Patent US3589168A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3589168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining the dew point of gasses
Assignee: Hankison Corp
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Filing: 1968-08-15
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of an apparatus for determining the dew point of air or other vapor-containing gas, by placing a container of liquid refrigerant under pressure in a sample of the gas and reducing the temperature of the container surface from a level above the dew point of the gas to a level where condensation commences on the surface by gradually reducing the pressure on the liquid refrigerant and permitting the refrigerant to boil to reduce its temperature, and determining the temperature of the surface when condensation commences by measuring the pressure on the refrigerant within the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul M Hankison
- 👤 Dale B Sherman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N25/00; G01N25/56; G01N25/66; G01N25/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
An apparatus for measuring and detecting the dew point of a vapor-containing gas comprising a pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, said sidewall having a smooth outer surface, inlet means in said pressure vessel including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel witH said liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, refrigerant pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for indicatIng the pressure within said pressure vessel, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall in spaced relation to said smooth surface, sample inlet means for directing a flow of said vapor-containing gas into said sample chamber, sample outlet means for permitting the escape of said vapor-containing gas from said sample chamber, said sample outlet means including orifice means for directing said vapor-containing gas over said transparent wall at a velocity sufficient to prevent condensation from being deposited thereon, means for controlling the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, and flowmeter means providing a visual indicatIon of the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
An apparatus for measuring and detecting the dew point of a vapor-containing gas comprising a pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, said sidewall having a smooth outer surface, inlet means in said pressure vessel including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel witH said liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, refrigerant pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for indicatIng the pressure within said pressure vessel, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall in spaced relation to said smooth surface, sample inlet means for directing a flow of said vapor-containing gas into said sample chamber, sample outlet means for permitting the escape of said vapor-containing gas from said sample chamber, said sample outlet means including orifice means for directing said vapor-containing gas over said transparent wall at a velocity sufficient to prevent condensation from being deposited thereon, means for controlling the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, and flowmeter means providing a visual indicatIon of the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for applying a suction to said bleed means to reduce the pressure within said pressure vessel to a level below ambient pressure.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
192 words
The method of determining the dew point of a vapor-containing gas comprising the steps of exposing a polished metal outer surface of a metallic pressure vessel containing liquid refrigerant under pressure to the gas by enclosing the pressure vessel in a container having a transparent surface and flowing the gas through said container, establishing a temperature differential over said surface with the coldest point on said surface being at the level of the liquid-gas interface of said liquid refrigerant reducing the temperature of said surface while continuously maintaining said temperature differential by reducing the pressure of said liquid refrigerant at a controlled rate, continuing to reduce said pressure at a controlled rate until condensation commences on the coldest portion of said surface, observing when condensation commences, determining the temperature of said coldest portion of said surface by measuring the pressure within said pressure within said pressure vessel when condensation commences, and directing gas discharged from said container over said transparent surface at a relatively high velocity to prevent condensation of said transparent surface from the surrounding atmosphere so that condensation on said polished surface may be visually observed through said transparent surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
192 words
The method of determining the dew point of a vapor-containing gas comprising the steps of exposing a polished metal outer surface of a metallic pressure vessel containing liquid refrigerant under pressure to the gas by enclosing the pressure vessel in a container having a transparent surface and flowing the gas through said container, establishing a temperature differential over said surface with the coldest point on said surface being at the level of the liquid-gas interface of said liquid refrigerant reducing the temperature of said surface while continuously maintaining said temperature differential by reducing the pressure of said liquid refrigerant at a controlled rate, continuing to reduce said pressure at a controlled rate until condensation commences on the coldest portion of said surface, observing when condensation commences, determining the temperature of said coldest portion of said surface by measuring the pressure within said pressure within said pressure vessel when condensation commences, and directing gas discharged from said container over said transparent surface at a relatively high velocity to prevent condensation of said transparent surface from the surrounding atmosphere so that condensation on said polished surface may be visually observed through said transparent surface.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for measuring and detecting the dew point of a vapor-containing gas comprising a pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, said sidewall having a smooth outer surface, inlet means in said pressure vessel including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel with said liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, refrigerant pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for indicatIng the pressure within said pressure vessel, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall in spaced relation to said smooth surface, sample inlet means for directing a flow of said vapor-containing gas into said sample chamber, and sample outlet means for permitting the escape of said vapor-containing gas from said sample chamber, said sample outlet means including orifice means for directing said vapor-containing gas over said transparent wall at a velocity sufficient to prevent condensation from being deposited thereon, valve means for controlling the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas from said sample chamber, and sample pressure gauge means for indicating the pressure of said vapor-containing gas within said sample chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for measuring and detecting the dew point of a vapor-containing gas comprising a pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, said