Abstract
A sensor device for detection of water, comprising an elongate sensor body with a proximal end and a distal end. At least two sensor elements are arranged at different longitudinal positions along the length of the sensor body. The sensor body comprises at least one elastically flexible section.
Claims
1. A sensor to detect water, the sensor comprising: an elongate sensor body with a proximal end and a distal end, the sensor body comprising at least one elastically flexible section; and at least two sensor elements arranged at different longitudinal positions along a length of the sensor body.
2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible section is elastically bendable, at least in one direction.
3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible section covers at least 50 percent of the length of the elongate sensor body or at least 75 percent or at least 90 percent.
4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the elongate sensor body comprises: at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section; or at least two flexible sections and at least two rigid sections, wherein flexible sections and rigid sections are distributed alternatingly over the length of the sensor body.
5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the rigid sections are formed of bulk material sections, and the flexible sections are formed of hollow material sections or by sections that are reduced in width or by sections that comprise ribbed cut-outs or recesses.
6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the width of the elongate sensor body is adapted to loosely fit into or through a condensate water hose of an HVACR system and/or a drain port of a condensate water tray or condensate water container of an HVACR system.
7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexible section is plastically bendable or comprises a deformation member, which is plastically bendable.
8. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a flexible section that is elastically stretchable and/or compressible and/or extendible.
9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the elongate sensor body is connected to a front face of an inlet connector of a condensate water remover.
10. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the elongate sensor body is rotatably mounted to the front face of the inlet connector, such that it can be rotated around a central axis of the elongate sensor body and/or an axis parallel to a central axis of the inlet connector.
11. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the elongate sensor body comprises a groove or channel, which essentially extends over the full length of the sensor body, wherein the inlet connector comprises an inlet hole at the front face, and wherein the groove or channel overlaps with the inlet hole at the proximal end of the elongate sensor body.
12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor elements are adapted to generate an electric sensor signal which is indicative of at least one of: a presence or absence of water at a sensing surface of each one of the sensor elements; a pressure of a fluid in contact with the sensor elements; a temperature of a fluid in contact with the sensor elements; a thermal capacity of a fluid in contact with the sensor elements; or a conductivity of a fluid in contact with the sensor elements.
13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein the sensor elements are connected to a sensor electronics unit, wherein the sensor electronics unit is comprised by the sensor itself or by the condensate water remover and is adapted to determine whether or not water is present at each one of the sensor elements positions along the length of the elongate sensor body, based on the electric signal of the sensor elements.
14. A method for commissioning a sensor according to claim 1, the method comprising: introducing the elongate sensor body into a condensate water hose of an HVACR system or into a drain port of a condensate water tray or condensate water container of an HVACR system; adding an increasing amount of water into the condensate water hose or the condensate water tray; detecting the event of one of the sensor elements being the first one to detect a presence of water; assigning a stop-function to that sensor element; detecting the event of one of the sensor elements being the last one to detect a presence of water; and assigning an alarm-function to that sensor element.
15. A condensate water remover for a HVACR system, the condensate water remover comprising: a sensor according to claim 1; an inlet connector with an inlet hole at a front face of the inlet connector; an outlet connector with an outlet hole at a front face of the outlet connector; and a pump, wherein the inlet connector is attached to a first housing, wherein the outlet connector is attached to the first housing or a second housing, wherein the pump is arranged within the first or second housing, wherein the inlet hole is connected to an inlet of the pump by a fluid line and an outlet of the pump is connected to the outlet hole by another fluid line, and wherein the proximal end of the sensor is connected to the front face of the inlet connector.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0062] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0063] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sectional view of an example of a condensate water removal device with a sensor device,
[0064] FIGS. 2A-2D schematically show different examples of an elongate sensor body of a sensor device,
[0065] FIGS. 3A-3B schematically show examples of an elongate sensor body of a sensor device,
[0066] FIG. 4A schematically shows an example of a condensate water removal device with a sensor device,
[0067] FIGS. 4B-4C schematically show sectional views of examples of a condensate water removal device with a sensor device,
[0068] FIG. 5A schematically shows a perspective view of an example of an elongate sensor body of a sensor device,
[0069] FIGS. 5B-5C schematically show sectional views of an example of a sensor device with an optical sensor element,
[0070] FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of a condensate water removal device with a sensor device, installed at the drain port of a drip tray of an HVACR system,
[0071] FIG. 7A schematically shows an example of a condensate water removal device with a sensor device, installed at a condensate water hose of an HVACR system, and
