Patent ID: 7632385
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A reference electrode for potentiometric measurements, comprising: a housing of electrically insulating material, having at least one hollow space with a liquid reference electrolyte contained therein, up to a fill level; a conductor element immersed in the reference electrolyte; at least one diaphragm in the housing, the diaphragm being permeable for the reference electrolyte so that the reference electrolyte can be brought into contact with a measuring medium outside of the housing; means for effecting outflow of the reference electrolyte through the diaphragm; and a first electrical contact element, arranged in the hollow space such that the first contact element is immersed in the reference electrolyte as long as the fill level is above a threshold value and that the first contact element is not in contact when the fill level is below the threshold value, wherein a monitoring device cooperates with the reference electrode to measure an electrical resistance between the conductor element and the first electrical contact element.