sidewall having a smooth outer surface, inlet means in said pressure vessel including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel with said liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, refrigerant pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for indicatIng the pressure within said pressure vessel, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall in spaced relation to said smooth surface, sample inlet means for directing a flow of said vapor-containing gas into said sample chamber, and sample outlet means for permitting the escape of said vapor-containing gas from said sample chamber, said sample outlet means including orifice means for directing said vapor-containing gas over said transparent wall at a velocity sufficient to prevent condensation from being deposited thereon, valve means for controlling the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas from said sample chamber, and sample pressure gauge means for indicating the pressure of said vapor-containing gas within said sample chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said refrigerant pressure gauge means is calibrated to simultaneously indicate the pressure within said pressure vessel and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant in said pressure vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5, further comprising thermometer means for continuously indicatIng the ambient temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus to continuously provide a temperature reference for checking the calibration of said pressure gauge means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
233 words
A dew point measuring and detecting device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, a polished outer surface on said sidewall, means supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position, inlet means in said pressure vessel, said inlet means including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel with liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the rate of flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for continuously indicating the pressuRe within said pressure vessel, evacuating means operably connected to said bleed means for reducing the pressure within said pressure vessel to less than ambient pressure, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall through which said polished outer surface may be viewed, means for directing a flow of vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, meter means for continuously indicating the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, and means connecting said bleed means and said sample outlet means whereby said refrigerant pressure gauge means may be employed to calibrate said sample pressure gauge means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
233 words
A dew point measuring and detecting device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, a polished outer surface on said sidewall, means supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position, inlet means in said pressure vessel, said inlet means including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel with liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the rate of flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for continuously indicating the pressuRe within said pressure vessel, evacuating means operably connected to said bleed means for reducing the pressure within said pressure vessel to less than ambient pressure, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall through which said polished outer surface may be viewed, means for directing a flow of vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, meter means for continuously indicating the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, and means connecting said bleed means and said sample outlet means whereby said refrigerant pressure gauge means may be employed to calibrate said sample pressure gauge means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The dew point measuring and detecting device defined in claim 7 further including means for directing a high velocity stream of gas over the outer surface of said transparent wall to reduce the tendency of condensation to form thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
244 words
A dew point measuring and detecting device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid-refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, a polished outer surface on said sidewall, means supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position, inlet means in said pressure vessel, said inlet means including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel with liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the rate of flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for continuously indicating the pressure within said pressure vessel, evacuating means operably connected to said bleed means for reducing the pressure within said pressure vessel to less than ambient pressure, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall through which said polished outer surface may be viewed, means for directing a flow of vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, meter means for continuously indicatIng the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, conduit means connecting said bleed means and said sample outlet means, and bypass valve means in said conduit means for controlling flow therethrough whereby said pressure gauge means may be employed to measure the pressure of said vapor-containing gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
244 words
A dew point measuring and detecting device comprising an elongated generally cylindrical pressure vessel for containing a volume of liquid-refrigerant and having a sidewall formed of thin high strength metal, a polished outer surface on said sidewall, means supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position, inlet means in said pressure vessel, said inlet means including valve means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant under pressure into said pressure vessel, bleed means for bleeding gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, said bleed means including means preventing the complete filling of said pressure vessel with liquid refrigerant and valve means for controlling the rate of flow of said gaseous refrigerant from said pressure vessel, pressure gauge means operably connected to said pressure vessel for continuously indicating the pressure within said pressure vessel, evacuating means operably connected to said bleed means for reducing the pressure within said pressure vessel to less than ambient pressure, a sample chamber enclosing said pressure vessel, said sample chamber having a transparent wall through which said polished outer surface may be viewed, means for directing a flow of vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, meter means for continuously indicatIng the rate of flow of said vapor-containing gas through said sample chamber, conduit means connecting said bleed means and said sample outlet means, and bypass valve means in said conduit means for controlling flow therethrough whereby said pressure gauge means may be employed to measure the pressure of said vapor-containing gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus defined in Claim 9 wherein said bypass valve means comprises a manually operable valve for closing and for controlling the rate of flow through said conduit means, and a check valve connected in said conduit to prevent flow of refrigerant from said bleed means to said sample outlet means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |