Coulometric water vapor sensor
AssigneeMocon, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Mayer, Stephen Tuomela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor for detecting water vapor in a gaseous sample. The sensor comprises (a) an anode, (b) a cathode, (c) an electrolyte intermediate the anode and cathode, and (d) an inlet orifice through a central area of the anode or cathode through which the gaseous sample may be placed into contact with the electrolyte. The electrolyte can be retained on a porous electrical-insulating separator located between the interior-facing major surfaces of the anode and the cathode.
Claims23
A sensor for detecting water vapor in a gaseous sample, comprising (a) an anode, (b) a cathode, (c) an electrolyte intermediate the anode and cathode, and (d) an inlet orifice through a central area of the anode or cathode through which the gaseous sample may be placed into contact with the electrolyte.
A water vapor sensor, comprising (a) an anode having an interior-facing major surface and an exterior-facing major surface, (b) a cathode having an interior-facing major surface and an exterior-facing major surface, (c) a porous electrical-insulating separator between the interior-facing major surfaces of the anode and the cathode defining a gap between the interior-facing major surfaces of the anode and the cathode, and (d) an electrolyte within the gap.
A moisture vapor sensor, comprising
- (a) a cylindrical housing defining a longitudinal lumen having first and second longitudinal ends,
- (b) a first endcap in longitudinal fixed relationship with the housing over the first longitudinal end of the lumen,
- (c) a second endcap in longitudinal fixed relationship with the housing over the second longitudinal end of the lumen,
- (d) an arrangement retained within the lumen between the endcaps, comprising a longitudinally aligned sequence of:
- (i) a first support plate,
- (ii) a compressed compression spring,
- (iii) a longitudinally slidable second support plate,
- (iv) a longitudinally slidable detection assembly comprising a longitudinal sequence of either (A) an anode, a porous electrical-insulating separator, and an electrode with a centrally positioned inlet orifice, or (B) an electrode, a porous electrical-insulating separator, and an anode with a centrally positioned inlet orifice, and
- (v) a sealing plate in sealed peripheral engagement with the housing and having a centrally positioned inlet orifice in sealed fluid engagement with the centrally positioned inlet orifice in the anode or cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.