Leak detection system and method of making and using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12152964-B2
Application number	US-202117453508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2021
Priority date	Nov 6, 2020
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A leak detection sensor including a dielectric substrate including a circuit board material; and a plurality of electrical circuits in communication with the substrate, where the plurality of electrical circuits are located on different sides of the substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A leak detection sensor comprising:
a dielectric substrate comprising a circuit board material; and
a plurality of electrical circuits in communication with the substrate, wherein the plurality of electrical circuits are located on different opposing sides of the substrate, wherein the leak detection sensor further comprises a housing comprising a non-conductive material that at least partially isolates the plurality of electrical circuits, wherein the housing comprises a rigid funnel hole or cylindrical component adjacent to the dielectric substrate and adapted to feed fluid directly to the dielectric substrate, further comprising a communication hub operatively connected to a communication device to compile and analyze information from the sensor via a wireless network using a LoRa (Long Range) protocol.

2. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical circuits each comprises an electrically conductive trace connected to a pin extending from the trace.

3. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical circuits comprises a power source.

4. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical circuits comprise a first electrical circuit is located on a first side of the substrate and a second electrical circuit is located on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side of the substrate.

5. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises feet.

6. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical circuits comprises at least one serpentine circuit.

7. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sensor undergoes a change in a measured property in response to fluid contact.

8. The leak detection sensor of claim 7 , wherein the measured property is at least one of resistance, impedance, capacitance, current, or voltage of at least one of the electrical circuits.

9. The leak detection sensor of claim 7 , wherein the measured property is a physical change in the sensor.

10. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the leak detection sensor further comprises an attachment element adapted to attach the leak detection sensor to a fluid component.

11. The leak detection sensor of claim 10 , wherein the attachment element is removably engageable with the fluid component for monitoring fluid leakage.

12. The leak detection sensor of claim 10 , wherein the attachment component comprises a clip.

13. The leak detection sensor of claim 10 , wherein the fluid component is at least one of a pipe, a pipe bend, manifold, elbow, a pipe coupling, a valve, a pump, a tank, filter housing, pressure vessel, liquid trap, exhaust line, vacuum condensate container, or a regulator.

14. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the leak detection sensor is adapted to monitor a leak of a fluid comprising at least one of HF, H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , NaClO, H 2 O 2 , H 3 PO 4 , HCL, deionized water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, a hydrocarbon solvent, or toluene.

15. The leak detection sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of circuits each comprise an electronic component comprising a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a transistor, or any combination thereof.

16. A fluid system comprising:
a fluid component having a fluid; and
at least one leak detection sensor operatively coupled to the fluid component, the leak detection sensor comprising:
a dielectric substrate comprising a circuit board material; and
a plurality of electrical circuits in communication with the substrate, wherein the plurality of electrical circuits are located on different opposing sides of the substrate, wherein the leak detection sensor further comprises a housing comprising a non-conductive material that at least partially isolates the plurality of electrical circuits, wherein the housing comprises a rigid funnel hole or cylindrical component adjacent to the dielectric substrate and adapted to feed fluid directly to the dielectric substrate, further comprising a communication hub operatively connected to a communication device to compile and analyze information from the sensor via a wireless network using a LoRa (Long Range) protocol.

17. A method of leak detection comprising:
providing at least one leak detection sensor comprising:
a dielectric substrate comprising a circuit board material; and
a plurality of electrical circuits in communication with the substrate, wherein the plurality of electrical circuits are located on different opposing sides of the substrate; and

operatively coupling the at least one leak detection sensor to the fluid component for monitoring fluid leakage, wherein the leak detection sensor further comprises a housing comprising a non-conductive material that at least partially isolates the plurality of electrical circuits, wherein the housing comprises a rigid funnel hole or cylindrical component adjacent to the dielectric substrate and adapted to feed fluid directly to the dielectric substrate, further comprising a communication hub operatively connected to a communication device to compile and analyze information from the sensor via a wireless network using a LoRa (Long Range) protocol.

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Corp

Inventors

• Rakitic Jean-Philippe
• Golub Charles S
• DOMY Stéphane
• Nadeau Adam P
• Burnett Edmund

Classifications

• G01M3/182

  for tubes · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G01M3/18

  for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; {for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators} · CPC title

• G01M3/165 Primary

  by means of cables or similar elongated devices, e.g. tapes · CPC title