Electronic water detector
D United States Patent [111 3,879,656  
 Muller Apr. 22, 1975 [5 ELECTRONIC WATER DETECTOR Primary E.\&#39;aminerAlfred E. Smith [76] Inventor: Jacques Muller, 127 bis, Ave. du Asmmm l Hllle Gen]. de Gaulle 92 La Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Arthur B. Colvm I Garenne-Colombes. France ABSTRACT 77 Flled&#39; 1973 This invention relates to an electronic water detector [2]] Appl. No.: 408,437 device useful in determining the presence of water in liquid such as gasoline, the device comprising a hollow casing of insulating material defining a liquid inlet at [30] Forelgn Appl&#39;catmn Prmmy Dam one end and a liquid outlet at its other end. said casing Oct. 27. 1972 France 72.38119 having a p|ug therein having a conical bore A conical member having a grooved surface and a configuration Complementary to Said bore is positioned therein and n n m ab|e axia&#34; th f [58] Field of Search 324/30 R, 30 B; 251/231. 0v l 251/22 The conical member 15 normally resiliently urged nto the conical bore. and ad ustable means are provided [s6] References Cited to move the conical member out of the bore to vary the spacing between the surface of the conical UNITED STATES PATENTS member and the bore surface.  
  E2 32 Q Electrical terminals are connected to the conical member which is of conductive material and to the plug which is also of conductive material.  
 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU B 5.879.656  
 FIG.*I  
 FIG.2  
 ELECTRONIC WATER DETECTOR It is among the objects of the invention to provide an electronic water detector device which is simple in construction and has but few parts which are not likely to become deranged, which will dependably detect the presence of water in a liquid passing through the device even when such water is in extremely small quantities.  
  According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.  
  In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention.  
  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, and  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the sensing portion of the device.  
  Referring to the drawings, the detecting device comprises a cylindrical casing 57, FIG. 1, preferably made of a transparent material such as Plexiglas, this easing being provided at both ends with flanges 58 and 59 intended to connect the device to the transfer piping used.  
  A movable member 60, axially located in the casing of the device comprises a grooved truncated cone 61 having a rearwardly extending stem 62 which can slide in a guiding bearing 63 held by a set screw 64. The  
 grooved cone 61 is introduced in the conical bore 65&#39; of a fitting or plug 66 fixed to the inner wall of the device by means of a threaded rod 67, the bore 65 preferably being grooved. The cone 61 has a length greater than the thickness of the fitting 66 so as to project beyond it and enter in contact, by means ofa slot 68 made for this purpose at the end of cone 61, with a cam 69 mounted on a shaft 70 which can be controlled from the outside by a handle 71.  
  A spring blade 72, attached by one of its ends to a threaded rod 73 and by its other end to the stem 62 of the member 60 insures at the same time the thrust of the grooved cone 61 into the bore 65 of the fitting 66, in order to maintain the contact of said cone 61 with the cam 69, but it serves also as an electrical contact between the member 60 and the threaded rod 73 which is used as an electrical terminal; the threaded rod 67 also being used as an electrical terminal. These two terminals are electrically connected to amplifying, signalling and recording devices (not shown).  
  The fluid to be monitored or analyzed enters the device at A and passes in its entirety between the bore 65 of the fitting 66 and the grooved cone 61 of the movable member 60, the distance between these two parts being adjusted by means of the cam 69, according to the viscosity of the fluid being analyzed and is held in this position by means of a set screw 74 provided for this purpose on the ring 75 of the handle 71.  
  Due to this arrangement any passage of water, even in trace amounts, between the grooved cone 61 and bore 65 is immediately detected, in continuous manner, thus permitting the use of a recording device.  
  Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
  1. A water detecting device comprising a hollow casing, a conductive plug in said casing having a conical bore coaxial with said casing, a conical conductive member of configuration complementary to said bore positioned therein and movable axially thereof, said plug and conical member being electrically insulated from each other, inlet means at one end of said casing for conducting liquid to be analyzed into said casing and between the adjacent surfaces of said conical bore and said conical member, an outlet for the liquid at the other end of said casing and electrical terminals operatively connected respectively to said conical member and to said plug, whereby when a source of potential is connected across said terminals the presence of conducting liquid passing between the adjacent surfaces of said bore and said conical member will be detected.  
  2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the movable conical member has grooves in the outer surface thereof extending parallel to its axis.  
  3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which both the movable conical member and the bore in said plug have grooves extending parallel to their axes.  
  4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided to effect axial movement of said movable conical member in said bore to vary the spacing between the outer surface of said conical member and the surface of said bore.  
  5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said conical member has an axial rod extending rearwardly from one end therefrom, resilient means reacting against said rod normally urging said conical member into the conical bore and adjustable means reacting against the other end of said conical member to move the latter out of said conical bore against the urging of said resilient means, to vary the spacing between the surface of said conical member and said conical bore.  
  6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said other end of said conical member protrudes beyond said conical bore and has a slot therein, a circular cam having its edge positioned in said slot, a rotatably mounted shaft extending at right angles to said cam and to the axis of said conical member, said cam being eccentrically mounted on said shaft, and a handle conneeted to the free end of said shaft to rotate the latter to effect movement of said conical member.  
  7. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said resilient means comprises a leaf spring, a screw secured to said casing has one end of said leaf spring secured thereto, said screw defining an electrical terminal, and a second screw mounted on said casing secured to said plug defines a second terminal.