US 7,126,343 B1 · Conductivity probe with toroid keeper

Abstract

An apparatus and associated process for constructing a conductivity probe are disclosed. The conductivity probe includes at least two magnetic circuits in toroidal shape. Each of these “toroids” includes a ferrite core around which is wrapped a conductive wire (i.e., coil winding). To construct the conductivity probe, a toroid keeper having an upper annulus and a lower annulus separated by a spacer is provided. One of the two toroids is set on the upper annulus and the other toroid is set on the lower annulus. Connection leads extending from the coil wrappings of the toroids are routed from the keeper through wiring channels build into an elongated neck coupled to the keeper. The connection leads terminate at the distal end of the elongated neck relative to the keeper for connection to a controller.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for forming a conductivity probe having a first toroid and a second toroid, the apparatus comprising:

a toroid keeper having an upper annulus, a lower annulus, and a spacer separating the upper annulus from the lower annulus, wherein the upper annulus is sized to hold the first toroid on the keeper and wherein the lower annulus is sized to hold the second toroid on the keeper;
and
an elongated neck having a proximal end coupled to the toroid keeper and a distal end extending from the toroid keeper, the elongated neck further including an upper surface that carries wiring from the first toroid from the proximal end to the distal end, and a lower surface that carries wiring from the second toroid from the proximal end to the distal end.

A conductivity probe comprising:

a first magnetic circuit having an inner circumference and an outer circumference;
a second magnetic circuit having an inner circumference and an outer circumference;
a keeper having an upper portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, a lower portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, and a spacer separating the upper portion from the lower portion, wherein the first magnetic circuit is situated around the upper portion such that the inner circumference of the first magnetic circuit contacts the outer surface of the upper portion and wherein the second magnetic circuit is situated around the lower portion such that the inner circumference of the second magnetic circuit contacts the outer surface of the lower portion;
and
an elongated neck having a proximal end coupled to the spacer, the elongated neck further including an upper surface that carries wiring from the first magnetic circuit from the proximal end to a distal end of the elongated neck, and a lower surface that carries wiring from the second magnetic circuit from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongated neck.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Conductivity probe with toroid keeper

Life of this patent

Conductivity probe with toroid keeper

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15