Fluid leak detector

A fluid leak detector which is configured to be disposed on a flow tube. The fluid leak detector includes an insulation sleeve and at least one wire set. The insulation sleeve has water absorption property. The insulation sleeve is configured to be sleeved on the flow tube. The at least one wire set includes a first electrode wire and a second electrode wire. The first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are disposed on the insulation sleeve. The first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are separated from each other but are connected to each other via the insulation sleeve.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a fluid leak detector, more particularly to a fluid leak detector for detecting fluid leak from a flow tube.

BACKGROUND

As the performance of electronic components, such as central processing unit or graphics processing unit of electronic devices (e.g., servers) largely improves, more heat are generated therefrom. As a result, the heat dissipation method of electronic devices is turned into liquid cooling replacing the traditional way of air cooling by fans. The heat dissipation of the electronic components by liquid cooling is more efficient than by air cooling.

Generally, the cooling liquid is transferred via a flow tube, but the flow tube is easily broken during the transportation. A crack may occur on the flow tube and causes liquid leak. Usually, there is a liquid leak detector disposed at the bottom of the electronic device for detecting liquid leak from the flow tube. However, the liquid leak detector is unable to immediately warn the liquid leak because the liquid leak may not drop down immediately or may not drop on the detecting area of the detector. Accordingly, how to timely warn the user that the existence of a liquid leak of the flow tube is still an issue in this field.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure disclosing a fluid leak detector which is able to immediately detect fluid leak from a flow tube.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid leak detector which is configured to be disposed on a flow tube. The fluid leak detector includes an insulation sleeve and at least one wire set. The insulation sleeve has water absorption property. The insulation sleeve is configured to be sleeved on the flow tube. The at least one wire set includes a first electrode wire and a second electrode wire. The first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are disposed on the insulation sleeve. The first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are separated from each other but are connected to each other via the insulation sleeve.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid leak detector which is configured to be disposed on a flow tube. The fluid leak detector includes a mount base and at least one conductive terminal set. The mount base is configured to surround the flow tube. The at least one conductive terminal set includes a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal. The first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal are disposed on the mount base and are separated from each other. The first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal each have a first side, which is configured to press against the flow tube and a second side, which is exposed.

According to the fluid leak detector discussed above, the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are connected to each other via the insulation sleeve that has water absorption property, thus the insulation sleeves is able to absorb fluid which leaks from the flow tube and then the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire can be electrically connected to each other by the fluid in the insulation sleeve so as to form a conduction circuit between the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire, timely sending out the warning of the existence of a fluid leak in the flow tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 3.FIG. 1is a perspective view of a fluid leak detector being disposed on a flow tube according a first embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a partial exploded view of the fluid leak detector and the flow tube inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view of the fluid leak detector and the flow tube inFIG. 1.

This embodiment provides a fluid leak detector1configured to detect fluid leak from a flow tube2. The fluid leak detector1includes an insulation sleeve10, two wire sets30and40, a fastener20and two connecting terminal sets50and60.

In this embodiment, the insulation sleeve10is configured to be sleeved on the flow tube2. The insulation sleeve10may be a composite sleeve made using mesh made from cotton and nylon. The insulation sleeve10has water absorption property.

The wire set30includes a first electrode wire31and a second electrode wire32, and the wire set40includes a first electrode wire41and a second electrode wire42. The first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are, for example, copper wires and are disposed on the insulation sleeve10. In more detail, the two first electrode wires31and41and the two second electrode wires32and42are, for example, woven with the material of the insulation sleeve10and are arranged in a helical manner. Also, the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are arranged alternately. As shown in the figure, the second electrode wire32is located between the first electrode wire31and the first electrode wire41, and the first electrode wire41is located between the second electrode wire32and the second electrode wire42. In short, each first electrode wire is located between the other two second electrode wires. In addition, the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are connected to each other via the insulation sleeve10but are not electrically connected to each other when the insulation sleeve10does not yet absorb water.

The fastener20includes a mount base21and two conductive terminal sets22and23. The mount base21includes a first mounting component211and a second mounting component212. The first mounting component211and the second mounting component212are detachably assembled together so as to surround the insulation sleeve10. The first mounting component211has a first assembly groove2111and a second assembly groove2112, and the second mounting component212has a first assembly groove2121and a second assembly groove2122. The first assembly groove2111and the second assembly groove2112of the first mounting component211are separated from each other, and the first assembly groove2121and the second assembly groove2122of the second mounting component212are separated from each other. The first assembly grooves2111and2121and the second assembly grooves2112and2122are located at different sides of the insulation sleeve10. Specifically, the first assembly grooves2111and2121are located at two opposite sides of the insulation sleeve10, and the second assembly grooves2112and2122are located at another two opposite sides of the insulation sleeve10.

The conductive terminal set22includes a first conductive terminal221and a second conductive terminal222, and the conductive terminal sets23includes a first conductive terminal231and a second conductive terminal232. The first conductive terminal221includes a base portion2211and a connecting portion2212. The second conductive terminal222includes a base portion2221and a connecting portion2222. The first conductive terminal231includes a base portion2311and a connecting portion2312. The second conductive terminal232includes a base portion2321and a connecting portion2322. The base portion2211of the first conductive terminal221and the base portion2221of the second conductive terminal222are respectively disposed in the first assembly groove2111and the second assembly groove2112of the first mounting component211. The connecting portion2212of the first conductive terminal221and the connecting portion2222of the second conductive terminal222respectively protrude from the base portions2211and2221away from the first fastening component211. The base portion2311of the first conductive terminal231and the base portion2321of the second conductive terminal232are respectively disposed in the first assembly groove2121and the second assembly groove2122of the second mounting component212. The connecting portion2312of the first conductive terminal231and the connecting portion2322of the second conductive terminal232respectively protrude from the base portions2311and2321away from the second fastening component212.

The first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are respectively disposed at the connecting portions2212,2312,2222and2322. In this embodiment, the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are respectively fixed at the connecting portion2212,2312,2222and2322by, for example, winding so that the thin wire is easily fixed to the conductive terminal.

The connecting terminal set50includes a first connecting terminal51and a second connecting terminal52. The connecting terminal set60includes a first connecting terminal61and a second connecting terminal62. The first connecting terminal51includes a cover511and a conductive component512. The second connecting terminal52includes a cover521and a conductive component522. The first connecting terminal61includes a cover611and a conductive component612. The second connecting terminals62includes a cover621and a conductive component622. The four conductive components512,522,612and622are respectively disposed to the four covers511,521,611and621. The cover511of the first connecting terminal51and the cover521of the second connecting terminal52are respectively detachably disposed in the first assembly groove2111and the second assembly groove2112of the first mounting component211. The conductive component512of the first connecting terminal51and the conductive component522of the second connecting terminal52respectively press against the first electrode wire31and the second electrode wire32and are respectively electrically connected to the first electrode wire31and the second electrode wire32. The cover611of the first connecting terminal61and the cover621of the second connecting terminal62are respectively detachably disposed in the first assembly groove2121and the second assembly groove2122of the second mounting component212. The conductive components612of the first connecting terminal61and the conductive component622of the second connecting terminal62respectively press against the first electrode wire41and the second electrode wire42and are respectively electrically connected to the first electrode wire41and the second electrode wire42.

Then, please refer toFIG. 2toFIG. 4, whereinFIG. 4is a block diagram that shows the connections among some of the components in the fluid leak detector inFIG. 1.

In this embodiment, the fluid leak detector1further includes a signaling device70. The signaling device70is, for example, a light-emitting diode. The signaling device70has an anode71and a cathode72. The conductive components512and612are electrically connected to the anode71of the signaling device70. The conductive components522and622are electrically connected to the cathode72of the signaling device70. In other embodiments, the signaling device can be a buzzer that can produce audio signal.

The fluid leak detection of the fluid leak detector1is described hereinbelow. Please refer toFIG. 3toFIG. 5, whereinFIG. 5is a partially enlarged view of the fluid leak detector when fluid leak occurs.

As shown inFIG. 5, when there is a crack B on the flow tube2, fluid L leaks from the crack B and is absorbed by the insulation sleeve10, and then the fluid L diffuse into the insulation sleeve10. When the fluid L reaches the first electrode wire31and the second electrode wire32adjacent to each other at the same time, the first electrode wire31and the second electrode wire32are able to be electrically connected to each other via the portion of the insulation sleeve10that contains the fluid L. This will cause the anode71of the signaling device70, the conductive component512, the first electrode wire31, the second electrode wire32, the conductive component522, and the cathode72of the signaling device70to form an electrical circuit. As a result, the signaling device70is turned on to warn the user that the existence of a fluid leak in the flow tube2.

In addition, since the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are arranged alternately, wherever the fluid leak occurs on the flow tube2, such as between the first electrode wire31and the second electrode wire32, between the second electrode wire32and the first electrode wire41, between the first electrode wire41and the second electrode wire42or between the second electrode wire42and the first electrode wire31, the signaling device70all can be turned by the fluid leak from the crack. Therefore, the arrangement of the first electrode wires31and41and second electrode wires32and42helps to improve the sensitivity of detecting the fluid leak on the flow tube2.

In this embodiment, the fluid leak detector1includes two wire sets (i.e., the wire sets30and40), but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the fluid leak detector may include only one wire set or more than two wire sets. In the case that the fluid leak detector includes only one wire set, it only requires one connecting terminal set. In the case that the fluid leak detector includes three wire sets, it requires three connecting terminal sets accordingly. It is understood that the distance between the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire decreases as the amount of the wire set increases, and it helps to further improve the sensitivity of detection.

Furthermore, the amount of the signaling device is not restricted. In other embodiments, the fluid leak detector may include two signaling devices; in such a case, a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal of a connecting terminal set are respectively electrically connected to a signaling device, and the other first connecting terminal and the other second connecting terminal of the other connecting terminal set are respectively electrically to the other signaling device. By doing so, the two signaling devices can produce different warning signals for fluid leak occurs between different first electrode wires and different second electrode wires.

In this embodiment, the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are respectively fixed at the connecting portion2212,2312,2222and2322by, for example, winding so that the thin wire is easily fixed to the conductive terminal.

In this embodiment, the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42are respectively directly fixed at the connecting portion2212,2312,2222and2322by, for example, winding so that there is no need to wrap the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42by, for example, insulation tapes. Accordingly, the conductive components512,612,522, and622are respectively electrically connected to the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42via the covers511,611,521, and621. As a result, the fluid leak near the fastener20can be also detected by the first electrode wires31and41and the second electrode wires32and42.

In this embodiment, the fluid leak detector1includes the connecting terminal sets50and60, but the disclosure is no limited thereto. Please refer toFIG. 6toFIG. 8.FIG. 6is a perspective view of a fluid leak detector being disposed on a flow tube according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 7is another perspective view of the fluid leak detector and the flow tube inFIG. 6.FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view of the fluid leak detector and the flow tube inFIG. 6.

This embodiment provides a fluid leak detector1aincluding an insulation sleeve10a, a fastener20aand two wire sets30aand40a.

The insulation sleeve10ais configured to be sleeved on a flow tube2and has water absorption property. The fastener20aincludes a mount base21aand two conductive terminal sets22a,23a. The mount base21aincludes a first mounting component211aand a second mounting component212a. The first mounting component211aand the second mounting component212aare detachably assembled together so as to surround the insulation sleeve10a. The first mounting component211ahas a first assembly groove2111aand a second assembly groove2112a, and the second mounting component212ahas a first assembly groove2121aand a second assembly groove2122a. The first assembly groove2111aand the second assembly groove2112aof the first mounting component211aare separated from each other, and the first assembly groove2121aand the second assembly groove2122aof the second mounting component212aare separated from each other. The first assembly grooves2111aand2121aand the second assembly grooves2112aand2122aare located at different sides of the insulation sleeve10a. Specifically, the two first assembly grooves2111aand2121aare located at two opposite sides of the insulation sleeve10a, and the two second assembly grooves2112aand2122aare located at another two opposite sides of the insulation sleeve10a.

The wire set30aincludes a first electrode wire31aand a second electrode wire32a, and the wire set40aincludes a first electrode wire41aand a second electrode wire42a. The two first electrode wires31aand41aand the two second electrode wires32aand42aare, for example, copper wires and are disposed on the insulation sleeve10a. In more detail, the two first electrode wires31aand41aand the two second electrode wires32aand42aare, for example, woven with the material of the insulation sleeve10aand are arranged in a helical manner. Also, the first electrode wires31aand41aand the second electrode wires32aand42aare arranged alternately.

The conductive terminal set22aincludes a first conductive terminal221aand a second conductive terminal222a, and the conductive terminal set23aincludes a first conductive terminal231aand a second conductive terminal232a. The first conductive terminal221aincludes a base portion2211aand a first connecting portion2212a. The second conductive terminal222aincludes a base portion2221aand a first connecting portion2222a. The first conductive terminal231aincludes a base portion2311aand a first connecting portion2312a. The second conductive terminal232aincludes a base portion2321aand a first connecting portion2322a. The base portion2211aof the first conductive terminal221a, the base portion2221aof the second conductive terminal222a, the base portion2311aof the first conductive terminal231a, and the base portion2321aof the second conductive terminal232aare respectively disposed in the first assembly groove2111aand the second assembly groove2112aof the first mounting component211aand the first assembly groove2121aand the second assembly groove2122aof the second mounting component212a. The first connecting portion2212aof the first conductive terminal221aand the first connecting portion2222aof the second conductive terminal222arespectively protrude from an end of the base portions2211aand2221aaway from the first mounting component211a. The second connecting portion2213aof the first conductive terminal221aand the second connecting portion2223aof the second conductive terminal222arespectively protrude from another end of the base portions2211aand2221aaway from the first mounting component211a. The first connecting portion2312aof the first conductive terminal231aand the first connecting portion2322aof the second conductive terminal232arespectively protrude from an end of the base portions2311aand2321aaway from the second mounting component212a. The second connecting portion2313aof the first conductive terminal231aand the second connecting portion2323aof the second conductive terminal232arespectively protrude from another end of the base portions2313aand2323aaway from the second mounting component212a. In this embodiment, the two first electrode wires31aand41aand the two second electrode wires32aand42aare respectively disposed at four first connecting portion2212a,2312a,2222aand2322a.

