US 12,276,575 B2
Sensor assembly and refrigerant sensing system
Jeffrey A. West, Bellville, OH (US); and Jared R. Starling, Mansfield, OH (US)
Assigned to Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated, Westerville, OH (US)
Filed by Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated, Mansfield, OH (US)
Filed on Jun. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/849,107.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/265,527, filed on Dec. 16, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/216,745, filed on Jun. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003604 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 41/40 (2021.01); G01M 3/26 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 3/26 (2013.01) [F25B 41/40 (2021.01); F25B 2500/222 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerant sensor system comprising:
a sensor controller;
a first refrigerant gas sensor in electrical communication with the sensor controller, the first refrigerant gas sensor calibrated to detect a first concentration of a refrigerant in air as a percent of volume within a first numeric range and configured to communicate a first output signal to the sensor controller;
a second refrigerant gas sensor in electrical communication with the sensor controller, the second refrigerant gas sensor calibrated to detect a second concentration of the refrigerant in air as a percent of volume within a second numeric range and configured to communicate a second output signal to the sensor controller;
wherein the sensor controller is configured to receive the first output signal and the second output signal, and to at least one of produce a sensor controller output signal, to activate a warning light, to activate a ventilation system, or a combination thereof, responsive to at least one of the first output signal and the second output signal;
a sensor housing having an interior space and enclosing the sensor controller, the first refrigerant gas sensor and the second refrigerant gas sensor, the sensor housing including a first end and a second end and a barrier disposed between the first end and the second end and sealingly separating the interior space at the first end from the interior space at the second end, the first end of the sensor housing supporting both the first refrigerant gas sensor and the second refrigerant gas sensor, and the second end of the sensor housing supporting the sensor controller, the sensor housing at the first end including a plurality of openings exposing the interior space of the sensor housing at the first end and the first refrigerant gas sensor and the second refrigerant gas sensor to an environment external to the sensor housing, the sensor housing at the second end substantially separating the interior space of the sensor housing at the second end and the sensor controller from the environment external to the sensor housing.