| 摘要 |
A device is disclosed for sensing any of a wide range of liquid hydrocarbons. A ribbon-like sensor is employed, which has an inner, silicone rubber layer and an outer, silicone rubber layer and which has two broad faces and two narrow edges. The silicone rubber layers are capable of absorbing and swelling in the presence of a liquid hydrocarbon. The inner layer but not the outer layer is filled with electrically conductive particles, preferably carbon black particles, so as to be capable of switching from having an electrical impedance which is relatively low to having an electrical impedance which is relatively high when swollen in the presence of a liquid hydrocarbon. As made from an open cell, polyethylene foam, a porous body is attached to the sensor. The porous body is capable of floating with the sensor on water or on a liquid hydrocarbon and of conducting a liquid hydrocarbon through the porous body to the sensor. In one contemplated embodiment, the sensor is ribbon-like with two broad faces and two narrow edges, and the porous body comprises two porous slabs attached to the sensor, each porous slab covering one of the broad faces and extending beyond both of the narrow edges. The sensor may be usefully deployed in a serpentine arrangement between the porous slabs. The porous body may be alternatively wrapped around the sensor.
|