[0072] FIG. 7B schematically shows an enlarged view of an example of a condensate water removal device with a sensor device, installed at a condensate water hose of an HVACR system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0073] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an example of a condensate water removal device 200 with a sensor device 100. The sensor device 100 comprises an elongate sensor body 110 with a proximal end 111, which is connected to a front face 203 of an inlet connector 201 of the condensate water removal device 200, and a distal end 112. In this example, the sensor device 100 comprises three sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″, which are schematically shown as small circles, distributed along the length of the elongate sensor body 110. Each one of the sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ is adapted to generate an electric sensor signal. The sensor device 100 is connected to a sensor electronics unit 130 by ways of a signal line 131. The sensor electronics unit 130 receives the electric sensor signals from the sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ and is adapted to determine whether or not water is present at each one of the sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ position along the length of the elongate sensor body 110, based on the electric signal of the sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″. Furthermore, the sensor electronics unit 130 is connected to a pump unit 209 via a control line 131, and is adapted to control/operate the pump 209 based on the result of the evaluation of the electric sensor signals. Additionally, the sensor electronics unit 130 is connected to a signal interface 140 via another signal and/or control line 131 to provide information and/or control signals to other external devices. The pump 209 is adapted to (when operated) convey water from an inlet hole 202 of the inlet connector 201 through a fluid channel system 207 to an outlet connector of the condensate water removal device 200. The electronics unit 130, the pump 209, the inlet connector 201 and the signal interface 140 are incorporated into or attached to a housing 208 of the condensate water removal device 200. The elongate sensor body 110 can comprise a flexible section 113 that is elastically bendable in at least one direction, e.g. in one plane, and that basically extends over the full length of the sensor body 110. In other words: the elongate sensor body 110 is elastically flexible itself as a whole. The elongate sensor body 110 is formed of a rubber, a silicone or an elastomeric or thermoplastic material. The sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ are arranged within or on the elongate sensor body 110 such that they are positioned close to an outer surface of the sensor body 110, within or flush with that surface or even slightly protruding outwards through the surface of the sensor body 110. They are connected to each other and to the signal line 131 by flexible wires or a flexible printed circuit board.
[0074] Instead of the example of the completely flexible elongate sensor body 110 of FIG. 1, the sensor device 100 of the present invention may also comprise one of the different examples of elongate sensor bodies 110, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, or a combination of the features shown in these figures.
[0075] FIG. 2A shows an example of a sensor device 100 with an elongate sensor body 110, that comprises alternating rigid sections 114 and flexible sections 113. While the rigid sections 114 are formed of bulk material sections, the flexible sections 113, which are elastically bendable, are formed of sections of reduced width.
[0076] FIG. 2C shows an example of a sensor device 100 with an elongate sensor body 110, that comprises alternating rigid sections 114 and flexible sections 113. While the rigid sections 114 are formed of bulk material sections, the flexible sections 113, which are elastically bendable, are formed of sections that comprise ribbed cut-outs 115.
[0077] FIG. 2B shows an example of a sensor device 100, that comprises flexible wires 142, which connect the sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ with each other. This arrangement may be incorporated into one of the elongate sensor bodies 110 of FIG. 1, 2A or 2C. However, a sensor body as a separate part may also be omitted and the flexible wires 142 and sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ can form the elongate sensor body 110 themselves.
[0078] FIG. 2D shows another example of a sensor device 100, that comprises a rigid-flexible printed circuit board 143 with rigid sections 114 and flexible sections 113 that are elastically and/or plastically bendable in at least one direction. The sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ are arranged on the rigid sections 114 of the circuit board 143. This arrangement may be incorporated into one of the elongate sensor bodies 110 of FIG. 2A or 2C. However, a sensor body as a separate part may also be omitted and the rigid-flexible printed circuit board 143 itself can form the elongate sensor body 110.
[0079] FIGS. 3A and 3B show another example of the sensor device 100, comprising flexible sections 113 that are extendible. These extendible flexible sections 113 comprise corrugated hose sections 150. The corrugated hose sections 150 each comprise multiple segments, that can be operated manually from a stable folded state with a minimum extension (see FIG. 3A) to a stable extended state with a maximum extension (see some segments in FIG. 3B). These extendible hose sections 150 can on the one hand be used to alter the length of the elongate sensor body 110 stepwise, segment by segment, and on the other hand they are elastically bendable.
[0080] FIG. 4A shows another example of a condensate water removal device 200 with a sensor device 100. The sensor device 100 comprises an elongate sensor body 110, with a proximal end 111, which is connected to a front face 203 of an inlet connector 201 of the condensate water removal device 200, and a distal end 112. At that front face 203, the proximal end 111 overlaps with an inlet hole 202 of the inlet connector 201. The elongate sensor body 110 comprises a channel 118′ of groove 118, that communicates/overlaps with the inlet hole 202. Sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″, schematically shown as dashed circles, are incorporated into the elongate sensor body 110, within or protruding through the surface of the groove or channel.
