US 12,013,338 B2
Cleanable flat-faced conductivity sensor
Elijah Lyle Scott, Fort Collins, CO (US); Duane B. McKee, Fort Collins, CO (US); and Steven Collin Sewell, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to IN-SITU, INC., Ft. Collins, CO (US)
Filed by In-Situ, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/142,581.
Application 17/142,581 is a continuation of application No. 15/794,495, filed on Oct. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,890,526.
Application 15/794,495 is a continuation of application No. 14/937,170, filed on Nov. 10, 2015, granted, now 9,835,554, issued on Dec. 5, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/115,593, filed on Feb. 12, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/115,466, filed on Feb. 12, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/077,528, filed on Nov. 10, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0199577 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 21/53 (2006.01); G01N 27/07 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/532 (2013.01) [G01N 27/07 (2013.01); G01N 2201/068 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-parameter sonde comprising:
a plurality of sensors, including at least one cleanable conductivity sensor, wherein each sensor comprises:
a substantially planar distal sensing end formed from: a vertex region; a first inner end edge extending from said vertex region to a first inner end point; a second inner end edge extending from said vertex region to a second inner end point, wherein said first inner end edge and said second inner end edge extend in directions to define a vertex angle, wherein each of said sensor vertex region comprises a notch, wherein said sensor notches in combination form an orifice to receive a rotatable drive shaft in a tight-fit configuration; and an outer end edge that extends between said first inner end point and said second inner end point;
a first flat-faced inner surface that terminates at said first inner end edge;
a second flat-faced inner surface that terminates at said second inner end edge; wherein said distal sensing end forms a portion of a circle;
wherein in combination, each of said first and second flat-faced inner surface of a sensor are adjacent with another sensor first or second flat-faced inner surface to form a single continuous sensing surface having a continuous outer circumference in a single plane with less than 1 mm separation distance between adjacent sensors;
wherein the at least one cleanable conductivity sensor has at least one electrode with an electrode distal end that terminates coincident with or proximal to the single continuous sensing surface;
a wiper operably connected to said rotatable drive shaft and in rotatable contact with said single continuous sensing surface for cleaning a sensor portion of said single continuous sensing surface and a cleanable surface area of said cleanable conductivity sensor during use, wherein said wiper comprises:
a central body having a downward-facing surface and an upward-facing surface;
a lower wiper connected to said downward-facing surface; and
an upper wiper connected to said upward-facing surface.