Water leakage detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10876918-B2
Application number	US-201815907950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2018
Priority date	Mar 23, 2017
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A water leakage detector includes: an electrostatic capacity sensor that is arranged at a bottom portion of a housing; and a leg portion that provides a space between the bottom portion and a floor of the housing including the electrostatic capacity sensor. With this configuration, it may be possible to detect quickly in an earlier stage of water leakage and achieve resistance to deterioration caused by an environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water leakage detector comprising:
an electrostatic capacity sensor that is arranged at a bottom portion of a housing, the electrostatic capacity sensor detecting a water leakage without electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor contacting the water; and
a leg portion that provides a space between a floor and the bottom portion of the housing including the electrostatic capacity sensor.

2. The water leakage detector according to claim 1 , wherein:
a height of the leg portion is set in a range between 1 mm and 5.4 mm.

3. The water leakage detector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of water introducing grooves that are arranged at an outer bottom surface of the housing, the water introducing grooves being arranged parallel to each other at an interval.

4. The water leakage detector according to claim 3 , wherein:
the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor include a detection electrode and a ground electrode that are arranged at an outer peripheral portion of the housing; and
the water introducing grooves are provided between the detection electrode and the ground electrode.

5. The water leakage detector according to claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of water introducing grooves are arranged in groups, at least some of the groups extending in directions orthogonal to each other.

6. The water leakage detector according to claim 4 , wherein:
the detection electrode is divided into a plurality of parts.

7. The water leakage detector according to claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of water introducing grooves include a water preventing groove that is configured to connect end portions of the water introducing grooves at a side of a center of the housing.

8. A water leakage detector comprising:
an electrostatic capacity sensor that is arranged at an inner bottom of a housing, the electrostatic capacity sensor detecting a water leakage without electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor contacting the water;
an electronic component that is arranged in the housing and performs communication or input processing of the electrostatic capacity sensor; and
a plurality of leg portions that are arranged at an outer bottom surface of the housing.

9. The water leakage detector according to claim 8 , wherein:
a height of the leg portions is set in a range between 1 mm and 5.4 mm.

10. The water leakage detector according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a plurality of water introducing grooves that are arranged at the outer bottom surface of the housing, the water introducing grooves being arranged parallel to each other at an interval.

11. The water leakage detector according to claim 10 , wherein:
the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor include a detection electrode and a ground electrode that are arranged at an outer peripheral portion of the housing; and
the water introducing grooves are provided between the detection electrode and the ground electrode.

12. The water leakage detector according to claim 10 , wherein:
the plurality of water introducing grooves are arranged in groups, at least some of the groups extending in directions orthogonal to each other.

13. The water leakage detector according to claim 11 , wherein:
the detection electrode is divided into a plurality of parts.

14. The water leakage detector according to claim 10 , wherein:
the plurality of water introducing grooves include a water preventing groove that is configured to connect end portions of the water introducing grooves at a side of a center of the housing.

Assignees

• Denso Wave Inc

Inventors

• Murakami Yotaro

Classifications

• G01R15/186

  using current transformers with a core consisting of two or more parts, e.g. clamp-on type (G01R15/142 - G01R15/16 take precedence; tong testers G01R1/22) · CPC title

• G01M3/40

  by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges · CPC title

• G01N27/225

  by using hygroscopic materials · CPC title

• G01R19/0084

  Measuring voltage only · CPC title

• G01N27/223

  for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity (rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825) · CPC title