US4605923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detection of organic fluids
Assignee: Ensco Inc
•
Filing: 1984-11-02
•
Granted: 1986-08-12
•
Expires: 2004-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of an organic fluid has a pair of strips of fabric-like material joined together at one end in overlapping fashion by a bond formed from an organic fluid imbibing material sorbed into the common ends of the strip. The imbibing material is a latex polymer such as tertiary-alkylstyrenes. When the organic fluid contacts the bonded joint the imbibing material softens. A tensile force may be applied across the bonded joint by a resilient member which may be connected to mechanism for actuating electrical circuitry to signal the disjoining of the strips when the joint is softened sufficiently by the presence of the organic fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen T. Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:26
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; G08B21/20; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/042; G01M3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for detecting of an organic fluid in or on a substrate, said apparatus comprising a pair of strips of fabric-material, one end of each strip being bonded to one end of the other strip at a joint by means of an organic fluid imbibing material sorbed therein, said imbibing material comprising a generally coherent mass of organic fluid imbibing latex polymer particles which swell and soften in the organic fluid, force applying means for placing said joint under tension so that said strips disjoin when said polymer has softened sufficiently, and sensing means for detecting the disjoining of said strips.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for detecting of an organic fluid in or on a substrate, said apparatus comprising a pair of strips of fabric-material, one end of each strip being bonded to one end of the other strip at a joint by means of an organic fluid imbibing material sorbed therein, said imbibing material comprising a generally coherent mass of organic fluid imbibing latex polymer particles which swell and soften in the organic fluid, force applying means for placing said joint under tension so that said strips disjoin when said polymer has softened sufficiently, and sensing means for detecting the disjoining of said strips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises an alkylstryrene polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the alkylstryrene polymer comprises a polymer of an alkylstryrene which has alkyl groups containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the alkylstryrene polymer is a polymer of t-butylstyrene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said force applying means comprises resilient means acting on an end of at least one of said strips remote from said joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises electrical circuit means for providing a signal upon disjoining of said strips.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said polymer comprises an alkylstryrene polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the alkylstryrene polymer comprises a polymer of an alkylstryrene which has alkyl groups containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each strip remote from said joint comprises a loop formed from said fabric-like material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said force applying means includes means disposed within each loop for pulling said strips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein sensing means comprises electrical circuit means for providing a signal upon disjoining of said strips.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of detecting the presence of an organic fluid in or on a substrate, said method comprising disposing at the location where said fluid is to be detected a pair of strips of fabric-like material bonded together at a joint, said strips being bonded at said joint by an organic fluid imbibing material coated onto each strip at the joint and dried, said imbibing material comprising an organic fluid imbibing latex polymer which swells and softens in the organic fluid, applying a force to said joint tending to separate said strips, and sensing when the strips disjoin.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of detecting the presence of an organic fluid in or on a substrate, said method comprising disposing at the location where said fluid is to be detected a pair of strips of fabric-like material bonded together at a joint, said strips being bonded at said joint by an organic fluid imbibing material coated onto each strip at the joint and dried, said imbibing material comprising an organic fluid imbibing latex polymer which swells and softens in the organic fluid, applying a force to said joint tending to separate said strips, and sensing when the strips disjoin.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
a method of forming a detector for detecting the presence of an organic fluid, said method comprising dipping one end of a pair of strips of fabric-like material into an organic fluid imbibing polymer latex emulsion, said material being one which will sorb said emulsion, said emulsion comprising latex polymer particles which swell and soften in the organic fluid, pressing said latex dipped ends together, and drying said ends to form a bond between said strips.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
76 words
a method of forming a detector for detecting the presence of an organic fluid, said method comprising dipping one end of a pair of strips of fabric-like material into an organic fluid imbibing polymer latex emulsion, said material being one which will sorb said emulsion, said emulsion comprising latex polymer particles which swell and soften in the organic fluid, pressing said latex dipped ends together, and drying said ends to form a bond between said strips.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the method as recited in claim 13, wherein said strips are dried before joining, and are thereafter softened with the organic fluid and then joined and dried.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the method as recited in claim 13, including forming loops on the strips remote from said ends.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-11 | 1990-02-10 | 1990-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-11 | 1994-02-10 | 1994-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-11 | 1998-02-10 | 1998-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |