Sensor for detecting the quality of a fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9404845-B2
Application number	US-201214119491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2012
Priority date	May 26, 2011
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A device for measuring the quality of an operating substance and/or additive, in particular a reduction agent, stored in a tank, includes a reference container connected to the operating substance and/or the additive via a semi-permeable diaphragm, in which the reference container is filled with a medium which has a known osmotic pressure relative to the used operating substance and/or additive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for measuring a quality of an operating substance, additive and/or reduction agent, stored in a tank, comprising:
a reference container connected to the operating substance, additive and/or reduction agent via a semi-permeable diaphragm,
wherein the reference container is filled with a medium having a known osmotic pressure relative to the operating substance, additive and/or reduction agent, and
wherein a pressure change in the reference container deforms at least one flexible elements such that the at least one flexible element seals a tank outlet of the tank.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the osmotic pressure between the medium in the reference container and the operating substance, additive and/or reduction agent in the tank is positive, zero or negative.

3. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a device for measuring the pressure situated in the reference container.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein pressure-related deformations in the reference container activate a mechanical element.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the reference container is situated loosely within the tank or is fixed using an attachment device.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the reference container is situated in a line exiting the tank.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein walls of the reference container are reinforced by thickened walls, incorporated metal plates and/or fibers.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the medium in an interior of the reference container is provided with a dye.

9. A method for measuring a quality of an operating substance, additive and/or reduction agent, stored in a tank, comprising:
performing a measurement using pressure and/or a pressure curve in a reference container, which is connected to the operating substance, additive and/or reduction agent via a semi-permeable diaphragm, and
wherein a pressure change in the reference container deforms at least one flexible elements such that the at least one flexible element seals a tank outlet of the tank.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
verifying a plausibility of measured values from the reference container via measurements of a fill level and/or by a positive pressure, equal pressure or negative pressure occurring in the reference container.

Assignees

• Gloeckle Markus
• Fritsch Andreas
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Gloeckle Markus
• Fritsch Andreas

Classifications

• G01N7/10

  by allowing diffusion of components through a porous wall and measuring a pressure or volume difference · CPC title

• G01N13/04 Primary

  Investigating osmotic effects · CPC title

• F01N2900/1818

  Concentration of the reducing agent · CPC title

• F01N3/2066

  Selective catalytic reduction [SCR] · CPC title

• F01N11/00

  Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus · CPC title