecting one of said output terminals of said electronic inverter to ground, means connecting the other of said output terminals through one of said windings of said transformer and said load resistor to ground, said other of said transformer windings having two ends, means connecting said ends of said other transformer winding respectively to said electrodes of said probe, and means connecting said warning device across said load resistor so as to activate said warning device when the resistance between said electrodes drops upon both electrodes contacting water, said load resistor being of sufficient value to limit current flow through said other of said transformer windings to prevent accidental ignition of fuel within said fuel system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for detecting the presence of water in aircraft fuel comprising a probe having two electrodes, reservoir means in fluid communication with a portion of an aircraft fuel system, said reservoir means positioned below said portion, means locating said probe so that said two electrodes are exposed in said reservoir means, an electrically activatable warning device, a DC source of power, an electronic inverter including output terminals and having an output between 300 to 30,000 Hz., a transformer having two windings, a load resistor, means connecting one of said output terminals of said electronic inverter to ground, means connecting the other of said output terminals through one of said windings of said transformer and said load resistor to ground, said other of said transformer windings having two ends, means connecting said ends of said other transformer winding respectively to said electrodes of said probe, and means connecting said warning device across said load resistor so as to activate said warning device when the resistance between said electrodes drops upon both electrodes contacting water, said load resistor being of sufficient value to limit current flow through said other of said transformer windings to prevent accidental ignition of fuel within said fuel system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir means includes an adaptor positioned between an aircraft fuel sump and a drain valve below the aircraft sump, said adaptor being in fluid communication with the aircraft sump and drain valve, said electrical sensing means being exposed to the interior of said adaptor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said warning device is a light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein there is interposed between said electrically activatable warning device and said load resistor an operational amplifier and a solid state switch controlled by the output of said amplifier, said amplifier and said solid state switch being powered by said DC power source.