Please refer toFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a block diagram that shows the connections among some of the components in the fluid leak detector inFIG. 6. As shown inFIG. 9, the fluid leak detector1afurther includes a signaling device50a, which is, for example, a light-emitting diode. The signaling device50ahas an anode51aand a cathode52a. The second connecting portion2213aof the first conductive terminal221aand the second connecting portion2313aof the first conductive terminal231aare electrically connected to the anode51aof the signaling device50a. The second connecting portion2223aof the second conductive terminal222aand the second connecting portion2323aof the second conductive terminal232aare electrically connected to the cathode52aof the signaling device50a. In this embodiment, the fluid leak detection of the fluid leak detector1ais similar to the fluid leak detection of the fluid leak detector1shown inFIG. 1and will be not described again.

In the embodiments abovementioned, the fluid leak detectors each include the insulation sleeve, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Please refer toFIG. 10toFIG. 12.FIG. 10is a perspective view of a fluid leak detector being disposed on a flow tube according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 11is a cross-sectional view of the fluid leak detector and the flow tube inFIG. 10.FIG. 12is a block diagram that shows the connections among some of the components in the fluid leak detector inFIG. 10.

In this embodiment provides a fluid leak detector1bincluding a mount base10b, a conductive terminal set20band a signaling device30b.

The mount base10bincludes a first mounting component11band a second mounting component12b. The first mounting component11band the second mounting component12bare detachably assembled together so as to surround a flow tube2.

The conductive terminal set20bincludes a first conductive terminal21band a second conductive terminal22b. The first conductive terminal21band the second conductive terminal22bare respectively disposed through the first mounting component11band the second mounting component12b. The first conductive terminal21band the second conductive terminal22bare separated from each other. The first conductive terminal21bhas a first side211band a second side212b, and the second conductive terminal22bhas a first side221band a second side222b. The first side211bof the first conductive terminal21band the first side221bof the second conductive terminal22bare configured to press against the flow tube2. The second side212bof the first conductive terminal21band the second side222bof the second conductive terminal22bare exposed.

As shown inFIG. 11andFIG. 12, the signaling device30bis, for example, a light-emitting diode. The signaling device30bhas an anode31band a cathode32b. The second side212bof the first conductive terminal21band the second side222bof the second conductive terminal22bare respectively electrically connected to the anode31band the cathode32bof the signaling device30b. When fluid leaks from a crack of the flow tube2, the first conductive terminal21band the second conductive terminal22bare able to be electrically connected to each other via the leaking fluid. As a result, the signaling device30bis turned on to warn the user that the existence of a fluid leak in the flow tube2.

As shown inFIG. 10, the mount base10bis, for example, sleeved on the joint of the flow tube2and a connector3, where is easily broken by an external force. The fluid leak detector1bis able to detect a fluid leak on the joint of the flow tube2and the connector3in time.

In this embodiment, the mount base10bis sleeved on the joint of the flow tube2and the connector3, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the mount base can surround any place of the flow tube which is easily broken.

According to the fluid leak detector in the embodiments abovementioned, the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are connected to each other via the insulation sleeve that has water absorption property, thus the insulation sleeve is able to absorb fluid which leaks from the flow tube, and then the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire can be electrically connected to each other by the fluid in the insulation sleeve so as to turn on the signaling device that is electrically connected thereto, timely sending out the warning of the existence of a fluid leak in the flow tube.

In addition, since the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire are arranged alternately, wherever the fluid leak occurs on the fluid tube, such as between the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire, the signaling device all can be turned by the fluid leak from the crack. Therefore, the arrangement of the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire helps to improve the sensitivity of detecting the fluid leak on the flow tube.

In addition, the first side of the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal can be configured to press against the crack of the flow tube. When the fluid leaks from s crack of the flow tube, the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal are able to be electrically connected to each other via the leaking fluid. As a result, the signaling device is turned on to warn the user that the existence of a fluid leak on the flow tube.

The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use being contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.