US3553461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of dangerous concentrations of combustible gases or vapors in the air
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1967-11-03
•
Granted: 1971-01-05
•
Expires: 1987-11-03
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for the continuous detection of relative amounts of combustible gases and vapors in ambient air and wherein the ambient air flows through a reaction chamber in contact with an oxidation catalyst in the presence of a plurality of detecting means sensitive to the varying radiant energy emitted along said catalyst in the direction of flow of the ambient air and means for receiving and comparing these different detected values.
Inventors
- 👤 Matteo Siano
- 👤 Guidi Guido Guidelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/71; G01N21/716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
continuously heating the oxidation catalyst to produce continuous and successive oxidation reactions along the longitudinally disposed catalyst whereby radiant energy is emitted from said reactions in response to the combustible gases and vapors in the ambient air at every point along the catalyst;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for the continuous detection of the relative amounts of combustible gases and vapors in the ambient air said apparatus comprising a reaction vessel, said vessel having a longitudinally disposed reaction chamber, an oxidation catalyst longitudinally disposed in said chamber, means for activating the catalyst, means for flowing ambient air through the longitudinally disposed reaction chamber in contact with the oxidation catalyst thereby causing the catalyst to emit radiant energy in response to the combustible gases and vapors in the ambient air, two radiant energy detecting units positioned in longitudinal spaced relation adjacent the catalyst to sense radiant energy emitted from the catalyst, and means to receive detected values from the detecting units and compare the differences against a prescribed standard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein an alarm is provided in the apparatus and is actuated when the detected differences exceed prescribed values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
measuring the emitted radiant energy at a plurality of longitudinally disposed points along the path of the ambient air in the longitudinal chamber; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
determining the differences between measurements at the aforesaid points and applying said differences to prescribed standards to determine the relative amounts of combustible gases or vapors in the ambient air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 and wherein the reaction vessel is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced pockets, each pocket housing one of the radiant energy detecting units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the means to receive the detected values and compare the differences against a prescribed standard includes a differential amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the oxidation catalyst is a platinum wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the catalyst is coated on a suitable support member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as set forth in the reaction vessel is provided with cooling fins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |