Sealing sleeve with leakage detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10655764-B2
Application number	US-201515300333-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A sealing sleeve with leakage detection has an absorbing layer and a sensor arrangement, wherein the absorbing layer is configured to be attached to a surface of an article containing a fluid, and hose assembly with a connector having a nipple and a socket, wherein an end of a hose is slipped on the nipple and the socket is adapted to establish a fluid tight connection of the hose and the nipple, wherein a sealing sleeve is attached at an intersection of the socket and the hose.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sealing sleeve with leakage detection, the sleeve comprising:
an absorbing layer; and
a sensor arrangement,
wherein the absorbing layer is configured to be attached to a surface of an article containing a fluid and to absorb the fluid in case of a leakage,
wherein the sensor arrangement includes a capacitive humidity sensor,
wherein a thickness of the absorbing layer increases with an amount of absorbed fluid, and
wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect a level of saturation of the absorbing layer with the fluid.

2. The sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the absorbing layer includes an EPDM rubber.

3. The sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement includes a first electrode and a second electrode,
wherein at least a portion of the absorbing layer acts as a dielectric between the two electrodes.

4. The sleeve of claim 3 , wherein the first and second electrodes are attached to an outer side of the absorbing layer, opposite to a side facing a surface of the article.

5. The sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to transmit a signal if the level of saturation changes.

6. The sleeve of claim 5 , wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to transmit the signal prior to an emersion of the fluid from the absorbing layer.

7. The sleeve of claim 1 , in the form of a strip.

8. The sleeve of claim 7 , wherein the sensor arrangement includes a first and a second electrode, and
wherein the electrodes are arranged in parallel along the strip.

9. The sleeve of claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer, covering the absorbing layer and the sensor arrangement.

10. A hose connector assembly, comprising:
the sleeve of claim 1 ; and
a hose connector,
wherein the sleeve is preassembled on the hose connector.

11. The hose connector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor arrangement includes a first and a second electrode,
wherein the electrodes are provided as annular rings arranged in parallel around the absorbing layer.

12. A hose assembly, comprising:
a connector including a nipple and a socket,
wherein an end of a hose is disposed on the nipple,
wherein the socket is configured to establish a fluid tight connection of the hose and the nipple,
wherein the sealing sleeve of claim 1 is attached at an intersection of the socket and the hose.

13. A strip, comprising:
an absorbing layer; and
a sensor arrangement,
wherein the sensor arrangement includes a capacitive humidity sensor,
wherein a thickness of the absorbing layer increases with an amount of absorbed fluid,
wherein the absorbing layer is configured to be attached to a surface of an article containing a fluid and to absorb the fluid in case of a leakage,
wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect a level of saturation of the absorbing layer with the fluid,
wherein the strip is configured to detect the leakage.

Assignees

• Eaton Ind Ip Gmbh & Co Kg
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Kuenstel Christian

Classifications

• F16L2201/30

  Detecting leaks · CPC title

• F16L21/002

  Sleeves or nipples for pipes of the same diameter; Reduction pieces (F16L27/00, F16L37/00 take precedence; with elastic sealing rings F16L21/022) · CPC title

• G01M3/183

  for pipe joints or seals · CPC title

• G01M3/045

  with electrical detection means · CPC title

• F16L21/005 Primary

  made of elastic material, e.g. partly or completely surrounded by clamping devices (comprising packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure F16L17/04) · CPC title