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EP0057076A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for detecting and measuring trace gases in air or other gaseous background

Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1982-01-19
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-01-19
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Abstract

Abstract The gas detection apparatus includes a housing (10) defining a passage for flow of gas through a drift region (30, 35, 50), a source of ionizing radiation (14) positioned at the front end of the passage, a collector electrode (70) mounted within the passage to collect ions reaching the rear end of the passage, a voltage divider network (40, 60) establishing a substantially linear drift potential in the housing to cause the ions to move through the drift region from radiation source to collector electrode, and a grid (31) for gating discrete packets of ions into the drift region. The improvement comprising means (45) operable to vary the drift potential as a function of atmospheric pressure, premitting the improved identification of a particular compound at varying altitudes.

Inventors

  • 👤 B. Wayne Castleman
  • 👤 Robert F. Donehoo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 15:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/622

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
An apparatus for detecting trace amounts of vapors or gases in air or other gaseous backgrounds, said apparatus comprising a housing defining a passage for flow of gas through a drift region; a source of ionizing radiation positioned in said passage for creating ions in said gas; a collector electrode mounted within said passage and spaced from said source means establishing a substantially linear drift potential in said housing for causing said ions to move through said drift region from said source of ionizing radiation toward said collector electrode; means for gating discrete packets of ions into said drift region; and means for detecting the ions reaching said collector electrode, characterized by means (45) operable to vary the drift potential as a function of atmospheric pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 126 words
An apparatus for detecting trace amounts of vapors or gases in air or other gaseous backgrounds, said apparatus comprising a housing defining a passage for flow of gas through a drift region; a source of ionizing radiation positioned in said passage for creating ions in said gas; a collector electrode mounted within said passage and spaced from said source means establishing a substantially linear drift potential in said housing for causing said ions to move through said drift region from said source of ionizing radiation toward said collector electrode; means for gating discrete packets of ions into said drift region; and means for detecting the ions reaching said collector electrode, characterized by means (45) operable to vary the drift potential as a function of atmospheric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, characterized in that the gating means includes an electrically conductive grid (31,79) located in said drift region, said grid being comprised of a plurality of conductors biased at predetermined constant electric potentials for selectively collecting ions of higher mobility, while allowing lower mobility ions to pass through to said drift region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
The apparatus of Claim 2, characterized in that alternate of said conductors are connected to first and second terminals (31a,31b) whereby said grid can be operated by application of appropriate potentials to said terminals to allow discrete packets of ions to pass through said drift region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, characterized by a recombination region (97 to 104) including means for facilitating recombination of ions in said gas entering the recombination region.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3835328A Cited
FR2208530A5 Cited
US4119851A Cited
US4238678A Cited
DD140688A1 Cited

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