Patent US5079944A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5079944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hydrocarbon vapor sensor and system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-27
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Granted: 1992-01-14
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Expires: 2010-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A hydrocarbon vapor sensor which is simple and low cost and can easily detect the existence of hydrocarbon vapor. The device is temperature compensated so that a change in resistance due to a change in temperature is avoided and an arcurate response is always provided. The sensor can be used in a system in which a number of sensors are provided at various depths to determine whether a leak or a ground spill has occurred.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Boenning
- 👤 David L. Blair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/16; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0031; G01N33/0036; G01N33/0047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor, comprising: a member having first and second surfaces; first sensing means mounted in a stretched state on said first surface of said member for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; second sensing means mounted in a stretched state on said second surface of said member for sensing temperature and providing temperature compensation; perforated cover means for covering said first sensing means; and cover means for hermetically sealing said second sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor, comprising: a member having first and second surfaces; first sensing means mounted in a stretched state on said first surface of said member for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; second sensing means mounted in a stretched state on said second surface of said member for sensing temperature and providing temperature compensation; perforated cover means for covering said first sensing means; and cover means for hermetically sealing said second sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor according to claim 1, wherein said member has an I-beam shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor according to claim 2, wherein said member comprises an acrylic form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sensing means comprise filled conductive ethylene propylene rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor according to claim 4, further comprising: a bridge circuit connected to said first and second sensing means; a comparator connected to said bridge circuit and connected to receive a threshold voltage; a latch circuit connected to said comparator; and display means for displaying the output from said latch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes means for displaying a parts per million count of sensed hydrocarbon vapor, and means for resetting said latch circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system having an underground storage tank, said hydrocarbon sensor system comprising: first hydrocarbon vapor sensor means located near a bottom portion of the storage tank, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means located near a portion of the storage tank between a top portion of the storage tank and the bottom portion of the storage tank, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means located near the top portion of the storage tank, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor near the top portion of the storage tank; means connectable at the top portion of the storage tank, for determining a leak when a resistance of said first hydrocarbon vapor sensor means is greater than a resistance of said second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means and the resistance of said second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means is greater than a resistance of said third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means and for determining a spill when the resistance of said first hydrocarbon vapor sensor means is less than the resistance of said second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means which is less than the output from said third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
190 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system having an underground storage tank, said hydrocarbon sensor system comprising: first hydrocarbon vapor sensor means located near a bottom portion of the storage tank, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means located near a portion of the storage tank between a top portion of the storage tank and the bottom portion of the storage tank, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means located near the top portion of the storage tank, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor near the top portion of the storage tank; means connectable at the top portion of the storage tank, for determining a leak when a resistance of said first hydrocarbon vapor sensor means is greater than a resistance of said second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means and the resistance of said second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means is greater than a resistance of said third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means and for determining a spill when the resistance of said first hydrocarbon vapor sensor means is less than the resistance of said second hydrocarbon vapor sensor means which is less than the output from said third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system according to claim 7, wherein said hydrocarbon vapor sensor comprises: a member having first and second surfaces; first sensing means mounted in a stretched state on said first surface of said member, for sensing hydrocarbon vapor; second sensing means, mounted in a stretched state on said second surface of said member, for sensing temperature; perforated cover means for covering said first sensing means; cover means for hermetically sealing said second sensing means; and a bridge circuit connected to said first and second sensing means and outputting a temperature compensated signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system according to claim 8, wherein each of said first through third sensing means comprises filled conductive ethylene propylene rubber stretched to reduce cross-section area for improving sensitivity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system according to claim 7, wherein said hydrocarbon vapor sensor means are located in a space between an inner portion of the storage tank and an outer portion of the storage tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system according to claim 7, wherein said first, second and third hydrocarbon vapor senor means are located exterior to the storage tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system according to claim 7, wherein said first through third hydrocarbon vapor sensor means are located in a vapor well adjacent the storage tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hydrocarbon vapor sensor system according to claim 7, comprising more than three hydrocarbon vapor sensors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-13 | 1995-07-15 | 1996-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-13 | 1999-07-15 | 2000-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-13 | 2003-07-15 | 2004-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |