Fluid measuring device and measuring head device for moisture detection, in particular in containers for fluid-sensitive electrical and/or electronic components in road vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10203261-B2
Application number	US-201715651153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2017
Priority date	Jul 15, 2016
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

A fluid measuring device includes a measuring head device having a measuring head with separated and electrically insulated electrodes and measuring head contacts each connected to a respective electrode. A measuring circuit includes terminal contacts each connected to a respective measuring head contact. The measuring circuit includes a current source for pulsed energizing of the measuring head connected to the terminal contacts. The measuring circuit includes an output circuit between the terminal contacts including a measuring capacitor and an evaluation circuit ascertaining state-of-charge information regarding the measuring capacitor. A supplementary circuit in the measuring head is connected to the measuring head contacts and establishes basic capacitance and resistance properties therebetween corresponding to capacitance and resistance properties between the measuring head contacts upon contact with predefined partial wetting of the electrodes by conductive fluid having predefined conductivity without the supplementary circuit. A measuring head device is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid measuring device for at least one of fluid-sensitive electrical or electronic components of road vehicles, the fluid measuring device comprising:
a measuring head device having a measuring head including at least two electrodes being held in such a way as to be separated from each other and electrically insulated with respect to each other, said measuring head including two measuring head contacts each being electrically conductively connected to a respective one of said at least two electrodes in said measuring head;
a measuring circuit including two terminal contacts, each of said terminal contacts being electrically connected to a respective one of said measuring head contacts, said measuring circuit including a pulsed current source for pulsed energizing of said measuring head connected to said terminal contacts, and said measuring circuit including an output circuit connected between said terminal contacts and having at least one measuring capacitor and an evaluation circuit for ascertaining state-of-charge information regarding said measuring capacitor in said output circuit; and
a supplementary circuit formed in said measuring head, connected to said measuring head contacts and establishing basic capacitance and basic resistance properties between said measuring head contacts corresponding to capacitance and resistance properties between said measuring head contacts setting-in in an event of contact occurring with a predefined partial wetting of said at least two electrodes caused by a conductive fluid having a predefined conductivity without an existence of said supplementary circuit.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said output circuit includes a series circuit of said at least one measuring capacitor and an ohmic measuring resistor.

3. The device according to claim 2 , which further comprises: a moisture-free container containing said electrodes of said measuring head;
said at least one measuring capacitor, said measuring resistor and a current pulse generated by said current source being matched to each other and dimensioned in such a way that a setpoint maximum state of charge of said at least one measuring capacitor resulting upon an energization, with a current pulse, of said measuring head being connected to said terminal contacts differs from a discharged state of said at least one measuring capacitor by a predefined minimum value; and
the predefined minimum value being less than a difference between the discharged state and the maximum state of charge of said at least one measuring capacitor setting-in upon a current pulse of said measuring circuit when said measuring head is not connected to said terminal contacts of said measuring circuit.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein said evaluation device is configured for outputting an alarm signal when the ascertained maximum state of charge upon energization with a current pulse deviates from the setpoint maximum state of charge of said measuring capacitor by more than a predefined alarm tolerance value.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said supplementary circuit is a series circuit of passive components.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said supplementary circuit includes a network of a series circuit of a series resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel with a load resistor.

7. The device according to claim 1 , which further comprises a measuring head material, said supplementary circuit being cast into said measuring head material.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said measuring head is constructed as a closure device.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein said closure device is constructed as a threaded connection or a bayonet connection or a flange including a sealing surface.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Kube Roland

Classifications

• G01M3/025

  Details with respect to the testing of engines or engine parts · CPC title

• G01M3/186 Primary

  for containers, e.g. radiators · CPC title

• G01M3/3245

  using a level monitoring device (G01M3/3272 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21V31/005

  Sealing arrangements therefor · CPC title

• H05K5/06

  Hermetically-sealed casings {(specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095)} · CPC title