[0081] FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of an example of the condensate water removal device 200 and sensor device 100 of FIG. 4A through sectional plane A, as indicated in FIG. 4A. In this example, the elongate sensor body 110 comprises a channel 118′. Sensor element 120″ is arranged adjacent to the channel 118′.
[0082] FIG. 4C shows a sectional view of another example of the condensate water removal device 200 and sensor device 100 of FIG. 4A through sectional plane A, as indicated in FIG. 4A. In this example, the elongate sensor body 110 comprises a groove 118. Sensor element 120″ is arranged adjacent to that groove 118.
[0083] FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of an example of a sensor device 100, comprising an elongate sensor body 110 with a proximal end 111 and a distal end 112. The sensor body 110 comprises rigid sections 114 and flexible sections 113, which are formed of ribbed cut-outs 115 on a top face of the sensor body 110. Therefore, these flexible sections 113 are elastically flexible in at least one direction. The sensor device 100 comprises three sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″, which are optical sensors.
[0084] FIGS. 5B and 5C show sectional views through an example of the sensor device 100 of FIG. 5A through sectional plane B, as indicated in FIG. 5A. The optical sensor element 120 comprises a sensor prism 121, a light emitter 122 and a light receiver 123. Light from the light emitter 122 is directed towards a first reflective surface of the sensor prism 121. In FIG. 5B the sensor element 120 is not surrounded by water. The material of the sensor prism 121 and the angle of incidence of the light from the light emitter 122 are chosen such that total internal reflection occurs at the reflective surfaces of the sensor prism 121, when the sensor prism 121 is surrounded by air. Therefore, basically all light emitted by the light emitter 122 reaches the light receiver 123. In FIG. 5C however, the sensor element 120 is surrounded by water. As a result, the condition of internal total reflection is not met any longer and significant amounts of the light emitted by the light emitter 122 are refracted into the water. Therefore, the amount of light reaching the light receiver 123 decreases. A sensor electronics unit, which is connected to the sensor element 120, is adapted to determine whether or not water is present at the sensor element 120, based on the signal of the light receiver 123. A shield 124 is placed between the light emitter 122 and light receiver 123 to reduce the amount of stray light, which otherwise could reach the light receiver 123. All components are connected to a substrate 125, e.g. a rigid printed circuit board section.
[0085] FIG. 6 shows an example of a condensate water removal device 200 with a sensor device 100, installed in a first application. An inlet connector 201 of the condensate water removal device 200 is sealingly connected to a drain port 320 of a drip tray 310 of an HVACR system 300. A source of water 340, e.g. a condenser unit of said system, produces condensate water (indicated by three drops below it), that is collected in the drip tray 310. An elongate sensor body 110 of the sensor device 100 is connected to the inlet connector 201 and protrudes into the drip tray 310. It comprises a deformation member 119, e.g. a metal strand, that allows for plastic deformation of the sensor body 110. Therefore, it can be permanently bent to an orientation, where sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ are arranged at different suitable heights within the drip tray. E.g., sensor element 120″ is positioned close to the ground of the drip tray 310. The sensor element 120 is positioned below the brim of the drip tray 310. The sensor element 120′ is positioned between the other two.
[0086] FIG. 7A shows an example of a condensate water removal device 200 with a sensor device 100, installed in a second application. An inlet connector 201 of the condensate water removal device 200 is sealingly plugged into a first condensate water hose 330, through which condensate water from a source of water 340 of an HVACR system 300 is led to the condensate water removal device 200. The condensate water removal device 200 comprises a pump that is adapted to convey water from the inlet connector 201 to an outlet connector 204, which is sealingly plugged into another condensate water hose 330′, which ultimately leads to a drain. The sensor device 100 is connected to the inlet connector 201 and extends into the condensate water hose 330, to sense the presence and/or amount of water, that accumulates in the hose 330.
[0087] FIG. 7B shows an enlarged view of the detail area C in FIG. 7A. The sensor device 100 comprises an elongate sensor body 110 with a distal end 112 and a proximal end 111, the latter of which is connected to a front face 202 of the inlet connector 201. The elongate sensor body 110 further comprises rigid sections 114 with sensor elements 120, 120′, 120″ (schematically shown as circles) and flexible sections 113. The flexible sections 113 are elastically bendable, therefore the sensor device can follow the bends and curves of the condensate water hose 330 easily.
[0088] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
